Old Timey Good Time

[Mikey]

I just want to tell you about a great time I had last night. A little preamble first though.
One of my sons is going through a really rough time in his life. 6 months ago, he and his wife lost a baby at 5 months and then he got laid off. He has a masters and 5 years experience. She got pregnant again and is considered high risk and so has many expensive doctors looking after her now. His job search is very frustrating for him and now his wife finds out that she is going to be laid off at the end of the school year. (Art Teacher) They have their medical insurance through her work, so that'll go out the window. Now we have two professionals having a baby without an income or insurance. Not a good situation.
Anyway, last night, I invited myself to his place to have a couple beers and see if I could lift his spirits. I took my snare drum and brushes. After the first beer, he suggests that we play some back porch stuff, so we did. He pulled out his Charango (ten stringed peruvian mini guitar sort of thing) and we played old time country for 2 hours. By the end, we were both smiling and feeling good about life. This morning, reality set in again, but at least I have those two hours with my kid and some laughs and even some decent music. I wish I had recorded it but then that would have ruined the feeling.

[Rickenjangle]

Holy cow, Mikey, I hope G&A can land on their feet! I will keep my eyes and ears perked up for leads...

[Mikey]

Yeah, any help would be greatly appreciated. Eagle posted a job, is it real? they go fishing some times. Greg applied I think.

[Don]

Nice! Times are hard, but family can raise the spirits.

My wife just lost her job. She carried out health insurance. I'm at a temporary job that ends in October. She doesn't sleep. I still consider myself blessed!

Music with friends helps!

[Rickenjangle]

Mike, call Greg and tell him I will give him a glowing recommendation wherever he goes...

JB

[Mikey]

OK...done

[curtisstetka]

I hope all works out, Mikey.

Good story - that right there is what music is FOR.

[Rickenjangle]

I just spoke with HR over here.

Have Greggy call me...

[Kap'n]

Music can make the tough times more bearable. Sorry to hear things are the way they are.

[melody]

Wow Mikey,


Sorry for the loss I know all to well how life can through a curve ball at any second. Music is a gift glad you two could enjoy some quality time doing what you love with one you love..

[Mikey]

Wow! Thanks for the outpouring of love and concern. I never expected it. I only posted to show how music can make a rainy day suddenly sunny. You folks have put a rainbow in there for me.
Thanks a lot!

[Don]

I'm not surprised. This is a generally a nice place. Kinda quiet, but real nice.

[JM3]

I wish i could get him a job

Been downsized myself so i know how it feels
glad you can lift the spirits, well done

[Mikey]

Yeah JM, I hear you. I've been in the downsized blues for a while too, but nowhere near what he's standing up to now. All I can do is what I can do.

And Don, This was always one of my favorite sites to spend time just cause it's a nice place to be. I spent a lot of time here in the beginning but had to fall off because of job changes etc. Now I get some time now and then so Istop in for visits as I can.

[Mikey]

Here's some news!
Greg got a call yesterday for an interview at the same place Rickenjangle works. That's cool because they worked together at their last job. Ricken has talked to HR there and said good things about Greg so he has an "in" there. Not only that, but I worked there on a short term job after I got laid off two years ago. Hopefully, that'll help Greg. Now....I hope he gets his hair cut for the interview. Not that I care all that much about hair length, but I'd hate for him to blow a good chance because the interviewer doesn't like long hair.
Anyway, all your prayers and MOJO today and tomorrow will help.
Tonight is the pre-set night for Greg and I to do some more music/relaxing with a couple beers. Something like King of the road ought to be nice. I'll let you know how it goes.

[Frat Rettle]

Good MOJO for you both.

[Kap'n]

Good luck!

[Don]

[Mikey]

Got a big surprise! He got his haircut and all facial hair removed! Ya hoo! He made the right decision. family and job are more important and harder to get back if you lose them than hair is.
Now.... get through the interview in an impressive way.

[jeru]

Damn straight -- mojo and best wishes your way.
J

[Mikey]

didn't do ole timey music last night. Letting him get his Karma or whatever together. I'll just be sitting home holding my breathe till the interview gets done late this afternoon.

Thanks for all the support so far guys.

[Offshore Angler]

Mikey, you know I'm sending the mojo to Greggy.

How's Alanna doing?

[thegeezer]

I am so sorry for your situation, things have to change they always do.

[Rickenjangle]

Just so you know - he likely won't know anything after this interview, so you don't have to hold your breath. The usual thing is for them to have him in for a first interview, and then (this took more than a week, which seems an eternity when you're unemployed) a second interview. I waited just about another week until I got hired...

All in all, from first interview to hired, it took a little over two weeks. Oh, and in my case they had me come in for a month of contract work before a direct hire happened. It was their way (I think) of 'trying before buying.'

[Mikey]

Thanks OSA for the MOJO. Alanna seems to be doing OK. She's working very hard to keep stress out of her life as much as possible because she doesn't want anything to affect the pregnancy.

Johnny, thanks for the explanation. I kind of thought that would happen but was hoping that God would step in here and change their normal modus operandi. Again, thanks for all your help and support. BTW, what kind of Scotch do you like?

[Rickenjangle]

You don't owe me a thing, Mikey. Greggy's my friend...hoping he gets a job regardless of my proclivities as regarding the peaty, smoky delicousness that is scotch.

[Mikey]

Well, one interview down, waiting for the next. Took Greg and Alanna out to Bar-B-Que and they seem pretty happy tonight.

[Skip]

Positive thoughts and vibes Mikey & Greg!

[refin]

Wishing the best!!!!

[Skip]

I just stopped by the back porch early this morning to clean up the bottles and sweep the porch.... see you all later

[Mikey]

Thanks Skip, place sure did need it. That Woody and OSA sure can make a mess when they ain't thinkin' bout it.

[Offshore Angler]

Thanks Skip, place sure did need it. That Woody and OSA sure can make a mess when they ain't thinkin' bout it.

Mr. Downtown and Bobby Tsunami get a shout out for the mess too.

[Mikey]

Oooops! Didn't see them varmits sneakin' round here abouts. Mebbe we kin git em to do a little surfy thing fer us?

Whaddya think guys?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIU0RMV_II8

[Mikey]

Short update.
Greg's got a follow-up interview coming up tomorrow. They asked him to put together a short Power Point presentation and be ready to present it. They also asked for a couple Pod casts he and I did for Xerox a few years back. Let's hope he comes out of the interview with a job offer!.

[Mikey]

Nuther Update....
Greg had his interview. They had him do a presentation that he said went well then asked him a bunch of questions. Told him they'd contact him soon with next steps. Also, during the presentation he got a call on his cell that he didn't answer until afterwards and found it to be another company wanting to interview. He'll contact them today.
Man! I hope he gets hired soon so we can go back to playing again. I miss playing that stuff with him.
Soon, I hope, soon.....

[Don]

He's got prospects! That's a great sign!

[Rickenjangle]

{{{{{{{MOJO}}}}}}

[Mikey]

Ricken, you hear anything from those folks down there?
What's the skuttlebutt? Inquiring minds want to know..

[Rickenjangle]

They play things close to the vest...I dunno anything...

[Mikey]

Well, they haven't gotten back to him and I'm beginning to think they have no cajones down there. They gave him a line ..."We'll contact you soon about next steps" Just a coward's way of saying we ain't hiring you? I dunno, we'll see.