simplyjer

[simplyjer]

Quick on the Draw

I haven't used this thing in over a year now, but things have improved much. My living situation got leagues better, but the next month brings change. I thought that I should follow up with some positivity after leaving you all hanging with negative posts last year.

I started applying to jobs in May and it's been a wonderful experience. I remember completing 350+ (no exaggeration) applications in 2015 and only landing a handful of interviews. This time around, I've applied to just over 50 positions and have gotten 6 interview requests. A much better response rate. The opportunities were in the following cities:

Clark, New Jersey (near NYC)

Chino, California (near LA)

Linthicum, Maryland (near Baltimore)

Everett, Washington (near Seattle)

Carol Stream, Illinois (near Chicago)

Honolulu, Hawaii

I declined one interview for a position that seemed too intense. The recruiter for another position never responded back to my multiple voice messages responding to their initial phone call. I also declined three of the other interviews, because I was already deep into the remaining opportunity's process.

I'll be living near one of the above cities by the end of this week.

I'm just hoping that declining those three interviews was smart. Timing wise, it was perfect. Accepting my offer alligned well with the lease for my current place ending soon.

I haven't even moved to my new city, but I can't help but wonder what decision I would have made if these doors were all open at the same time rather than sprinkled throughout. I could always burn the bridge that I'm on, but that's probably not the smartest thing to do. But I can't help but wonder "What if?"... All six cities seem to permeate a different energy. In parallel realities, I'm experiencing them all.

Jer! You're being so vague on where you're leaving for! I know. Some of you might know already. Most of you don't. It'll become clear on other mediums (most likely not on here).

TL;DR: My rant here is to convince myself that I made the right choice.

[simplyjer]

how the fuck does someone snap a towel rack and just leave it there?

on a separate note, how the fuck does someone make a large hole in the wall and leave it there for over a year?

[simplyjer]

Only 1.5 more months until I change apartments.  Thank god.

[simplyjer]

Stasis

I crave change.  I feel like my 2017 has been a year of stasis and equilibrium. I'm terrified, because I came up empty handed after spending a few minutes brainstorming my personal achievements for the current year.  I could easily list accomplishments for 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016.  What is going on?

Whatever I’m doing now is not cutting it.  I think my main problem is that I’m waiting for 2018.  I’ll find a new job next year.  I’ll move somewhere else next year.  I’ll travel somewhere next year.  Why can’t I do something dynamic in the present?  Why can’t I be happier in the present?  I know I’m imposing my own restrictions on myself and it’s not healthy.  I find myself more irritable, indecisiveness paralyzes me often, and I’m pretty sure that I’m regressing socially.

I think I had an epiphany while typing this all up.  Is it me “being a millennial”?  Maybe I am guilty of wanting instant gratification as opposed to being patient and persistent.  Or maybe this is a goddamn quarter life crisis?  An argument can be made for that.  Maybe life is supposed to slow down a bit around this age.  But I don’t want to.

Whatever it is, these general thoughts and feelings have been lingering for a while.  It’s just that my earlier brainstorm really struck something within me.

[simplyjer]

I’m scared of 2017.

This year has been full of (personal) blessings.  I’ve been able to travel a shit ton (NYC, LA, DC, Philly, and OKC. Do Boston and Chicago count?).  I moved to a major city.  I have a much better job.  I’ve become even more independent.  I’ve become friends with a handful of people across the nation through work training.  I’ve attended PAX East and AX. I’ve gone to several concerts + a couple of festivals.  The Cubs won the World Series.  I’ve caught up with family that I haven’t seen in years.  I got Christmas presents for all the little cousins for the first time. I’m also proud of all of the accomplishments that the people I surround myself have achieved.

But

I’ve become more reclusive.  I won’t be traveling for work anymore after January. I won’t see my new friends regularly after traveling for work wraps up.  I still haven’t met many people in Boston.  I don’t know where I want to be in 2018 onwards.  I spend way too much time in front of technology.  I’ve become less careful with money.  I’ve been eating out too much.

For 2017,

I want to take some sort of trip internationally (I have 9 vacation days to play with). I want to create more and consume (books, podcasts, and tv series) more.  I want to set some sort of longterm career goals.  On that same note, I want to establish where I want to be in 2018 (Contractually, I have to be in Boston until January ‘18).  I want to meet more people + join some sort of group.  I want to eat healthier.  I want to be more decisive.  I want to be more satisfied, yet develop a refined hunger.

None of these things change overnight, but loosely outlining these things helps me gather my thoughts.

I’ll probably edit this as I think of more things...

[simplyjer]

Social media is weird. Someone I matched with on tinder over a year ago is showing as someone that I may know on LinkedIn. 0 mutual connections.  Creepy.

[simplyjer]

I think I’ll use this place to gather some of my random thoughts.  Anything that is too long (or personal) for twitter.  Who even uses Tumblr anymore?

[simplyjer]

The opening to Season 1 of my favorite anime.

[simplyjer]

[simplyjer]

Timewarp

image / twitter / facebook / patreon

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[simplyjer]

My reaction when I realized that Chance 3 isn’t being released today