Trying new things

I am a firm believer that trying something new is an experience that usually leads to growth. In that spirit I golfed for the first time a week ago today. Most men My age are experienced golfers (while sometimes over-stating their skill level).

As a kid or young adult I had a combination of no interest and little opportunity to try golf. In spite of this, my life has gone on quite well.

I've been aware that golf's absence from my life might become an issue at work. Things came to a head last week. My new department was having it's annual golf tournament. This year's organizer was a colleague who has been an extra big help in my new job (and who I've known for many years). Out of loyalty to him and in the face of uncertain numbers, I agreed to go/didn't have much choice.

Let me be clear- I have never golfed before that has not involved the beautiful AstroTurf, windmills, and clowns of mini golf.

Happily, the afternoon was a lot of fun. Several things lead my first golf game to be fun and not the humiliating debacle that I had foreseen. First, I was with three guys that I knew and who knew that I was a golf virgin. Second, we had a "closest ball to the hole" format. This was merciful. Third, two things happened that made things more fun. On the first hole, I managed to hit the ball in such way that it went straight up, hit me on the top of the head and landed in
my hood. Laughter ensued. There was no where to go but up from there (and I did gradually improve). Second, I found and returned a $50 bill that the group ahead of us had lost, becoming an instant hero.

So, overall it was a fun afternoon and not the train wreck I had pictured. I guess that's growth.

B.

Sent from my iPhone

First Day Down

Today was a great first day in the new job. Last night, about 15 of my colleagues took me out for drinks and supper at a local watering hole. It was low-key and fun. I may have been ready to move on, but I am just barely ready to say good-bye to a supportive bunch of people that have helped me make it as far as I have so far.

Today was an east start to a different world. I actually know most of my new colleagues already. This seems to be a pleasant but slightly off-putting surprise to my new supervisor. Today literally involved reading a policy manual... It also involved better thing, like a team meeting and getting assigned new clients.

Onward...

B.

The dreams have started

Thursday night I had a very vivid dream about my change of jobs. Most of the details are gone now, but I was at some kind of large meeting through my work. I think that it was some time of uncertainty and we were together for that reason.

In the dream, I was coming to grips with the idea that I was walking away from voluntarily. I was beside a colleague who has been a confidant for many years. This seemed to be "bringing home" the idea of what I was losing.

In the wide-awake-world, I'm great with this change. But, it's a mistake for me to under-estimate how profound a change this is for me (even if officially it's only for a year).

B.

Details of my new job

On September 8th, my new job starts. Instead of working (primarily) with youth and children in care as I am now, I'll be working with youth who are involved in the justice system. It's quite a shift, but one I'm eagerly awaiting.

B.

Sent from my iPhone

Reasons why I love my new iPhone

1. I no longer have to experience youth with whom I work laughing when I pull out my ancient flip phone,
2. I've discovered that I can connect to the web portal for my work's e-mail (new and old work site) from my iPhone, making it as useful as any senior manger's Blackberry, and
3. My sweetie and I can text each other to our hearts' content. Don't laugh, this firmly propels the technological age of our relationship into the late 1990s.

Excuse the last post...

Now, as I was saying, before my iPhone figured out that it didn't want to finish composing the below post, I have what I've been hoping for. On September 8th, I have a new job. After 15 years with the same department, I'm off to graze in a different pasture for a year.

This is something I've been preparing towards since last December and I am pleased. Very pleased..

Technically, it's only until next July but I fully intend to go for a permanent position (unless I hate it there- which I don't expect to be the case).

The "new" position is actually a maternity leave. It's also a level higher than my current position.

What else can I say, except maybe... :-)

B.

Sent from my iPhone

What I had been hoping for...

Its a good week...

I'll post later with some details but I'm having the kind of week where I'm taking responsibility for my own destiny and happiness. The girls are great and we are having a wonderful summer.

B.

But...

All of that belly-aching aside, things are looking up, I think. Basically I have the choice between staying somewhere I've been for the vast majority of my adult life or getting something else, somewhere else (a task that has not been going well so far).

For someone who values loyalty and commitment, this is a tough one. Scary, too. That said, there have been minor changes in the organization with which I'm pleased. My bottom line is trying to take responsibility for my own happiness and satisfaction. That can't be a bad thing...

B.

To continue on from my last entry, its been a period of really painful soul searching. I'm not pleased with where my career has taken me over the past fifteen years and its a lot easier to regret decisions I've made or not made than it is to sort the present out.

B.

Looking Back.... But not fondly...

The last six months have been tough. I think its fair to say that its been the toughest stretch I've ever had at work. Work is not something I feel I can take pride in like I used to do, its more something I need to get through.

That said, things are better and I really hope to get back to a point where I can feel better about my job and and how well I do at it.

More tonight,
B.

The house is full of nine year-old girls... They are loudly playing games in the basement. Action Girl turns 10 on Monday! I cannot imagine a nicer bunch of girls... That said given the amount of screaming, I believe it may be a long night.

6:15PM They're eating now... The joke of the hour is to say "Do you like pepperoni?" with a Jamaican accent...

chapters.indigo.ca: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter: Seth Grahame-smith: Books

What I'm reading:

chapters.indigo.ca: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter: Seth Grahame-smith: Books

- A Re-Launch of Sorts -

Now that we've moved and are getting very settled I should finally have some time to write. We moved on December 28 and 29 and are now fairly settled in our new-to-us, bigger, urban, house.



For the record, its a 2000 sq. ft. spilt level, which at 38 years is actually older but 800 sq. ft. bigger than our previous house. Its been unoccupied for about two years, some of which time the then-owners used to renovate to "flip" it. We are up a bathroom, having only one before and both of the girls' bedrooms are bigger than before. They are both downstairs, we (and the spare bedroom) are upstairs. Instead of an en-suite bathroom, we have a "cheater" with a door from our bedroom that opens to the bathroom which also has a door to the hall.

I'm really proud of how well the four of us (plus the cat) have dealt with the move. It should prove to be a rich source of many more entries in this blog.

B.