Home

Advertisement

Customize
About this Journal
Current Month
 12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31
May. 19th, 2009 @ 10:05 am List of Updates
This is the easiest way I can think of to update the 3 people who seem to still lurk on here:

Since my last real update:
  • The economy is screwing with my business, but I'm still somehow the best performing rep in the region as it relates to hitting my sales targets.  Of course, that doesn't mean much when you have the smallest territory.
  • We brought home the cutest Dorgi (Welsh Corgi/Dauschund mix) from the animal shelter in January.  He is the greatest puppy ever, and will be turning a year old in July.  Pictures to come later.
  • Went back east for Christmas and saw a lot of old friends in Orlando. Also had a good time in PA & NY as usual with my family.
  • Spent a weekend with my friends at Camp Pendleton back in March.  It was important at that time to help me clean my mind after some hardcore stress from the previous few weeks.
  • Losing my top account in the next few months due to some B.S.  My boss and I are pretty positive we got screwed big time. 
  • In the meantime, I'm prospecting and have a number of good leads, but I'm learning to never count your chickens before they hatch.
  • Still in the same house.. we'll see how things go - I'd like to purchase a house by the end of the year if possible, so that we can get both the Federal tax credit, and potentially the CA credit if we purchase a brand new house.
  • I'm happy with the new Administration, but I'm wary about all these bailouts and stimulus packages.  I think the concept is correct (create Gov projects which are then contracted out to companies who can then hire again, and then purchase from materials suppliers like myself), however it could also very well blow up in our faces if we're not careful.
  • Drinking Liberally is dying.. I think it's due to the lack of political excitement now that the election is over.
  • Planning a quick trip back east with my father sometime this summer to Memphis to visit Shiloh (Civil War battlefield, one major one I haven't been to before), or in the fall to NYC for the festival of San Gennaro in Little Italy, and then a visit to Ellis Island (ironically, with all the time we spend in NYC, never been there!). 
That's all I can think of right now..
About this Entry
Maiden
1 comment
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
May. 18th, 2009 @ 10:18 pm Black Widows Everywhere
Bakersfield seems to have a permanent infestation of Black widows. If you know me well, you know I hate spiders with a passion.

Yeah.. I'll scream like a little school girl..

So much to update, but I'm being told it's my bedtime. Funny how that works.

Anyway.. I really need to update.. maybe I'll do it in the morning before I officially start my work day.
About this Entry
Maiden
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Dec. 10th, 2008 @ 03:46 pm (no subject)
It seems that there are only a few of my friends who ever post on LJ any more... so I don't feel so bad that I haven't been keeping this updated. However, it's about time for one of those updates.

Since I last posted and entry, there've been quite a few events that have transpired, and a few that are planned or in the works. For the first time since we met, Kat and I finally live alone. My in-laws moved into their new home at the beginning of September, so we've had 3 full months of unihibited freedom (it honestly feels longer than that). This house is still a mess - it'll probably take us another couple of months to really get things straightened and organized the way we want them to be. Overall, though, I can't complain too much - 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom house for an extremely cheap amount of rent. We've had preliminary discussions with Kat's parents about potentially buying the house, but there hasn't been much effort put into it, since both parties are still focused on the here and now.

As I mentioned in my previous post, if we did purchase the house, there would be quite a bit of work to be done - remodel both bathrooms and the kitchen, replace all the windows and doors, re-do the electrical system, replace flooring in the whole house, re-drywall the garage (and replace the garage door), probably even re-do the ceilings over time. Of course, a fresh coat of paint in each room is also needed without question.

I've finally been able to get out of the house and socialize a bit thanks to my involvement in a few groups - most notably Drinking Liberally, which is a non-partisan organization set up for people to just enjoy a night out with some beer (and in our case pizza) and good conversation for like-minded individuals. I also was involved a little bit w/ the Presidential election making phone calls for Obama.

As of Jan. 1st I'm completely on my own at work - no more trainee mode... so that'll be nice.

I just lost the desire to type.
About this Entry
Maiden
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Jul. 21st, 2008 @ 04:21 pm Updates
I just realized, it's been 2 years since I left Florida....

