Useless Conversation

[Chimpy]

Just supposed to rain around here and get cold, so I'm waiting for mom to arrive from downstate/St. Louis area.  She siad it was pouring on the way up to Springfield but it's dry up by me, so maybe she drove out of it.  Weather's been decent for most of the month, but the day she travels, it's gotta be crappy.  Go figure.

It has been a steady 34 all day in Champaign with freezing rain. I really hate driving during and after freezing rain conditions, and I have to drive to Evansville, IN this afternoon which is a pain in the ass because there is really no good way to get there from here that does not involve at least 30 miles of driving on not highly traffic'd state highways with little to no cell phone coverage.

EDIT: Off I go. Happy Turkeyeating day.

[Engels]

And this is why Seattle shuts down after a bit of snow...This is about 10 blocks from my house. The side-travelling bus at 3:16 is the one I take to work!

[Sir T]

Had to go to an active retirement group today for work. For some reason all my shyness came rushing back and I've rarely been so scared in all my life.

It didn't help that those 60 year old plus women were so fit they could probably have beaten me in a boxing match.

[Selby]

A block heater is a must.

My truck has one, but it's a diesel so those pretty much came standard.  Another guy at work has the same vehicle and he says when he goes to the mountains in the snow he uses and it works great.  He's the one who pointed it out and told me to not forget about it.

On a side note, it was cold enough here that I had to use an ice scraper for the first time in almost 7 years.  First time since leaving Texas I've had to use that thing...  everyone at work uses their ID badge or a credit card =P

[ghost]

Have a good Thanksgiving everyone, even you European folks! 

[Cheddar]

Only thing worse then managing worker bees?  Managing managers.  This week almost broke me.

I am tempted to get back into IT.

[MuffinMan]

Sitting on my ass at work surfing the enternets making double time and a half. I'd still rather be stuffing my face though.

Any other Turkey Day warriors slaving away?

[rattran]

There is no coffee in the house. So it's time to go find an open store on thanksgiving, braving the cold and insane drivers.

[Engels]

Crud, just realized I'm in the same predicament as rattran. And I'm a 3 pints before noon coffee drinker. 

[Lantyssa]

Burned the fuck out of my hand doing my first T-day in the house.  Now finding that my alcohol tolerance is inexplicably high today.  Working on remedying this.  Cheers mates!

[Selby]

I ate ribs, crab legs, and turkey for T-day.  It doesn't get much better than that.

[schild]

Not 2010: Check.
New Car: Check
Single Again: Check.
Hailstorm again: Fucking Check.

This hail better stay fucking tiny.

[rattran]

It'll have to continue for days and days to destroy your car if it's tiny.

[MuffinMan]

Ah, that's what that noise was when I woke up last night. I thought it was rain but was confused getting up this morning when I didn't see puddles anywhere.

[Lianka]

I'm totally not used to this Seattle snowy weather.  When I heard it was going to get warm, I figured all the snow would melt partially, then re-freeze over night into a complete nightmare to walk over (since it hasn't struck anyone to shovel the sidewalks, days later), but it's totally gone!  No sign that it was a winter wonderland just yesterday! 

[Ironwood]

Snow.  Everywhere.

It's GREAT.

Tomorrow, Elena and I are getting up, getting changed and we're gonna make SMOMEN !!!

[ghost]

Tomorrow, Elena and I are getting up, getting changed and we're gonna make SMOMEN !!!

Is that something you do doggy fashion? 

[Ard]

That is wrong on more levels than I want to think about 

[Chimpy]

Tomorrow, Elena and I are getting up, getting changed and we're gonna make SMOMEN !!!

Is that something you do doggy fashion? 

Uhm, Elena is his daughter, dude.

[Paelos]

Ahahahaha

Unintentional  moments slay me

[Nebu]

Single Again: Check.

Sorry to hear it.  Well, I've enjoyed being single between relationships.  It's a great time to catch up on games.

[RhyssaFireheart]

Had a great evening seeing Trans-Siberian Orchestra.  Light show is just pure win, IMO.

[Selby]

It's a great time to catch up on games.

So true.  Especially if you've been picking up good games but haven't been playing them.

