November 9: Bad Weather, Bad News, Good Attitude

The weather has turned miserable.  Walking to teach class this afternoon, I got drenched.  Not just drenched.  It was like I'd been sitting in a dunk tank in my L. L. Bean winter jacket, and one of my students hit the bull's eye with the baseball.  My jacket and pants were dripping.  I spoke to my wife earlier this morning, and she told me it was snowing like a bitch at home.  I don't think I'm going to be able to avoid the snow today.  In fact, considering the moistness of my outer garments, I would say the probability of me not seeing snow tonight is about, oh, nil.  Unless I drive home with my eyes closed.

Got some bad news this afternoon.  My coworker in the medical office was offered another job, and she accepted the position.  It's great news for her.  More money, which she needs.  More hours, which she also needs.  I'm happy for her, but I'm also thinking about how much more difficult my life and job situation are going to be in about six weeks' time.  My ability to teach more flexible hours is gone.  My ability to take time off for whatever reason is in the shitter.  And my ability to get a variety of tasks completed during a workday is fucked.  It isn't the kind of news I wanted to hear today.

Now, I know what I should be thinking.  I should be thinking more positively.  I should try to imagine this change as an opportunity, not a prison sentence.  It's all about attitude.  See the glass as half-full.  If life gives you lemons, make lemonade.  The grass is greener where somebody takes a shit.  I know all that good attitude bullcrap.  As you can tell, I'm not really buying it right now.  Talk to me in a couple of days.  Better make that a couple of weeks.  Actually, let's shoot for a couple of months.

Saint Marty needs a drink right now.

Won't be getting this any time soon

September 7: New View, New Desk, Old Attitude

While I was away from the office this weekend (and Monday and Tuesday), my desk situation got changed at work.  Now, instead of having a nice view of the waiting room and window, I have a nice view of a wall.  As I sit here typing this post, I'm looking into the corner of a cubicle.  I have no idea what's behind me.  There could be a drooling ax murderer/sex offender sneaking up on me right now, and I am totally clueless.  Perhaps that's a good thing.  If I turn my back to the world, I have fewer problems to handle.  Perhaps I need to embrace this new world view.  Maybe God is trying to send me a message.  Less distraction, more introspection.  Or, maybe, screw the world, it screws you.

As you can tell, my view and desk may have changed, but I still have the same old attitude.  I don't know how I can't have a bad attitude when I'm arbitrarily shifted around my place of work like an old stapler.  Oh, well.  This, too, shall pass.  Tomorrow, I will have something new to complain about.  At the moment, I'm having a difficult time mustering up enthusiasm for my work.  I feel like I've been given a time out, sent to the corner because I didn't log off my computer last night.  Punishment.  That's what this feels like.

Saint Marty's been a bad boy.