It's been almost four months since I took over my predecessor's territory and things are going extremely well. Oftentimes Sales Reps get lazy and let their service slack off a bit - many of the accounts I inherited were not happy with the past few years of service, and a few were even considering going with a competitor (one did, before I even had the chance to prove myself). However, I've pretty much turned around every single account, even with the slow economy. Of course, it helps that I have a very large account out in the oil fields, and a few smaller accounts related to the industry. Obviously, business is going extremely well for the petroleum companies, and while many people are suffering from high gas prices, I smugly drive around in my Honda which gets between 32 and 39 MPG.

I've also been able to capture a few accounts that we pretty much had lost, and my hard work is making a good impression. One deal alone is probably going to double my annual sales volume, and will most likely solidify my position not only within the company, but as a Rep who'll be earning commission and bonuses on top of his salary by the beginning of next year. I'm beginning to focus on finding new business, and while at first I was a bit apprehensive, I've been gaining confidence each time I walk in the door of a potential account. I gave my first official final presentation to a prospect this morning, and I think the company is extremely interested in what we have to offer. I'll find out in 2 weeks if I got the bid or not. I also have a few other final presentations lined up for the upcoming week or two, so the chances for success are definitely looking good.

Kat was re-hospitalized in mid-April after going off her medication. The good news is that in the past few months, she's worked extremely hard and now has a much better understanding about the illness and what she needs to be doing on her end to maintain a sense of equilibrium. She passed her qualifying exam to become a substitute teacher in the local school districts, and is currently applying for jobs for the fall. She's hoping to go back to school next Spring to begin her full teacher credentialing.

My in-laws just put a bid which was accepted on a new house, and it appears they're willing to work out a good deal with us to purchase their old house. The one problem is that this house is in need of extreme work. We're currently in the process of ripping out all the carpet, as we believe there are mold and other allergens embedded within which probably made my father-in-law sick. Both bathrooms and the kitchen will need to be redone, the house is need of rewiring and some plumbing work, landscaping needs to be completely redone.. so yes, it's a lot of work, time and money that we'll have to put into the house. We're going to be sitting down in the next few days to hash out an agreement. I'm looking at this as an investment, and I intend to do a lot of the work myself (with help of course, just not hired hands). I'm grateful for this opportunity, because it will allow us to get a house without having to jump through a number of hoops.

One of my close friends from college who's a Marine was stationed in Monterey last year and then had to move back east for 6 months is finally back in California, only this time he's stationed down south at Pendleton. I'm driving down there Saturday morning to hang out with him, and we intend to go to San Diego and look at battleships. I've really missed having the opportunity to spend time with good friends, so this should be a great day. It's definitely worth the 6 hour round-trip drive (not including the 1 1/2 hour round trip drive from Pendleton to San Diego).

Kat and I will be coming back to Florida for the weekend before Christmas before we fly to Pennsylvania to spend Christmas with my Grandmother (as we do pretty much every year). If any of my friends who still read this would like to see us, we'll be in Orlando from Dec. 19 and 20th, and possibly one or two more days after that (not sure yet because my father hasn't booked the flights).
About this Entry
Maiden
2 comments
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Apr. 4th, 2008 @ 08:25 am Wow.. didn't realize it's been a few months..
So.. a quick update.. once again.

Training has been going well.. and the Gods have shined upon me with good fortune as a reward for my diligence: one of the 3 Reps here (besides me) decided he couldn't hack it. He's a nice guy and all, but he didn't really work smart, and he lost a TON of business. I'm sure his leaving was mutual for both him and the company. Either way, I've picked up the vast majority of his territory.. though I'm still not reaping the profits of it.. yet. For now, since I'm still training, the other two Reps get to split the commission.. but once I've gained enough business and experience to be 100% on my own, these will be my accounts. Honestly, I consider them mine already.. I'm pretty much 95% on my own now anyway, though I can use the two Reps for support and guidance when needed.

