Great job at Christmas! Regardless of what W chooses to do from here, you did great. My W does the same, somewhat motherly and platonic gestures, but I've come to realize that she's showing care. Yes, it comes across condescending, like the "I didn't want you to be alone at Christmas" comments, but that's the pullback we've all experienced. A little bit of warmth, then "this doesn't mean anything" from the WAS right after. I call BS on that. There were lots of positives and she's thinking about them. I'm proud of you and you should feel good about how you did.
Don't worry about this OM stuff. Early in my sitch I spent way too much time snooping and wondering about it. It sounds like you hear bits and pieces from the girls, and assume a lot from that. In the alien's mind you aren't married any more, and she's free to do whatever, including male "friendships". And maybe they are just that. Do you really want to know either way? She could be reconsidering in spite of all that.
Sorry that your headhunter interview turned out to be one of those pay-up-front, bait-and-switch deals. You pay them $7.5K and they maybe get you a $20K raise? I wouldn't listen to their salary talk about your age either, all that's off in this recession. I was making $43K pre layoff and had just been promoted, I'm 28. What does any of that matter now? Just take this as encouragement that your resume peaked some interest.
You keep saying that budgets will open up next year, sorry to say but I don't see it. IT jobs seem to be stuck at contract-only right now, like you're experiencing. And as for "contract-to-hire", I watched 6 month promises turn into 2 1/2 years at my old job. Makes me wonder if they planned to screw them over from the beginning. Fortunately I was full-time.
CG, what kind of business do you run? I'm fascinated by all of your advice above. It's cool to hear you explain the pros and cons I've been thinking through. I'm just an employee of a start-up, not a founder, but I'm finding I work well this way.
To me, it's a question of do you thrive in the startup environment vs. a normal job. The emotional roller-coaster, the non-typical work schedule. Kev, your comment about your co-workers makes me think you need to read #1 here: http://www.paulgraham.com/really.html
This wouldn't be a typical surface level work relationship. You'd be trusting everything to these guys if you do it. I enjoy the trust I have with my boss, vs. the "how's the wife and kids" corporate speak that drove me nuts. Which way do you work better? And like CG said, are you a self-starter who taps into all available resources? Maybe you and your partners could build this up without quitting your day jobs.
Me: 30 W: 28 T 8, M 6 S: 7-27-2007 W filed (again) 3-2011 Served 8-2011 Responded, now dark "I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear" MLK
