Ok, so I haven’t updated in a God-awful long time. Sorry. I actually meant to update this evening with more pics of Cairo, and maybe even get as far as Sarajevo, but the gallery happens to be down at the moment. Bummer. Oh well. At the same time, this allows me to update all of my by now sure to be disloyal readers on the vents going on in my life.
On November 26 I started working for the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness as a Grant Administrator. Basically I was supposed to be administering federal dollars for Hazard Mitigation projects throughout Louisiana, many of them as a part of the hurricane recovery effort after the storms of August 2005. In reality I’ve been doing a lot of sitting on my ass and doing nothing. Now that I think about it, I probably could have updated this blog from work fairly often. Sorry again, guys. Anyway, I’ve been really unhappy with the job, and the little work that I have done has been boring and, because of the dependence on other people’s (lack of) data management, quite shoddy. I don’t mind compiling spreadsheets, as long as I can do so with some degree of accuracy, but the stuff I was working with there was a ghastly mess, to take a page from Mr. Banks’s book. So, in the meanwhile I’ve continued to pursue employment elsewhere.
On Friday, January 11 I gave my two weeks notice at the job I’ve just described. I have been offered a position at the Capitol Area United Way, where I will be spearheading their research and policy advocacy efforts, which is really exciting. They know that I lack experience in the area, but would rather have me with my enthusiasm and interest than someone who has the know-how already, but who will not bring the motivation that I’ve displayed to the table. For me this is a dream job. It allows me to really learn some new stuff in a field I’m really interested in. This could play into grad school really well for me, and I may even be able to take some classes on work’s bill. We’ll see how that plays out. In the meanwhile, I’m really happy about this turn of events, and I can’t wait to start.
Did I mention it pays more? That’s right, not only is it a better position, but it’s better pay too! With the extra money I’ve decided that it’s time to buy a new car. I’m hoping to get a late model Toyota Solara. Right now I’m driving an old Chrysler LeBaron, and it was a pretty poor car to begin with. Now that it’s about 15 years old and falling apart I want something about like it, but better. There’s the Sebring, which is basically the same car by Chrysler again, but then there’s the Solara, a two-door, four-seat convertible that’s basically a Camry. Rock. It’ll be dependable, sporty, and will have a lot more room and safety than a Miata or other roadster.
So that’s the news for now. I’ll probably talk a bit more about things like being home for the holidays, seeing the tigers win the national championship, and all that sort of stuff soon too, but for now this small immediate-life news post will have to do. I really hope the gallery gets back up soon.
Peace!
