Va-Va-Va--Virginia

Found a contract with Quest Diagnostics (Tal programmer) in Chantilly, Va.  Started Monday - It is amazingly expensive and crowded here.  Traffic is ridiculous everywhere, and it took 5 1/2 hours door to door from home to my hotel in Manassas, the ride home will probably be longer since it will be rush hour around DC/Baltimore/and NYC.

But it is a bit too close to fly, unless I drive to Baltimore to fly Southwest - so I'm trying the drive.  Small shop, only about 5 Tandem developers.  Nice enough, and has a café - but it's taken a couple of days to get me a PC and a TACL (logon).

Boy Scouts!

Nate is one as well - Tomorrow we camp at Mohawk with Troop 1.

Pie Day

Had two interviews with Quest Diagnostic as a Tandem Consultant - they want a TAL programmer.  I may have found the only TAL shop that doesn't require Base24 skills.  I also interviewed for a job in Itasca, Ill.  But the first job made an offer - What a bunch of mixed feelings.  I must provide, and keep my commitments (bills) - but failing to thrive in that local job is galling, I could see why it had to end - but it's humiliating nontheless.  But I do feel (finally) more connected to home, like I finally arrived in Ct. myself - and I'll survive sometime on the road.  Hoping that the 7 hour drive is doable, and the one hour flight from Dulles (5 minutes from work) or Baltimore - will be very cost friendly.   Dawn is only an hour north as well.  I need to figure out my housing next week - I start (so far) on the 26th.

News!

Looking for new work....yes, for real.

Vally Forge

Went to Valley Forge with the whole District last weekend, N. had been sick during the week but was better so C. booked a hotel for them to spend the day, while D. and I (and S.) were camping with 120 other Scouts from all over the Northwest Hills.  D. felt sick the next morning though - so C. took him to the hotel and I took N. around to the stations they had setup - we liked the cannons, the stations about families following the soldiers and the doctor...
The weather was pretty good, and real nice day on Saturday.  There is a pile of pictures on FB - Northwest Hills District CRC.

New Year update...

Christmas was very good - My parents came over for the big day, we all (all) went to PCF the night before for Christmas Eve service.  For me, I was blessed that S. was most pleased with his gift choices.  The infrared goggles we got for D. and N. worked, they were quite cool.  I got a WD Live (TV internet device) fairly cool.

Spent yesterday evening with the in-laws, Kay's First Day as a retired person.  I recommended she grab my RV and move to Vacation Village with my Tampa friends...

S. with Troop 3, and D. and I (with Troop 4) will be going to Vally Forge with the Scouts.  C. and N. and Cousin Tommy will come out for the day - It's in mid February.

Power Returns

Have a stack of branches in the front yard the size of the Truck, and in the back yard, twice as big.  But after a week - the power is back on at our house.  That big wire that runs past the house to the pole next to the garage held the pole on the corner of Munson St. up.  The top was snapped, and it pulled the top of our mast loose.  We spent a week of no school (or college) and my new office got power and opened Wed.  Spent our days feeding the fireplace, and going out in the evening to the RV for some warmth, and a movie or some cards.  C. had enough by Wed night though - and when my in-laws house had their power restored - we went there.  She was happy to be with her Mom, watching TV and sitting around the table after dinner.

This morning, as I drove by to get my car at my house (their driveway is kind of small) - I notice the pole on Munson had a 2x4 on top and the lead to my house was back tight again.  They'll need to replace the pole, but they bought some time.

The town will pick up the downed branches on/after Nov. 21 - so we need to move the big pile out to the front yard.  Need to get raking as well.  And figure out if CL&P will reattach my mast ...

C. and N. are at the Battleship (USS Massachusetts).  I've been 3 or 4 times and with the chance to earn back a benefit day (otherwise Mon/Tues would have cost me two vacation days) - the perils of working for a small company. D. ran off to JP's to talk minecraft...and S. is off Bowling.  He worked most of the week as well (His mgr seems to no when College is cancelled, and expects Steve every time).  He's enjoying TUConn - and having a car.  Was signing up for next semester already, how quickly the new and scary becomes old hat.