Monday, March 31, 2008

I'm exhausted...

It was a great weekend except for the bad
ending after I got back to Florida.

~Landed in Nashville, picked up the rental car,
then had the pleasure and honor of meeting
Winston for lunch. Another Southern Gentleman
who is even more charming in person than he is
on his blog. Thank you, dear man. Repeat, ok?

~Drove to Cookeville, got settled in my hotel room
and called the HR manager. Made an appointment for
10 am Friday.

~The interview was more than I expected.
I talked to the HR Manager, the Production Supervisor
and the Engineering Manager.... for almost three hours.
Everyone there loves their job. Loves their boss.
The Engineering Manager was intrigued by my email
address. He googled it. He found my blog.
"So, you're a writer? You sounded pretty excited to come up here."
Yes. And yes.

I think it would be a great place to work. I think they liked me.
There is no pressure to be available right away. They understand
about needing to sell my house first.
They did not offer me a job yet. They said they would be in
touch soon.
Their pay range is comparable to where I am now, but I have
no idea what kind of rate they would offer to start.
I left there feeling good. Very positive.

The rest of Friday and most of Saturday I spent driving.
And driving some more. It's beautiful, even though it rained
almost every minute for three and a half days.
It actually reminded me of southern Ohio.... lots of rolling hills.
Fruit trees are in bloom everywhere, as well as daffodils, crocus,
forsythia, grape hyacinth and a few pink dogwood. True Spring.
Gorgeous.

I only took a few photos. I'll get them posted soon.

~Saturday I saw a realtor. Showed her the kinds of properties
I liked and told her what price range I would stay with.
She is going to email details of anything she thinks I would like.

~Now for the bad part of the weekend...
I should have been home by 6:30. Turned out to be after 9:30.
My car blew the radiator on the way home from the airport.
On Interstate 95, in the rain, about 75 miles from home.
I thought I had 'roadside assistance' coverage. Nope.
Tow truck = $310.
Shit.
I'll be using another vacation day tomorrow to get the car fixed.
I guess it can be fixed. I'm too tired right now to care.


p.s. the Spaghetti Monster did not get me... you crazy, sweet people.

UPDATE: got the car back this afternoon. $266 for the radiator.
Mechanic said they couldn't find any other problems. Yay!

29 comments:

k said...

Aw, f*ck.

And there you were driving along and keeping your fingers crossed the whole time, just like I was that day...

If my buddies had been anywhere NEAR you, they would have run over to UHaul and rented a car trailer and picked it up for you and you would have insisted on paying the gas, which they would have eventually agreed to...

Crap.

I'm so sorry.

Cars are such assholes sometimes.

Now...Where were we?

OH! Sitting on the edge of our seats ALL weekend just WAITING to see if you'd post something good for us...

Isn't it wonderful to be in a congenial work atmosphere? You can just feel it the minute you walk in the door. It's like this nice warm blanket wrapping you up all snug. Even though it's work and you know that given a day there or a day at the beach, all you'd see of those employees is their little feet in the air as they slide into the water.

I really miss working sometimes.

I won't hear one word about the Spaghetti Monster, pro or con, unless and until you can tell us something about his Father and/or Mother. Cause if you didn't meet the dad and see if he was cute and available, it doesn't count.

OH I'm so glad you're back! And so glad you had an excellent visit out there!

Welcome home!

k said...

BOING BOING BOING!

'scuse please, I get all excited sometimes.

boneman said...

....yeah, but do ya hav't'snore so loud? The dogs can't even get in fourty winks!

dianne said...

Glad you are home safe & sound, no thanks to your car, good that you didn't decide to drive your car up there.It sounds like a nice place to work and live, though I hope it was only Spring rain; guess you have quite a few decisions to mull over now, hope all goes well for you.

Anonymous said...

The pleasure was all mine, m'lady. Repeat? You bet... But you said I am "charming"...? Guess I need to work on that to be a bit more of a rascal and not so much a gentleman. Thanks anyway, I know your intentions were good... :-)

Sorry about the rain, but glad the visit and interview turned out positive. For several days before you got here there had been blue skies and sunshine. Maybe a return visit will be nicer for you.

Bummer about the car. Yeah, radiators can usually be cleaned and flushed and patched. If it is really bad, may need a new one. But cheaper than a new car by a long-shot.

Y'all come back soon now, ya heah...

kdzu said...

Thank Goodness you got back safe and sound. Sorry about the radiator trouble. As for the Spaghetti Monster.........had he wrapped his tentaclely arms around you.......
he'd be missing a few as soon as I could get up there. Glad you bypassed that potential problem.
Welcome back.

dianne said...

Oh Boneman, there is a whole state between Tennessee & Indiana. Are ya sure it wasn't you snoring?

Jean said...

I loved the area in spite of the rain. Really.
Cookeville is a bit bigger and busier than I'd expected, but surrounded by small towns, beautiful country. Housing is very, very reasonable. The people are wonderful, friendly, laid-back, helpful, sweet.