[Ironwood]

Snow is deep but it's that powdery horrid shit that you can't build anything with, no even snowballs.  My Daughter and I played in it for a couple of hours, but now we're inside drying off and having a cuppa.

Dammit, I wanted to make a snowmonster.  Maybe next time.

[Merusk]

Had a great evening seeing Trans-Siberian Orchestra.  Light show is just pure win, IMO.

I want to see that pretty badly but can never manage to save the $250 + parking and refreshments it would take for the family to see it.   This year it was new tires and a thermostat for the car.

[Arthur_Parker]

I don't understand female "logic", spent an hour clearing snow from the drive and the turning circle directly in front of the house with my massive shovel, no complaints as it will turn into an ice rink tonight.  But Mrs won't let me clear down to the main road because "none of the other people who use the road ever help", I don't care if they help or not, I like doing it because it makes my life easier.

[rattran]

I now live on a cul-de-sac, as the bridge at the end of my road is mysteriously* missing. I only rarely saw a plow in the past as we're the only residents, I expect none at all now.

*The bridge has been having troubles, it's a 3ton bridge that the local stone place was driving 53' semis filled with rocks over several times a day. Part fell into the creek below while I was away, and it seems the city doesn't intend to fix it, cheaper just to cut most of it away and erect some barricades

[FatuousTwat]

Just put some plywood over the barricade, and make a wicked jump out of it. I bet you could launch over it.

[RhyssaFireheart]

So back in October I went to a second interview for a position right about the same time I got an offer for the position I accepted and am working in now.  Ended up in a good spot with basically 3 job offers all at once.  Second interview job that I turned down was disappointed I'd accepted another offer, which is understandable.

I just got a call from the recruiter for that position, asking how I was doing in current position.  They'd still not found someone to place in the job I'd turned down, since I was apparently so perfect for it, so recruiter wanted to know if I had any friends who were looking and might be a good fit/have similar experience as I do. 

I get that this is what recruiters do (networking, etc.) but I'm a bit baffled.  I was told I was one of two finalists for the position (later on the day I accepted the job I'm in now, actually), so I'm wondering what happened to the other candidate?  Did they accept something quickly as well?  And as soon as I knew I was going to take this position, I did let this recruiting aency know so they could switch to the other candidate. 

Spent a year looking for work and now I have a position that doesn't want to give me up even though I'm working elsewhere.  Just odd.

[Ironwood]

Could be tons and tons of reasons.  Chap maybe took another position or maybe his references came through and they said he was a tosser, or maybe he lasted a grand total of 24 hours.  That happens.

Recruiters are scrabbling like mad right now.  You'd expect that business would be booming due to the unemployment, but as far as I've seen it's quite the opposite due to the amount of competition and fewer positions available.  I'm quite convinced I was turned down for a perfect role (by the recruiter, rather than the employer) because the other chaps wanted more money and would generate a bigger cut.  Which is kinda shameful, really.

Anyways.

[Chimpy]

I just wish someone would call me with a job offer, am going stir crazy.

[ghost]

I'm quite convinced I was turned down for a perfect role (by the recruiter, rather than the employer) because the other chaps wanted more money and would generate a bigger cut.  Which is kinda shameful, really.

That really fucking sucks.  Sounds a bit like the mortgage industry.

[Ironwood]

Indeed.  The worst thing about it is that the Employers state the salary banding at the outset and are clear on Market rates.  They then get utterly shafted by the recruiters claiming 'There's just no-one out there for that level' and are forced to push the cash up for people who aren't any more qualified or able.  The best way to get some justice on this one is keep an eye on the company in question and if they readvertise in any way, get a personal letter in there off your own bat saying 'I'm awesome and not expensive, I'm surprised I didn't get through the selection process last time, here's a CV if you think a second chat would benefit you.'

This way, you cut out a 15-30 percent cut for the agency and shaft them fucking royally.  The downside is you may end up looking like a douchebag to certain personality types, but it's all about how you handle it.

[ghost]

This way, you cut out a 15-30 percent cut for the agency and shaft them fucking royally. 

That is the cut?  Holy shit.  I'm surprised that most companies will go for this.  That is a lot of money.

[Ironwood]

It depends on who you're hiring.