cat
Member
Fog comes in on little cat feet . . . .
Posts: 28
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Post by cat on Jul 13, 2014 9:12:37 GMT -5
This situation is not like waiting for paint to dry. In the end, you know the paint will eventually dry. It's being the girl and waiting to see if the guy you like will pick up the phone (dating myself there) and ask you for a date. And yes, I speak from experience.
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Post by gary on Jul 13, 2014 9:27:52 GMT -5
16 months. 484 days. 11,616 hours. Of applying for the same job. 5 days of nervous activity (one each for the app, online tests, wd/lbmt, si and agency interview) separated by months of waiting. Long periods where we wondered if anything was happening and theories like "there's a screw up in the grading and the whole process is being scrapped" abounded. Short, fingernail biting periods where others had gotten good or bad news but you still were left waiting. 16 months of the internal optimist driving you to look at real estate sites for the city of your hopes while the internal pessimist reminded you that there are so many other, more qualified folks. Days where you remind a board friend that the process is a "marathon not a sprint" followed by your own meltdown day when the board motto is spit back at you. For first certers, being able to see the finish line is no comfort. This last mile seems the longest. All up hill. And, did they just move the line back a few feet? I swear they did. But the end is near. For a select few. At least two have already crossed the line, caught their breath and have the hangovers. The rest of us just have to keep it together. Keep running and not lose our grip. We have made it this far and can go any further distance required. This process was always gonna end bad for the vast majority of folks that began it. Those of us that can see the line, how incredibly fortunate we are. We may feel these last few miles are interminable, but remember there are scores of our board brethren that still have months of running to do and hundreds of others that have been pulled from the race. A good friend and fellow first certer and I were discussing how long we have been at this the other day. He said that any who make it should definitely have a better understanding of the claimants. They average waiting over 400 days for a decision. Not a decision that will determine if they get some great job with a raise, but a decision that will determine if they can buy groceries and see a doctor. Perspective is everything. Good luck everybody. It's darkest before the dawn, coldest just before spring and all those other cliches. I doubt anything happens over the weekend, so recharge the batteries and everything will workout just the way it is supposed to. I applied in November, 2009. I was telephoned on September 30, 2011, and offered the job, beginning January 2012. From Application to Offer was 660 days, more or less, with one "Thanks, but no thanks" email from HR three months prior to Offer. Benjamin Disraeli--who was, of course, never an ALJ--once said, pithily, “Everything comes if a man will only wait.” He is right! Deep breath. Hold it. Exhale. Good luck my friends! "Everything?" But I don't want everything--just the good stuff!
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Post by philliesfan on Jul 13, 2014 12:56:51 GMT -5
I've posted this before, but I first applied to be an ALJ in 1987, again in 1993, and again in 2007. I had given up and resigned myself to retiring as a Senior Attorney. I was working flexiplace on 5/18/2011, when the phone rang about 3:30 P.M. It was a 703 area code. Bob called and offered me an ALJ position about 900 miles from my home. My wife, who was standing next to me, had one response, take it! The rest is history.
The moral of this is do not give up because you never know.
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witty
Full Member
i tawt i taw a puddy tat (Livingston/Foster/May/ made famous by Tweety B.)
Posts: 66
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Post by witty on Jul 13, 2014 14:31:43 GMT -5
Exemplifies hope, faith, and perseverance, and that in the mean time and in between time, got to keep on living. Thank you for sharing
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witty
Full Member
i tawt i taw a puddy tat (Livingston/Foster/May/ made famous by Tweety B.)
Posts: 66
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Post by witty on Jul 13, 2014 14:34:25 GMT -5
I've posted this before, but I first applied to be an ALJ in 1987, again in 1993, and again in 2007. I had given up and resigned myself to retiring as a Senior Attorney. I was working flexiplace on 5/18/2011, when the phone rang about 3:30 P.M. It was a 703 area code. Bob called and offered me an ALJ position about 900 miles from my home. My wife, who was standing next to me, had one response, take it! The rest is history. The moral of this is do not give up because you never know. To clarify, I was responding to Philliesfan's post. "Exemplifies hope, faith, and perseverance, and that in the mean time and in between time, got to keep on living. Thank you for sharing."
