Alaska, The Last Frontier

In this tough economy, you have to find time to smell the roses, take time to recharge your batteries, it works in ways you can't imagine.

I was reminded on my recent visit to Alaska, just how precious, and short life is. I was dinning with my partner when we started talking with the family sitting next to us at dinner one night. It was a father, mother, and daughter in her mid twenties vacationing together.

I found an immediate connection with the father. We had both worked in our previous industries for over twenty years, and we both had done very well in our careers, but at the same we were ready, and currently entering new career paths. We stayed an additional hour at this restaurant visiting with this family, and enjoying their company.

Life is short, I'm thankful for my trip to Alaska, the endless, and beautiful scenery, and the wonderful people I met. I'm thankful that I'm not alone, in forging a new career path. (*forging per Webster:

2.	vt establish something with effort: to establish and strive to develop something with great effort.)

In this economy making a career change does take 'great effort'. Alaska's last frontier renewed my energy for the continued work ahead. vlb

5/5/2009 It's My Birthday:)

It's my birthday today. So far, I'm off to a great start, the love of my life gave me a one year membership to 24 hour fitness. Oh. happy day:)

My horoscope in the SF Chronicle today says:
TAURUS-(April 19-May 19) What use to come easy doesn't any more. This is good because it pushes you in a new and more creative direction.

Well, this is true. I started working when I was in senior high school, and I have not been without a job since that time. But, I was ready to move forward in a new and more creative direction. My last job had become stifling. After layoffs at the company, my schedule change to nights. Now my commute, built around shuttles and BART was compromised. There are no shuttle buses to my neck of the woods after midnight.

So, leaving all of that behind me, I am pressing forward to high calling of a new career path. It's hard work, but, I'm a skilled at hard work. Above is a picture I painted with the paint program on my computer. It's practice. But, it's representative of my life. Roots firmly planted in the ground, supporting my life, as I go through the process of branching out. vlb

In Development

My Life in Development

Today, I started the journey
Yesterday, I followed the path
Last week, I kept the faith
Last month, I prayed
Last year, I looked forward to the future
Many moons ago, I grew up
Tomorrow, is my birthday

by vlb, May 5, it's my day, it's the celebration of the beginning, of what was to become me, and there is no period at the end of the sentence, just the knowledge, that as before, my life is in development

May 1st 2009 & May Showers on Labor Day

May lived up to it's reputation today and brought in the showers.

It's also Labor Day. I so wish May had brought in a shower of jobs. But, maybe it will.

In my own job search, I had a welcome phone interview yesterday. Next week, I'll have phone interview#2. Will the week after bring the in person interview? and perhaps soon, a job?

Well, whatever happens, May is my month. I was born on May 5th, and my lucky number (if you believe in lucky numbers, hey, I'll take any advantage I can get.) is lucky number 5.

Summer resorts are hiring per the Associated Press-Here's the link:

Summer resorts hiring heavily among US unemployed

But, lets get real. Here's hoping that those of us out there looking for a job, will find one, soon, a job, that after this summer, will still be ours! vlb

Unemployment-It's up again in California

(04-17) 12:06 PDT SAN FRANCISCO -- The state unemployment rate soared to 11.2 percent in March, the highest since before World War II, leaving a record 2.1 million Californians out of work, according to a report issued Friday. (San Francisco Chronicle)

It's up again, the unemployment figures continue to rise. One person out of every nine in California is unemployed. It's hard to believe.

The good news, some companies are hiring in spite of other companies having to still layoff staff.

To check out the top 200 companies in the bay area, check out this link to the SF Chronicles CHRON200.

And here's to all of us out there looking for work in 2009. vlb

Jobless claims top 6M; housing starts plummet

"

WASHINGTON — The number of people receiving jobless benefits exceeded 6 million for the first time, the government reported Thursday, and housing construction unexpectedly plunged to its second-lowest level on record — fresh evidence that the recession is far from over.

Analysts expect the labor market to remain weak for the most of this year with companies reluctant to hire new workers until an economic recovery is well under way. And the latest housing data show the slump in that market, a major factor in triggering the recession, has yet to hit bottom." (from Comcast.net news and information)

Well, this was the first bit of news I read this morning as I logged on to work on school projects, and do my job search research. Finding a job in 2009 is going to be tough. So here's to the unemployed out there, stay steadfast, because in spite of this news, Craigslist, Monster.com, Ladders, and a host of other sites out there continue to post tons of positions, and although they may not yield what your looking for, these sites do give way to new directions of possibility for work, that maybe you have not yet thought of. Be creative!:) vlb

Never Give Up

Whatever it is you're dealing with today, don't give up, never give up. The path may be steep, maybe you can't see an end to the path. But hindsight is 20/20. Sometimes it helps to look back, as you move forward.

In my ongoing job search I'm learning many lessons, sharpening many skills, and learning to be present and grateful, not just for where I've been, but for where I'm going to be. vlb