How I See It: Reflections on spirituality, technology, and the art of everyday life

Weekly Report 10/19/2025 - 10/25/2025 Weekly Update — PxPlus, ProvideX, and Progress How I’m Using ChatGPT to Find Remote Sage 100 / PVXplus Work For a long time, I was searching for remote work the traditional way — scrolling job boards, sending out applications, and waiting. But despite more than 20 years of experience working with Sage 100 and ProvideX (PVXplus) — building and supporting business applications, developing data tools, and solving real-world problems — I wasn’t seeing much success. Then I tried something different: I started using ChatGPT as part of my search . Step 1: Automating Job Searches The first way I used ChatGPT was simple but powerful — I asked it to scan job boards regularly for new Sage 100 and ProvideX positions. That alone changed the game. Within weeks, I found several opportunities I had missed before, including one that led to a job interview. But as helpful as that was, I realized something important: many of the companies that ...

Weekly Report 10/12/2025 - 10/18/2025 How I’m Using AI to Supercharge My Job Search — and How You Can Too How I’m Using ChatGPT to Find Remote Sage 100 / PVXplus Work For a long time, I was searching for remote work the traditional way — scrolling job boards, sending out applications, and waiting. But despite more than 20 years of experience working with Sage 100 and ProvideX (PVXplus) — building and supporting business applications, developing data tools, and solving real-world problems — I wasn’t seeing much success. Then I tried something different: I started using ChatGPT as part of my search . Step 1: Automating job searches The first way I used ChatGPT was simple but powerful — I asked it to scan job boards regularly for new Sage 100 and ProvideX positions. That alone changed the game. Within weeks, I found several opportunities I had missed before, including one that led to a job interview. But as helpful as that was, I realized something important: many o...

Weekly update 09/28/25 - 10/04/25 Life has been throwing a lot my way lately—from unexpected falls to navigating a tricky job search—but I’m learning to turn setbacks into lessons. Here’s what’s been happening recently. Job Search Update: How ChatGPT Became My Secret Weapon I’ve been working hard to find a new job, and this time I’ve been getting some help from an unexpected source: ChatGPT. It’s helped me rewrite parts of my resume and update my LinkedIn profile, making me feel more confident applying to roles I might have overlooked before. Each day, I check six different job boards for opportunities in: PVXplus (ProvideX) Sage 100 (MAS 90) Infor FACTS UniBasic, BBx, Business Basic, Prompt AI Trainer / Relevance / Testing / Annotation Support, Customer Service, Virtual Assistant, Data Entry, Bookkeeping, Data Processing, Systems Analyst, Help Desk So far, I’ve applied to several openings, and the best news is that I found tw...

My Search for Remote Work It’s been a while since I published an update, so I’m going to write one about my job search. In 2018, I had been working for the same company for nearly 18 years when it was sold, and I was declared superfluous and let go. I was lucky—within a few weeks, I found a new job working remotely from Vancouver, WA, with a company based in Phoenix, AZ. I was so happy the break was not too long. Unfortunately, I was only there for four years when I got sick. I won’t go into the details here, but I was unable to work for several years, living off my IRA and selling my Prius. Once I started feeling better, I got back to the question of finding a job. I’ve worked for nearly 39 years using various forms of Business Basic (ProvideX/PVx, UniBasic, BBx, B32, Pick Basic, Basic Four, Thoroughbred Basic). I began my search looking for a remote job programming in one of those languages. I did this without much hope, knowing that Business Basic and all its variants are a dy...

I'm Not Charley  Hello, my name is Odell! I was born in 1961. I have an Associate of Sciences and a Bachelor of Arts degree. I'm a Pilot, Photographer, Poet, Philosopher, Mystic, Writer, Musician, Amateur Astronomer, and for over 45 years I've been a professional computer programmer — and a lot more. I mention these accomplishments because of something that happened in 2nd grade. I was falling behind academically, having problems learning to read and write. After much humiliation (my classmates constantly made fun of me) and testing, I was diagnosed as being “brain damaged.” My parents were told that I would never learn to read or write or have normal relationships or a normal life — in fact, that it would be best if I was simply placed in an institution. They were told they had three other children and another on the way, so it would be best for everyone. My parents disregarded this and kept me in school and “mainstreamed” me. I was held back and had to repeat 2nd gra...

A Small Airplane Daydream I had an odd little fantasy pop into my head today. I imagined getting on a plane, finding my seat, and realizing the person next to me is Mayim Bialik from The Big Bang Theory . In the dream, I do what I always do, settle in quietly, mind my own business, try not to bother anyone. But eventually the excitement gets the better of me. I turn to her and say, as apologetically as possible, that I know people must approach her all the time, but I’ve always respected her work and I just had one question I couldn’t resist asking. “What do you think about autoimmune encephalitis?” After all, she really is a neuroscientist. Next: I'm Not Carley Previous: A Few Words on Caring

Christmas Letter 2017 Dear Friends, It is my custom at this time of year to celebrate with my friends by giving them the gift of self — to share with you some of what the last year(s) have brought for me. I don’t mean to make skipping a year a habit, but shortly after Thanksgiving last year something happened that I do not want to go into here. Suffice it to say, I did not feel up to writing this letter, so I missed an update for 2016. I hope to make up for that now. Most of what has happened during the last two years has been medical, so I will report on that at the end. When I last wrote, my father had passed away. So in January of 2016, I went back down to LA for the funeral (with Phoenix). These were her first two airplane flights, and she was a trooper. The rest of 2016 was rather boring. I made a couple of trips to Seattle and the coast, went to work most days, and lived the boring life of an adult. 2017 was a little more eventful. We started the year off with a big snowsto...