Shake the Dust Off

So I've shaken the dust off the old blog. I missed this, writing. My old writing creativity coming back is a good thing. It got lost somewhere in the kitchens and floors of my old job and school. Now that I am free, I'm happy I found it again.

I am going to jump right in. For the first time in almost ten years I am looking for a job. The last six and a half years I worked in restaurant. I bartended and served my way through LeTourneau and after I graduated, I accepted a promotion to manager. Ever see one of those chick flick type movies? the ones where the title roled character suddenly finds themselves divorced or widowed and they have to get back out there? You know, on the dating circuit. They have found everything has changed since the last time they dated. Online dating is new to them. The rituals of singles have changed. Everything has become less forward and their odds of getting lucky have improved ten fold. The resulting fish out of water comedy is often hilarious as our hero finds the new person of their dreams.

I find myself in the same boat. Except I'm not dating and it isn't that hilarious. I am looking for work. Things have changed a bit since I had to pound the pavement. Now its all about Linkedin, or Monster.com, networking, and emailing your resume. Sure ten years ago you emailed, but in general you went and applied for the position rather than email your resume and wait to call or be called back. Tech has changed everything for good and bad I think.

I started looking as soon as the shock wore off that I had lost my identity with my old job. I loved my job. I loved being Larry Hicks, manager of The Jalapeno Tree. I loved going to work. I loved putting in the hours. I loved the people I worked with. Then one day it was gone. One of those moments occurred where it was time to leave, and I left. When I walked off the property I promised my boss I would go quietly, with no negativity and I have held to that. But without a doubt, I had to go. It took a few days for the shock of leaving to wear off. The routine of going in at ten am and leaving sometime between 11 and 12 at night almost everyday was regimented into every fibre of my being. I carried away a pretty big bag of resentments I had to get rid of too. However, within a day or two it was hefted into the trash by the curb. Now my routine is finding a new position to steep into my bones.

I polished up my resume and sent it to several people I know and trust; My brother Craig, a headhunter for the oil and gas industry and a few restaurant managers. LifeHacker is a website I really like and I searched resume building there too. I learned my resume needed to be more specific, particularly tailored to each company I sent it to. I was also told I needed to network. Network? Networking for me was going to chamber meetings and exchanging business cards over a cocktail and dinner napkins of food. Networking now is having the properly polished Linkedin account, and having a good resume posted on Monster.com or Career Builder. I really like it. I you had seen some of the finger foods I have tried you would like it too.

 

The application process is super streamlined as well. Instead of just showing up, filling out an application, and turning in your resume, you can apply online. This is super cool, it saves a lot of time, gas, and stomach churning waiting to see if the boss will see you for an interview. However, automation can blow you out of the water before you have a chance to be seen. In a face to face, everyone has a chance to get hired. If human resources doesn't like the format of your resume, your done.

I have built my Linkedin account, and posted my resume on Monster. I have also applied at various businesses online. So far, I have several interviews lined up for next week. With God's Grace, I will be back in the saddle working again in no time, loving what I do for someone else.                                                                  
I have enjoyed the little time off I have been blessed with. However, I have got to get back into routine again. I can't let the dust build up on me like it did on my blog.

Peace!

Larry

Miracles Do Happen!

I have to give thanks to Jesus!

I finished my math yesterday!

HOOOORAAYYYYY!!!

I have a few papers to write, and take one more final.

My first year of school will be finished!

I could not have done it without Him!

Praise to my Lord and Savior!

Thank God!

More coming soon.



Larry

GRRRR!

Oh, My, Gosh

Can there be any bigger pain in the butt than College Algebra?

If anybody would like a moniter with pencil stuck through it please let me know.

Ebay might take it as an oddity, maybe I could market t-shirt pictures of it.

ARRRGGGGGHHHH!!!!

When I get through this it will only be to God's Glory.

There is no way I am getting through this on my own.

Larry

Arizona

Sadly, I have been tackeled by a bad case of writers block lately. No amount of strain on my brain has allowed me to post anything.

This has been increasingly detrimental to my educational career. I have just been able to pull enough text out of my grey matter to get by.

Spring break was a great experience for me. I was able to go on my first mission trip. Nine of us set out from the LeTourneau campus for the red dust giant, canyon country of North-Western Arizona.

Our mission was to repair some plumbing for the bathrooms on the church propertyand to sand and revarnish twenty-one pews.

We were blessed to spend time with the Navajo. Each day we were up with the sun, as it would curiously peek its head up over the mesas.

The group I traveled with were a great bunch of people. All were 21 and under except for the faculty advisor who had me by six years. (I wasn't the oldest!)

I was struck by two things while gone.

Those who know me best understand that I am just a hyper guy; pretty much spastic.

The Navajo we met were so calm.

Arizona time is slow time. Church property is fast time. The church is one hour ahead. The state does not recognize daylight savings time, but the church does.

The culture of the Navajo is so simplistic. Everything is what it is. I don't think I can properly put it into words. They are a beautiful minded society.

The kids I traveled with were so awesome. They were smart, funny, and serious about their commitment to Jesus. There was a true light shining from each of them, untainted, or jaded yet by the world around them. I felt a joy as my personal cynicism melted while I was gone.


I found myself wanting to be untarnished by the world, and for a while, in that moment my childlike purity returned.

I'll never forget that.

Larry

Whats That Sound?

Hear that?

Thats the sound of thousands of college students getting some sleep. Some are snoring, some are drooling on the pillow, and some are sleepwalking. I know, I am doing all three.

I loved school until the last six weeks of the semester. I felt like the walls were closing in.

Like the trash masher in Star Wars I was up to my elbows in muck.

I wish all my fellow students out there a Merry Christmas, a happy New Year, and lots of good rest. Stretch out on the couch put a pillow over your head and snooze.

Thats what I'm going to be doing.

As long as my wife lets me.


Larry

School Writings

Every so often I would like to share writing I've been doing at school.

Constructive criticism would be nice, no tomatos.

This is the LeTourneau clock tower it lies in the middle of the campus.

This paragraph is from a descriptive writing assignment.

You have to imagine a sunny but cool autumn breezy day.

This is the only picture I could find of the tower. I wahooed it from a fellow student.

The Bench


I sat upon a bench by the clock tower. Shadows and light danced through the waving trees throwing their reflection on the ground and sidewalk. The color of the brick flickered as the sun shone. Golden, then red, golden, then maroon the hues changing with the wind. The breeze caressing my hands and neck giving me a quiet but exhilarating chill as the sun shone on my face like a warm heating pad. I forgot about my stuffy nose, the white droppings of the birds on the tower bells and my achy body. Everything came together in that moment and I was still and knew God.

A bit cheesy perhaps but my first foray into this type of writing.

Larry

Computer Lab

Guess where I am? School between classes. Coming to you almost live from a computer lab deep inside Letourneau University.

Very cool eh?

I am making some adjustments to font and color. I have never really flirted with this.

I am trying to make Hallelujahs easier to read.

Pray for Mrs. Norma today. She may have had a stroke or heart attack this morning.

Blessings!

Larry