The last few days have been a little difficult for me. Today is close to the one year 'anniversary' of an event at my last job. A very unpleasant event, at that. Fortunately, Jesus was available to take my tearful call. As usual, he knew just what to say to me to help me cope.
Today, I am back to my normal self. There were few job postings over the weekend and, even by this morning, there were none that matched my qualifications. So I ran some errands and then met 'X' at the Chicago Botanic Garden. I was way over dressed for the garden but I wanted to make 'X' happy. He was.
I left my camera behind and we had a terrific time. The weather was gorgeous with lots of sun and low humidity.
Just as I was leaving home, I got a call from a recruiter about a contract job in Minneapolis, of all places.
It is for a well known retailer based there and would give me retail domain experience. The 'problem' is that the contract is for only three months, although it could be extended. I'd have no problem moving, even if I had to move again three months later. The recruiter submitted me for this job today. So I could be driving to the Twin Cities soon for an interview.
Another problem is that I am having second thoughts about leaving Chicago, unless it is for a permanent position, a contract to hire job or consulting gigs through a regular employer. Even though I have known 'X' for only three weeks, I would find it at least a little difficult to leave because of him. We have such a great time together. Although we are very different, we are finding a lot of common ground. We talk quite openly about our differences and how to adjust.
I continue to get fantastic results from electrolysis, too. In addition, I am very pleased with my HRT physician. I hope to get a certain amount of 'development' that would not be possible with treatment in Minnesota.
On the way home, I stopped in for my every other week appointment with a local therapist. She is not my very far off, southwest suburbs gender therapist. Her husband, who had been out of work for 14 months, started a new job today. I was delighted to hear this. He had applied for this opening two months ago and didn't hear anything back until last week.
I just heard from a Minneapolis bank that I had applied to back in November. They weren't interested, but it shows how slowly these things can move. This tells me that perhaps I should remain here after all. I have applied to a lot of places and have not heard back from a fair number.
Some time ago, my therapist asked if I would speak at a class she is teaching on GLBT persons and issues. The date will be sometime in July and I will be glad to do this if I am still here.
When I got home, there was a message from a local recruiter. I
Danya (imported) wrote: Wed Apr 14, 2010 10:43 am
have a phone interview tomorrow
with a hiring manager for a major bank in downtown Chicago. It's in that white skyscraper that curves out at the bottom.
This is a contract job, but it would give me financial services domain experience. If I get this job, I can commute downtown on Metra.
Several other recruiters sent emails to see if I am interested in other jobs. I'm still waiting to hear back on several permanent job applications.
I started checking into executive assistant job postings and found several at a nearby, well know national accelerator laboratory. They are looking for people with enough science background to know what, for instance, tachyons are. I do, or I can figure it out with at least a fair understanding very quickly. I am not concerned that an accelerator will produce anything more than an exceedingly short lived black hole of little more than singularity size. I would not be swallowed up by working there.
There was a job I found this evening in Evanston. The advertiser mentioned their location on the 'beautiful shores of Lake Michigan.' I agree! This liberal northern suburb once declared itself as a nuclear free zone....
While I am overqualified for this particular job, I am very interested in it based on the description. It is a permanent 'opportunity' besides. I will apply.
So, for now, I will likely stick with the Chicago region. My original thinking on moving here balanced the high unemployment rate with the relatively high blue collar nature of the region. These tend to go togethe
Danya (imported) wrote: Sun May 30, 2010 10:01 pm
r. It is very unlike the Twin Cities. Tha
t area has a significantly lower unemployment rate. It is also among the top areas in the country for percentage of college educated people.
I have absolutely nothing against blue collar places, by the way, or people. 'X' is blue collar. He is now going to college. I find him to be one of the most genuine people I have met. Part of what I like about Chicago is its blue collar background. I have met some wonderful people here who are both kind and generous, and just happen to be blue collar.
He was referring to the way I speak, for one thing. I was never able to follow the advice of a mentor from my college days who told me I needed to learn to speak in the vernacular. I thought I was! 
He realizes that in the way I talk and do other things, I am being myself. Nothing more or less than that.