I'm already busting my hump and it's paying off with a few of the accounts - who already seem to notice the difference between my predecessor and I. I'm already potentially gaining more business, and I'm paying attention to details where the other guy didn't. So I'd say things are pretty kick ass... though my days are long and sometimes stressful thanks to the mountains of upkeep I must attend to that was not done for the past.. oh.. year and a half or so.

I look at this as the foundation, though.. because that's what it really is. I'm doing everything to fix all the cracks, and in the end, it will only make everything that much stronger.
About this Entry
Maiden
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Jan. 30th, 2008 @ 08:28 am Wow.. the time flys when you actually have a job!
Just a quick note for those who still read my journal:

I'm in the middle of my fourth week of training with Barnes, and everything is going exceptionally well. I've been shadowing 4 different salespeople the past number of weeks, and I've definately had a lot of hands on training.

I fly to Cleveland on Sunday, where I'll have 5 days of classroom instruction on product knowledge , sales practices and the like. The accomodations are pretty nice: Crowne Plaza hotel (private room), complimentary wine/beer/snacks on the top level... yeah.. style.

After Cleveland, I'll start to venture out, and begin to prospect new business.

I'm pretty excited.. and nervous!
About this Entry
Maiden
2 comments
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Dec. 16th, 2007 @ 02:25 am Things are finally looking up
I received the Financial offer from Barnes.

I'm not going to get into specifics regarding salary.. because it's really none of your business.

However, I will tell you the following:

I'll be making more than when I worked at Systems Source.

I'm also going to start out as a trainee. The first 4 weeks will be spent primarily with the Regional Sales Manager and one of the Senior sales people, where I'll learn the basics and get a taste for the position. The fifth weeek (or maybe a few weeks after that.. depending), I'll fly to Cleveland for a week to visit the corporate HQ, where I'll learn 2 main things: how to sell the products and product knowledge.

After that, I'll be technically still training, but part of the process includes me helping to gain new customers, with the intention that once I'm on my own, they will be my accounts to handle. So I'll be starting business relationships with new clients whilst still having someone watch my back, which is awesome!

Within the year, depending on how fast I can get a certain level of business prepared, I'll promote to a regular Salesperson. My salary will go down just a small amount, but I'll also be earning commission and bonuses at that point.

The job includes full benefits including health, dental and vision, 401K, stock options, paid vacation, etc.

I'm very excited, and I'm glad that things are finally looking up! I most likely start around Jan. 7th.. as it's going to take a few weeks to process paperwork.

On 12/20, Kat and I are flying back east. We met up with my parents in Baltimore, where we'll spend 2 nights.. spending time in D.C. on the 21st. Then we drive to PA to see my family there.. and after Christmas, we'll go to NY to spend time with my father's friends. We then go to Boston to see my Great Aunt & Uncle and my 2nd & 3rd cousins. Then to CT to see Kat's friends.. then back to PA.. then home on the 30th. So we're gonna be busy!

We're still living with Kat's parents.. and we've decided that it's wise to stay here for a while so we can pay off our debts and finally start to put away some money in the bank. If when we're ready to get our own place, the house we're looking at is still available, we're going to try to make a deal. It helps that family owns the house.. and she owns it outright.. so it makes life a lot easier. We'll see though.. because she was considering putting it back on the market to see if it'll sell now.

Kat's doing much better.. I think thanks in part to my securing the job.. also in part to other reasons.. but either way.. she's doing well!
About this Entry
Maiden
1 comment
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Dec. 1st, 2007 @ 12:46 am Finally
So I finally got a job offer this week!

Once everything is signed, sealed and delivered, I'll be a Sales Rep for an industrial parts distribution company. They're very well established (been around for more than a century), publically traded on NYSE and they've never had a bad year financially.

I haven't been given the financial offer yet (they're about to raise the starting salary..).. but I know that the money will be pretty good..

Salary
Commission
Bonuses
Full Benefits
I work out of a home office (though I'll be visiting w/ clients most of the time)

Ahhh... perfect.

Tentative start date: Dec. 31st.
About this Entry
Maiden
1 comment
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Nov. 20th, 2007 @ 01:16 am Lookin' Good..
I've had a number of interviews with a company for a sales position. Excellent benefits, there's a base salary plus commission.. I'd have a home office (though I'd be working in the field most of the time).. it looks like a good fit for me.

