February 6, 2012

Peepers, Teavana, and Nirvana

I could see perfectly well this morning after putting my glasses on. I went to the eye doc to be evaluated for LASIK. A friend of mine who works as a sales rep for an eye care company recommended this doc. They dilated my pupils, measured my corneas, and tested my vision. After speaking with the doc I've decided against it and go back to contact lenses.

I met wife at the local mall and sitting at the corner of Teavana and Soma (where do they get the names of these stores?) I watched the hazy flow of people walking past. I was drinking a cup of Starbucks while eating a chocolate chip cookie. It was almost nirvana. Having your pupils dilated is similar to being tranquilized. You feel as though you're somewhat invisible as though you are a little kid again and when your eyes are closed no one can see you.

Back to LASIK, they slice the outer skin of your cornea, fold it back, and laser your cornea to reshape it. It takes about fifteen minutes and, bada-bing!, your eyes are eighteen years old again. It's not 100 percent risk free and that's the main reason I decided not to go that route. The cost is anywhere between $1,300 and $2,000 per peeper which isn't too bad considering the cost of eyewear and contacts over your lifetime. 

February 2, 2012

Pins and Needles

It was December I put my hat in the ring for a Network Analyst position at the central office of the Department of Corrections. A secretary in the Information Systems department called me last week and left the message, Call me if you'd like to set up a time for an interview for the Network Analyst position.

I called her the next morning at 8:30 and set up an interview for Wednesday at 1:00. The next day at work this secretary calls me and says she needs to push back the interview 24 hours to Thursday at 1:00. Okay, no problem, I'll be there.

All the while I'm skimming over my MCSE tombs, refamiliarizing myself with DHCP, DNS, MMC,  and all other complex esoteric networking thingies that make a network run.

I get home and a message is on the phone. It's her again leaving a message saying that the interview is postponed until a later date. I call her the next day and ask what's going on. She doesn't know but she'll call me with another date in the near future.

I'm stoked for this interview, I want this job, it's what I've done, it's what I do, it's what I'm good at, it's what I haven't done in over two years since that terrible day I was laid off. On that day I didn't remember driving home.

I found out there's only six or seven other candidates interviewing for this position. I'm gonna get this job...I feel it in my bones. I'm gonna dazzle 'em in this interview...whenever it happens.