As some of you might have noticed, Paisano (don't you hate it when people refer to themselves in the third person!) has not been himself lately.
I've been a tad moody in some games and actually whined and complained a lot and even left several games in a huff. I apologize for that childish behavior, but those of you who really know me well (after 9 months of playing), you know that is not the real pai man (again with the third party ref!). Well, I'd like to explain what was behind it.

I've been out of work for 3 months (IT departments were merged and I lost out to more senior admin) and recently got the news that another bambino was on the way! I have been very stressed out and concerned and thought taking breaks from my exhaustive job search by playing tanks would ease the stress, but it didn't. I mean, MOST of the time it was a great stress buster, but every once in a while things got to me (such as playing in team scrum games where the teams are extremely uneven and nobody does anything about it....6 on 4 or one side having all of the best players, etc. Etc.).

Anyway, the good news is that I just accepted a formal offer for my dream job! I will be the IT Manager for one of the largest banks in the south!
I will be responsible for 20 locations in Georgia, Florida, North Carolina and Tennessee. I start next week, so that means FAR less ThinkTanks, perhaps even retirement since I won't be able to play at work like in the past.

So, please forgive me for being a whiney hiney and don't remember me that way. As jangles called me, the voice of TT, will never forget you girls and boys. It's been a real hoot...or is that woot?

Ciao a tutti!

Are you sure it's not P(a)ie-man?

I think it is. See what I found? Looks Italian to me~~~~~

Congratulations on your recent hiring. Good luck to you.

^{p.s. You're not bullshittin anyone here it's still in you. You can't leave yet. I'll find you.}

Napalm

Last edited: Tuesday, January 11, 2005 at 9:46:32 AM

Isn't it interesting what a swing one's fortune can take? Hope it all works well for you! Please visit when you can. :)

@Napalm
LOL... Awesome... Yes that looks a italian!

@BC
Thanks buddy. I will try my best to sneak on here and there. I also promise to not be such a baby again.
I really enjoyed playing with and against you.

Pai, so glad to hear you landed your dream job. And thanks for the explanation. I have been in a game or two where you were being cranky and wondered what was up. Now we know. Good luck on the new job, and don't forget about us! _{not that you really will} :)

Glad to hear you finally landed that job, Pais!

Now its my turn to worry. My contract expires this Friday and I still haven't landed a follow-up contract. Man......

- Bomb…James Bomb

@JamesBomb
Thanks! Hey, all I can tell you is to Network your butt off! Forget all those online job search sites like Monster.com! The last few jobs that I've gotten have always been thru a personal referral! Spread the word to everyone you know and tell them to spread the word to everyone they know and that's how you build your network. A recent study showed that 75% of jobs are actually filled thru direct referals. It is considered the hidden job market because these jobs are not advertised anywhere. They are filled with people that current employees or their spouses or vending partners or clients know. Also, go to any meeting that is related to your field of endeaver. For example, I attend a monthly meeting where all of the network administrators and engineers gather. It's a great place to network (no pun intended). There are also weekly meetings all over town where unemployed or those wanting to change jobs meet just to network and exchange job referals or contact information of people who could help someone get an interview somewhere. Www.Jobseekers.org is one such outfit here in Atlanta that is great. There must be one in your city too.

@ Pai

Congrats! Per chance - BB&T?

Also - congrats on the bambino. Guess you're going to have to move your computer to beside the crib.

Congrats Pai.

I was wondering about you. It was like you were this thoughtful , PTT poster by day, and Mr Poopy Pants by night.

And as they say in Italy, "a new jobba, it's a good-ah"

Sniper

@SNiper
Thanks. I'll be dealing with lots more poopy pants for a few more years to come! Oh well...
Along with all of the joys of parenthood is the smell of napalm in the morning...er...dirty diapers that is.
and afternoon, evening, night, etc. Etc.

Now what is napalm doing in your house in the mornings? Is he rooming with you guys? ;)

LOL@Om
DOH! I should've seen that one coming. It was a reference that that movie, Apocalypse Now"... Robert DuVall says that line...

Sometimes you can actually smell me in Georgia, in the morning. If the winds are right I'll make the trip from Chicago.

Hehe

Napalm, nothing else smells like that son!

Congratulations on the new job Pai. Sounds like a great opportunity. Once you get settled and have a lay of the land, let me know. My company is a leading provider of technology solutions to banks and credit unions -- I'll be interested to learn about your bank.

So, Pais, when can we expect some high-bandwith Modded TT server games, eh? All that bank bandwidth just sitting there, waiting to be used…and you at the helm! :P

- Bomb…James Bomb

Glad u landed a good job pai...hopefully you will be less pissy.....however.....until I quit this job I have at a feed store and return to the IT industry I reserve the right to be pissy whenever I want!!

B

@Bolo
Thanks, B. Hey, you have nothing to be pissy about. You're still very young and you don't have a family to support yet.
Just enjoy each job you get on the road of life and learn as much as you can from each experience. I've always tried to do that no matter what I did, including jobs as a laborer, roofer, garbage truck driver, carpenter, grocery store bag boy/cart boy, liquor store stock boy, newspaper boy, floral wholesale delivery boy, midnight to 8 am computer operator, pc field engineer, network engineer, network administrator, IT Manager, etc.etc. It's all a part of the process.... Each person and job is a teacher in the university of Life.