I'm going a second ride-along w/ one of their sales people tomorrow (err.. today I guess). If this one goes well.. I'm hoping that I'll get the offer by next week!

I don't want to jinx it though - because I realize it's not gauranteed yet!
About this Entry
Maiden
1 comment
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Nov. 11th, 2007 @ 03:03 am Oh, and btw..
I'm still unemployed.

I'm now willing to take just about anything.. I'm applying to part time positions now.. just so that I can start paying our bills without family help.



The longer I'm without full-time, salary + benefits style work, the longer we'll be living with my in-laws. Nothing against them... I love them to death.. but we need our own place. Problem is, we need to save money first.. and that won't happen until I get the right job. Even then, we should probably stay here at least 6-9 months until we're completely on our feet and have savings.
About this Entry
Maiden
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Nov. 11th, 2007 @ 02:32 am I could get high off of guitar solos all day..
Current Mood: frustrated
Current Music: Maggot Brain - Funkadelic
Ok.. I'm up late, I'm bored, and I'm kinda in a down mood.. so of course, listenting to badass guitar solos/instrumentals helps me out. So here's a list of guitar solos/instrumentals that I think everyone should listen to..

In no particular order:

1) Maggot Brain - Funkadelic. The whole song is a solo. George Clinton told Eddie Hazel to play the first half as if his mother had just died, and the second half as if he found out she was still alive. By far, one of the BEST pieces of guitar work ever.

2) Little Wing - Stevie Ray Vaughan version. SRV blew Hendrix outta the water with this piece of work. I literally drove for 3 hours listening to this on repeat.

3) While My Guitar Gently Weeps - 2004 Rock Honors version w/ Prince. Prince owned the solo.. plain and simple.

4) To Live Is to Die - Metallica. This was supposedly written from an unfinished bass riff that former bassist Cliff Burton had constructed. The entire song is filled with emotion.. before I even knew that the song was in honor of Cliff, I knew it was powerful.

5) Free Bird - Lynyrd Skynyrd. Ok.. is it cliche'? Yes. But isn't it awesome too? Yes!

6) Alexander the Great - Iron Maiden. The solo in this song is a classic idea of what Iron Maiden has always done, which is create amazing riffs.

7) Comfortably Numb - Pink Floyd. The 2nd Solo is beyond amazing. One of the first solos I almost completely learned on my own.

8) Black Rose Immortal - Opeth. The Acoustic work in the middle of the song sent chills up my spine the first time I heard it, about 10 years ago..



There's plenty more.. those are just a handful that I can think of this late at night..
About this Entry
Maiden
1 comment
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Oct. 15th, 2007 @ 01:23 am Do you ever listen to the same song over.. and over..and over..
Yeah.. so I'm doing that right now... with Therion's "Son of the Staves of Time"

Therion has to be one of the best Metal bands I've ever had the pleasure of listening to. I own 3 or 4 of their CD's.. and I hope to one day own the entire discography. They're not afraid to experiment.. and that they do - especially symphonically. This song that I'm listening to.. it kinda reminds me of good 80's music.. just listen to it.. give it a shot.. you can find this song on their myspace page.

Anyway.. so the job search still goes on. I'm kinda getting a rejuvenation this week. The job fair I went to this past Wednesday was humourous, at best. Barely anyone was dressed appropriately. Then again, I'm still trying to get used to the California mentality, where casual is professional. Then again, most of the jobs at this fair were more blue-collar anyway (not to say that there's anything wrong with that). I can't help it.. I'll always wear a suit and tie to an interview or other major business related function or meeting, unless I have good reason not to (like when I was a Project Manager and I was going to a lot of construction sites, etc.).

I did make some contacts at the fair.. but I'm not sure much will materialize from them, considering a few of them were pyramid schemes, a few others were 100% commission based jobs (like Aflac), and some.. well.. we'll see.

