About two weeks ago I sent an email to Brent, the CFO of Washington Federal Savings, telling him I was applying to a few jobs at his bank and asking if I could use him for a reference.  Around the same time I was contacted about a job at Umpqua Bank that I had applied to and had an interview set up.  Shortly after, I heard back from Brent that he may have another job for me that might fit my education better.  I sent him an updated resume and the next day I was contacted by a HR rep from Washington Federal about a position that would  statistical and econometric skills I developed during my graduate education. 

 The position would statistically analyze the loan decisions of the bank to ensure compliance with fair lending laws and other work within the Legal and Compliance department.  The job sounded similar to a position that I had discussed with Brent back in December when I was beginning my job search.  I had an interview with the compliance manger on Tuesday of last week.  I learned that the position had just been approved and in fact he learned that it had been approved and that I was interviewing for it the same day I talked to the HR rep.  He didn’t even have an updated job description yet and had to ask HR to bring an updated one down to him during our interview.  All this meant that they were not looking at anyone else for the position and no one outside the bank even knew this job was available.  I also knew that no one within the bank had the skill set that I had that was needed for the job.  I felt pretty confident that they would offer the job to me.  But the job with Umpqua was also moving along good and since I did not have an offer from Washington Federal I moved along with those interviews too. 

 On Thursday I had two interviews with Umpqua in Eugene.  They went very well and I could tell they liked me.  Thursday afternoon I drove back to Washington and on Friday morning I drove up to Seattle for my final two interviews at Washington Federal.  I got there early and went walked around Pike Place Market for awhile.  While I was walking I got a phone call from Umpqua offering me the job.  I was excited to know that no matter how the interviews at Washington Federal went I had finally found a job.

I had interviews with the head of the compliance department and with Brent.  When I met with Brent we went down to the break room, got a drink, and went back to his office.  He said he did not know why he was put on my interview schedule since he was pushing for them to hire me and I didn’t need convince him I would be a good fit for the bank.

This morning I heard back and was offered the job.  I called Umpqua back and let them know I would not be accepting the offer.  I’ll start at Washington Federal on October 3.  It’s a great opportunity for me to use the skills I developed in my graduate education.  I am a Fair Lending and CRA Analyst.  I will statistically analyze the loan decisions of the bank and perform other statistical analysis that the bank needs.  I will only be working in the Fair lending analyst capacity about 2 days a week the rest of the time I will be doing other analysis that hasn’t really been decided yet.  There are a lot of areas in the bank that could benefit from what I can do, so as I get started the position will develop.  Also I will be the statistical expert at the bank.

Right now we are looking for places to live.  Most likely I will be commuting by a combination of bike and train.  Maybe once in a while I will bike the whole way but it might be 20-30 miles.  I am excited to get started but will miss the Eugene/Springfield area.

The interview in Atlanta was weird.  It wasn't really an interview.  They didn't really ask me any questions.  I didn't get the job, which is fine.  I didn't really want to move to Georgia and the validity of some of the models they used was questionable and I was told they can't do anything more sophisticated because it would confuse the accountants.  Didn't really sound like I place I wanted to use my econometric skills at.

I was in Portland for a job interview on Friday and took my bike along.  I did a 40 mile ride around Eugene on Wednesday and was planning on doing 40 more in Portland.  One of the rods I planned to take was under construction.  Unfortunately the bike map of Portland I had ordered did not come until Friday and since I had never been to Portland I did not do the full trip I had planned.  I missed the path along the Columbia river and the 205 bridge over the Columbia into Washington.  But I still got to see downtown Portland and the Willamette river.  Here's some pictures

I have an interview today for a Credit Analyst II position at Umpqua Bank in Eugene today.  It's my second interview hopefully it goes well.

So on Tuesday I fly out to Atlanta for a job interview.  It's for a credit/risk management analyst position at Synovus Bank.  It's a great job doing what I want to be doing and a good opportunity to grow my career.  When I started applying to jobs Georgia is not the place I had in mind, but I'm tired of being jobless and am ready to move on to the next step.

This week I biked over to a local bike shop and test rode some bikes.  They did not have the one that I have in mind to buy (Surly Crosscheck) but I did get to try 4 others.  The one I liked the best is also made by Surly.  It was their touring bike, the Long Haul Trucker.  What I did not like about it was that it felt a little small and the riding position was a little too upright for my liking.  I think that both of these would be solved if I got a Crosscheck a size bigger that the one I tried.  I still have some other bikes I would like to try.  Maybe next week when I'm in Washington I'll try to find some bike shops up there and test some more.

So the weather has not been cooperating with me the last couple of weeks.  I took my fenders off about a month ago thinking that there would be enough nice days in a week to get all the riding in that I wanted.  Unfortunately since then it has rained a lot more than I thought. The weather was great the last couple of days.  I took Nathan over the the overpass yesterday to look at the cars.  He just wanted to sit on my lap and watch the big trucks go underneath us.  For a while he was standing up and screaming "WOW" whenever a big truck went under.

