Nestled in the Snow
Well, and here we are again.
It's near the end of another year, and once more I find myself in Michigan, in a land of ice and snow, hanging out with my parents and looking at a span of very peaceful days. Which, thank the gods, is exactly what I need right now.
I'm sitting at a dining-room table, looking through a sliding glass door and then a full-sized window, out onto a beautiful vista of snow-covered trees and a frozen, white-rimed lake. I'm not cold, because the sun porch (hah!) acts as a nice piece of insulation, and the fireplace six feet away from me is burning cheerfully. I have a cup of hot coffee at my elbow. And for the first time in a long while, I'm letting my mind completely relax. I'm not going to worry about things for a couple of days.
There's a woodpecker outside, industriously pecking at one of the bird-feeders. His head is a bright scarlet blaze against all the stark white out there, and it's quite beautiful.
I suppose I'll put my longer musings and retrospectives behind a cut, so as not to overburden your friends lists. I intend to ramble as much as I like, so be warned.
So, let's see. What to tackle first?
How about Dickens Fair?
It was kind of an arduous year, all things considered. It seems odd to say that, being as I wasn't working, and thus I actually had spare time this year. I mean, the last two years, combining Dickens with a full-time job made it an absurd time committment that came close to unhinging me by the end. But this year... I dunno. Between odd cast issues, money trouble, people not getting along, and the sheer difficulty of the role (go ahead, try playing a truly despicable villain for seven hours a day on your weekends, when everyone around you is happy), it was hard this year.
That said, Dickens was the pleasure it's always been, which is why I keep doing it. Playing someone reprehensible just makes all the cheery Christmas more glowing for the patrons, and he does get his in the end. There are a lot of good people at the Fair, and I met yet more of them this year. Lots of friends, lots of acquaintances. And Gwen's speech about villain-notvillain at the beginning of the run helped with relating to people.
Apparently I look awfully good in a corset. Who knew? Pictures to come.
Next year, same time, same place.
So, next topic. Work.
For anyone who somehow doesn't know, I got laid off about three months ago. It sucked at the time, it's sucked more since. Having gotten a much better sense of the economy and the job market now that I've had to, I can understand why. The market is glutted with qualified tech workers. Too often, when a company is financially strained, the IT staff will be among the first to take a hit. Tech startups rise and fall like waves. And so there are a lot of people out there competing for jobs... sadly, many of them with simply more experience than I have.
I've never seen it so transparently proven that it's not what you know, it's who you know. I've only gotten a couple of onsite interviews, and almost all of them have come from actual contacts with the company in question. The dozens (probably hundreds by this point) of applications I've dropped to places without an introduction have gone almost entirely completely ignored.
I have a few good leads at this point, which are on hold until Christmas vacations are over. Other than that, well... I'm still looking for more leads. If you know of opportunities in IT, please do let me know. I come well-recommended!
On we go. Minor keys and shifts to major.
Seriously, I don't know what it was about 2009. It was like the year saved up all its ills for the last quarter. These three months have seemed to rain down tragedy on me and mine; when I get laid off and am unemployed for three months and it's the least of the catalogue of bad things... yeah.
I won't mention any specifics; people have gone through enough without seeing their woes trotted out here. I just hope that the turning of the year also marks a turning of fortune, and that people's lots begin to improve a bit. I'll just keep trying to offer what support I can, as people have been wonderful about supporting me.
Because that's really the other side of the coin. I've seen a huge outpouring of support from firends and acquaintances for those who need it. Many of these situations are ones in which people can do nothing but say 'we're here, we love you', but damned if a legion haven't done just that. Be there to listen, to give a hug, to simply reach out to those in the depths of spirit.
I've got job leads because people are sticking up for me. Folks quietly but firmly take me to meals and joke about it. I get near-daily words of support and encouragement. I'm typing on a borrowed laptop right now, for god's sake. Small things, perhaps, but immensely valuable to the heart. My friends are a collection of awesome, and bear me up constantly.
And of course, love.
Because I couldn't possibly write a retrospective without touching on this. Roo has been a wonderfully bright tone in my life this year, a new theme introduced to the symphony that raises the whole to new heights with its sunny roulades and cheeky arpeggios.
Ahem, music geek moment. But seriously, this girl is wonderful for me. Tough and smart, creative and resourceful. Our interests dovetail beautifully into one another's, and our cares are more poignant and easier to bear for being shared.
For all my words, it's hard to express what having her in my life means to me. She challenges me, draws me to greater heights. There's never a day when she's not in my life, and I am richer by far for her presence.
Siempre gracias, mi amante. Te amo.
I think that will do for now. I may think of more to say. I may muse on the coming year, or on writing, or actually post some writing (gasp!). But for now, I need more coffee, and the rare sun is sparkling off the ice.
