Another quiet day at the Parker household…

It's rainy here in the land of red elephants. Amy's busy washing dishes, and I'm taking a break from packing boxes. We're getting ready to move even though we've just started to pack. It's been two wonderful years here, but I'm ready to leave and get started on our next phase in this crazy life.

I should find out tomorrow whether or not I'll get the Columbus job. I should also find out about Panama City this week. I'm scheduled to go to North Carolina Friday, but an offer from either place will cancel that trip.

All the DVDs are packed in three large and heavy boxes. It stinks being a movie buff sometimes because you hate to pack them away. We've left a couple of them out to pass the time while we move around the apartment.

Please take time to remember those who gave their lives for this country today. I know there are a lot of hard feelings about the current situation in Iraq, but those guys are our family members, friends, and loved ones fighting to keep this world as safe as possible. Without them and those who died in previous wars, you wouldn't have the freedom to say the things you say and do the things you do. I may not be in the Air Force anymore, but my thoughts and prayers are with you guys who are currently serving. Keep up the good work.

Update from Mom's house!

I'm heading back to Tuscaloosa this afternoon. The interview in Panama City went very well yesterday morning. I liked the news director a lot, and he apparently liked me a lot. He judges candidates by letting the entire news staff see the applicant's tape. The staff then makes a top 10 list. After all was said and done, I am currently the number one person out of about 150. Yay!

The pay is not what I hoped for, but since Huntsville is no longer in my sight I'm not expecting to get what I want. I'm calling the Columbus news director back tomorrow. That's now my best choice of getting close to my desired pay. Like I mentioned in my previous post, I never planned on going back. But now… By the way, Drew Nelson, good to see you coming back. Sorry to see what happened, but good for you for taking a stand. Maybe I'll see you back down there.

Anyhow, I was told the PC guy has one more interview, but I should expect an offer by next week. If I take it, then you guys have a free place to stay if you want to come down to the beach. Now that I say that, I probably won't get the offer.

Keep praying for us! I have a feeling we'll be moving somewhere soon! See you back in T-town!

Well, I didn't get my #1 job choice. I have been patiently waiting for about two months to hear about my status at WHNT in Huntsville, AL. The news director called me today at 4:00 to let me know that he was obliged to hire a guy already in the company. Surprisingly, I'm not upset at all. He told me I was the number one choice behind this guy. If the guy had turned down the spot there, I would've been hired today. The reason I'm not upset is because he told me I would be called as soon as a spot becomes available. He also let me know that I was #2 out of about 200 applicants. Not too shabby at all. Especially since Huntsville is market #83. Being considered for that spot right out of college is honor enough. Besides, I would expect no less of a company to hire from within first. It's only polite to the person they hire.

I'm actually walking out the door to go to Panama City, FL. WMBB has an open spot I'm interviewing for tomorrow morning, and I should be visiting New Bern, NC, next week. The NC job is market #103 which isn't shabby, either. As most of you know, I also interviewed at WTVM in Columbus, GA, the day after our cruise. That went very well, and I hope to hear something from there soon. I know I said I would never go back to that town, but stranger things have happened (i.e. A job's a job). WTVM's parent company is a great group to work for and it could eventually lead back to Huntsville. Granted, it's the competitor to WHNT, but I would like to end up in that city. Maybe one day at one of those stations…

Anyhow, my prospects are now down to six stations. That's a heck of a lot better than most others I graduated with. It's all about patience and impressions now. There you go, the secret's revealed. I'm off to Florida… again!

Monday… a day reserved for all things evil. The beginning of the work week, school, etc. However, for me, it's being very nice. I have no job. I have no school. I have nothing to do for the first time since July 1998. I am really enjoying this!

Today's been good. I woke up, called my main station of interest, and got the news director's voice mail (as usual). It's not bothering me now, though. I know he has three other people to interview this week or the next before he can solidify his choice. I think I would be more worried, but I'm talking to seven stations. Why worry? Anyhow, as of this morning, I have scheduled an interview in northern Florida for Wednesday morning. I've also spoken to the news director in eastern North Carolina at length today. She sounds very nice. She was an absolute chatterbox (which gave off a good impression). She is calling me back at the end of the week to see when I can come up for a face-to-face chat. She's offered to fly us up, take Amy and me out to dinner, and put us in a nice hotel for an evening. Very tempting… I told her I would be more than willing to drive (at least until I saw the mileage). Either way, I'm looking forward to a little trip up there. I've glanced at the salary range for both places I'm visiting. I'm thinking that I'm not going to get my target pay with any place but my #1 choice. Heck, I may not even get it there. Oh well. I can always grow into it, but we're wanting to start a family soon.

At the end of this week, I will have gone to six of my seven interviews. They've all been very positive. Now if someone will throw down an offer I can start the bargaining…

Shrek 2…

Just as good as the first one.