Day 100...

Well, its day 100. 100 days without working has been interesting. Still no good news, but I hope something is just around the corner.

I promised yesterday I'd put up a picture or two of my culinary endeavors of the night. I did in fact cook the papas con chorizo tacos with an avocado cream sauce and spanish rice. It was excellent. I forgot to put the tomatillos in the cream sauce like I wanted to, but it turned out great none-the-less.



I am still searching for jobs, so if anyone has any leads, I'd love to hear them. Hit me up at aduckforhire@gmail.com

Hopefully there won't be a day 200 post sometime! Until the next post though, adios!

Day 99...

So it is day 99 now, just one short of 100. It's really wild to think that it has been that long since I was laid off. I'm looking at just over 3 months now, and I've had my share of ups and downs. To be honest, there is the potential of something REALLY great coming soon. Like, a job above all other jobs. One that I know I would enjoy, and be able to really contribute to. I've gone through the interview process, and am now waiting on the final decision. Cross your fingers and say your prayers for me, this one is BIG.

So I have been blogging about different things I am doing to keep myself busy while I'm unemployed. In previous posts, I have mentioned book, charity work, and exercise. I have also had a little more time to do something I really enjoy. Cook. Yes, I deeply enjoy cooking. It's a lot of fun to create something that looks artistic and you can eat too. I suppose it's another reason I'm so into marketing, is that the creative side of me is just a lot of fun. One of my latest creations is actually an attempted rip-off of a GREAT restaurant here in Atlanta. Varasano's Pizzeria has a very interesting pizza called the "Chica Bella" with Ricotta & Mozzarella finished with Arugula & a Pinch of Lemon. It's a really interesting take on pizza, with no tomato sauce and all, so I decided to try it at home. Well, the first time I made it, I forgot the Ricotta... way to go. Since then though, I've tried a couple more times, and it has come out excellent. The only thing I can't get right is the crust, because Mr. Varasano has an excellent sourdough pizza crust that I just can't get.

Tonight I'm pulling from a Latin theme and going to try Papas con Chorizo tacos with an avacado cream sauce/salsa and spanish rice. I read a couple of recipes online, but didn't really like any of them that much, so I'm just going to throw things together and see how it comes out. I'll make sure to put pictures up for the next post.

Well, until then, please keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I wait to hear back from the latest company. It really comes close to my dream job, so hopefully I'll have good news soon.

Day 90...

Day 90 has arrived. I have an exciting opportunity coming up, and am really hoping that it works out.

Last week I went to my Church who was hosting a Crossroads Career Networking event. The event had a resume review, and then a speaker, followed by networking time. I was told that my resume was great, and that it didn't need any work. The speaker talked about keeping up your confidence in yourself during the hard times. Lastly, the networking time was great. I got to meet a few people, and I'm even helping on guy find a job now with my old company. I don't qualify for it (10-12 years experience needed) but he does, so time to extend a helping hand.

In the next few weeks I really hope to have a job. Unemployment is not only tough on the wallet, but the spirit as well. I know thousands of people are going through the same thing, and my only advice is chin up. Hopefully you can find the perfect job for you during this time.

Day 79...

Day 79 now, and feeling pretty darn good. Physically at least. I've continued getting up in the morning and getting a cardio workout in. Guess what? It works! I'm down a surprising 8 lbs this week.

I'm still searching on the job front. I've had interviews, and some have been good, others didn't feel quite right. I must say that I'm in a process right now that feels like it would be a perfect fit for me. I'm going to keep quiet on the company for now, but the one thing I have to say is that the work would be in one of my favorite sports.

That's all for now, short update. Stay tuned for some posts next week on the steps I've taken to look for work, what I feel has worked, and what hasn't.

Day 76...

Good morning everyone. I have reached day 76, getting close to 100. I'm proud to say that my spirits are still high, perhaps higher than ever.

Today, I've started working out in the early (almost too early) morning, to supplement my weight training routine. I decided I'd wake up at 6:30 this morning to go hit the gym. My results after just half an hour are in the picture. It may just be an ellpitical trainer, but its a great start for me. Hopefully I'll be in tip-top shape sooner than later.


Also, now that the weather is finally beautiful (except for all of the rain here in GA) I've found time to go hiking again. I've always really enjoyed hiking, getting outdoors and taking on some of the local areas. I'm fortunate to 'live' relatively close to some of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Areas. It really is a beautiful area, and I can't wait to grab a tube and float down the river once the weather gets warmer.

Well, that's all for now. Hopefully I'll have some really exciting news to post soon. Stay tuned until then!

Day 69...

I'm closing in on 70 days now. I've had some ups and downs, but I'm keeping in a positive mood.

I'm keeping myself busy too. Outside of looking for jobs, I'm finally reading more, working out, and getting to spend some more time doing community service work.

I've started a few books, reading some here and there. One of them I'm enjoying is Stephen Covey's "The 8th Habit." I'm trying to learn how to better myself while I have the time. Another book I've been reading is "Why Business People Speak Like Idiots: A Bullfighter's Guide." It was a gift from a former Director of mine, and is proving to have an interesting insight into the way the business world works. I'm also trying to, in practice, better my golf game by reading "Tiger Woods - How I Play Golf." Hopefully I can get out and hit the range a little now that the weather is warmer down here in Atlanta.

I've also taken to improving my physical fitness through a book I finished, and have started applying, called "The Body Sculpting Bible for Men." It works off the premise of switching the workout routine every 14 days, just enough that it confuses your body and keeps working it harder. I've never put myself through such a structured and intense workout before, but I think it's working!

Most exciting of all, I've gotten the chance to give back to the community in an active way! Through my Church, I helped out on a project restoring the entry way to a local elementary school. We had a good team, and got a lot of work done. It may not look like a lot, but you should have seen just how ugly it was beforehand.

I've been finding ways to keep myself busy, by either improving my skill set or giving back to the community. I'm looking forward to getting back to work, but in the meantime, I'll keep at it.

Day 54...

So it has been 54 days now. Coming up on the 60 day mark. I really hoped I'd be employed within 60 days of getting laid off. So just 6 days left on that one.

I know the economy is bad, but there are a lot of companies hiring. I just interviewed with a GREAT company up in Charlotte, NC called Red Ventures. They have a high energy and passion level I haven't yet seen. The work is in online marketing and analysis which is great, so I hope this one pans out.

I still have really high spirits through this whole process, and can't wait to get to work for my next employer. I know I bring a lot to the table, and all my past employers would say the same. Only time will tell.