Another Day in the Trenches

Well, now that I'm back in England I have to tell you, I haven't been feeling too keen on being here. Been downright melancholy lately. But I think that's just because of everything that's been going on lately. You know: getting sick, dropping the marathon, seeing all my friends, quitting my job, starting a new career. Well, okay, not all of those things have happened...yet.

But I have been planning on switching jobs. I'm thinking that this project is the last one I'll do with my current employer. I've been on this thought train for awhile. There are many reasons for me to leave, really. I thought it would be fun to work at a small company, but I was wrong. I just don't like constantly feeling like my company is more incompetent than I am. Seems in some areas I do indeed like to follow, rather than lead, and think for myself. And then there's the fact that I'm never home. I've been with these guys for a year and a half, and I've been gone from home for well over half of that. And when I was home I was commuting nearly an hour each way every day, so you can almost count that as being gone, too. Only when I was working in Tyson's was I really digging this job. Finally there's the fact that for most of this time I've been working by myself. Now I'm not one to go all chummy chummy with people just b/c they're your coworkers, but it would be nice to decide whether or not I like that new guy in Accounting. For me, there is no new guy. And not really even an Accounting department either.

So that leads me to thinking I need to switch jobs, and what better time than after I'm done here in England, right? Even better that I've been approved another level for my government clearance, which makes me more marketable. I mean, think about it: that previous paragraph screams new job, with a big company, little to no travel, and some new guy in Accounting. Well, I suppose I can do without him. So maybe it's time to start looking.

But the real question is: if I'm already switching jobs, do I really like the line of work I'm doing right now? The answer is no. Never really has been any other answer for me. But the money, man the money, has been great. And it would only get better. So I have to ask myself, "Self, do you dislike what you're doing enough to take a drastic pay cut?" Well, that's the $50,000 question, isn't it? And we'll just have to keep thinking on it.

So, what would I do instead? Well, I was thinking about becoming a teacher. I know, I know, you'd never really see me as the teacher type. And do I even like kids? Well, yeah, I like kids...when they're someone else's. And being a teacher really would fit rather well with my lifestyle. I always liked feeling smarter than those around me, and I always liked bossing people around. Wow, I could kill 2 birds with 1 stone by putting myself in a classroom of 12-year olds. Well, maybe 10-year olds then. Seriously though, I've always wanted to be in a position to feel like my job was making a real difference. Teaching would do that. And I've always wanted to coach. Teaching would allow me to be an assistant cross country coach or something similar. Plus I love learning about photography, and summers off would be a great opportunity to pursue it. Add to that the fact that I'm wicked smart at math, science, and computers, and you've got a good chance at being a good teacher. But, again, is it enough to take a HUGE paycut? The current answer is, of course, I don't know. So stay tuned.

Anyway, I'm feeling much better (physically) after relaxing the last couple of days. I even finished books 4 and 5 of Harry Potter, so I just ordered the 6th one AND the Narnia series. Last night I had my own version of Thanksgiving dinner: sushi. Good stuff, and they even gave me a good deal on it. Although maybe it was yesterday's sushi. Oops. Moving right along, today I went out and tried my new camera on what I like to call "Photography on the Run." Basically I went for a 10-mile run and snapped some photos on the way. It was a great way to get out of the house, get some exercise, and take some photos. I even saw some guys on mountain boards using huge kites to rocket around, similar to kite surfing. That was awesome. But, man, was it wicked cold out there on the top of those hills. Wicked cold. Though it helped me to rationalize the butt-load of chicken wings I had for dinner, so it wasn't all that bad.

Oh, and don't think I've forgotten about those movies I watched. I haven't. And tomorrow I just might add the fourth Harry Potter film to that list. Take Care!