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Just to let everyone that I couldn't get hold of yesterday know, I am no longer at my day job of Travis Software. I'm now full-time with Yog and a few side projects that I was working on.
Got a call this morning from Travis Software asking me to come in and meet the President. So in I go on Tuesday morning to meet him.
Today I had an interview.
That's a pretty big statement for me actually. I have not interviewed in a very long time, so it was really odd going to do one.
Travis Software is the company, and the position is Delphi Programmer (which I am fortunately). All in all, the interview went very well, other than a bad start. I got there about 5 minutes late due to traffic and a wreck on the way (that I was not in thankfully). Billy, the person I interviewed with, came to the door to meet me and we went back to a conference room. The company has been around since the mid 80's and their main product went to market in 1986. So I'm happy about the stability of it. About 25 people work there, so there should not be too much politics to deal with.
It was a surprisingly low-key interview. Billy is one of the two programmers already there, and from what I could tell, most likely the "lead". We went over my resume, talked about a few projects I have done, spoke about Travisoft and what their products are, and generally talked about the company. It was drastically different than the last interview I went on several years ago for Enron. When I walked into Enron, they put me in front of a panel of HIGHLY skilled Delphi programmers and began to question me as if I had stolen their greatest asset. Today was much better, and I feel like I did really well. The three main products they develop are all for the Human Resources industry; tracking benefits, insurance, flex payments, etc. They are all written in an older version of Delphi and use older technology for the database. The job is to basically upgrade and maintain 1 of the 3 product lines. So it would be a decent challenge as I have not worked with "shrink wrapped" software in a long time.
All else is going steady here. Last night Corri stayed home from the club while I went and DJ'ed. I'm doing that every Wednesday night now. It's a good time to be had. There were a good many people there, but nobody interested really in shopping. Though I did close a couple of special order items for her that she had set up during the beginning of the week, so that is good.
HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!
The big massive program that I have been building is now ready for its first trial tomorrow afternoon. This one will most likely take three to four weeks to test and get exactly right, but I feel really good about the foundation that it is sitting on and hopefully the client will as well.
So now I am down to five active programs to complete. Only one of which is far from being done. So I will concentrate on the smallest of the four and work my way to the biggest one that requires the most work. Hopefully this will take no more than three weeks.
Then it's TOBR all the way. We are at a point now that Tom and I can just give it a little push and it will take off... know anyone doing business in the Middle East, Africa, or South America? We are looking for more people in those areas.
Easter was pretty quiet over here today, Ashton awoke to find the big bunny had stopped by with some things and she spent the morning searching for eggs... the rest of the day was spent playing in the house as bad weather has been beating down on us here in Houston.
That's it for now.
This week has been very busy for us over here at the Huff House.
Grant got a sinus infection, so that had to be dealt with. Ashton has been doing just fine. She is really working on her singing talents with the X-Box game Music Mixer that Nick got us for Christmas.
Speaking of Nick, he has some pretty bad news. On Friday he was let go from Microsoft.
A very big blow to him, and a large shock to me. He looks to be OK though, a few things in reserve and a few ideas. We HOPE that something might get him back down our way to Texas :)
Work is crazy crazy. TOBR has it's first contract setup (finally) with RM Crowe and they have asked us to hurry up with Houston and go do their Dallas buildings as well. PM Realty is right behind them, so Tom and I are VERY excited about that. We have to get over to South Africa soon to put together teams and such and meet with some buyers. We will be putting together teams of Installers and Upkeep crews as well as (I think) creating a network management center to go along with all this stuff. So things are really taking off for TOBR.
My Uncle Danny is doing great. It looks like he is going to be able to go home this next week which is really exciting! What a great recovery for him.
Everything else is about as expected. I'm taking Corri out tonight, so I have to go shower. Take care!
My meeting this morning went very well with the client regarding Phase II of that program. We will launch with it someone within the next 30 days and have an install deadline of March/April. So all in all very good news from that.
