Picking back up

[chipotle]

I’ve finished updating my résumé, and put versions of it on Monster.com and Dice.com. Craigslist will be coming this weekend, I suspect. I’ve actually already sent it to one job—one at my current employer.

Spending a few days in a funk over this was, I suppose, inevitable; I was starting to think of the position as permanent, and of course it was never intended to be. (Not that a permanent position these days is particularly permanent.) By Friday, though, something clicked and I thought, Okay, enough wallowing, time to move on.

I’m going to be trying to get my personal projects in order during whatever downtime I’m stuck with; at least one of them would, if it comes together, re-energize my possibilities for web development work. Actually, even the ESM web site will go a bit toward that direction, as I’m getting some experience with the PEAR DB system for PHP, and some experience with PHP’s odd OOP system along the way. I have both computer programming projects and writing projects I’ve been considering, both fiction and non-fiction. Were I only able to get the same salary and benefits to work on these full-time…

And, I’ll make a gentle request of my readers: if you’re working at a place that’s looking for technical writers, or possibly “LAMP” style web developers (my experience is mostly with FreeBSD and Mac OS X, not Linux, but it’s easily transferable), please do consider passing along my résumé—or passing me your company’s contact info, along with permission to use you as a “so-and-so pointed me to…” reference. Obviously, I’m primarily looking for work in the Silicon Valley area, although I’m open to the idea of relocation to some areas—notably Seattle, Portland (Oregon) and possibly even back to Orlando or Tampa—if the employer is open to the idea of interviewing an out-of-area candidate.

Comments

[chastmastr.livejournal.com]

What about Washington DC/northern VA? :)

[chipotle.livejournal.com]

I do have friends in the northeast, including you, of course, so it's occurred to me. But I really don't want to deal with snow on a routine basis, when it comes down to it. As I've put it before, I like having visitation rights to snow -- being able to drive to the Sierras or Mount Rainier is a fine idea -- but I don't want to live with it. Also, the DC area has a pretty frightful cost of living: from a bit of cursory research, renting there may actually be more expensive than Silicon Valley!

Having said that, I'm sure if an offer there was really terrific, I'd consider it. It'd just have to be, well, really terrific.

[malkith0.livejournal.com]

Are you looking for apartments of some sort within the district? Because yes, those can be quite expensive. My sister is paying about $950 a month for a place which isn't all that great, but it's right across from a Metro station.

Most people who work in the D.C. area seem to commute from Maryland or northern Virginia, as mentioned. But hey, there's also Baltimore, with our lively industries in... ummm.... uhhh... glorified sea-bugs?

[chastmastr.livejournal.com]

Yikes. Hmmm. Yes, after this winter in particular I kind of hate living with snow now too, or worse, ICE. Feeling like I may fall down just walking to the apartment from the car, even if the road is OK, is nerve-wracking. And the cold is pretty nasty too, and the summer is as hot as Florida but without beaches or the glorious sunsets...

I miss that.

David

[chipotle.livejournal.com]

About the only time I deal with ice here is when it forms on the car windows on really cold mornings, and that's not too often. :) Last weekend it probably did actually snow around the house around 3 or 4 in the morning, although it didn't stick. The snow was visible on the (low) mountains behind the house in the morning, though, the only time I've seen that.

California definitely does get good sunsets. I suppose there are good beaches around, although I'm not a beach person. There's a lot of wild coast, though, which I do enjoy.

[chastmastr.livejournal.com]

Do you find yourself missing Florida? You mentioned that as an option the other post...

[chipotle.livejournal.com]

Sure, I miss it -- I lived there for about three decades, after all. I miss friends there (including some who weren't there, or I didn't know, when I lived there); I'd like to go back to Disney and Ybor City and some other places more regularly; the cost of living in Tampa and Orlando is remarkably good by many metro area standards. On the other hand, I really do like this area for its geography, its climate, and for its proximity to what's arguably one of the world's great cities. I'm appreciating San Francisco more with every visit.

So, no. I'm not opposed to moving back to Florida. I'd rather not be forced into doing it by failing to find something elsewhere and returning home, though, to live with mom.

[chastmastr.livejournal.com]

Ah, I was imagining you getting a job in Tampa/Orlando and moving there, not back in with your mom.

[chastmastr.livejournal.com]

I remember, and miss, walking on the beach with you and chatting at night... :(