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Post by hilltopper on Jul 13, 2014 14:57:36 GMT -5
I've posted this before, but I first applied to be an ALJ in 1987, again in 1993, and again in 2007. I had given up and resigned myself to retiring as a Senior Attorney. I was working flexiplace on 5/18/2011, when the phone rang about 3:30 P.M. It was a 703 area code. Bob called and offered me an ALJ position about 900 miles from my home. My wife, who was standing next to me, had one response, take it! The rest is history. The moral of this is do not give up because you never know. I bow to the quintessential example of perseverance. Philliesfan, I am in awe. It only took me 7 years. You kept at it for 24 years. Wow! Then again, you're a Phillies' fan. That's just one step removed from being a Cub's fan isn't it? ht
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Post by hilltopper on Jul 13, 2014 15:04:29 GMT -5
And, before any Cubs fans start dissing me.
I was a Cubs fan from birth until moving to my wife's home in the South in my early 40's. So, I know the angst of being a Cubs fan and the perpetual disappointment.
How do you think I was able to spring back, mentally regroup, and try again each time?
ht
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witty
Full Member
i tawt i taw a puddy tat (Livingston/Foster/May/ made famous by Tweety B.)
Posts: 66
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Post by witty on Jul 13, 2014 20:24:03 GMT -5
I've posted this before, but I first applied to be an ALJ in 1987, again in 1993, and again in 2007. I had given up and resigned myself to retiring as a Senior Attorney. I was working flexiplace on 5/18/2011, when the phone rang about 3:30 P.M. It was a 703 area code. Bob called and offered me an ALJ position about 900 miles from my home. My wife, who was standing next to me, had one response, take it! The rest is history. The moral of this is do not give up because you never know. To clarify, I was responding to Philliesfan's post. "Exemplifies hope, faith, and perseverance, and that in the mean time and in between time, got to keep on living. Thank you for sharing." And I am talking to and trying to convince myself more than I am any other board reader.
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Post by cheesy on Jul 13, 2014 20:31:12 GMT -5
I mean, I love each and every one of you like brothers and sisters, and I want to have you over to meet the wife and kids. Jarhead Red for all! Now up to the 16th Floor!
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Post by cubbietax on Jul 14, 2014 8:40:51 GMT -5
Hey Ace, is Bob in the office yet?
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Post by Ace Midnight on Jul 14, 2014 9:11:09 GMT -5
I hope this isn't what I'm going to be remembered for...
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Post by moopigsdad on Jul 14, 2014 9:15:08 GMT -5
No ace, I think your avatar is what you are going to be remembered for the most, besides a few of your posts about not being able to deal with the long drawn out process of ALJ selection.
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Post by Ace Midnight on Jul 14, 2014 9:17:09 GMT -5
The current avatar, or the old one?
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Post by gary on Jul 14, 2014 9:36:20 GMT -5
I vote old one.
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Post by sealaw90 on Jul 14, 2014 10:01:58 GMT -5
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Post by cheesy on Jul 14, 2014 10:06:39 GMT -5
I hope this isn't what I'm going to be remembered for... Yup.
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Post by futuressaalj on Jul 14, 2014 10:23:30 GMT -5
The current avatar, or the old one? I liked the Ace card too, this new "Morpheus from the Matrix" is odd.
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Post by moopigsdad on Jul 14, 2014 10:41:37 GMT -5
Personally, either one for me ace, but the old one stands out the most in my mind, although the new one gives me pause to see if it bears any resemblance to you in person.
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Post by Ace Midnight on Jul 14, 2014 10:42:22 GMT -5
Upon advice from several people I trust - I decided to change to a generic avatar for the duration of the current process. In the current environment, one never knows when someone will be offended and by what.
Better safe than sorry - perhaps a coward's refrain, but not without a certain amount of practical wisdom.
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Post by moopigsdad on Jul 14, 2014 10:45:19 GMT -5
Ace, while I understand your reasoning, but the new one isn't so generic as you think because it will stand out in the crowd, too (in a Matrix sort of way). LOL!
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