Category: Work

On-Call Again

On By The Flying DutchmanIn WorkLeave a comment

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One of the facets of my last job that I DO NOT miss was being on-call.  Basically on one week out of six I had to live with my phone waiting for someone to call with a network or server problem.  The calls almost always came near midnight or near 4am my time.  It really stank.  What was worse was that I was salaried so did not get paid any overtime for these late nights on the phone.  At least twice a year I would spend an entire weekend on the phone.  Literally.

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One of the joys of leaving that job and starting my new job was not being on-call.  I actually have learned to forget my phone sometimes.  I went to church last week without my phone and didn’t panic once!   That all being said, our CIO announced this week that we would now have to be on-call.  (Booooo!)  But that we would be compensated for being on-call.  (Yaaaayyyy!)

Apparently if a county employee is on call, during the time that they are on-call they get paid 20% of their base hourly rate in addition to their normal pay.  If we actually have to call in and work on something then we get to charge 3 hours of overtime.  Awesome!  This is effectively a 6% raise in my pay.  Yeah, I’ll take it.

Life Is Slowing Down… Sort Of

On By The Flying DutchmanIn Faith, Opinion, WorkLeave a comment

I haven’t been able to update this blog as much lately because of life.  Firstly, I am really enjoying my new job and the work days seem to fly by.  The phone that has been a constant fixture in my hand for the last 12 years is slowly working itself free.  I actually forgot to bring it with me the other day.  It was awesome.  I’m not on-call any more which is WONDERFUL!  I can work overtime… if I want.  They like network maintenance to be done around 8:30 in the morning after shift changes at the hospital.  No more 2am maintenance windows!  I am loving that!

We are slowly learning to be a family without my son living at home.  It’s taking some adjustment.  But we’re learning to heal from all last Fall and Winter’s shennanigans.  He seems to be adjusting to his new home too.  I actually got to have lunch with him last week when his group home showed up at the hospital cafeteria.

I am flying every week.  I work late on Fridays so I go in late.  I’ll take my PPG out for half hour, maybe 45 minutes and then head into work.  I fly again on Saturday morning.  It’s been pleasant learning a new way to fly.

But other than this there are no earth-shattering happenings, no life-altering revelations, just living a simple and slower life.  Despite the slower pace of life, the days seem to fly by.  But the one constant in our lives has been Christ.  We have definitely felt His presence in each and every day.  And each and every day we are grateful!

And with that I leave you with a few photos of my flights this past week…

Week Two at San Joaquin General Hospital

On By The Flying DutchmanIn WorkLeave a comment

I haven’t had time to update my blog lately because this new job has kept me hopping from the time I arrive at work until quitting time.  This has been a wonderful experience so far.  I really like the people I’m working with.  For the first time in my career, I work in an office with a window!  A corner office no less!  Now, I do share the office with one other gentleman but we get along very good.  It’s pretty much the same kind of work as my last job but there’s just… less of it.  Most of my work here is going to be helping them organize their networking environment.

Since it is a hospital I can’t really post too many pictures of my work due to patient privacy but I will be posting some exterior shots.  They have a mix of modern architecture and early 20th century brick work.  Kind of reminds me of Gotham City.  At any rate I am still here and will hopefully be able to update more as I get settled into my job.

I Have Been Co-Sourced – Part II

On By The Flying DutchmanIn Faith, WorkLeave a comment

I had to write one more thing about this job change and give God glory in the process.  I was speaking to my boss (who is also a believer) about how we prayed for this job and the timing of it all.  She then told me the rest of the story.  How the job posting had been denied and closed.  That as far as they knew they would not be getting a permanent employee.  At some point the position mysteriously re-opened.  They didn’t know the position had opened up until they started receiving applications and resumes.  I was the last person they interviewed.  My soon-to-be boss was shocked.  She had been praying for a new employee to help out with networking.  The last person they talked to on the last day was the one they had been waiting (and praying) for… me.

God’s timing and provision are perfect.