Going for a New Blog Look Soon

(More on "Have I Figured this Life Out Yet? ...Part ???" in my next posting.)

I'm getting quite frustrated with the stale old blogger templates. I've tried out various template meant to work on blogger, with fair to middling results. So, I'm going to try to host the blog elsewhere, then use a redirect, perhaps? I don't know yet. I need to look into it more deeply.

Anyone have any advice? Templates they think I'd like? I'm not looking for anything beyond free at this point in my blogging avocation. I'm not into pink, just FYI...

But, if any of you wonderful bloggers have a suggesting, I'm all ears.

Last Day of the Year

On a personal level, it has been a tough year. Getting laid off from a job I thought I would retire from upset my equilibrium. I didn't think I could survive this a second time around. But, as the saying goes, when one door closes, another door opens. That was certainly the fortunate case for me. It was rocky going for a while, but fortunately, my skills are needed, but experience and skills are in very short supply, and that saw us through. The support of our friends has been the key to coming out on the other side. Still, given the hideous economy, I still have a tendency to hold my breath.

My children are well. Katie's Juvenile Inflammatory Arthritis (JIA) may have gone into remission - or may even disappear entirely. We continue to be vigilant and grateful. Megan is happy and thriving.

All the same, it's been a tough year for a LOT of people, and I'm afraid the troubles are no where near subsiding any time soon. The mortgage debacle? Puleeze. For years, as the prices of homes went higher and higher, and they were actually being sold for asking or better, I wondered aloud to Kandy, "How do these people buy a home at these prices? What kind of money are they making that they can afford a $750,000 mortgage on a track home?" Well, I guess we all know now. Unlike the media, I can fault most recipients of those "creative" mortgages. You've got to have your head up your ass not to know that the BIG bill would come due just around the corner. Now many of them are pleading ignorance.

Yes, some people really may have been ignorant. Some may have been led down a winding path, but there are way too many people in this situation to have not known what they were getting into.

Just the same, the lenders are just as much at fault. Not to mention the house of cards within the industry creating and interleaving monies as if tomorrow would never come.

Okay, I just realized I have been ranting. This isn't what I intended for this post. Please forgive me.

I will raise my glass to you and to the New Year, wish you all wellness, love, and happiness. I love reading your blogs, and am sorry I haven't participated much this last year. That will change.

I've Lost Count

Don't know how many times I have tried to blog... I don't want a post to sound like a Dear Diary entry. I want to entertain, share, marvel, and commune with my fellow bloggers.

Instead there are frozen fingers on a keyboard.

So, maybe to get the ball rolling again, I'll make a list. Maybe it could be meme? I love lists. Make them all the time. A list helps me to stay on track, to know where I am in the scheme of things.

1. On the job front, I am still working a contract for BofA. Can't say I'm all that impressed with the company. The building where I park my butt must be over 50% vacant. They had some lay-offs last week in the mortgage department. Bad times for banks.


2. Let's see, what next?


3. Finally had a few good interviews for a permanent position. One at ESnet, and it went swimmingly. I had the interview on Monday, and they called me with an offer on Friday. Still mulling it.


4. Meanwhile, after the interview with ESnet, a "well-known high-tech compnay in Silicon Valley" contacted me four times for four different open positions. Jeeeze, when it rains, it pours. I hear nothing of substance for four weeks, then they're calling me all over the place. Boggling.


5. I think the reason I had no contacts during the previous four weeks is because the new quarter begins in August. Everything freezes until a company is assured of direction and funds.


6. So, with a generous and substantial offer in my hip pocket I will go into the Valley tomorrow to interview for another very interesting position.


7. Logistically, I think I'd prefer a job in the Valley, but interviewing is a very odd thing. You might think you'd fit into a job quite well, but then they ask you questions that, if I was sitting at a keyboard I could answer lickety-split - I don't commit obscure commands or clauses in config files to memory, for god's sake.


8. Oops. I'm ranting.


9. Daughter #1 just came in and says her computer "is not working." "What do you mean?" asks I. "I can do anything in iTunes." Oh, then the computer is working, but not the app.


10. Gotta go before the whining starts.


11. I can't stand whining.


12. Can you?

Lesbian Family dot Org

I am proud to say that this blog is now listed on LesbianFamily.org under their "Non-Bio" and "Big Kids" blogrolls. I'm jazzed. The website has had its ups and downs as it has picked up a following, but I think it has picked up some momentum now and can be a very good resource for other Lesbian families.

I must admit that they put my blog there after a little prodding by yers trewly. Hey, this blog doesn't rock and roll waving the Lesbo Flag, but, we have our own contribution to make, just the same.

We have never been the lesbians that shout out our allegiances. All who know us would agree that we are pretty low key people. We do enjoy living and contributing in our community as open, partnered lesbians with two children who are working for inclusiveness and understanding. It is the way we live, how we live, and what we contribute to the community on the daily basis that makes our family matter. It makes our community notice us, acknowledge our presence, and by so knowing, we are not unknown.

Our presence makes this community a safe place for other lesbian and gay families. We wish to make our mark by being who we are and not hiding that.

Introduction to the Reluctant Blogger

Here it is. The New Blog.

Wow. I can't believe it.

This one is called Techie American Girl. Oh, you knew that? Oh, yeah. Of course you did. But. You might ask, "Why?" Or maybe not. I'll tell you anyway.

It seems that my only core competence and claim to fame is that I've worked with computers since you could walk inside of them. That's a fair amount of time. I'm old. Well, I'm getting there - all too quickly, I might add.

I am a conservative liberal lesbian who works at a nuclear test site, and everything around me glows.

Okay, that's a lie. Not everything glows.

This is my third blog. I am not going to tell you where my other ones are. It would give too much away. Those of you who already know me, well, you know me and there's nothing I can do about that. Sorry. I do hope you'll enjoy coming here and blowing off steam. I tend to be a-political until I get something in my craw, and then all bets are off.

Oh. You want to know more about me? Let's see. I have a partner. We have known each other since 1975. I know, that is so long ago I'm sure it pre-dates some of your birthdays. Tough. We lived through some marvelous decades. The sixties and seventies were awesome. I miss those times immensely.

Let's see? What else? Oh yeah, my partner and I have been together since 1993, we've had two children together by a "known" donor. (I still haven't figured out what that means or how to refer to him in polite conversations.) They are sisters who are twelve and ten years old. I haven't decided if I want to give my family pseudonyms or their real names. So, for now, pronouns will just have to suffice. HINT: Anyone who has read my other blog(s) already knows everyone's names.

It's actually more work for me not to name them here, so we'll see how this goes.

Slightly interesting note - my brother and niece have been clamoring for me to start a new blog. I really don't want to keep this one politically or family correct, so they're just not in on this little secret. Neener-neener!

Okay, more business - the look of this blog will most definitely be changing. It sucks right now. Big time. It may suck more later, but I hope not.

If you know of any good blogging templates out there that work good with blogger, please let me know! I'm trolling the Internet...

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you'll come back again Real Soon Now. (RSN)