joelb wrote:

Wood Goblin wrote:
Look into the AMA.

I used to work here in publishing. It was boring as shit with little accountability, which I guess can be good if that's what you're looking for, or alternately bad if you're not. Not sure if it's changed in the last 10 years.

In my heart of heart, it's really not what I'm into. I'm just guaging the overall barometer of how people feel about the job market in Chicago and seeing if, miraculously, someone on this board says, "I know of the perfect exciting, intellectually stimulating job you should look into that pays 100,000 +/year and that you can make your own schedule for!"

turnbullac wrote:LBD,

Oh man it would be awesome to have you in town! Would you be living more out towards the burbs, or the city? If you are good at technical writing and medical jargon I would sugges Abbott Labs. One of the biggest pharmaceutical companies out there, located in St. Charles I think. here

Also we will have to hang out.

You know, at this point, I'm not sure if it will happen. There are a lot of reasons I don't want it to happen, but on the other side of the coin, it's what my wife wants and it would be good to be able to see my Mom more than once every couple of years; for Mom and my kids to be able to spend time with each other (sigh).

If it happens, I'm not sure where I would wind up living exactly. I would want to be somewhere that it's relatively affordable and not a total dump, the closer to the city the better.

It's just so easy and inexpensive where we're at, no real struggle, access to pristine mountain and desert wilderness, a close-by practice space, and lots of playing music. I'm sort of rooted, ya know, so the prospect is a bit daunting.

I want to do what is best. Do you think I'd like it, turnbullac? I know Chicago has lots of great music, restaurants, museums, etc, (I'd like that part) and the worst weather on the planet (disgusting summer humidity and bone numbing winter cold - not so much that part). The aspect I'd miss the most about living here is the short 30 minute drive to high mountains or couple of hour drive to the most other-worldly desert canyon country you can imagine. Maybe I'd find some new fascinations.

Well, you know I grew up out west, in Denver, and I get by out here. It's not 100% sunshine and flowers but life is life and you just have to make yourself comfy wherever you end up. I have freinds, a business, and a lot of things that it would be hard to walk away from if I were to move back home. But, you have a whole family to consider as well, so your decision has many more implications.

If you're worried about nature, we have some out here too. Actually if you really were to move out here I would love it because then I would have some people to go camping and stuff with. Granted, it's not the rocky mountains, but Wisconsin and Michigan have lots of forests and lakes and stuff, and even IL has tons of woods and forest preserves and some decent state parks like Starved Rock. Yeah you can't go skiing really or run up a 14er but...

As far as raising kids, it's going to be a challenge anywhere. Utah might provide a more wholesome environment but sheltered also. How old are the rugrats? The CPS schools are pretty much shit unless you can get your kid into a magnate. The burbs is probably like a cross between Breakfast Club and 16 Candles I am pretty sure right?

And then musically, you are so awesome that I am sure folks will be lining up around the block to play with you. Seriously, that's the last thing you need to worry about around these parts.

Whoa, whoa, whoa............

Does that mean no more Form of Rocket?

You really know how to hurt a guy, LaSalle.

turnbullac wrote:As far as raising kids, it's going to be a challenge anywhere. Utah might provide a more wholesome environment but sheltered also. How old are the rugrats? The CPS schools are pretty much shit unless you can get your kid into a magnate. The burbs is probably like a cross between Breakfast Club and 16 Candles I am pretty sure right?

All those John Hughes films are pretty atypical of suburban Chicago life. There are a bunch of folks who came out of that 'hood, and from an old thread here they include:

Charleton Heston
Jay Ryan from Dianogah
some guys from Pinebender
one of the drummers of the Smashing Pumpkins.
Greg Norman.
Liz Phair
Kris Bataille, Urge Overkill's pre-Blackie drummer.
John Upchurch from the Coctails
Donnald Rummesfeld
Chris O'Donnell


so if you find a job where you make an assload of money and want to live in a town with a median household income between like $100k and $300k, you've got access to that if you want.

also, Chicago has a ton of suburbs that feature 2,000sq foot homes (as opposed to the 12,000sq ft homes you'd see in those kinda films) and there are even a bunch of them where not everybody's white and almost nobody is wealthy. pretty much a spread spectrum.

our nature scene is pretty bleak, right in the city itself. but there's stuff out there if you don't mind driving for several hours. not like out West though.

Pure L wrote:Whoa, whoa, whoa............

Does that mean no more Form of Rocket?

You really know how to hurt a guy, LaSalle.

Not necessarily. Like I said, this is sort of a daunting decision for me. It could mean that. But, probably not. We're writing new material for the first time in a year. It's been quite fun. If I move... well...see.... it's a bit of a conundrum. I'm just here entertaining the idea.

I have a pretty much useless degree (Foreign Area Studies, with a concentration in Latin America) and have found myself in the project management/middle management field, with about 8 years experience. I've been looking fairly steady for the past 6 months and have only done 4 interviews. I tend to think I have a pretty sexy resume too.

I would say that the job market is horrible, but maybe it's me that's the problem.

The Chicago job market sucks right now, in the Web design/development and advertising industries anyway.

The job market does suck, and things keep getting more expensive. Chicago used to be the best city for opportunity vrs. the cost of living, I would say that we're far from that these days. If I was coming out of school and Chicago was where it is now, I would definitely start out in NYC or LA instead. People have been getting laid off left and right, highest taxes in the country, expensive apts, etc... Chicago blows =) And I have a good job, but I never really feel secure these days.

ben, please take your band with you.