For the better part of a year - maybe even longer - I have been keeping my ears and eyes open for new job opportunities. I have not been actively shopping my resume around, but I have been "snooping." With little Emilia Mae on the way, and with Erika set to reduce her work hours (less household income), the questions about my career future have come under more focus. I have spoken to my boss at my current job about career growth, and I am awaiting some feedback from him on the subject next month.
On a much larger scale, though, I have been thinking a lot lately about work in general. What is the purpose of work? Should we all wake up every day excited about doing whatever we do like Oprah? Or is work just a necessary evil - a means to an end (I need money to pay my bills, therefore I work)? On the one hand, I feel like if I have to spend eight hours a day doing something, it might as well be something I enjoy. On the other hand, though, even if I do something I enjoy I still don't want to spend more than eight hours a day doing it. In other words, I enjoy NOT working - being home with my wife, spending time with friends, taking vacation, etc.
The serious side of me was thinking about this in the car on my way to work this morning. Am I happy at work? Can I grow in my job and make more money when my wife is no longer working? Would I be happier somewhere else? And then the goofy side of me interrupted this heavy line of questioning by dropping some silver into my mental jukebox and picking out the song "Whistle while you work." For those who don't know me very well, I have a jukebox in my head that contains every song ever written....EVER. It is rare that I wake up without some random song in my head.
Anyway, as the song started playing in my head, I thought for a moment about some of the words: "do your best, then take a rest,"; "put on a grin and start right in,"; "when there's not too much to do, don't let it bother you." As I bridged the gap back into my former questions, I couldn't help but think about the fact that my job does allow me some pretty phenomenal perks. Most days it is a 9-5 job with manageable stress. If I need to go home to meet the gas man or the satellite company I can. If I need to take a week's vacation I can. I have a few laughs with the people here. And when I at home with my wife I can be at home with my wife, without worrying about work or working late or chomping down antacids.
So maybe it is OK not to love your job as long as you don't hate it. More on this later. I have to go to a paid lunch at 1111 Mississippi with people from work to celebrate a guy's upcoming wedding......hmmmmmm....
Friday, August 18, 2006
Monday, August 14, 2006
Real Men Don't Shower
It's coming up to "shower" time for Erika and I. Got the first one this weekend in Iowa with my family. You know, because nothing says "family love" like everyone showering together! Just kidding.
I am, of course, referring to baby showers. My wife baked bread and bought food for a shower last weekend for our friend April. Turns out that was just a warm-up. We're going to a shower with my family this weekend. Then we'll have a shower with Erika's family in September before having another one with our friends in St. Louis in October. On top of that, we'll likely be attending a few showers for other friend's and family who are pregnant.
I should clarify, though, that by "we" I mean "my wife." Don't get me wrong, I am ALL in favor of the free gifts, especially considering all the things we registered for and all the things we'll need as new parents. But the whole shower phenomenon just is not "guy-like." If I had the equivalent with my guy friends it would be a poker night in front of my big screen in the basement watching football and drinking beer in which baby gifts were encouraged but not opened. And no "thank you" notes. Afterwards, when I did open gifts, I would find one regulation football, two Target gift cards, and a cute pink outfit that my buddy's wife had obviously purchased. Ok, so maybe ONE thank you note!
It's odd for me when I think about this whole new world I am entering called Parenthood. A few weekends ago I found myself scanning strollers and car seats and baby walkie talkies, er "monitors," and all sorts of other "who knew?" items at Babies R Us with my wife. I feel like I am about to enter a whole new world. It's the same feeling people have when they come to our house for the 6th time and realize that there is a half bathroom behind that door they've never opened before. Except in my case the half bathroom is really a door to the Playboy mansion, and even though you think you know what to do and what to expect, nothing compares to the reality.
OK--that was a random analogy, so I'll stop right there.
I am, of course, referring to baby showers. My wife baked bread and bought food for a shower last weekend for our friend April. Turns out that was just a warm-up. We're going to a shower with my family this weekend. Then we'll have a shower with Erika's family in September before having another one with our friends in St. Louis in October. On top of that, we'll likely be attending a few showers for other friend's and family who are pregnant.
I should clarify, though, that by "we" I mean "my wife." Don't get me wrong, I am ALL in favor of the free gifts, especially considering all the things we registered for and all the things we'll need as new parents. But the whole shower phenomenon just is not "guy-like." If I had the equivalent with my guy friends it would be a poker night in front of my big screen in the basement watching football and drinking beer in which baby gifts were encouraged but not opened. And no "thank you" notes. Afterwards, when I did open gifts, I would find one regulation football, two Target gift cards, and a cute pink outfit that my buddy's wife had obviously purchased. Ok, so maybe ONE thank you note!
It's odd for me when I think about this whole new world I am entering called Parenthood. A few weekends ago I found myself scanning strollers and car seats and baby walkie talkies, er "monitors," and all sorts of other "who knew?" items at Babies R Us with my wife. I feel like I am about to enter a whole new world. It's the same feeling people have when they come to our house for the 6th time and realize that there is a half bathroom behind that door they've never opened before. Except in my case the half bathroom is really a door to the Playboy mansion, and even though you think you know what to do and what to expect, nothing compares to the reality.
OK--that was a random analogy, so I'll stop right there.
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