Exam is over...

Well, I'm back from the test, and I was wrong, the passing score needed to be 62%, not 61%. Luckily for me, the time I spent these past weeks, yesterday, and this morning, studying and examining the reasons I missed each question has paid off; I actually got 86%. I didn't get that high on any of the practice exams I took: 59%, 69%, 79%, and 72% - so I wasn't expecting anything in the 80s. So - now I can finally add that certification to my resume.

Now my focus is on moving, and studying for interviews that will possibly test me on my knowledge of java programming, and software development practices.

I'll keep you posted as things progress.

Lots of love,
Gregor

Good Luck on Monday

Greg - good luck on Monday with the test, and also with the interview. That was fast!! Did they find you on Monster.com?

Sounds good about the open house - I'm sure that it will be fine. The pictures of your home and yard are beautiful!! I'm sorry that I never got to visit you there.

Looking forward to hearing more from you soon.
Love u tons, Mom

About to take test

Hi All,

I am waiting to hear back from the realtor to see how the house showing went earlier today. There will be an open house tomorrow too, so hopefully at least a couple curious buyers will show up. I stayed up 'til 3:20 last night trying to get the rooms tidied up for the showing today, so I hope it was clean and tidy enough for the viewer.

I'm studying for that certification exam at the moment. I think I'm ready for the noon time exam on Monday, but I want to take what little time I have between now and then and review and commit to memory as much as I can. It's not like it's a high bar they set to pass it, it just requires 61% (shocking I know) but I want to shoot for at least 70% to feel good about it.

After I pass the test Monday, I'll be able to completely focus on moving and job searching. I'm still weighing all the options for moving, full service, partial service, or UHaul, and will try to make that decision by Tuesday at the latest. I have a follow-up phone interview with Emagination for a job of theirs near the White House for the American Chemical Society (ACS). Emagination's headquarters is in Baltimore I think, but they send engineering teams to customers' sites for work, and the ACS is in D.C. - so if it worked out, that's where I'd be, not too far from Peter's job. Cool. Anyway the phone interview Monday or Tuesday is with a senior java engineer, who will judge whether I know enough java to get to the next phase of the interview process. I'll let you know how it goes.

Lots of love from NH,
Greg

house on MLS

Okay - for anyone curious, here's my house on the MLS. http://www.nnerenmls.com/nne/maildoc/d0059U1760.html

I'm still investigating the moving services options and am getting the house cleaned up for showing. People could be showing up starting tomorrow to see the place. It's currently pretty cluttered, but I'll try to tidy it up before I go to bed.

I'm still studying for that software certification exam that's coming up on the 30th. I'm confident that with this last week of studying and reviewing I'll be able to pass it. Then it'll hopefully make my resume that much more attractive to companies in the D.C. area. We'll see.

More later...

found realtor

Hello All,

I picked a realtor and will sign the listing contract with him tomorrow. The house will be on the MLS by tomorrow night I think. I'll be hurriedly trying to get it in shape to show ASAP. When I'm not getting the house ready to show, I'll be studying for a certification I have scheduled for next Monday the 30th. I spoke to two different moving companies and got estimates on them doing some/all of the moving effort that will be needed, and have another estimate coming in next week.

So - I guess the main thing keeping me here now is to stick around long enough to take the exam on the 30th, and long enough to get the house in shape to show. Once the house is in shape to show, then I can get the move underway and head down to VA. The realtor would then show the house while I'm away.

Stay tuned...

moving to VA recap

Just a recap of my latest emails - with more updates to follow.

My company, SavaJe Technologies, closed its doors yesterday. The venture capitalists finally called it quits and didn't want to throw any more money at us - so we're all out of work at the moment. This is finally the kick I've needed to pack up my life and move closer to Jack, Sophia, and Peter down in Virginia. I've posted my updated resume to monster.com and careerbuilder.com and will be actively looking for leads in the northern VA cities. Hopefully I'll find something near Jack and Peter. Ideally I'll also find a house within a short commute of the job. I'll try to find the job first, and then the house. I'll probably sell my house independently of my job search progress - and I'll be living with Jack until I'm able to buy a place down there.

I'm excited to be near family again. I've been separated from family now for 14 years, and have finally given up on the idea of meeting a wife and settling down up here in New England. I'm not looking forward to the hotter and muggier summers down there, but I am looking forward to the more moderate winters, and of course hanging out with Jack and Peter and seeing Sophia grow up.

I'm currently trying to prepare myself for a java software certification exam "JSP & Servlets" to help improve my resume. I'm kicking myself now for not doing it before this situation, but with or without the certification it appears that there are enough java job opportunities in the D.C. area that I should be able to find something eventually.

I'll keep updating the blog, so check back regularly.

Lots of love,
Greg