A New Adventure

I did something completely out of character last week.   After over twenty years in one place, I quit my job. Are you freaking out on my behalf?  I'm certainly freaking out about it.  It's a big, huge step, this quitting of a job.  A job is a relationship, and here I am breaking up.   One can only put up with so many times of leaving the seat up, of dirty socks on the floor, and empty milk cartons left in the fridge.  It was time to clear out the mess.  

Women tend to nest in their jobs.  We bring in family pictures, lamps, favorite paintings, pillows, and other comfort items to home up the place.  We make friends with our co-workers, since we are going to be seeing them almost as often as our own families.  We create our area, our safe zone, and then we venture out to check out the rest of the company we will be keeping.  In my case, that would be principals, counselors, and teachers, among others.  I've met many exciting, smart, and interesting people over the years.  People who were excited about working with kids, people who treasured each step that each student made toward grasping a concept.  I've worked with many dedicated parents, parents who were very interested in helping their children and working with the school.  We all did a lot of great things.  Working with those people, and the students, made working a joy, not a job.  My nest was feathered nicely next to a sunny window. Life was good.

Over the past few years, however, the job stopped being fun.  It stopped being interesting.  No matter what I did, it was never enough.  If I did what I was supposed to do, more work was piled on.  If I didn't do what I was supposed to do because I had too much, I was chastised, told to work harder, or written up. My nest became black with anger and other negative emotions. It wasn't even really worth it to make friends with new coworkers, because they left as soon as they realized what a hostile environment they were in.  I'm sure that my situation isn't that much different from many other women out there, who felt stuck like me.  Since I was being treated so poorly, I started feeling less than.  It seemed as though I had left a part of my self-confidence on a park bench next to a sleeping hobo, and I had no idea where to find him.  I knew that if I didn't change something, I would become completely burnt out. 

The song goes, "If you're tired of the same old story, turn some pages."   I decided to change the book completely.  I applied to work in another district, and they were gracious enough to offer me a job last week.  I tendered my resignation the same day I accepted my new job. 

Am I scared?  Hell yes.  I will have a whole lot of new things to learn, new policies and procedures, new faces, new names.  But I will learn.  I am older, but I'm not an idiot.  I am not less than, I am more than enough.  As for my self-confidence, it's amazing what a new job can do for a person's self-image.  I feel as though I've been away from myself for too long.  It's good to be back.

Zanily Random

Zane is a nature lover.  He likes the nature shows on the television, like Wild Things with Dominic Monaghan, or River Monsters, Monster Bug Wars, or Call of the Wildman.  When he was two-ish, he found My First Book of Bugs, and had to have it.  Then we had to read it to him so many times that I memorized it, and I didn't even need to open the book, which came in handy when you're trying to read in the dark at bedside.  Zane has learned fat, juicy words like arachnid and centipede, and I have enjoyed learning some of the names for bugs as well.  For example, I had NO idea that roly-polys are actually crustaceans!  That's right--next time you're chowing down on some fried shrimp, remember that shrimp are cousins with roly-polys.    You're welcome.

San Antonio just finished up Fiesta down here.  Not that we need a reason, but Fiesta is a two week long party thrown by the city to celebrate.  I've never been sure what exactly is being celebrated, since I tended to fade out in history class.  We could be celebrating the day that some long ago mayor found an extra bottle of whiskey in his smokehouse, or some event in 1832 when somebody did something that somebody else noticed.  But who cares?  We really don't need a reason to whip up a big party that lasts two weeks. Set up a tent with a keg and some bbq on the smoker just about anyplace, and people will congregate.

This past Sunday was my wedding anniversary.  Larry and I have been married since 2001.  A lot has happened since then, cancer and my couple of almost dying episodes, but we've managed to weather through all those storms pretty well.  Plus, we got a great kid out of the bargain!  Can't beat that.  I can completely understand why a lot of couples don't make it this far--marriage is tough, no matter what the romance novels say.  Sometimes it's hard work, but wait five minutes, and it's cake. 

There's a place in San Antonio, called the 410 Diner.  We've been going there for years, and I always get the same thing: Snapper Artichoke.  Red Snapper, pan grilled to perfection--crispy on the outside, melty like butter on the inside.  Over that goes a mix of mushrooms and artichokes in a garlic butter sauce with a hint of lemon juice.  I am salivating just thinking about it!  I usually like to try different things and mix up the menu when I eat out. The 410 Diner has some great burgers, for instance. But this is the only place in town that has this dish, and I never know when I will be back or even if my favorite will still be on the menu.  So each time I hit the door and see that Snapper Artichoke is still on the menu, I heave a huge sigh of relief and order it again.  And because of my anticipation, I completely enjoy the heck out of that snapper.  I guess that's what they call savoring the moment.  I wish that I could do that in other areas of my life! 

I passed a sign at the grocery store advertising for "HOBO FEST".  I was a bit confused and concerned.  Are they celebrating hobos or roasting them?  Are there actually any hobos still around?  Do they need a party?  Am I supposed to find a hobo and bring him to the party?  Should I clean him up first, or just bring him as is? 

And this is the last day of the April A to Z Blog Challenge.  Those of you who have stuck it out with me, I really appreciate it.  I was amazed and humbled by the creativity of the other blogs participating.   I think I did okay, even though I didn't come up with a good theme like some of my bloggy friends.  Maybe I will try that next year, since I will have a year to actually think something up.  Anyway, tomorrow it will be business as usual! 



Go visit Stacy today, because she's got pretzels.