Suspicious Secret

Someone knows something, a secret. This person is divulging information to people responsible for hiring me, or in most cases right now, not hiring me. It simply cannot be a streak of bad luck. Once, maybe. Twice, a little odd. Three times, shame on you!

ABC4 and CW30, a local ABC affiliate in Salt Lake City, advertised an opening for Research Director. I responded to the ad, and with my Nielsen TV experience, I was selected for an interview. I cleaned myself up and headed south, only after about a month of exchanging emails, phone interviews, and proving myself time and time again. After I arrived in SLC and just prior to my interview, I received a call, "Chase, my general manager has decided to take an alternate route. We are canceling the position. I just wanted to call you before you made the trip all the way down here." Gee thanks.

Big Dog Satellite, a Dish Network provider in Idaho Falls, called me to interview for a management position for a new office on the east side of town. I was hesitant to accept the invitation, but I did accept. I showered, shaved, and did the other "S" and suddenly received a phone call, "Chase, one of my guys is sick today, so I am short-handed. We will have to reschedule it. I will call you in a few days." I received no such call.

Idahoan, you know, that company that makes, packages, and sells fake potatoes, phoned me for an interview yesterday. Actually, it was an employment agency that contacted me. I was a little surprised because I had not initiated any communication in this case - a sign that things were too good to be true. Once again, I took care of the three "S's." I took my keys from the kitchen counter and headed for my car in the garage ... ring, ring, buzz, buzz. "Chase, Idahoan just called and wants to hold off for a week or so, and they might also rethink this position."

Please, whoever you are, stop telling people whatever evil secret you are telling them.

WTF.

Order Up, Squidward!

My triumphant return to my homeland has been somewhat tight-lipped. As such, I often see people around town that are unaware of my proximity. When our eyes meet, which I avoid at all costs, I see curiosity.

"Hey, nice to see you," they might say. "Are you back for good?"
I answer with politeness as short as possible, "Yes," and the curious look turns to betrayal.
They then say, "You are? Why didn't I know about this?"

Similar interactions have repeated frequently in the three months I have been back in Idaho, with one bright exception:

My brother invited me to a "business lunch" one afternoon. It is against Young Nature to decline anything free, especially food, so I gladly accepted. Upon arrival, and after leaving Denny's with a free Grandslam Breakfast, I chatted with the restaurant manager, an old friend, and avoided another person caught in the corner of my eye. We were seated and all was well ... and then it happened. The person whom I had deliberately placed in the corner of my eye was now forefront, the owner of the businesses I managed prior to New York.

We had an awkward exchange, and then I realized something. "Are you our server?" I asked.
"Yes, I am," he said.
I could hardly believe it. For the tiniest fraction of a second I felt a bit of sympathy, but it quickly grew into an evil pleasure. And I spoke, "Well, this will be nice for a change."

I placed my order with the server training the man now serving me.

Tick Talk

Nothing in life is free. Time is money.

I once drove 70 mph in a 60 mph speed zone on a 3 hour trip: I saved some time.
One time, I told a professor that I would read my essay aloud in front of the entire class if he would allow me to retrieve it from my nearby apartment: I bought some time.

Time after time, time is on my side ... yes, it is.

Right now, currently, I have lots of time, in fact, my time is free -- free time. There is one problem, however, I must spend my free time as I receive it. I must spend my free time in real time. If time is money, then I suppose I have quite the net worth ... well, at this very moment, for this very second anyway.

During this time of free time, I have come to the conclusion that unemployment or retirement is the only way to be continuously rich. As soon as I find a job, I will lose all of my free time and thereby become poor.