Hey folks, I'm trying all avenues of networking so I figured I'd try this place also.

I've been unemployed/self-employed for over 4 years now. During that time I finished my bachelors degree and started my own business after I couldn't find any companies willing to give an american citizen a chance in the IT field.

I'm looking for decent work in a decent area. Unemployment rate countywide is reported at just under 12% here and the local big companies (b*** buy, etc) are undercutting my repair costs with long going "specials" meant to drive myself and others like me out of business. They're doing a pretty good job too. I'm willing to travel to most any state, relocate to some states, and even travel over seas to most countries for reasonable periods of time.

If any of your companies are looking for hard working americans I'd love to hear about the job opportunity. I thought I'd be able to tough out the current drout of work by travelling for small contracts but that kind of work is fast disappearing.

I overheard my children discussing my work situation today. Seems like they've been listening to my F.I.L. talk to his brother about me. They think that since Bush is touting how well the economy is doing that I should be able to get decent work. I'm no longer eligible to try to get back into the military, the few government jobs that I'm receiving offers on want to send me to Iraq and Afganistan and my wife doesn't want that. So now I'm the talk of not only the FIL but the children also. Such is the penalty of living with him I guess.

I don't want to paint a sob story. Please forgive me if it seems that way. I seem to be getting enough here and there to pay the bills most of the time and on occasion splurge on something for the family/birthdays/etc. and occasionally on myself. Every great once in a while I'll get enough to get something big that we need but I'm not getting the contracts to replinish the emergency reserve I once had and some times I get pretty worried about where the money for next month's bills is coming from.

Seriously folks. If any of you work for a good company, large or small, that might have contract work or even a permanent job, I'm a hard worker and love to learn new IT technologies and I'd appreciate a heads up so I can send in a resume or bid on a job.

Thanks for listening. Hope I didn't offend anyone.

Glen F