Some progress is being made.

This sign scares me every time we turn into our street. Look at both of them. They knew when they were getting their pictures taken that they would be on a billboard for the world to see. In fact, the whole idea of the photos are to entice customers though the door. Therefore surely the photographer didn't think the "guard dog" or the "have you seen my baseball" looks were going to get the job done? The Budweiser sign on the reverse is a bit more inviting tbh.

They do seem to like their billboards out here though, and the 80's Bonnie Tyler look is popular amongst the women. There are a few more scary ones which I'll showcase at some point. Don't even get me started on the church signs though.

After submitting a ridiculous number of job applications for a ridiculous range of different types of jobs, I finally secured some work. Now, I'm not 100% sure I even applied for the job, as  think this one was a case of me registering on the company's career site. Either way I got the call for an interview after about two weeks of no job search activity whatsoever. So the moral of the story is don't try.

It's a temp job which could possibly last until next year, or next week, and there are no benefits whatsoever. However it is technically the highest paid job I've had, so it all evens out. In all likelihood, the duration will depend on my performance, and as such I at least have some control over things, and if I'm shite at it I'd want to leave anyway!

I think I had been underselling myself a little in my job search, as my expectations were very low, so regardless of how long this post lasts I think it will be very useful in my search for permanent employment here. Having a US employer on my resume is invaluable, especially with them being a large organization both in Tennessee and the US.

So I start on Monday, and for the first time in 18 months I'll be employed full-time! I am still doing some work for my UK employer, whom  I will always be grateful to for helping me in so many different ways since I was laid off in 2009. Honestly, I'd work for them for free (although technically I am since my post is funded by the project I run).

I am very glad that I'll be working in the city as well. I've seen enough of how things are run out here in the country to confirm that I should probably steer clear! First of all, my skills don't transfer to many of the jobs available locally, and secondly I don't know anyone. The "not what you know, but who you know" cliche is definitely in effect here, and it can get ridiculous.  There is also the independence aspect of working 40 minutes away from home and being able to find my way about the city on my own. I still have to get my drivers license though, but the journey to work couldn't be much easier, just drive straight for about half an hour then turn right, park, and go to work!

Anyway, once next week has come and gone I'll have a better idea of how things are going to go.