Updates for my remaining 3 readers

Maybe I still have 4 readers, but probably not.

On the job front, I didn't get the job in New Jersey. Woe upon me and my family unit as it was our last option for imminent US employment. The good news is that the Philippines job is pretty much tied up, I just need to pass one phone interview (not scheduled) and the high-level management interview in Pittsburgh next Friday. Wish me luck!

In better news, GP once again got a "1" ranking for her school work, the only one in her class of 50 (there can be more than one 1, many 2's, etc.). She was the only person to get a 1 rank all three years and that means she gets one last scholarship check. She also received her diploma (well, her friend in Suzhou has it) and the Mouse and I are very proud of her. Good job, GP!!!

Finally, here are some new Mouse photos. She's getting bigger and funnier every day. I'm hardly ever tempted to toss her out the window anymore, though we do talk about leaving her with Grandma Joyce for a few months. That also gets an "ok!" from Grandma.

Mouse hit the 6 month milestone of foot grabbing. Also sock removal is standard.


Today I broke out the penguin bowling set from Steve and Kathy.


GP wanted a laptop and now we know why. All she needs is a cat in the mix to complete the assembly.


We bought a Bumbo chair for the Mouse and today added the accessory tray. She really likes the tray - it makes a great drum.


I'm always baby juggling. No spit up accidents yet.


Stretchy leg baby has started to damage some of her more oft worn clothes. Time to change to the spring wear anyway.

Only words, trying to get back to blogging

No photos of the Mouse this time, just updating to current status. Seems like there is a fair amount of activity in my life, but not much progress being made.

I've got two solid-looking jobs on the horizon. One is a good R&D position in NJ, good industry, forming a new R&D group (over time, for now just me) and making good connections for my career. We could live in PA near the river and I'd have an hour commute. I made the cut to the final three for onsite interviews, did well, and latest news was the choice is between me and one other. Decision was originally mid-March, still waiting to hear.

Job two is a technical director position for a metals company in the Philippines. I'd be in charge of fifteen or so people, learning everything about getting metal out of scrap / ore, and developing new products. This would be an expat position with housing and car paid for, make contacts in different industries, stay up to date on relevant technology. I was one of four for onsite interviews (returned 2 days ago) and heard yesterday I am the leading candidate. Also heard that the decision date of "next week" has changed into "we want you to interview at HQ in Pittsburgh in two weeks".

So, if I get two offers it will be a tough choice. If I get one offer, from either, it would still be a great job. But . . nothings happened so far and I've been chasing Job 1 for more than 3 months, job two for about 2.5 months. It takes a long time for a high-level job like this, but it is nerve wracking.

The scariest part is if both fall through, I've got no other leads right now.

When we looked at the pros and cons of the Philippines, safety was one concern. The have a history of kidnappings (though usually in the far south, Muslim region) and high security all around: checking bags at the shopping mall entrance, checking trunks at the hotels, gated communities with armed guards and redundant airport security.

On the other hand, 13 people were killed in NY yesterday, in the fifth fatal mass shooting in the US in the past month. Makes it harder to look askance at PH security measures.

Half moved

My best friend*, Horst, helped GP and me move tons of stuff to the new place yesterday. It was possible to do without him, but it would have been painful. It's always nice to chat with him, too, especially when we're driving around lower Chestnut Hill trying to find a parking place without running over idiots. Thanks again, Horst.

The bedroom furniture showed up just as we unloaded the first storage garage batch. The movers were great and had everything in and assembled quickly. We quickly decided our bedroom is much smaller than the Raymour Flannigan showroom, so the dresser had to be put in the "den" instead of the bedroom. This leaves space for the crib and baby dresser Horst and I will get today. Too much moving! I am glad I got the RAV4 instead of something smaller, though. And starting to think the Sequoia might have been a good idea.

We're now finding all the little difficulties - flatware tray doesn't fit in any kitchen drawer, kitchen shelves are very high for GP, bathroom has one, unusable towel rack, etc. We'll get through it - it's still ten times better than living at the Candlewood :p

More later. I have time for one more Target trip and storage garage search before I have to go to Yardley.
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* my best friend list is very long and includes Horst, John, Denise, Jeff, Ann, . . . many people.

Happy Birthday to Jeff in Seattle

A good friend who I haven't seen in a long time (2 missed opportunities recently) is turning another year older today. He's still younger than me, though, which is good for him. Help me wish Jeff a big happy birthday today.

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Tomorrow is moving day and I just heard there will be snow in the morning :p Good thing Horst is helping us. Wish is luck for agreeable weather as the furniture arrives and we try to get as much as possible into the new place. I've had fun changing address online and in person for most of the important places. The bank seems to still be a PITA, though. I'll have to send them a letter.

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Yesterday I had a really good phone interview for a job in NJ. It sounds like a very good position for me and the location is pretty good, not far from the shore. Cross your fingers, eh?

A little nauseated

I just saw a TV advertisement for "Buzz Ballads 2". The song excerpts made me cringe - these are mostly the songs I call "Creed or sounds like Creed". You know what I mean.

