Would you like fries or a clean database with that?

As I mentioned in my last post, big changes are a coming to my little corner of the world, and the crucial folks in my real life have been told, so I can finally break the blog silence (but not the Facebook silence, I'm not ready for that yet!).

After 4 years in my current job, a job that made me some amazing friends, taught me that I love working with databases, and gave my liver a serious workout as of late, after 4 years with this I have finally decided to quit.

But before you break out the party horns and let those gasps of excitement pass your lips I must tell you I also don't have another job lined up. Well, I didn't when I actually put in place the plan to be done with the current gig, I might have a part time one now.

Here's how it all unraveled....

About 2 months ago I sat down behind closed doors to have my 4 year, annual review with my supervisor. Somehow, and I honestly don't know how it all started, instead of going through the rote motions of checking off accomplishments and things to learn and work on, we spent close to 2 hours talking about the fact that I wasn't happy anymore and what we could do about it. It was by far the most liberating, amazing review I've ever had. By the end I had received some really good constructive criticism that I hope will make me a better employee in the future and a plan had been sketched to work me out of the organization.

They would start working on re-writing my job description (as it had drastically changed since I started) and I would step up my job hunt (now no longer needing to hide in the shadows and fake appointments in case of interviews). We figured it would take about 2 months to post, interview, hire and replace me and I hoped I could find something along that same time frame as well. However, just in case this economy totally had it in for me, we worked out a slight extension plan as well.

Let me step back for a minute and tell you about my not so secret love of databases that this job has opened up for me. Turns out I love organizing, maintaining, and producing clean, reliable data and reports. And I have come to master the current fundraising database my organization utilizes in a way that sometimes even scares me. This is something I could see myself doing full time (and that is what I've been applying for), this is something I could see myself really enjoying. Raisers Edge watch out, I will find someone who uses you and come to master you! (Okay, geek aside now, sorry about that).

And while I love my current database, I also loathe it because it is totally out of shape. It needs a major ass-kicking clean up, and I am just the one to do it. See, that's the extension plan we've worked out. If I don't have a job by the time my replacement is here and ready to be set loose on their own, I will transfer over to a full time database clean up project. We expect that to last about 8 weeks so I will have employment (if this plan all goes accordingly) till about mid December. If I do get another job, the plan is to transition the database cleanup to a part time gig (nights/weekends) instead because no matter what, it needs to be done, and not to sound totally egotistical but no one here but me really can do it quickly and efficiently.

So that's my life. Since this has all been announced a possible part time job has come up starting in mid September that I am totally, ridiculously geeked about. It's not a database gig, but it's with a company that I adore and think that I could learn an amazing amount from. But since it's not even remotely settled yet I am keeping that one to myself for now. But if it does come through it will mean that once I've wrapped up all the work here I will still need to supplement my income with a second part time job - know anyone hiring? Need a database cleaned? How about a dog walked? I'm open to most ideas (except watching your kids, sorry, but no one really wants that to happen do they?).

To make this a little less scary when it comes to life and finances, I'm also moving in with someone so my rent will be cut in half which always helps. That in itself is a completely crazy, out of left field, mind twister, but it will have to be saved for another post.

Getting by with a little help from friends since the government can be basically worthless

I am damn lucky when it comes to certain things, specifically such things as having a job and not having to interact with the majority of Chicago, Cook County, or Illinois government agencies. I bitch and moan about a lot of other things in my life but let me just say for the record here that I am really, really glad I don't have to deal with that in my life.

I was reminded of this when catching up with my blog posts from friends and enemies this morning (every once in awhile I like to take the temperature of those not like me in the world and see what they're all bitching about. It doesn't happen often). On the friend side I saw this post from impending unemployment. What a cluster fuck. While reading it, it reminded me of a post from a ways back from Rock Rock Silly. I went and dug through the archives and found the one I think I was thinking of. Not the same institution but equally as frustrating.

In these times navigating the bureaucracy is frustrating, difficult, time consuming and often leads one to drink (I would imagine). As one that does not have to traverse these murky waters yet (and hopefully not anytime soon) I would like to send out my shoulders for leaning on to all my friends that do.

A new way to see the world

Reading this guy's twitter I came across this link. What's going on in the economy in our country and our world is something that everyone is experiencing but we are still having a damn hard time processing it. Or maybe that's just me. These pictures bring it home in a whole new way for me and if you're a visual learner they might help you as well.

I think the most startling for my own ignorance was that up until now I have been thinking of the crashing economy in a strictly United States sense. Picture #5 of the job seekers in China now out of work because exports are down because we aren't buying anymore hit home like a bullet to the brain. I am amazed at my own exclusivity, I've never been patriotic before so I'm not sure why I all of a sudden started to think of this problem in such a small mindset.

I'm not sure if this makes it better or not. Opening my mind is always a good thing but I must be careful so that I not drown in the reality. When it comes down to it though I'm pretty damn lucky. My job (as far as forecasts can see) isn't going anywhere.

So if you want another look (or just a different way to look) check out the pictures.

And for another take check out Notes from the Unemployment Line brought to you by The Stranger (a Seattle based newspaper), really brought to you by impending unemployment who gave me the link in the first place. The article is all about the numbers and it's fascinating.