April/May
I'm sitting on pins and needles right now. I'm typing this post but not publishing
it until I get the final word.
I have applied for a Systems Administrator position at the University of Hawaii.
Its been several weeks now. I made it thru Round 1 and Round 2 of
interviews. I was one of 3 final candidates. They finished the last candidate
interview. Now its all about the waiting.
Stephanie and I have done a great deal of prep for this if its a yes.
This adventure will not only be a huge undertaking, but a great
lifestyle change for our family as well. All for the better.
If its a yes, I will have two weeks with my current employer to wrap things
up. Not only that, I have to find an initial place to stay and get my flights
ironed out.
Its been hard keeping the kids hush hush about all of this.
They know whats going on, but I'm not sure how well the little ones are keeping the
cat in the bag at school. Z is a tween and is like, but I will miss all my friends.
I know its going to be hard for her being the new kid in a new school.
The answer from the U of H was No.
=====================================================
June Update: It turned from a No to YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm confused now. lol
We were at Sights and Sounds the other evening.
The kids all wanted to toss a penny into the fountain in the square.
I said a prayer and we all tossed one in.
All I can say now is WOW!
Their first candidate turned down the position. What? Really?
I got a phone call yesterday morning asking if I was still interested?
Are you kidding me? YEEEEEEEEEEEES!
Back to waiting again.
I'm waiting for the official offer from the school in my hand.
It may take 3-4 weeks as their HR takes a bit to move things along.
The official offer is the key for the moment.
A firestorm of posts to follow once their offer is in my hands.
=====================================================
June Update #2:
31 Days to Ship a POD from MI to HI
Not too too bad.
$8000.00 for a 16 Foot Container.
$6295.00 for a 7 Foot Container.
No. Not Happening.
Time to sell sell sell.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
March Update
Hello Readers!
I am still plugging away with the resumes etc.
I'm still on the mad search for technology work in Hawaii.
I had one project close shop which stinks.
There are a few other irons still in the fire right now, waiting to hear whats going on.
In the mean time, I have come across some other amazing blogs of other people
that have packed up and moved off the mainland.
http://howtoliveinhawaii.com
Michele is awesome and a great resource for this adventure.
http://entersandland.com
Chuck and Kirsten's story of moving with their kiddos.
We have been in the process of scaling waaaaaay down and purging "Stuff" from the
house. Lots of trips to the Salvation army, recycling bins. Lots of posts
on the local e-cycling and for sale msg groups. Its a lot of work getting rid of stuff you have had for a long time and no longer need or want.
People have way too many material possessions. Its not what its all about.
The adventure continues... More to this story as things unfold....
I am still plugging away with the resumes etc.
I'm still on the mad search for technology work in Hawaii.
I had one project close shop which stinks.
There are a few other irons still in the fire right now, waiting to hear whats going on.
In the mean time, I have come across some other amazing blogs of other people
that have packed up and moved off the mainland.
http://howtoliveinhawaii.com
Michele is awesome and a great resource for this adventure.
http://entersandland.com
Chuck and Kirsten's story of moving with their kiddos.
We have been in the process of scaling waaaaaay down and purging "Stuff" from the
house. Lots of trips to the Salvation army, recycling bins. Lots of posts
on the local e-cycling and for sale msg groups. Its a lot of work getting rid of stuff you have had for a long time and no longer need or want.
People have way too many material possessions. Its not what its all about.
The adventure continues... More to this story as things unfold....
Monday, January 9, 2012
Happy New Year 2012
Happy New Year everyone!
Its 2012. Things are going to change... I hope.
So I have been plugging away and networking a bit with the people that
are looking for good people. A lot of applications have been sent and a lot of
letters have been sent back saying they have filled the position.
I am still trying to find a position on the island before I can move any of
my family.
Here is to positive energy as this adventure continues.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Rethink the gameplan?
After talking with one of the computer vendors in Hawaii I have learned
a few things,
If you have a serious desire to find a job in Hawaii, they strongly
suggest you move there first.
The reason is that most employers have had many bad experiences hiring
people from the mainland to come there. One of the many reasons why it
doesn’t work out, the mainland folks have a hard time getting acclimated
to the business culture in Hawaii. It costs the employer time and money.
o Though it has about 1 million people, this is geographically a small island.
o Good and bad – you’re surrounded by the ocean, meaning no
long drives. (You can drive around the entire island in about 2.5 hours.)
o If you’re white, then you’ll be a minority there. Their observation is that
many have a difficult time with this issue.
o Every aspect of life, including business, is more laid back.
Bad for the “fast lane” folks.
o You’re far from your mainland relatives, another major factor for the
non-working spouse.
o Higher cost of living than most of the US. Average house
here ~$600K, average condo ~$300K.
After a lot of rejection applications I now know why now.