So I'm just sending of applications and resumes to everyone.. even jobs that I don't think I'm qualified for. Why not? The more interviews I have, the more possibilities.. and at the very least, I'm getting my name out in this town via my resumes and personal business cards. If nothing else materializes, they'll know my name in 10 years when I'm running for mayor or something.

In the meantime, I'm working on becoming a substitute teacher.. it'll give me some income while also giving me the flexability to do the job search thing and go on interviews, etc. Plus, it's something to put on the resume, instead of another restaraunt management style job (which isn't bad... but I've already done it.. why not hone a different set of skills now?).

Damn the man.. because I'm determined to make all this work. It will work.

In other news.. I haven't picked up my guitars in about 3-4 weeks, ever since I went on an audition for a couple of guys trying to form a band. I completed bombed the audition, and I was extremely embarrased and dissapointed in myself. Even though I had practiced a great deal of time for weeks, I was nervous and I couldn't play a riff for shit. It was very depressing. That's actually the second time I've embarrased myself musically in Bakersfield. I think that now just isn't the time for my music. Actually, the more I think about things, the more I think I'm becoming a musical loner. Not many people are interested in the styles I'm wanting to play these days.. especially not in this town. I think my ultimate goal will be to slowly rebuild my skills, write some material, and then when my home life is stable and I have the money, I'll buy an electric drum set, a bass and build a small recording studio, and just record all my music myself. Maybe I'll get someone to lay down vocals eventually. But it'll be my little project, which, by my calculations, will take the better part of a decade to complete. I've realized that the illusions of grandeur to play live in front of a bunch of Symphonic metal loving fanatics is probably just that: an illusion. Bakersfield's too simple of a town for my musical workings. Los Angeles would have worked.. maybe.. if I wasn't married and didn't give a shit about my financial stability. I think then, I could make things work Metallica style.. where you work some dead-end job just to make enough to buy pizza, beer and any replacement gear. Besides working and drinking, you do nothing but play.

Sorry.. not my life. I chose a different path.. and I think I chose it before I went to college even. I'm not the kinda guy who could pull the rockstar lifestyle off.. considering I'm all for the baseball games and BBQ's on the weekends with friends and family.. instead of the heroin-induced orgies that seem to happen in the back of tour buses. I'd probably run from it.. doesn't seem appealing to me. However, being on stage in front of thousands, while pumping some amazing riffs from a beautiful guitar.. dry humping that axe like nobody's business.. well that I think I could handle. I'm the kinda guy that shows his musical orgasims. Kat finds it rather hilarious.. she can tell when I'm playing a guitar if I'm in a state of musical ecstacy.. because that "O" face just says it all. You see it with all the greats.. the "O" face.. they make it especially when they're stradling between the stage and their monitor amp, showing off a pose of guitar-fighting.. as if they were going to blow a load from their guitar onto the unsuspecting fans in the crowd. God.. how I'd of loved to have been 24 in the 80's.. I woulda made an awesome leather-clad guitar fighter.. making sweet love to a block of wood, strings and magnetic pickups. But I'm 24 in 2007, with a dream of having a family, a house and an easy-going lifestyle. So I think I'll have to live my rockstar fantasies on paper only, and not in the flesh.
About this Entry
Maiden
1 comment
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Oct. 11th, 2007 @ 01:15 am I'm getting a bit drained...
I'm honestly sick of job searching.. but now more than ever, I'm trying to pick up the pace.
About this Entry
Maiden
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Oct. 5th, 2007 @ 03:51 am I haven't shaved my face in over a week
I feel like a cave man.
About this Entry
Maiden
2 comments
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Sep. 9th, 2007 @ 11:59 pm I've gotta take a leak
I'm still jobless.

I still have an offer on the table, but to be quite honest, the more I think about it, the more I don't want the job - but I'm starting to run thin on the options. I kinda screwed things up a bit with a few jobs that looked more promising. I'm still waiting to hear back from one more place..

If I don't have any other offers by the end of next week, I don't think I have a choice but to take the one offer I do have, and then actively search for a better job while I'm collecting a paycheck. Better than nothing.

