November 27, 2003
A few weeks back, I got really tired of not having a job, so I decided to look for a non-engineering job. I'd rather be doing some good honest work while looking than be floating along in a state of jobless hunting. So I followed up a few possibilities and have now been working for a couple weeks as a plumber's apprentice. We do residential construction, of which there is a lot in this area. I've really enjoyed the practical work. I took engineering (at least in part) because I like to know how things work and I like building things. Even the short experience I've already had has been a great learning experience which I know will make me a better engineer.

It has also been gratifying to have my boss praise my work within the first week and give me a raise after the first week. So the job hunt continues, but with better spirits now. I can now keep from seeming desperate to potential employers--definately a good thing.

So now it's Thanksgiving day and I, along with most of the employed masses, am glad to be off work today. It's much more special that way than if it's just another day in a long line of days that just run together because there is no schedule, nowhere to be by seven or eight or even nine. So I'm glad it's Thanksgiving, and I'm glad to be off work for a couple days as much as I'm glad to be working.

[20031127-037]

November 11, 2003
Yesterday, I called Network Solutions' customer service, fully prepared to battle it out until I got to be bottom of my registrar transfer. That turned out to be rather easy. It seems that the transfer had gone through without a hitch, except for their sending me an error e'mail in error. Shortly thereafter, I confirmed said status from the other end and went on to something else. So, I'm glad that it wasn't any more time consuming, but the false alarm was rather annoying.

Hmm, the screen command is very nice--I've been distracted from writing this and had my connection die a couple times now, but nothing's been interupted here.

[20031111-036]

November 9, 2003
With every passing day, I'm becoming less and less impressed with a certain registrar which, apparently, I should have never done business with. They seem bent on making registrar transfers so difficult that their customers with give up and continue to pay their inflated rates.

First I had to contact them for an authorization code that the new registrar had to have to even begin the transfer process, then they send me an e'mail requiring me to fill out some confirmation form so they were sure it was really me who wanted this all to happen, and now, I get another e'mail from them saying they were "unable to process" my tranfer because my tranfer request "was not confirmed." Of course it was, but for some reason, they seem to wish that it wasn't and they're just waiting for me to get tired of the process and decide not to leave. Of course, my reaction is exactly opposite.

So I guess tomorrow will see my contacting their wonderful customer service department until they yield. It would be interesting if they make this so difficult that their phone bill ends up being more that the money I've paid them thus far. Wouldn't that be a great example of how not to run a business?

[20031109-035]