Exciting news today... my TOBR partner Tom Tanner, secured the "Go Ahead" on two sets of buildings. With those two approvals we now get the contracts signed and are allowed to target 17 buildings within the Houston area for our new services. That's great news! Our lawyers are working out the details right now and we are meeting with them in the morning.
So with that in mind TOBR is off and running. Which means our plates just got even more full.
Since Friday afternoon/evening I have been working on the software which will control all TOBR activities. The buildings, the inventory, the document management, the sales and distribution... shew, too much work there, but that is the life when starting something off.
Ashton and Grant are doing great. Both growing well and in good health. Corri has had a headache for the past 4 days. Not sure what the cause is, but we hope it passes soon.
With TOBR coming online it means that other operations I have been doing will need to be passed off. Hopefully I can turn over all my services work to Kevin. Tom is looking at options on his existing company AllArea, inc and hopefully he can get what he wants done there.
Anyway, good news on this update, will keep everyone posted.
Ugh, my throat is sore... had an hour and a half "Screening Interview" with Microsoft today.
Had an interview with DDS today in Conroe. It felt good, and the job looks challenging. Seems like a good group of people to work with. Should hear something back in about a week from them one way or the other.
Well, had the big tech phone interview with Dell today. Went pretty well, we shall see what happened within the next few days.
Have an interview on Tuesday morning with DDS-Data which is a company in Conroe. Also have more phone interviews going on next week with Lewis Computer which is in Baton Rouge.
Picked up a new net admin client today as well that I start working with next week.
Grant is growing WAAAAY to fast. He has outgrown all the newborn clothes already and has moved into the 1-3 size. Ashton is growing right along with him as well.
Looks like Kevin is out of job once again as well. Seems we are playing the same pattern this year that we played last year. What a mess
Well, I am "officially" laid-off as of today, however, still working on a deal that if closed I "Can come on back". What do ya think of that? "Sorry to see ya go, but if you close up something large then you always have a place here".
Not too sure what my thoughts on it all are... going to continue to work the deal, which is almost done anyway, only because it is what I have to work on right now... not sure how I will feel about it at the signing date though.
Don't worry though, got loads of things going on right now, and taking some time off will help around the house as Corri nears the drop-off date. So it might work out best.
Current Music: Tunnel Trance Force Vol.24 CD2 - Silver Acid Mix (D I G I T A L L Y - I M P O R T E D - European Trance, Techno, Hi-NRG... we can't define it!)
Working on numbers for RLX and contracts as well.... sure it a hassle, but means we are close to the completion of all this and the fun work can begin.
Gayle got a call from Ben Diaz today. She sent out an email about it. Looks like he is over in the thick of things now, we all pray and hope for his safe return.
Ok, we got word back from our client today. We have come out on top! We now move to "touring" our facilities and call center with the client. Which means I will be in CA at the end of the week or middle of next week. They are working up contracts tonight and tomorrow (Wednesday) for us, which is a huge step. So all is coming together wonderfully on the project.
Change of plans... Ashton and I are heading to the farm this weekend instead of the last weekend in March. It will just be a father/daughter type thing. We are giving Corri the weekend off, which she really needs.
Corri is about on schedule concerning her mental and physical states.... she is sore, tired, and cranky. Sounds about right to me for 7.5 months pregnant. She has been a little under the weather as the pollen in the air has really driven her sinuses crazy. But she will make it through.
Ashton is of course still running the show. She talked Wendy into letting her take a "Sponge Bob Square Pants" doll home the other day. Whoever thought up that TV show does not have kids! The laugh with that character is ANNOYING!
Today (or rather yesterday a few hours ago) was my dads birthday... he is 49! Young for a parent with a 29 year old son I know, but for me and my perspective, it seems like he is getting on up there.