I need to get to the islands, let employers know I'm there,
than pray I can get a job.
So what does that mean... I'm going to have to leave my current job,
go on blind faith to the island to look for work.
I'm not sure I'm in financial shape to do that yet.
Gotta start squirreling away some cash to see if I can make this happen.
Keeping you in the loop...
a few things,
If you have a serious desire to find a job in Hawaii, they strongly
suggest you move there first.
The reason is that most employers have had many bad experiences hiring
people from the mainland to come there. One of the many reasons why it
doesn’t work out, the mainland folks have a hard time getting acclimated
to the business culture in Hawaii. It costs the employer time and money.
o Though it has about 1 million people, this is geographically a small island.
o Good and bad – you’re surrounded by the ocean, meaning no
long drives. (You can drive around the entire island in about 2.5 hours.)
o If you’re white, then you’ll be a minority there. Their observation is that
many have a difficult time with this issue.
o Every aspect of life, including business, is more laid back.
Bad for the “fast lane” folks.
o You’re far from your mainland relatives, another major factor for the
non-working spouse.
o Higher cost of living than most of the US. Average house
here ~$600K, average condo ~$300K.
After a lot of rejection applications I now know why now.
I need to get to the islands, let employers know I'm there,
than pray I can get a job.
So what does that mean... I'm going to have to leave my current job,
go on blind faith to the island to look for work.
I'm not sure I'm in financial shape to do that yet.
Gotta start squirreling away some cash to see if I can make this happen.
Keeping you in the loop...
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Saturday, July 16, 2011
After Surgery
Welcome back...
So I had surgery this week on 7/14.
The surgeons were going to go in and see if they could re-inflate my right lung.
They went down the airway and discovered that the airway was massively and
completely scarred closed. A few attempts at trying to open it failed.
Under recommendation from some of their other colleagues,
they decided to leave everything just like it is. The airway is completely closed
so no germs are going to get to it. The lung is getting blood flow so its not causing a
massive infection. If they were to go in and remove the lung completely, we
are talking 8+ hours to remove it. So this is how I am.
I am now walking around with just 1 lung working, the other one is doing nothing
but sitting in my chest.
I need to touch base with my surgeons office here and I guess that's it
for all of that.
I got a letter back from the University of Hawaii on a job I applied for.
Just waiting to hear any word back from them at this point.
Time to crank up the resume writing now to see if I can land any good
positions over there.
So I had surgery this week on 7/14.
The surgeons were going to go in and see if they could re-inflate my right lung.
They went down the airway and discovered that the airway was massively and
completely scarred closed. A few attempts at trying to open it failed.
Under recommendation from some of their other colleagues,
they decided to leave everything just like it is. The airway is completely closed
so no germs are going to get to it. The lung is getting blood flow so its not causing a
massive infection. If they were to go in and remove the lung completely, we
are talking 8+ hours to remove it. So this is how I am.
I am now walking around with just 1 lung working, the other one is doing nothing
but sitting in my chest.
I need to touch base with my surgeons office here and I guess that's it
for all of that.
I got a letter back from the University of Hawaii on a job I applied for.
Just waiting to hear any word back from them at this point.
Time to crank up the resume writing now to see if I can land any good
positions over there.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
So What Are You Waiting For?
I was a preemie at birth and have lived with respiratory issues all my life.
The doctors have recently discovered I have an extra ring in my airway.
Probably there since birth. The ring has caused tissue to scar my right airway closed.
Not good. From what they can tell the lung is getting blood flow but just sitting there
deflated. The doctors are going to try and open up the airway and see if the lung will re-inflate.
(Where is that can of fix-a-flat when you need it)
If so... great... then they can go in and take that extra ring out.
If not... I'm a one lung wonder.
Next issue I have is no job yet on the island.
But I can't be applying for jobs and doing interviews just yet until
we get the lung stuff out of the way. I want it done and over with already.
Stephanie has been doing an amazing job pulling up so much IT work
there its incredible.
What to do with all our stuff?
We have been massively purging stuff we don't need.
Our kiddos have way too many toys that they don't even play with.
I have way too many computer parts-is-parts in my collection.
If we can purge down to fit everything in to one pod or something similar
that just might work. Taking the car over... $900-$1000 to ship the car over
in a shipping container if we decide to do that.
More drama than you can shake a stick at... soon to come...
The doctors have recently discovered I have an extra ring in my airway.
Probably there since birth. The ring has caused tissue to scar my right airway closed.
Not good. From what they can tell the lung is getting blood flow but just sitting there
deflated. The doctors are going to try and open up the airway and see if the lung will re-inflate.
(Where is that can of fix-a-flat when you need it)
If so... great... then they can go in and take that extra ring out.
If not... I'm a one lung wonder.
Next issue I have is no job yet on the island.