I'm finding it more difficult to fall asleep these days. Once I'm asleep, I'm fine.. sort of. It's getting to that point that is most difficult. I'm finding myself staying up past midnight more often now. It's kind of nice.. everyone else in the house is usually in bed before 11 (or atleast in their rooms), so I can watch whatever I want on tv, or do some job searching on the web, etc. Gives me time to think about things.

I kinda felt crappy all day today. There was a family gathering.. and it took me a number of hours before I finally felt like being social. Prior to that point I just glared at the TV watching whatever sport was currently on. That's usually not like me, unless it's FSU football. I miss having friends close by. I guess our trip to Monterey to see Jay and Ashley last weekend did that. I'm glad that it's less than 4 hours away.. at least I have some piece of my past close by. It's not so much that even, I just miss having friends in the same location. When I moved to Tallahassee, I was forced to make friends (not that I ever had an issue making friends..) - that's what college life does (unless you're a complete social recluse). However, here in this town.. there's no real social atmosphere I can just dig right into. Until I have a job, I have no money.. so going to the local hang outs to see shows isn't in the mix. I don't think that'll happen even when I get a job. Even though I'm surrounded by my in-law family here, I still feel somewhat alienated. I think this will pass as I get more settled in.. but I'm not going to deny that this is what I feel right now.

When I actually feel like calling a friend to talk, it's always too late, thanks to the time zone differences. I'm still not completely used to that. I'll call my parents close to midnight their time without even realizing how late it is.

Why is it I seem to write more often when I feel depressed?
About this Entry
Maiden
2 comments
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Aug. 9th, 2007 @ 10:23 am Good 'ole Bakersfield
So I'm an official "Bakersfieldian"

It's not so bad. I rather enjoy being close to my new family. Life is much quieter here, versus LA.. which is a definate plus. I'm glad I don't have to worry about going outside the front door at night anymore.

The job search continues.

I've been given an offer from a Furniture Dealer in town for an Outside Sales position. Not sure if I'll take it or not - have a second meeting with them today. I also interviewed with State Farm - I'd be starting as an Underwriter, which is basically Risk Analysis.. but on a broad spectrum. I like the benefits they're pushing.. we'll see.

After my meeting w/ the Dealer today, I'm going to hit up a bunch of construction firms with my resume.. and see where that takes me.


In other news.. there's a possible chance we could be getting a house! It's a nice house too! By sheer luck, someone in the family (she's the sister of Kat's Aunt) is trying to get rid of her house, and no one's biting... thanks to the crappy market. She might be willing to work a deal with us so that we could lock in now.. I'll keep everyone updated.
About this Entry
Maiden
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Jul. 23rd, 2007 @ 10:16 pm And on that last note..
Just wanted to let everyone know that even though I might not think you can relate to me anymore, that doesn't mean I don't appreciate your friendship.

It just means that I've had certain life experiences that make it difficult for certain people to truely understand how I feel, think and act currently.
About this Entry
Maiden
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Jul. 19th, 2007 @ 08:20 pm Full Circle
So.. exactly a year after I started my journey to Los Angeles, I'm packing everything up and leaving this town.

I'm moving up to Bakersfield next weekend. We think it's for the best...

So in a week, I'll be unemployed. However, I have a college degree, and some good work experience under my belt. I'll find something.

I look at this move as a positive for many reasons.. unless I get a job outside bakersfield, I'll regain a MINIMUM of 8-10, if not 15 hours of my life a week.. instead of being stuck in LA traffic.. I'll be able to sleep in a bit more.. or go to the gym after work without feeling like I'm coming home too late.

And.. I can get back into my music again.

So we'll see how things go..
About this Entry
Maiden
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Jun. 10th, 2007 @ 08:29 pm You've got to be kidding
The Series Finale of "The Sopranos" was the biggest dissapointment of any series finale I've ever seen.
About this Entry
Maiden
1 comment
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
May. 16th, 2007 @ 10:20 pm Conclusions
Life will never stop handing you sticky situations. No matter how good you think you have it, chances are you're long overdue for a swift kick in the ass.

More than ever, I miss Florida.
About this Entry
Maiden
Leave a comment
Permanent Link