Today during Nathan's nap I biked along the Fern Ridge Trail and out to the wet prairie.  My route took me down by the river, by campus, and through downtown Eugene until I got to the beginning of the trail.  The trail goes through Eugene and west out past Eugene to the wet prairie.  The path is pretty secluded even though a large portion goes through town.  There isn't a lot of pedestrians once you get out of Eugene, it's well paved and pretty straight.  Round trip was a little over 30 miles.  It was a great ride, sunny, nice scenery and I was able to keep at 19-20 mph for most of the ride.  This next week is supposed to be beautiful so I'm planning another trip out there and doing  40 and 50 mile rides.  Here's some pictures of the wet prairie.

So this week I'm finally getting over the lingering symptoms of being sick earlier in the month.  This week was beautiful and I decide to get out and get back in shape to reach my goal of going on some longer rides this spring. Tuesday I went out went for a short 10 mile ride.  I realized I wasn't quit over being sick and has hacking up a lot of stuff along the way. So I just kept it short.

Thursday I plopped Nathan back in the bike trailer and headed over to Island Park in Springfield down next to the river.  We stopped at the Bike/Ped overpass along the way and watched the trucks and cars drive past on I-5.  Nathan LOVES going to watch the truck zoom past under our feet.  The first time I took him there a lot of truck honk their horns for us as the went past.  No horns this time but it was still fun.  By the time we got to the park Nathan had fallen asleep.  We I woke him, he took a couple of seconds to get his barrings, saw the park in front of him and pointing, exclaimed "THERE SHE IS!"  After playing for a little bit he told me he was "all done", so got back on the bike and headed home.

I thought about getting out today but wasn't really feeling like it, but when I finally got around to showering this afternoon I decided that I needed to get out and take some of the stress (not finding a job yet and everything else that has been going on) out on the bike path.  So I threw on the spandex shorts and my Oregon Ducks bike jersey and headed out for a ride.  I wasn't really sure where or how far I was going.  I rode down to the path by the river and just pushed myself for about seven miles, cruising along at about 20 mph.  I took a break at one of the bridges over the river.  It was a nice place to just sit and think.  After about 15 minutes I figured I should get going.  I headed down to the end of the bike path, turned around and rode all the way to the other end, zigzagging around the roads and paths of the riverfront park system.  There I turned around stopped at a free refreshment and bike tuning tent and left before the TV cameras got set up, headed across the river and by the University of Oregon and took off for home.

It was a little over 25 miles.  I felt pretty good during the whole ride.  I find that after about 15 miles pedaling becomes second nature like breathing and your heart pumping.  Next week  I'll try to get a few more rides in, one of them at least 40 miles.  Maybe 50 or 60 the week after.  My new goal is to ride to Corvallis and back, check out Oregon State campus (I'll make sure to not wear my Duck jersey that day, otherwise I might not make it back.)  I think it's about 85 or 90 mile.  If I feel like it I'll ride around Eugene and stretch the ride to 100.  Not sure how long it'll take.  I'm not in as good of shape as I was last year, but a got a few weeks to get there.  Wish me luck.

So I am still searching for a job.  I had a few interviews for a position at Umpqua Bank in Roseburg.  They offered me the job but it did not pay enough so I am still searching.  Since I have lots of free time I try to spend a lot of time with Nathan.  Today I gave Heather a break and took Nathan for about 3 and a half hours.  I told him yesterday that he was going on a bike ride with Daddy today.  He was really excited and this morning when I told him he climbed in the bike trailer and wouldn't get out.

We biked over to Skinner Butte park about bout 6.5 miles away. Nathan slept pretty much the whole way.  It's a really nice park and it's right on the bike path along the river so it is a perfect park to bike to.  It was a beautiful day and we stayed a t the park for about two and a half hours.  


Here's a slideshow of Nathan at the park.

Once I convinced Nathan that we should leave we hopped back on the bike and I left the cover off and didn't put his helmet on so he could look around at the parks, animals and people along the bike path on the way home.  He really likes wearing his helmet and had a hard time taking it off once we got to the park.  I figured since we were only going 6-8 mph and still the fastest thing around he'd be fine with out his helmet.  The trailer can't flip even if I crash so it's pretty safe.

Here's some picture I took from the path on the way home. I also updated the slideshow on the HOME page found by the link at the top of the page.