Be well, my dears. Happy holidays.
It's near the end of another year, and once more I find myself in Michigan, in a land of ice and snow, hanging out with my parents and looking at a span of very peaceful days. Which, thank the gods, is exactly what I need right now.
I'm sitting at a dining-room table, looking through a sliding glass door and then a full-sized window, out onto a beautiful vista of snow-covered trees and a frozen, white-rimed lake. I'm not cold, because the sun porch (hah!) acts as a nice piece of insulation, and the fireplace six feet away from me is burning cheerfully. I have a cup of hot coffee at my elbow. And for the first time in a long while, I'm letting my mind completely relax. I'm not going to worry about things for a couple of days.
There's a woodpecker outside, industriously pecking at one of the bird-feeders. His head is a bright scarlet blaze against all the stark white out there, and it's quite beautiful.
I suppose I'll put my longer musings and retrospectives behind a cut, so as not to overburden your friends lists. I intend to ramble as much as I like, so be warned.
So, let's see. What to tackle first?
How about Dickens Fair?
It was kind of an arduous year, all things considered. It seems odd to say that, being as I wasn't working, and thus I actually had spare time this year. I mean, the last two years, combining Dickens with a full-time job made it an absurd time committment that came close to unhinging me by the end. But this year... I dunno. Between odd cast issues, money trouble, people not getting along, and the sheer difficulty of the role (go ahead, try playing a truly despicable villain for seven hours a day on your weekends, when everyone around you is happy), it was hard this year.
That said, Dickens was the pleasure it's always been, which is why I keep doing it. Playing someone reprehensible just makes all the cheery Christmas more glowing for the patrons, and he does get his in the end. There are a lot of good people at the Fair, and I met yet more of them this year. Lots of friends, lots of acquaintances. And Gwen's speech about villain-notvillain at the beginning of the run helped with relating to people.
Apparently I look awfully good in a corset. Who knew? Pictures to come.
Next year, same time, same place.
So, next topic. Work.
For anyone who somehow doesn't know, I got laid off about three months ago. It sucked at the time, it's sucked more since. Having gotten a much better sense of the economy and the job market now that I've had to, I can understand why. The market is glutted with qualified tech workers. Too often, when a company is financially strained, the IT staff will be among the first to take a hit. Tech startups rise and fall like waves. And so there are a lot of people out there competing for jobs... sadly, many of them with simply more experience than I have.
I've never seen it so transparently proven that it's not what you know, it's who you know. I've only gotten a couple of onsite interviews, and almost all of them have come from actual contacts with the company in question. The dozens (probably hundreds by this point) of applications I've dropped to places without an introduction have gone almost entirely completely ignored.
I have a few good leads at this point, which are on hold until Christmas vacations are over. Other than that, well... I'm still looking for more leads. If you know of opportunities in IT, please do let me know. I come well-recommended!
On we go. Minor keys and shifts to major.
Seriously, I don't know what it was about 2009. It was like the year saved up all its ills for the last quarter. These three months have seemed to rain down tragedy on me and mine; when I get laid off and am unemployed for three months and it's the least of the catalogue of bad things... yeah.
I won't mention any specifics; people have gone through enough without seeing their woes trotted out here. I just hope that the turning of the year also marks a turning of fortune, and that people's lots begin to improve a bit. I'll just keep trying to offer what support I can, as people have been wonderful about supporting me.
Because that's really the other side of the coin. I've seen a huge outpouring of support from firends and acquaintances for those who need it. Many of these situations are ones in which people can do nothing but say 'we're here, we love you', but damned if a legion haven't done just that. Be there to listen, to give a hug, to simply reach out to those in the depths of spirit.
I've got job leads because people are sticking up for me. Folks quietly but firmly take me to meals and joke about it. I get near-daily words of support and encouragement. I'm typing on a borrowed laptop right now, for god's sake. Small things, perhaps, but immensely valuable to the heart. My friends are a collection of awesome, and bear me up constantly.
And of course, love.
Because I couldn't possibly write a retrospective without touching on this. Roo has been a wonderfully bright tone in my life this year, a new theme introduced to the symphony that raises the whole to new heights with its sunny roulades and cheeky arpeggios.
Ahem, music geek moment. But seriously, this girl is wonderful for me. Tough and smart, creative and resourceful. Our interests dovetail beautifully into one another's, and our cares are more poignant and easier to bear for being shared.
For all my words, it's hard to express what having her in my life means to me. She challenges me, draws me to greater heights. There's never a day when she's not in my life, and I am richer by far for her presence.
Siempre gracias, mi amante. Te amo.
I think that will do for now. I may think of more to say. I may muse on the coming year, or on writing, or actually post some writing (gasp!). But for now, I need more coffee, and the rare sun is sparkling off the ice.
Be well, my dears. Happy holidays.