Computer is STILL shot

No, my computer is NOT up and running yet. In fact, the visit from the Geek Squad made things WORSE! They are sending a new geek this weekend, to see if he can do any better. I'm not exactly brimming with confidence.

It's been a crazy summer...and it's not over yet.

My 21-year-old son, who is in the army, is being shipped to Italy. Unfortunately, he was unable to arrange leave to come home first so we won't get to see him before his three-year assignment in Europe. We hope he will be able to come home for Christmas. At least it is Italy and not Iraq.

Well, here's a little story that should go in Reader's Digest. It's funny...but only when it's not happening to you!

I had a GREAT job interview with a health care organization yesterday. The people were great, the offices were beautiful, the benefits were absolutely OUTSTANDING! They said they’d interviewed six people (I was the sixth) and they would be having three of those return for further interviews. The hiring manager told me I would be one of those three. I left feeling very positive and excited when I left the offices. Maybe my luck was finally turning around.

Last night, I was pleased to find that my computer was sort-of working, at least well enough (I thought) to zip off a couple of thank-you emails to the folks I’d interviewed with. When I hit the SEND on the first note, the one going to the senior manager of HR, something didn’t look right. I checked my SENT MAIL folder to discover that my pleasant little thank you note had been replaced by a highly inappropriate advertisement dealing with male anatomy. I called the HR woman's voice mail, leaving a panicked message, explaining what had happened. Clearly I have a virus. I would obviously never intentionally send such an email to a prospective employer! I hope she will see humor in the irony of the situation, but I'm not counting on it.

I came in early to work and sent emails to both the HR rep – thanking her and again explaining the awful computer malfunction – and to the hiring manager. Because I was unsure if the HR rep’s email might forward (she’s on vacation until next week) and therefore the hiring manager might be made aware of the email by her back-up HR rep, I included a brief description of what had happened in my thank you note to him. So now everyone at that company who holds my future in their hands is aware of the mortifying consequences of my misbehaving computer. I was hopeful they’d see the humor in it and someone would reply telling me not to worry about it, but that has not happened. My computer may have cost me a fabulous job opportunity. I believe this is one of those situations you laugh about in retrospect; but it is anything but funny right now.

I met with my boss at my temporary job this morning. She wants me to say on here. The offer pales in comparison to what I’d get from from the other company, but it’s a job! I’d continue at my current salary, with medical and dental benefits, until the end of their fiscal year. (Which runs May to May). At that point I would become a regular employee with full benefits. We have not discussed at what salary that would be. I suspect they want to pay me less as a full-time person than as a contractor. (That’s the impression I got.) The benefits are far less impressive than those offered by the health care company. However, I haven’t sent any pornographic emails to my current boss. EGADS!

PacMan (age 13 and starting high school in the fall) and I took a four day cruise over last weekend, something I'd booked at the end of last year to take advantage of some use-them-or-lose-them credit card points. We had a nice time. I wish I could escape to the Caribbean now!

Paul and I are going to New Hampshire again the weekend of August 11. It's our two year anniversary.

A recent health scare which turned out to be nothing (but could have been fatal) put Paul back on the Corvette obsession. It's become a pursue your dreams before you die thing. He applied for a loan last week for a $32,000 car! I think it's complete insanity for him to go into that kind of debt at this point, but I kept my big mouth shut! (It wasn't easy for me.)

That's all. Okay, Hoss. There was finally something for you to read today!!