negativiity

One of my worst failings; is hoping for the best and planning for the worst.
In this case, I've got now (*three*) gigs this year that refused to pay me; and that either speaks to my reputation or to the fact that I haven't staked anyone out in the Nevada desert recently...

I've got two roomates (out of three) who cannot seem to get it together financially; like --- you know the rent is due on the first, not the 29 th)...  and one who so far has paid pretty much on time, and cleans up after herself.

And I have a gig with a computer store in Reseda/Northridge where the owner is doing the Whimpy-hamburger thing ... you know 'I'll gladly pay you Thursday for a Hamburger today"...

But I need cash dammit.  Between mortage, HELOC (thanks a lot Karyn for suggesting it), and credit card rates  on emergency expenses (Diane McK and Alivia A. Hu...)  I've got an additional three grand in high interest.

And no quick solutions.


yay.

OR as my good friend Kelly would say...

That's Great...

-

life.

and wait... there's more...

So... another month of non-payday's go by; and I land another fly-by-night gig.

 "Certainly the game is rigged, but if you don't bet, you can't win" -- Robert A. Heinlein

"And all cats are NOT grey after midnight.  Endless variety" -- Robert again.

It would be good to get paid.  Just to mark a diference from
1. Hitachi Consulting - aka - Robert "Bobby" B******  -- scofflaw
2. LWA  -- but that ship has sailed.
3. Mts --- aka myS*****M*****

but I digress...

Next time, I hold the towel out of reach.

God must be having a really good day...

I wouldn' t believe it.

Except it fits right in with the rest of the insanity.

My brand-new-job; which I was supposed to start tonight...

is no more. Never mind the offer letter, the calendar'd start date or the negotiations about health care benefits.

ROK Group (UK) has just had their door shut by the banks. Yay.

My gig, depended upon them (the client).

Came and went, never even saw a hour of paycheck. And three weeks wasted.

Again.

Yay.

And the wind, she changes...

And after a long spell, the world starts to right itself.

Or at least, my personal version of it does...

All the cats are motoring around (still), including Miss Pippi, who gets thinner but purrs and eats... and for now, is stable. Although, she's still hell on my shirts (both cat fur and her insistance on climbing me to perch on my shoulder)...

I have two new roommates; and I like them. The other guy in the basement is a little grumpy, but he means well and isn't a PROBLEM. *unlike she who is GONE*

And... I got an offer lettre. I start shortly; we will see how I do... (it's graveyard shift, but wth).

Now, I just have to stave off the creditors until the next check comes in.

Perhaps...

life and why you don't date crazy women

so, about June 30th, I was dating this absolutely crazy woman. Well, it started out like that anyway. She was loosing her apartment because she did not have a job, had run out of money and notified her landlord that she was moving out; because she was doing the "right thing" and telling her landlord. She even tried to renegotiate her roommates stay, so that they could find a new roommate and continue in the apartment without her. That ... to her credit.

So, I (like a stupid mark) offered that she could stay with me while she found her feet; and meantime help me rent rooms, which was my immediate goal. It's the economy, and I'm not making enough with all my consulting gigs (smalltime at best) to cover all bills. So, renters are needed... or I lose my condo.

So, she moves in. We fix up two rooms, barter one to a guy who's diligent but broken, and studying to be homeless; and a college kid who's a slob but has a good heart. He's just young; and hasn't figured out that he has to clean up after himself. Yet.

So, she tells me (a month later) that we had negotiated for 2 months rent for her "services", and I disagree; but being a bit of a chicken, just accept it.

A month later; we have the same conversation, but it's now punctuated with her accusations that I'm cheating on her !!! (which I wasn't), and that she didn't have to pay me because her services were worth more than the rent.

What part of I have to pay the bills, did she not understand? I went up to talk to her, she told me that by touching her; I tried to get her to sit down and stop yelling.... she "had me". I found out about that later.
So, she continues on moving stuff in the garage, tells me to move my car or she'll damage it... and I inadvertently (yup --- stupid move) lock her out of the condo.

So, she calls the police; and I get arrested.

more about that later. (this is a rant)

So, I make bail and my friends pay her $400 to move the hell out. And she does.

I have to go to TRIAL, and get aquitted (because the star witness didn't show up); so points to her for ignoring the jury summons. But, I'm out $2000 plus fees (about $2200) plus $400 plus rent for two months, plus loss of work and loss of a contract that I could have gotten paid for -- if I had completed it instead of being in jail...

and you know what I learned, gentle reader? That even if all evidence is against them, the LA prosecutor's office will continue until they cannot continue, cannot produce the witness, cannot make a case; and all the while trying to get me to accept a plea deal that is just short of child molestation...

Because I objected... to a freeloader.

It's too bad I cannot get any retribution. But, I am donating her stuff to Goodwill; maybe the karma won't follow the goods. Maybe...

life continues interesting...

There's a scene in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, that I think I remember from there... where the hobbits are all sitting around discussing "adventures" and remarking how lovely they are, and the one who actually has had experience states that it remarkedly resembles being scared, too hungry, too tired, and too cold.

I'm not particularly a religious man (in fact kinda the opposite). And soon enough, I'll know. As I ran out of money to pay all bills; I landed 2 new contracts, bringing the total to 4.

Because I cannot time-manage worth a damm, and because there just isn't enough me to go around; I just lost one. (an Installshield gig). Drat. However, silver lining is that I have slightly more time to concentrate on the remaining work.

So, I'm working 9-7 or so and am being force-fed information thru a methaphorical fire-hose. We will see if I can keep up; it's pretty intense. And... some of the principals here are Israelis, including the founder of the company one of the designer/implementors. (It's yet another start-up).
(So think T. with a beard and LOTS and LOTS of yelling.) However, I'm learning, and am getting paid intern wages (1/3 usual). So, ... life's interesting.

Bills are still larger, but it's a start. Now I just have to avoid any other unnecessary expenses.

Work is good to have. Any work.

CL revisited

When I get bored, or just want some cocktail party type conversation without the effort or cost of going out and buying drinks...

CraigsList

That's the ticket...

and once in a while, I learn something new


(( laughter ))