Running ain't a plan?

I suppose that no news is bad news.

Kelli has not returned any of my phone calls about the Park and Rec job which means that I don't think I got it. One would hope however, that a potential employer would return phone calls. Oh well, I'm not bitter mostly because as I said before; I wasn't very qualified for the job.

There has been a whole lot of rumbling from the back home area about this next holiday, which I have kind of come to accept and expect. I'd like to go into more detail about my thought process on that, but I in no way shape or form want to seem as though I'm slighting any of my family. So, if you want the dark and twisty thought process I'll fill you in later.

I've been wrestling with some thought processes as of late.
1. Volleyball is kicking my butt. We need a team building day and the girls being in school is blocking that. I need to talk to Curt and Kelly about running a practice for me next Tuesday so that I might be able to spend more time with my family. Curt being a counselor at the high school is great with team building activities. Kelly is a great liberos coach which would help the girls not wreck their knees by not diving, and teach some great fundamentals about passing that I can't express or teach, I just do after years of having it smacked into my head and body.

2. Employment. This is the kicker. I am definitely out here until the end of the season. At that time the Drug Store supervisor would open up which is something that I would very much want. And having the previous supervisors blessing I could have. Pay increase and year round employment. Benefits are getting cut across the board though which sucks, but since I don't go to the doctor anyway...it wouldn't be terrible.

3. Sarah. 360 miles is a long way away. Her teaching, and me stuck out here until at least April puts a big slap on the whole seeing each other thing.

4. Sarah + employment = change in locale. I'm not the type of person that has to have something one way or it's the highway (don't tell my team that. They think I'm a grouchy old guy.) So I'm not going to make Sarah move out here to find a Lutheran school to teach at. I am however willing to move to be closer to her. And closer to my family. Let's face it, none of us are getting younger, and if I can be within a few hours of them, and her...I'd be a happy camper. How I would achieve this is; I'm thinking about going back to school. The school I'm thinking of is COD. That would mean closer to home, which is something that I would love to be as most of my meaningful relationships are back that way, or are going back that way. Cost of living is actually a bit easier out there. I would need to find a job (of which I have some ideas, one I know doesn't pay well.) and a place to live as I wouldn't want to impose on family.

I suppose I should elaborate on the whole COD thing. The degree I'm looking at isn't anything fancy, it is only an Associates of Science that being in Fire Science. Prospectively going into being a firefighter. Pretty good job security, plus...one of the courses is all about starting fires. I love fire. Perfect fit right? Why didn't I think of this before putting money into a higher degree? - The answer is because I thought I wanted to teach until I got around kids. -

I have some savings set aside from the work year unfortunately I was planning on a steady paycheck during the off season which so far has not happened. Budgets have been re-drawn, frivolous spending got all the way exed out which means, Paul's sitting at his computer drinking a tall-boy of Sam Addams instead of going out with his friends that just got out of work. Acctually, that budget line did not get completely exed because I put the money that would have gone to myself (not much) went to Christmas. Water's free, so I got a lot of it for you folks. ;-) Yes, I did get comped for coaching, and I will get another paycheck from them in February which will ease things a bit. But by and large, this is not the best time for a young graduate to be unemployed.

I suppose I should take a lesson from the Life of Brian and look on the bright side of life, but the only thing bright right now is the reflection of the parking light off of the snow. Oh, and Christmas.

Buck