Domestic Geek

How did it get to be Wednesday again already?

I really wished I had known last May how bad the employment environment around here was (especially for graphic designers) before I told the owner of the company I was working for that I wanted to find another job. Every time that loser from there calls, I keep hoping it's to get my old job back. I hated it, but at least it was in the field and I was making an income.

I really wish I could move somewhere else. Unfortunatley, we can't afford to move this stupid house again and besides, Marcus now has a decent paying job. Even if he wanted to leave (he doesn't), he can't. So I'm stuck. I'm either going to have to do some kind of retail or go back to pizza (if any of those places will even hire me). Of course, I couldn't be a driver because my plates are expired and my brakes are shot. I'm not looking for advice or job leads, I just need to vent about how my self-esteem is in the toilet, how my levels of motivations are sinking and it sucks that Christmas is coming and not only do I not have a job or any prospects for a job, I have no money, either. I can't even sell anything because I don't own anything. I've already gotten rid of everything that I personally own of any value. Even my computers I use aren't really mine.

The tears are flowing too hard to continue this. I'm going to go take a hot shower and get back to sending out fruitless resumes.

I started checking out using RSS readers right around the Blogathon. I didn't really have time to implement one beforehand, though. I know it would've made keeping up with the various sites a lot easier.

I pretty much forgot about it until this whole PPP Puzzle hooplah. During the first contest, it was mentioned in the forums that PPP has an rss feed for the opps. I started using that to check for new pieces. I started playing with Google's beta rss reader, but sometimes it freezes up the my browser window. It's also hard to add feeds (you have to type them in individually since you can't drag/drop or import an opml). I found somebody that recommended Netvibes and I tried that, too. Wasn't totally impressed with that one, either. I found a Firefox extention called Sage that runs an RSS reader in your sidebar. I've been playing with it for a couple of hours and I really like it so far. They have a lot of stylesheets on their site that you can change the look of the feed preview with. Since it runs in the browser, I can click the rss icon in the address bar and add it right to the correct rss folder. It's pretty nifty. I'll have to figure out how to export my list to be able to use it on the many computers I use.

Man, I love using Firefox.

Wow, I missed an important birthday yesterday. Happy 5th Birthday to the beloved iPod. It seems like just yesterday Apple introduced you to the world and now look what you're done in that short time. When I'm employed and back on my feet again, I'm going to save my PPP funds to get a new video iPod. I miss mine something fierce.

My last post reminded me of something I wanted to mention. Since Donald Trump fired Carolyn and George is no longer on The Apprentice, either, I'm boycotting the next season. It's been getting more lame and boring anyway. Marcus and I recorded the past shows on our PVR and last season we just watched enough to see the task and who got booted. We always fast-forwarded through the drama crap. I thought George and Caroline added a little personality to the show.

So, no more Apprentice for me. That's probably good, though. I watch way too much television as it is.

If you're working from home and wish you could have a "real" office where you could meet with clients or just get away from your house once in awhile, Offices2Share.com, the folks that operate a free nationwide search engine for short-term, ready-to-use office space, is starting their 2nd Annual "The Home Office From Hell contest" today, 10/23/2006. This is quite the Grand Prize package that they are offering:

• 12 Months Rent in a Real Office at any location posted on Offices2Share.com (Maximum amount $12,000)
• 1 Dell Desktop Computer, 1 Dell Notebook Computer, 1 Dell Switch and Server (Approximate retail value $7,500)
• Tuition For "The Entrepreneurship Mastery Program" at Trump University (Approximate retail value $2,500)
• Trip to NYC and 2 night hotel stay (Maximum amount $2,000)
• Lunch with George Ross, Donald Trump's right-hand man and former Co-Star of The Apprentice, and an autographed copy of his new book "Trump Style Negotiation"

If you're not the lucky grand prize winner, not to worry, they're offering thousands of dollars of additional prizes from Corporate Particpants Dell and Trump University.

What does one have to do to enter? Just compile your top 10 reasons why you need to escape yourhome office from hell. Be as funny, zany or serious as you would like. If words just won't t do it justice, shoot a video of your hellacious work environment. Go fill out their online entry form and you're all set!

If a year of your own out-of-the-house office sounds good to you, hurry and get your entry in...the contest ends on March 31, 2007.