So I got an email from an executive vice president at Washington Federal a couple of weeks ago saying they did not have anything for me at this time, but they may in the next few months.  It was kind of disappointing, as that was my best job lead.  I had been applying since Christmas and had not heard back from any one yet.  Yesterday I got a phone call from Umpqua Bank about a job I applied to last week.  I have an interview scheduled for next Tuesday for a Data Analyst position at the bank headquarters in Roseburg, OR.  I feel good after getting an interview for the first job I applied to that I could say that I have a masters degree instead of I will have a masters by this date.  I'm sure that that helps.

Today I biked up past Coburg.  It was damp but not raining and about 50 degrees.  I had never biked up there before and thought that it would be fun.  There is a lot  of pretty scenery out that direction and made the ride really pleasant.  Coburg is a really small town and only took about a minute to bike through.  I went a little ways past Coburg and enjoyed the fresh air and beautiful countryside.  When it was all done I went about 22 miles this morning.  Not too bad since I have not really ridden since I finished school a couple of weeks ago.

When I started this blog a couple few months ago I wanted to do a post about some of my bike gear.  Having spent two winters biking nearly every day in Oregon I have figured out how to stay warm and dry during the cold and wet days.  I'll admit, the first winter was not that enjoyable but I did correct all of the problems I had.  So here's what I use to keep me warm and dry .

I never take it easy when I'm cycling.  So I learned that there is more than one way to get wet:  rain and sweat.  So what I wear tries to keep the rain out, keep me warm, and still be breathable enough so that I'm not bathed in sweat.  In Oregon the rainiest months are also the coldest.  This means protecting yourself from the rain and the cold at the same time.   Since I ride a road bike and am in a bent over position as opposed to an upright position when riding, I find it necessary to use clothing made for cycling.  The shirts and jackets are longer in the back so that you are still completely covered in the riding position.  So here are 10 thing that I think are needed to get through the wet Oregon winter if you are going to bike frequently.  They're what I use and have found to be helpful.  At the bottom is a slide show of some of the stuff.

1. Water-proof jacket

The first purchase I made when I moved here was a jacket.  It was water resistant not water proof.  It worked but was not great.  Some parts of my upper body stayed dry during heavy rain but thats it.  This year I got the same jacket but in the water proof version.  It works perfectly.  I'm very confident that it will keep me completely dry even on long rainy rides.  It is just a light jacket.  It provides no warmth.  This means I can where it any time it rains, mid winter or late spring when it warms up.

2. Thermal bike jersey

Since my jacket does not provide warmth I add the warmth underneath.  I'll pack the shirt I'm wearing for the day and wear either my thermal long sleeve bike jersey or thermal base layer paired with a bike jersey depending on how cold it is.  The first year I just wore a long sleeve shirt of various thickness depending on the cold.  This resulted in two problems.  First they were too short in the back and my lower back would be exposed and cold.  Second, bike clothing is designed to wick away sweat and control your body temperature.  Regular clothing does not.  When I used to where normal clothes I had two options: freeze my butt of the first half of the ride and be somewhat comfortable the second half or be warm the first half and sweet like a pig the second half and be covered in sweat when I got to school.  Getting some thermal bike clothing takes care of both of those problems.

3. Waterproof winter gloves

Absolutely necessary.  Cold wet hands make any ride unbearable.  If you plan on going on some cold wet ride you have to have these.  

4. Rain pants

They make some that are specific for cycling and even water proof bike tights.  I just have some basic waterproof rain pants.  Though if they are not specific to cycling you may need a strap or something to keep the pant leg from getting caught in the chain.

5. Shoe covers

I use these on really wet days to keep rain water and the little bit of spray that my fenders don't catch that still comes off the front tire off of my shoes.

6. Hat

I use a cap that is designed for cyclists.  It keeps me warm, dry, and thin enough that I don't need to adjust my helmet when I were it.

7. Fenders

Without fenders there is a ton of spray coming off the front tire that will soak my shoes.  Also there would be spray coming of of the back tire that would hit my back.  I did not have fenders last year.  It was messy and my shoes would fill up with water.


8. Bike rack and water-proof panniers

If you need transport something waterproof panniers will keep the water out well enough that I felt 100% comfortable transporting important homeworks and exams I was grading through the rain.  I bought these when I thought I would not have funding for my last quarter and would need to carry all of my school books and stuff through the rain everyday.  Luckily, I did receive funding and got to keep my office.

9. Lights

Good lights are essential to staying visible in the rain and dark.  Staying visible is essential to your safety.

10. A love of the rain

Once you can ensure that you are warm and dry riding in the rain can be a lot of fun.  I looked forward to the rain a lot this year, partly because I was anxious to try out my new rain gear, but also because I enjoy the rain.  I can remember when I was a kid going out in a rain storm and riding around on my bike just for fun in only a t-shirt.  Granted, it was during the summer and the rain was not cold and I did not care if I came home soaked, though my mom probably did.  It kind of takes me back to the good old days when I was a kid and didn't really have any worries in life.  To me, riding my bike is very relaxing mentally though it is generally physically stressful.  And I have more than enough mental stress (especially during the first year in the Ph.D. program) and not enough physical stress, as I'm sure a lot of people in the world today do.

