Rooster_Ties

Thanks Joe, Many times I've thought that I have the personality-type of a musician, but not enough skills to ever find employment related to music (like being a music-teacher, or even a high-school band director). And unfortunately, the one thing I have any halfway decent talent at (choral singing), isn't anything that can pay the bills (even worse, probably, than being a jazz musician). And thanks Chrome and John B. I have done a lot of thinking about lots of options, but I'm probably too quick to find reasons for why I can't do something (or won't be good at something), than to find things that I can do. Also, I should really try the temping route, probably – or at least consider it more than I have. As you can imagine, my wife has been bugging me about finding a job, of any sort, even if it isn't necessarily what I think I want to do for the rest of my life. We're OK, money-wise, cuz we live pretty frugally, and we can live off her salary if we really don't buy anything beyond what we really need. In some ways, the fact that we're not starvin' (metaphorically speaking), has probably given me too much of the luxury of time, as I try to figure things out. Unfortunately, we live in a world that expects you to have all the answers, and have them quickly. (And to have “big” long-range goals too.)

Trying to reinvent yourself is a pain in the ass. -_- ( Sorry this is longer than I really intended, but I don't know what to cut, and I don't have the time to edit it down like I probably should. Wasn't it Mark Twain who said once "sorry this letter is so long, but I didn't have time to write you a short letter." - ??? ) Background: I was laid off in January of 2003 (yes, nearly a year ago), and have been having a devil of a time trying to figure out what the heck to do with my life, career-wise. Every new idea I come up with seems to have lots and lots of hurdles to overcome, many of which would end up requiring considerably more education (specialized masters degrees, with undergrad requirements that aren't anywhere close to being in my transcript). I never was a "specialist" in what I did before (for the last 10 years), which is really my entire career - since I've only had one full-time job in my entire life (the one I was laid off from). But what I did before appears (on paper) to have been a technical job, and one that was fairly specialized (at least to the outside world). I was a software development analyst, which is to say that I was a BUSINESS ANALYST, crafting Business solutions (more than technical solutions), working within a software development environment. I helped gather all the information necessary to decide what the software should do for hundreds of the internal customers of the corporation I worked for. I worked with other people (in other business units within the company) to determine what the Business Requirements were, in order to write all the functional and technical specifications for the "real" software developers. Sure I picked up some programming skills, here and there. But I was NEVER much of a good programmer, ever - and I hate programming. I'm now (this week) in the process of rewriting my resume, in order to apply for a job as an Executive Assistant to the Dean of a local public University. Much of what I did in my old job, planning and developing short term and long term strategies for specific business issues (and the software to implement those solutions), etc... – seems relevant to this sort of a position. But getting it all on paper in a way that accents all the right things, is proving to be a real challenge. And speaking of being a challenge, so is trying to reinvent yourself after 10+ years, when I never really did "invent" myself in the first place. ( ) I have a Computer Science degree from a good liberal arts college, and also a separate music degree as well – although the music degree is pretty much non-functional, since I really didn't concentrate in any one area much. (I was kind of a hybrid vocalist/music-history major, with very little theory, and my functional music skills are just "OK" at best. I do have solid enough vocal skills to have sung in the Kansas City Symphony Chorus for the last 8 years or so. ) Anyway, my heart isn't in computers, and it never was... What I really wanted to find (at least six months ago, and for the two or three months after that) was some sort of support-role in some sort of Architecture-related firm, doing design requirements gathering. But I found out rather quickly that you pretty much have to be an Architect to do that sort of thing (along with all the other responsibilities of an Architect), and that would mean a good 6 years more school for me. Plus, I don't think I have the technical background, or (more importantly) the natural technical aptitude to be an architect. (And lots of Architecture jobs are starting to go over to India too, believe it or not – or at least they're starting to, from what I understand.) I also looked at working for some sort of 'not-for-profit' organization, doing grant-writing (which is something similar to a software selection process I went through for a big nine-month project I was on, helping to select a multi-million dollar software vendor - I was one of 16 on the selection committee). But I've found that most of the not-for-profits around here, that are big enough to hire full-time grant writers, are nearly all medical research institutes (at least here in Kansas City). But I have no interest or aptitude for medical research. The majority of the not-for-profits in and around Kansas City are otherwise pretty small, and most of the people who write the grants for them are the directors of the organization (along with their board of directors). But more over, the kind of grant-writing, "grant-winning" process these organizations go through appears to be more similar to being a political lobbyist, than what I had in mind (which I was hoping would be literally that, 'writing' the grant requests, compiling all the information for them, etc...). I'm a fairly introverted guy, and I can't imaging having to be "on" and "sell" an organization to potential funding sources (in person), and having to develop long-term relationships with those organizations (based on lots of face and phone contact). In fact, the fact that I'm so introverted, but also such a "generalist", really does seem to be part of my problem. My last job (which was my only full-time job, ever!!), was something I kind of just 'stumbled' into -- one of those "right place at the right time" stories. I hate to say this, but... I'm 35 years old, and this is my very first REAL job search. ( ) And on top of that, I really don't have any strong career goals ( ), other than to work for a good organization, and work in a creative environment, and hopefully one that isn't as high-stress as my last job had become in those last 2-3 years. The last job I had was GREAT for about the first 5-6 years (1994 to about 1999 or 2000), and then IT (computer software systems) started changing rapidly, with massive outsourcing, and large-scale software systems being "purchased", instead of solutions being developed in-house. Now everyone in IT has to be a specialist, or else be a manager -- and I have never managed people before (and I know I'm not a very effective leader, so I have NO interest in becoming a manager). Well, I really should get back to work on this stuff. I've thought about starting a thread like this 100 times or more, but just never have, until today. And I guess in some ways, I've kind of had my head in the sand (at least off and on), ever since I got laid off nearly a year ago. Has anyone here ever had to go through some serious "re-invention" of themselves, career-wise???? Any ideas for how to go about doing it?? - especially when I see myself being a career "generalist" all my life (which I don't think is a bad thing, actually). But I'm afraid most of what I see (or maybe what I choose to see, probably) are hurdles and brick walls, rather than opportunities. (Thanks for any and all responses, including any that are maybe a bit on the harsh side. I probably need a good kick in the pants, and I would welcome any candid advice, even if it isn't necessarily very sympathetic or soothing. I don't mean for this thread to turn out to be a "pity party" for poor ol' Rooster. Let me have it, with both barrels - cuz I probably need it.)