But I can't be applying for jobs and doing interviews just yet until
we get the lung stuff out of the way. I want it done and over with already.
Stephanie has been doing an amazing job pulling up so much IT work
there its incredible.
What to do with all our stuff?
We have been massively purging stuff we don't need.
Our kiddos have way too many toys that they don't even play with.
I have way too many computer parts-is-parts in my collection.
If we can purge down to fit everything in to one pod or something similar
that just might work. Taking the car over... $900-$1000 to ship the car over
in a shipping container if we decide to do that.
More drama than you can shake a stick at... soon to come...
Sunday, June 26, 2011
What is it all about... its complicated.
This is my first post on a grand adventure....
My name is Chris. My family and I live in Michigan.
The summers are warm and humid, the winters are freezing cold.
We have been in MI since my oldest daughter Z was born in 2000.
Y2k was a joke and the tech company I was working at in Ohio laid everyone off.
I had like 3 pagers and 2 cell phones and was on call for the end of the world.
Nothing happened. Not even a phone call.
So we packed up the UHaul and moved to MI for better opportunities.
My wife's family was in MI and was a huge help with the kids.
M, B, and E were all born here in MI.
E went to be with the Lord after 66 days. That's on another blog:
http://23weeks.blogspot.com
So we jump ahead to 2011...
Stephanie's mom passed away several weeks ago. My mom passed away in 2001.
My dad and Stephanie's dad are acting very weird now. Must be a dude thing when their spouses pass away. So why should we stay here in Michigan? Really... why should we?
Several years back Stephanie and I met Mike, Amanda, and Billy.
They pulled up everything to take a chance on making a film on their own in California.
Project Pedal has been coming along and is almost finished.
This life is not about how much stuff you have, or about how big your house is.
Its about getting out there and meeting new people, exploring new places, and helping
people along the way.
Don't get stuck in a rut... Take a chance on some new adventure.
We are only here for a short time then we are gone.
So why Hawaii?
Stephanie and I were talking the other night about just getting out of the state for
a change. Joking around Hawaii came up. Ok so why not?
It has great weather all year long.
Florida has good weather... Why not Florida instead?
One of my friends Lil that does consulting in Florida told me...
"Florida is Gods waiting room... There is nothing exciting going
on here. Head to Hawaii!"
I though I was going to fall off the chair from laughing so hard.
So Hawaii it is...
I started looking around for other blogs about people that have just picked up and moved
to Hawaii. I learned a few bits and pieces here and there. Most of the sites I ran across tho
were more about the vacationing traveler. Not much at all about trying to move off the mainland and making a life on a group of islands out in the middle of the pacific.
So here I am.... This is our story of a Family of 5..
taking a chance on a new adventure. Wish us luck!
My name is Chris. My family and I live in Michigan.
The summers are warm and humid, the winters are freezing cold.
We have been in MI since my oldest daughter Z was born in 2000.
Y2k was a joke and the tech company I was working at in Ohio laid everyone off.
I had like 3 pagers and 2 cell phones and was on call for the end of the world.
Nothing happened. Not even a phone call.
So we packed up the UHaul and moved to MI for better opportunities.
My wife's family was in MI and was a huge help with the kids.
M, B, and E were all born here in MI.
E went to be with the Lord after 66 days. That's on another blog:
http://23weeks.blogspot.com
So we jump ahead to 2011...
Stephanie's mom passed away several weeks ago. My mom passed away in 2001.
My dad and Stephanie's dad are acting very weird now. Must be a dude thing when their spouses pass away. So why should we stay here in Michigan? Really... why should we?
Several years back Stephanie and I met Mike, Amanda, and Billy.
They pulled up everything to take a chance on making a film on their own in California.
Project Pedal has been coming along and is almost finished.
This life is not about how much stuff you have, or about how big your house is.
Its about getting out there and meeting new people, exploring new places, and helping
people along the way.
Don't get stuck in a rut... Take a chance on some new adventure.
We are only here for a short time then we are gone.
So why Hawaii?
Stephanie and I were talking the other night about just getting out of the state for
a change. Joking around Hawaii came up. Ok so why not?
It has great weather all year long.
Florida has good weather... Why not Florida instead?
One of my friends Lil that does consulting in Florida told me...
"Florida is Gods waiting room... There is nothing exciting going
on here. Head to Hawaii!"
I though I was going to fall off the chair from laughing so hard.
So Hawaii it is...
I started looking around for other blogs about people that have just picked up and moved
to Hawaii. I learned a few bits and pieces here and there. Most of the sites I ran across tho
were more about the vacationing traveler. Not much at all about trying to move off the mainland and making a life on a group of islands out in the middle of the pacific.
So here I am.... This is our story of a Family of 5..
taking a chance on a new adventure. Wish us luck!
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