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The Adventures of Steve

Episode 15: Destination Ohio!

Thursday, February 5, 2004

Avid readers may remember the cliffhanger in the last episode, in which it was left in doubt as to whether the author would spend the rest of his days following Howard Dean around like a crazed Jim Jones fanatic -- or whether he would languid into sloth, repeatedly attempting to get Stuffy to follow a small pink mouse on a string.

Well, this adventurer has settled on the only state in the Union that doesn’t have a rectangular flag: that’s right, Ohio!

All along the plan was for one of three states: Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida. While I knew that Governor Dean needed volunteer help in many states before those, I chose only one because of limited funds. After that, I decided last year, I would move to one of those battleground states, put roots down, get a job, and then volunteer for the Democratic Nominee. Who, to my momentary despair, will not be Governor Dean.

Up until a few minutes ago, I was still considering Dean’s campaign alive. But a quick look at Dean’s polling numbers and I can see: it’s not going to happen. Kerry would have to commit a felony -- and be videotaped doing it -- to lose his lead now.

So now I need to transform myself into a Kerry supporter. Obviously a lot of us already have, so there must be some kind of serum kicking around that must go down hard but do the trick. If anyone knows where I can get some of this stuff, let me know.

I think the news execs must be laughing themselves high. Previously, the best news clip that tanked a presidential campaign was, no pun intended, Dukakis’ tank moment in 1988. That clip was something like 15 seconds long. Dean’s “Yeaaaggh!” cut that by thirteen full seconds. So much promise, so many people, so much money, all blown in two seconds. Sheesh.

Anyway, back to the story. So my plan all along was to get out of Oregon and California and go to where the Democrats and the Republicans push and shove a little more. Thanks to a wonderful band of Ohioians (Ohioians?) I met in Fort Dodge, I’ve settled on the fair city of Columbus Ohio (currently 37° F).

This week I have begun the job search process. I have re-built my resume, added a Web site portfolio to my Web site, and just tonight I completed a place where friends and former employers can post very kind letters of recommendation to said Web site.

And so now I begin something I’ve never tried before: getting a job over the Internet. Already I’ve sent out two resumes and some of my contacts have given me a great list of sites to check and places to call. But now that I’ve got an on-line portfolio that can back me up a little bit, the search goes into high gear. There’s lots of classified ads, job boards, industry postings to comb through daily. I’m ready for it. Stuffy can wait.

Check out my resume section! I’ve got my new resume, links to all of the sites I’ve built (or ghosts thereof) and all the reference letters I’ve got on file (one at present). There’s a form where you, my valuable friend, can post your own letter of recommendation. And for those a little challenged by having to write an entire letter, a quick “mad-libs” style form where you just put in some cool power words (like “exceptional” and “highly”) and presto! Instant reference letter.

www.steveransom.com

Hey, and thanks to everyone who took my request for advice seriously and shared their opinions! That was a great help, I appreciate it.

 

All of the Adventures of Steve

   Episode 1: In which Steve leaves Eugene and arrives in Rancho Cordova.
   Episode 2: In which Steve visits the Jelly Belly factory and gets a haircut.
   Episode 3: In which Steve gets a cold, a big box, and a seat on a train.
   Episode 4: In which Steve receives shiny new toys and loyal old friends.
   Episode 5: In which Steve departs for Iowa and rants a bit about why.
   Episode 6: In which Steve takes a trip to Des Moines.
   Episode 7: In which Steve gets really involved.
   Episode 8: In which Steve starts hobnobbing but is haunted by Arne Baker.
   Episode 9: In which Steve becomes a groupie and is informed that we all have love in our hearts.
   Episode 10: In which Steve becomes a media whore.
   Episode 11: In which Steve takes on Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine and Michigan.
   Episode 12: In which Steve is pitted against Fort Dodge, Iowa and seven vans of unruly Texans.
   Episode 13: In which Steve learns that all his hard work wasn't enough to put the candidate back together again.
   Episode 14: In which Steve does nothing.
   Episode 15: In which Steve reaches a decision and attempts to get virtually hired.
   Episode 16: In which we thank the good doctor for all he did.
   Episode 17: In which Steve suits up for a new life in the Cap City!
   Episode 18: In which Steve starts to realize he’s not in Eugene anymore.
   Episode 19: In which Steve switches from job seeking to home seeking.
   Episode 20: In which Steve starts to learn some things via the error side of trial and error.
   Episode 21: In which Steve experiences his first blizzard.
   Episode 22: In which Steve contemplates his next move.
   Episode 23: In which Steve prepares to switch gears... again.
   Episode 24: In which Steve spends a week in a hotel with four thousand teenagers and then gives his 30-day notice.
   Episode 25: In which Steve reminisces about his 10 weeks in Columbus while waiting in the wings.
   Episode 26: In which the squeaky wheel gets the grease.
   Episode 27: In which Steve changes everything.
   Episode 28: In which Steve finds Brood X, gets a teeny crush on a fellow trainee and learns where he's going, approximately.
   Episode 29: In which Steve starts to see how politics really works.
   Episode 30: In which Steve writes a letter to Kelly, executive director of the group that fired me.
   Episode 31: In which Steve spends a tentative week commuting to work in Maine.
   Episode 32: In which Steve learns he's just one piece on the board.
   Episode 33: In which Steve settles in for three months of intense campaigning.
   Episode 34: In which Steve is deep into the final countdown.
   Episode 35: In which Maine wins, the nation loses and Steve heads home.
   Episode 36: In which Steve doesn’t do much more than comb the classifieds and update his Web site.
   Episode 37: In which Steve slips into a normal life.

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