running into April...

A few weeks ago I was waiting for a shuttle from the train to the Oakland airport when I heard, "Corby?" Hearing someone call me by that name out here, so far away from the time and place I went by that, was a bit of a surprise. I recognized the voice in an instant though, even if the face took a moment to think of. When I looked over, there was April, a friend from college. Her flight took off in 20 mins and we were waiting for a 15 minute shuttle ride. After explaining this she said with a smile, "I might make it," and she was serious. Same old April, I thought to myself. We talked for 10 minutes and then as we got on the bus, she went up front and I went to the back. "Same old Andy, " she probably thought as I was walking away.

Except I'm not the same, and I'm sure she's not the same either. Generally not out here, but once every few months in Boston I'd run into someone I knew in the past. A guy in my high school class at the grocery store, a girl I worked with in a summer job, a friend I'd lost touch with over the years at a sox game. It makes you think of all the transformations you've gone through in your life. Yet it's funny that in about half of those interactions, I become more the person I was when I knew them than the person I am today. I wonder why that is... Why is it easier sometimes to be what they expect than what is more accurate today?

Well April, truth is I have changed and I'm sure you have too, but it was still nice to run into you. (Next time leave a little sooner for the airport!)

notice being given...

Happy 30th birthday to my friend Janet if she's out there reading! Congrats on making it to thirty!

While walking around today looking for a shoe store that was pratically at the end of my nose but I was unable to find, I estimated that in the 6 years I've been in the workplace since college, I have now given notice 7 times. That is probably on the higher end of my friends. Of course teaching was a little different since there were still a few months in left in the year when you have to notify the school if you are returning. The 7th, and most recent notice giving, occurred last week. It was probably the best one I've had yet. I've actually gotten quite good at preparing the person I'm talking with for what I'm about to say. This one was the smoothest yet.

I thought I had left behind my job instability after teaching, I guess not. This job ended much like the others. With me leaving for no real reason other than I've grown dissatisfied with what I'm doing. It's definitely time for a change of pace I think. Which begs the question, what is right for me? Sort of having trouble figuring that one out these days... But why do I feel the need to change jobs so often? I really don't know...

At any rate, few words can describe the feeling that you get from giving notice. It's like strapping wings on your shoulders and freeing you up to fly away. The growing burden of IT work hanging over me is gone and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. It's freedom I feel. Freedom to go try something else, freedom to find another job. Why do I need this freedom I wonder? Maybe I'm just not a good long term employee and after a while I let frustrations build build build till I need to get away before I go nutty on my coworkers. Perhaps I should just have occasional blowouts with my bosses from time to time. Might make things more interesting anyway. Well, nothing of substance to say here, too busy fluttering around in the atmosphere to say anything real... raise a glass to magic number 7...

To all the blog people

So I've been silent for almost a month. I should be more dedicated, but I'm not. My lack of new entries is due to trips to Seattle and Boston, and lots to do at work. The main factor is really the travel though. It often takes me a few days to recover from traveling and these trips were no exception. Additionally, I've had an even higher than normal amount of contemplating what's happening, what's next, and where I go from here. Unfortunately that hasn't gotten me very far as of late. I just wish there were more answers - personally, professionally - but there aren't, so I deal and move forward. At any rate, soon I will be back even worse than ever before... so stay tuned.