Both of the CD-players in our cars "remember" where you were in the current CD, when the power is stopped. I think it does this by a "very technical method" whereby the laser position ISN'T moved when the car power is shut off – and thus it picks up right where it left off when you start the car. (Well, maybe not EXACTLY where you left off, but the same place within about 5 seconds, or less. I've disconnected the car's battery once (to replace it), and with the new battery, the CD left in the player took right off where it left off, despite the car having had no power for several hours. My point being that our car CD players (different brands, by the way), don't have to electronically store the position of the laser. It just stops right in its tracks, like if you turned off an LP turntable (and if it stopped immediately, dead in it's tracks), and left the needle in the groove. Then when you turned it back on, the needle would still be in the same groove.

As long as the Shaw box hung around, without selling out (or "timing out"), I'm shocked to see one go for this much on eBay.

A 5-day listing that picks up 2,800 hits in the first 2 days? Impressive. Please pardon my salty language, but Jesus Fucking Christ!!!!!!! $2,900.00 for a little toy "Hot Wheels" car??????? Now I've seen it all.......

Hi Gang, After January 1st, I'm really going to have to knuckle down with some things in my personal life. And as a result, I probably should make creating my own Blindfold Test some sort of a lesser priority. But rather than give up my slot entirely (currently I'm #8), can I ask to be moved further down in the list?? How's about putting me in at #17, and shifting all the people between #9 and #17 up a notch (so they become #8 through #16). Or maybe I should just go to the end of the line??? Whatever the board, and/or the BFT Gods decide is fine by me. -- Rooster T.

Wish I lived closer, I'd love to meet you guys sometime, and hear the band too!! Would love to meet you too, Chuck -- and well, lots of other people on this board. Don't know if I'd really pass muster as far as my non-"on-line" personality goes, but it'd be fun to give it a try. 'Free For All' and I have hung out together on several occasions, and for the most part I've managed to fake the "jazz guy who knows a thing or two" role, with at least moderate aplumb (or at least so I'd like to think ). And I'm happy to report that socially awkwark though I may be, most of my other jazz musican friends don't seem to run for the door when they see me coming!! If anybody's ever passing through Kansas City, let me know ahead of time - and I'll be glad to show you around town, or just hang out for a beer or somthin'.

So, I guess then it’s just a phallusy to think that any such risqué band photos will ever materialize in the future...

'fraid I hafta agree. I'm not exactly saying this album is "bad", but rather that it doesn't do anything for me. WAY too mellow... ...so much so, that it always puts me to sleep. ZZZZzzzzzzzz........

They sent in their own pic. Unless your band has comparable racks, don't bother sending your band's pic.

While not pictured, the drums are just as pointy.

It sure does suck to be balding in a death metal band.

Sure, all of Jeremy's songs were about his turtle, but he always carried the amps.

These brick-wallers are scary...in Indiana, maybe.

Skeeter was purty durn excited over the new banner!

Insane Clown Pussies

From left: Line cook, coffee shop waitress, Kinkos guy and auto detailer. Not so scary now, are they?

Each morning, behind the Hostess factory, Vikktimm waited for the day-old fruit pies.

The many non-threatening moods of Steve Perry's younger brother, Jeremy.

Screaming! Screaming for cheese fries!

Nothing says "BadAss MFer" quite like a silver brocade pirate shirt.

"Mom didn't wash my jeans, that bitch!"

"Okay, guys. Line up by blood pressure."

Despite their beliefs to the contrary, the guitarist and drummer are NOT the two greatest assets of this band.

Not only did one of these guys suggest that this would be cool, but the other three actually agreed.