I was sickened a little more when I realized it is the 2nd release. Enough people bought "Buzz Ballads" that the producers released "Buzz Ballads 2".

I have to lie down now.

home again

The return to China was uneventful (thank jeebuz) and I picked up the Mouse's passport and report of birth abroad (aka US accepted birth certificate). We are halfway to getting her to the US - now need the Chinese authorities' paperwork which we plan to get next week. The packing / shipping will happen on the 19th and we'll fly the 26th or so.

The big issues are: what to ship and what to carry, can we get decent housing or is it Candlewood for 30 days.

And those are the easy issues. Still waiting to hear about my first choice job (in Silicon Valley) and the 2nd choice in Ohio. Need to keep searching for tertiary, et al, opportunities as the Bush-induced recession is making the job pool shrink daily :(

I miss my girls

It's been hard being away from my two girls. On top of interviewing and fairly heavy travel, I'm missing being around the Mouse and I feel guilty that GP has so much to do without me (though her mother is an indispensable help to her). Hopefully this is the last time we are apart for awhile. The time apart will be worth it, though, if I can set up a good future for the three of us.

Politicians and political (wry) humor

I've been listening to Lewis Black for a couple of months now and find him pretty funny, smart, though his language is pretty crude. Some of his funniest bits are about politicians and he picks on all of them equally; he doesn't like *any* of them.

One of his best is describing how the Republicans and Democrats work together.

"The only thing dumber than a Republican or a Democrat is when these pricks work together.
We have a two-party system. The Democratic party, which is a party of no ideas.
And the Republican party, which is a party of bad ideas.
The way it works is the Republican stands up in Congress and goes, 'I GOT A REALLY BAD IDEA!'
Then the Democrat says, 'AND I CAN MAKE IT SHITTIER!'"

Update! - work, baby, weather

It's hard to get excited about my first day without a job. My last working day was Sunday because we had 7 days on / 7 days off due to the national China holiday (China is now 59 years old). So, my first day with no job comes right in the middle of a break. I guess next Monday when I have to take the train to Shanghai instead of my company car, I'll really understand the change.

Speaking of Shanghai trips, we checked the Mouse today. She looks good, pretty big (3.3 kg or so, about 7lbs 4ozs), but GP's not ready to have her yet. We'll, GP's ready, but her body isn't. The midwife said 1st babies are usually late, so relax for another week and we'll check again. Ok by me - I'm not in a hurry for that much excitement.

The weather has been cooler, a few sprinkles today and some big winds due to a typhoon nearby somewhere. Since we also have to start paying for our own utilities, I'm glad to have the AC off.

Now if my allergies would stop being so annoying.

Emptying the desk, filling the boxes

Four more working days for me. Then a long break during which I'll probably go crazy. Except I'll have a small mouse keeping me busy (good trade, I think).

After 9 years, 1 month, and 1 week at my company, I'm going to miss a lot of people. Since the last 2 years have been here in China, I'll miss these people the most. But, as I've said before, you don't lose friends by going away, you just find new friends to add. Those in your past are still there.

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Stupid PA tax bureau is p*ssing me off >:^(

Need reading material

I'm looking for any tips, friends, on books to order. I'm going to buy a couple of finance and management books from Amazon to improve myself career-wise and would like to get 3 or 4 leisure books to help fill the hours of job searching / baby care. I'm working through Matt Helm books for the 2nd time and the new David Sedaris ("When you are engulfed in flames" - read it) didn't last long enough.

*****

I left the house about my regular time today, 7:30, and my driver wasn't out front. Usually he is 10 or 15 minutes early, only late 2 times, once due to a flat and once when his alarm didn't go off. I sent him a message to pick me up at Starbucks and I walked over for my venti nonfat latte (pretentious enough for ya?) and poppyseed cake.

Still didn't hear from him - uh oh, probably still asleep. He finally sends me a message ("10 分钟!" = 10 minutes). I said "no problem".

He apologized profusely and I said "who cares? both of us only have 8 more days of work". I'll miss that guy.

Ed Rendell loves my money

I finally emailed the PA Dept of Revenue the other day to figure out where my tax refund was. I mailed the filing at the end of April and hadn't seen a check yet (and JDH wasn't riding a new ST, so I knew it hadn't shown up ;) ).

Their online processing check is partially successful. It showed my filing had been processed, showed the correct refund amount and said I should wait 3-4 weeks for payment. But it didn't say when the filing went through. So, I should wait 3-4 weeks from May? June? August?

The response from a person said it was processed Sept 11. I'm guessing they needed the extra interest off my money. Damn their black souls!

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The relocation representative came this morning to estimate how much stuff we'll ship to the US. My company basically pays for 2 cubic meters (roughly 750 lbs by air) and we probably have 50-75% of that. The downside is it will take 1 month to get things there (by plane even!), so we can't ship too much necessaries. The big stroller will ship instead of carry on, so I'll build up the massive bod by carrying Mouse for a few weeks.