Half Baked

Have a little courtesy, dammit!

Fri, 08 May 2009 02:32:45 GMT

Like a lot of people in central California I'm looking for work. With a local unemployment rate higher than 15% I understand it's gonna take a while to find a new job, especially since I want something that pays better than "Do you wants some fries with that?". I play the game, sending out cover letters and resumes tailored to the specific job I'm applying for. I'm polite, well spoken, cover up the tat and the ear piercings, answer the longest supplemental questionnaire without complaint, and I stay in touch after I apply. And what do I get for all this hard work?

Zilch. Nada. Mie. Nothin'.

No acknowledgment that they've received my application. No notice as to when a decision will be made. No notice that a decision has been made and that I wasn't selected. What's even worse, I get the same treatment if I'm granted an interview. I follow up like a good little applicant, usually to someone's voicemail box or (I suspect) snail mail round file. I jump every time the phone rings, and check my mail every day with bated breath.

Still nothing.

Yes, companies are inundated with applications, even for managerial positions like the ones I'm applying for. But--especially when you have a long, drawn-out application process--would it hurt to spend two minutes sending applicants a "thanks but no thanks" letter or email? A form letter would take no time at all to whomp up and would at least let us know where we stand, and email is free. And if you've agreed that I'm interesting enough to interview, how about showing me a little love and sending me a postcard when the position is filled?

That's all I'm asking for. A little love. Don't you think it would make the world (and my nerves) a better place?

Delete and Restart

Sat, 15 Mar 2008 19:19:19 GMT

One or two of you may remember a Buffy fanfic I started on this page a while back. While I enjoyed it and received some kind words about it, it became obvious to me that it was never gonna get wide attention, fanfic wise, with only Gunn as a cannon character and next to no sex in it. That's my fault for not playing better to my market so I took the fanfic story down. I plan to reuse my original character Jack at some point, but other than that I think I'm going in a different direction this time.

That different direction is an entirely original (well, free of anyone else's characters, anyway) horror novel. I'm not going to post it here, as I have hopes of submitting it for professional publication someday and publishers can sometimes get cranky when the book they've bought has been available for free on the 'net. If you're curious, drop me a line and I'll email the *ahem* priceless work of art in progress to you.

On a more personal note, I have a big event coming up that I'm both excited and seriously nervous about. My long-time girlfriend, Kate, has finally agreed to move in with me. Buying a house at twenty four was nothing compared to this, believe me. Most of me knows that this will be a very good thing and that I'm one lucky bastard, but I've never lived with anyone before and it's maybe just a little intimidating. We've already started packing her stuff, and she should be in for good by the end of next week. Wish me luck.

First Words

Sat, 16 Jun 2007 16:22:30 GMT

This is my new online toy. Not sure how I'm going to use it yet, but, hey, it sounded like a good idea at the time. I guess I'll start with a little about myself. If that kind of thing bores you silly feel free to skip it--hopefully I'll have more interesting things to say in later posts..

My name really is Darius, and I'm a twenty-something Eurasian guy originally from Southern California. I'm currently living in central California, and let me tell you it's true--it NEVER rains in California, or at least it doesn't seem like it. The temperature here yesterday was 106, and we haven't had rain in months. Not your image of California, huh? Yeah, mine either. What the hell am I doing here??

Well, working, actually. I've taken some time off from my graduate studies in English (yeah, I know, there's a practical major) to work as an administrator for a local produce company. The job is okay, but tedious in the extreme, and that's what has me spending so much free time in online roleplaying games and other creative outlets like this one. A friend has suggested I try my hand at fan fiction, and I think I'll be doing that soon.

When I'm not working or goofing around online I like to read (mysteries and science fiction are my favorites), watch a good scary movie, and spend time in the mountains. I own my own home, so I also spend a lot of time on yard work and general upkeep, which isn't very fun or glamorous but does keep the place from falling down around my ears. Sharing the house with me are six cats, two lovebirds, and seven budgies (parakeets). Whew! A friend is trying to talk me into taking a couple of her kittens when they're weaned. I have trouble saying no, so the body count may well go up soon. Don't tell the county health people, huh?

Sharing my place sometimes is my girlfriend Kate. We're not living together, but we spend so much of our free time together that we might as well be. Kate works two jobs, so I don't see her as much as I'd like, but we get along just fine when we do connect. Kate is an intensely private person when it comes to the Internet, so I won't be talking about her much here, though she's a big part of my life.

Okay, that's enough for now. Thanks for sticking around to the end of my very first online journal. I don't know how often I'll be updating, or even if I'll have anything clever to say, but you're welcome to check back and find out along with me.