When I say the radiator 'blew'... it literally blew one corner off the top. Scared the shit outta me. I'm very glad I was at least out of the city of Jacksonville. Lucky there. Car is in the shop today, needing at least a new radiator... it may be time to retire this one and look for another. We'll see.

Anonymous said...

Very interesting except for the radiator part which sucks.

Carteach said...

Don't be shocked if the word on the car comes back.... needs a lot more than a radiator. Just be prepared for that.

Visit sounds good......
Maybe a summer move?
Who can tell......

curmudgeon said...

Tennessee sounds very positive, even if the cars is a PITA.
Good for you!

Anonymous said...

Oh my. I'm so profoundly jealous, dear. *s* Especially after the day I had today. To feel good at work? What is this of which you speak?

Here's hoping things keep looking up for you (and the radiator is an easy fix!)

AspergantuS said...

I'm just glad you're home and in one piece... Im not sure what I'm going to do if/when you move up there... Kinda selfish on my part, but I don't give an obese rodent's rectum!!!

Jean said...

I'm not gone yet, my dear friend.
They have the net and telephones up there too, ya know.
And, it wouldn't be a bad drive to or from your neck of the woods. Or, short flight to Nashville or Knoxville. I do not intend to disappear or forget my friends!

LBJ said...

It sounds like reality to me. Good company, good people and I guarantee the cost of living will be less. I loved my home up in CLE, but bought something even better here, for $70,000 less. So what, I have to shop on line more. . rural is good.

I have good feelings about this, even if your radiator didnt like change.

Jean said...

I think it's a possibility that there might be more than one work option up there. Not sure what, but maybe I'll put out feelers for other things too.

Deadman said...

Welcome home. Sorry about the car...

:o(>

dianne said...

That all sounds very promising Jean, other work options, nice people, affordable real estate, good. They have the internet as you said so please dont leave us,keep Pondering.. up & going you are now a very happy part of my life. I would miss you so much.

boneman said...

¡¡¡ʎɐp s,ןooɟ ןıɹdɐ

boneman said...

¡¡¡ʎɐp s,ןooɟ ןıɹdɐ

Jean said...

I see the link she sent you works...heh!

boneman said...

yes and, knowing me, there ain't enough net to outlast me...
HA!
¡¡¡ʎɐp s,ןooɟ ןıɹdɐ happy

even so, look. I forgot a stupid word....dang!

Are ya feeling better yet?

Jean said...

Feeling better? Because of the car?
Yeah, pretty much. It will work out ok somehow.

boneman said...

Good. And since you had one less happy day, here's a present for ya...
˙ooʇ 'ʎɐpıןoɥ ǝɥʇ ʎoɾuǝ uɐɔ ʇoןɐ ǝʇɐן ǝɹɐ ʇɐɥʇ sʞןoɟ ʎɐʍ ʇɐɥʇ ˙ɹɐǝʎ sıɥʇ ןıɹdɐ ɟo puoɔǝs ǝɥʇ uo ǝq oʇ ƃuıoƃ sı ʎɐp s,ןooɟ ןıɹdɐ....just for Jean!
(well, and everyone else who's late for whatever, eh?)

dianne said...

Good news about the radiator being fixed, glad you didn't blow a head gasket, thats really expensive!

dianne said...

You know its kind of scary being female & traveling alone sometimes, thats why I'm glad you decided not to drive to Cookeville. I took myself & three children to the country to stay at my cousin's farm many years ago. On our way home the car broke down out the back of nowhere of course.Couldn't work out what was wrong with the car. We were on an expressway and this is pre mobile/cell phone era,(thank God I have one now) so I gathered up the children & we started walking looking for one of those phones to call for roadside assistance. Finally got through & they said there would be a two hour wait. Just great I thought. We went back to the car, feeling very exposed & vulnerable; I was half hoping someone would stop & help & then when some guy did I wished the hell he hadn't. Told him thanks but no thanks we were right. The hours dragged past, hoping no more unwanted guys would stop, of course they did & then finally help arrived only to tell me that he was just a tow truck driver that assistance was on its way.I asked why cant you tow us to somewhere more inhabited, sorry lady thats not my job. So we sat there for three more hours until help arrived. After a five hour trip the car broke down again at a set of lights, had to phone again, waited & waited. Finally help arrived, the fuel gauge was broken & I was out of petrol. They gave me enough to get us home. I was so grateful that night for us all to get home safely,very frazzled but at least all OK. I swear I will never go on a long trip alone again. So Jeanie you be careful too OK, there are a lot of opportunistic creeps out there.Shudder!!!

Jean said...

Berry, you make me laugh, as usual...thanks!

Dianne, your trip sounds very scary!
I have no choice but to travel alone most times. Been very lucky until this time.

Anonymous said...

My son (Marine) sold his condo in North Carolina from several states away. You don't have to be there.

Sell low, and cash the check.

Jean said...

Yes, there seem to be a variety of options. I appreciate the info, Bane.