NO MORE SCHOOL!!!

After a year and a half,  I am officially DONE with school.  I am also officially unemployed.  I would like to thank Heather for all of the support she gave me and my fellow students for their help.  I would also like to thank the University of Oregon for paying for all of my tuition!  So now that I have a ton more free time, here's what I'm going to do:

1. Find a job
I think I'll restrict my search to  just the northwest for now.  I'm willing to be unemployed for a few months in order to find a job where we want to.

2. Finish some projects that have been on hold since summer break ended
I need to paint our TV stand, fix a dinning room chair, and paint Nathans bed frame.  I'm sure Heather will add to this.

3. Tutoring
I'm going to do some tutoring to help pay the bills while I'm searching for a job.

4. Cycling
I was thinking the other day that I should bike to Florence and see the coast before we leave Eugene.  I checked it out and the best route out there is about 80 miles.  I've been sick off on on this quarter, actually I've been sick more often than I can remember me ever being.  I blame it on Nathan.  He's worth it though.  So I'm planning on taking six six weeks or so to get back in good shape and if we're still here I do it the beginning of May.  I haven't ridden much the last couple of weeks so I'm not in the best shape.  It would also be nice to get clipless pedals before I do it.

Any ideas?

So when I finally get a new job and start earning some money I will buy a new bike.  There are a couple of reasons.  For one it is kind of like my celebration of being done with school and getting a job (Heather gets a new couch).  Second, I can't keep riding the bike I have now.  It's a crappy road bike.  It's too small for me.  The fork is bent (I think from my crash) and doesn't ride straight as easily as it should.  The components will keep wearing out in the near future (I already had to replace the front brakes because it was completely shot).  I've put well over a thousand miles on it and that is more than a cheap bike like it can take.  So I'm going to but a nice bike.  It will cost 4 times what I paid for my current bike but it will last way more than four times as long .

The main purpose of my bike will be commuting to work 5 days a week probably 10-20 miles a day.  It will need to handle lots of rain, maybe some occasional light snow, and be able to handle all my gear.  I also will take it for some leisure rides.  These may be some short 10 or 20 mile rides where I'll push my self to see how fast I can go or some longer 50 mile to 100+ mile rides where I'll make a day of it.  One day I would like to do some longer rides over a few days.
 
One option is to get a racing bike and equip it for my commute (rack, fenders).  Although one of these would be best for any ride that takes less than half a day, the are not ideal for fenders or riding in adverse conditions.  

A cyclocross bike is a road bike that is designed to race in the mud and crappy conditions.  They have wider tires and more clearance for fenders.  Usually they can convert easily into a good commuter that can handle bad weather.  I've seen studded tires for riding in ice and snow that can fit on these bikes.On the downside they are not as quick.  I like going fast.  That said I'm sure they are still probably quicker that the bike I have now.  

A third option is a touring bike.  These bike are designed to be weighed down with a lot of pack and be comfortable for long cross county trips.  They may be the best option of these three for commuting.

Below are some of the bike I'm thinking about getting.  To really be able to make a decision I'll need to go to some bike shops and test the bike out.  If it's sold at REI I'll also get about 10% of the price back in my member refund ( I think all but the TREK can be found there).  I'm leaning towards a cyclocross bike

This week is my last week of classes.  This past year and a half has gone by so fast it's hard to believe that in a week and a half I'll be done with my master's degree.  I haven't found a job yet.  I'm still waiting to hear back from Washington Federal Savings.  I did an internship there almost four years ago.  Over the winter break I met with the CFO about a possible job.  Last month he forwarded my contact information along with his recommendation to the head of the department the job would be in.  I'm hoping it will work out.  We would like to move near Heather's family in Puyallup, WA and I'm looking for a job in banking.  So it would be the ideal place for me to work.  There are the largest bank headquartered in Washington and a well run company.  Plus I've worked there before and know it is place I would enjoy working and already know some people.

In the mean time I'm applying to other banking  jobs in Portland and Chicago, as well as some government jobs in D.C.  Wherever I end up I plan on continuing to bike commute.  D.C. would be the worst place to bike out of the four.  There are very few bike paths and bike lanes to commute on.  Chicago has enough but it snows a lot in the winter (especially this year) which would make it hard and some times impossible.  Portland and Seattle are great places to bike commute.  Lots of paths and lanes not much snow.  It rains. but rain is easy to bike in.  I actually enjoy it.  This past week it's been raining almost every day and I was good to put some of my rain gear to work.

In my next post I'll go over some of the bikes I'm thinking about getting once I start making some money.  And I'll be able to tell  you what it feels like to be done with school!!!!