I have been really tired lately (notice the time of this post, that may have something to do with it) and all the work is catching up with me. I will be glad to start working on this great new project at work, as it will mean I no longer have to bust my ass working on side jobs all the time. My current project is a web site for a friend of a friend type thing. I hope to have it done up this week.
Working on a few other projects as well. One large one outside of work, and 2 small ones for programming. I can't wait until they are all done.. I need a break from all the late nights.
Had a great conversation with Nick tonight about politics and the war that we are facing. I am very conservative myself... I wish I was liberal, as I like what the liberal party "could" do in a perfect world... however, I am educated enough to know that liberalism just doesn't work in today's world... or so the government tells me ;)
Current Music: Tracy Chapman - Crossroads (SmoothJazz.com - The world's best Smooth Jazz - live from Monterey, Calif.)
"I love looking forward to stuff.... I hate waiting for stuff" - Nick Diaz in response to my frustration.
Big business is just that... big. The time to get things put together is big, the time for negotiation is big, and the time frame in which you have to wait for the response is big. The only thing that is not big, is the time you have once you have been awarded the deal and you have to have it going.
Yes, we are still working and waiting on aspects of the deal I have been waiting on. It's great working on this project, but hearing nothing from your prospective client sure does get the stomach acids churning.
On another note, Justin and I were able to get some music recorded last night for the screenplay. I have been really wanting to get that done for some time, as I like to play it while I write certain scenes.
Ashton is doing great as usual. Her and I are going to try to take a trip to the farm the last weekend of this month. Just the two of us... I'm really looking forward to a solid weekend of quality time with her.... check back here that following Monday to see if I still have that same thought :P
This weekend should prove to be fun. I am trying to finish up 2 programs and 1 web site over the weekend, as well as attend a surprise birthday party on Saturday and dinner on Sunday night at my dads house.
My dad closed his deal and has PO's on the way. He has only been there a short time but seems to really be kicking some ass at it. It's such a great thing to see them making great changes. Wendy was a little worried about it all, but it looks like they will be great. On, once again, Wendy has been laid off. She has a curse on any company she goes to work for it seems.... remind me, if she ever works for a company that I have stock in to sell right away (just teasing Wendy).
Corri is done with being pregnant I think. She is pretty uncomfortable most of the time, has a hard time sleeping, and is usually pretty sore. She says that it was easier with Ashton, but the weather was hotter, which made it a little difficult.
All other things are going pretty well I suppose... we are just waiting on things at this time and working on the little stuff as we go.
Well, today was about as rough as they come for me. I'm in sales. Which means that I am always waiting on a client to say "Yes" to something I have proposed to them.
As many know, I have been working on a multi-million dollar project for many months, the results of which will take me in a very new direction within the company.
We were to hear final word today "by the close of business" as the client stated. Well, no word yet, and it's after 9 PM. Something tells me they wont call.
I'm sure everything is still ok, just that things got delayed. I am a stickler for calling people when I say I will. I even call when the news is bad.
I think I bit off the tips of my fingers once I couldn't chew my nails anymore.
On to lighter subjects. Things at home are great. Corri is still having a hard time sleeping, but other than that all is well. Ashton is of course still running the show. This past weekend we spent sat. morning at the potential client's house mentioned in the above deal. He has kids Ashton's age and she did great with them. We really need to keep her around other children more often.
Also, for those that do not know, Kevin and Cathy Opalacz are 4 months pregnant! Our second kids will be within 3 months of each other, which will be loads of fun for us all I think! I can see Kevin and I taking the boys fishing sometime in the next 10 years... I really hope we can raise our children in a more "old fashioned" way, which is to basically mean we wish to include ethics and proper ideas in our children... not just violence and laziness seen in most parenting skills these days. Me cynical?
Current Music: Native Vibe - Nica's Dance (SmoothJazz.com - The world's best Smooth Jazz - live from Monterey, Calif.)
Have not heard from Datasol as of yet. Sent them an email and am going to give them the rest of the day.