Checking in.. again.

Smiling faces from Wisconsin!
(Windpoint Lighthouse, Racine WI)

< It has been almost a year and a half since I last posted here. Many obstacles have made this blog been shoved to the back burner. And its not that I haven't tried; in fact I've got many draft posts that were just ideas but they never evolved from the idea. I don't know if it is just being tired, or if it is a serious case of writer's block. --TS >

The last time I posted here was October of 2022. A LOT has happened around here! Let's get started with the updates.

The last time I posted here, I had shared that I had accepted a new position in the district working as the district's data specialist. It was a brand new role for me, doing stuff that I was learning as I was going. I was primarily responsible for maintaining the business database system, along with on-boarding new employees and generally assisting with the migration to the new system. I was also the key person with the district's movement to going paperless by using a digital signature system. 

Some of you may have noticed that I was speaking the past tense with regards to this new job. That is because the district was $2.3 million in debt, so in an effort to save money, my contract was not renewed. That meant that my resume was in need of updating and hitting the job market.

During our move to Wisconsin, we crossed paths
with the Oscar Meyer Frankmobile in Nebraska!

I spent that spring applying for jobs. I applied for jobs in Laramie, and even in neighboring cities Cheyenne and Fort Collins CO. The outlook wasn't looking too good for an IT professional in the area. It was apparent that I was going to have to expand my search. Little did I know it, but my luck was going to change. 

Thanks to a co-worker, I found out about a job with our business ERP system provider. The job was for a IT consultant and my skills, experience, and education all seemed to line up with what they were looking for. After two interviews, I got the job offer. Where was this new job? Wisconsin! 

After the shock wore off, the planning went into full gear. We had to figure out where the new Slider haus was going to be and how were we going to get out there. My wife really hustled and found a found a great apartment in a suburb of Madison. We rented a moving trailer from U-Haul and on July 31st, Renee, our grandson Isaac, and I headed out to Wisconsin. 

One notable sight during our drive out to Wisconsin, we came upon the Oscar Meyer Frankmobile at a gas station in Nebraska. I've many photos of this car, but I've never actually seen one in person. Such a cool vehicle and the staff manning it were very friendly! 

We've now been Wisconsin residents for over seven months now. Renee found a job with a local school district, and my job has been quite the experience. We've been taking our weekends to explore much of the southeastern section of the state. Wisconsin is starting to feel like home and we are looking forward to making friends and see more of this state! 

Here's to a new life in Wisconsin!
(Marcus Theatre, Madison WI)