A Pirate Looks At Thirty

Monday was my thirtieth birthday. I can honestly say, now that it’s come and gone, that I don’t feel much different. I did have a few anxious moments the day before and then again yesterday when I had to check the 30-35 age box on a survey for the first time. We had a nice weekend in San Francisco to celebrate, which included good food, sailing, a 13-mile run through Golden Gate Park and champagne. Those attributes, plus actually seeing my husband for the first time in a long time, made for a great trip. *********************************************************************************** On Tuesday, I turned down a job I had wanted since I became an accountant. It had all those attributes that make a job an “It Job.” I would have made quite a bit of money, been part of a high-level management team, had a snappy title and generally hit the big time in my thirtieth year. 22-year old Erin would not have recognized the Erin that turned down the job this week. 22-year old Erin only wanted to succeed at work, at any cost, and become a CFO as soon as humanly possible. *********************************************************************************** 30 year-old Erin could easily see that this job would have required sacrifice of everything else in life: a definite end to volunteering, a likely end to running and sailing and a possible end to my marriage and other relationships. 30 year-old Erin could see that no job is that good and the decision was easy. ************************************************************************************ I guess the reality is that I know, with certainty, I can succeed at nearly any job in my field. My determination and dedication are mostly unmatched when it comes to accounting and my capacity for learning seems to be endless. I suppose that I’d like to see if I can apply those same talents to my marriage, my friendships and other aspects of my non-work life. Rather than making a work promotion my highest goal, I am going to try and experience personal growth and satisfaction in a new way in this new decade of my life. Maybe getting old isn’t so bad after all.

Thirty Books While I am Thirty

You will note the new feature "Thirty Books While I am Thirty" to the left. From another blog I follow, I got the idea to read thirty books during my thirtieth year on earth. (The blogger I follow was doing 48 books in his 48th year which is clearly more bold... I'll start with 30. Do we think he knows that there are only 52 weeks in a year?) I am already cheating since my first book was started five days before my thirtieth. I will post reviews of my books and try to keep my self honest through the small number of folks who read my blog. More to come about the birthday...

Why Do the Ones We (try to) Love Hurt Us So?

I have really been trying to give Dallas a fair shake. Despite my preconceived, George W influenced, views of Texas, I have been trying to see potential in the Lone Star State. You see, there's an open job here. It would be a great opportunity for me, in theory, and I think I would have a good shot at getting the job if I expressed interest. Since I am trying to keep an open mind while I reconsider what I want to be when I grow up, I am open to almost anything. The job in Dallas would be more interesting, pay well and be a great advancement on my resume. Because of all those things, I refused to close off a great job because of a little thing like a state full of secessionists. ************************************************************************* Oddly enough, Texas seems to have rejected me. The first time I was here, I hurt myself running (an injury that has hung on for nearly two months), I was nowhere near a Chipotle, there was a tornado and subsequent torrential downpour that had me stuck in my hotel room for days on end. The next trips were somewhat uneventful other than heat waves and humidity that caused death in some. Tonight I got locked in the work parking garage and was unable to get out for quite sometime. It seems that Dallas is being as inhospitable of a host as possible. I wonder if it's just some cosmic force telling me to keep my eyes on the prize of grad school...or maybe I just want to believe that. *********************************************************************** Well, I head back to ABQ for the weekend and then spend all of next week in Dallas. That will be the last week of my formal courtship with the Dallas office. Will I end up wooed or will Dallas find another way to make it clear that I am not welcome?

Really?

Not quite sure what to think of this one...

Some Thankfulness

My job is not the fulfillment of everything I want in a career. I have had some really stressful weeks and insane hours lately and thoughts of quitting have come regularly during this period of high frustration. That said, I just found out that someone I am close to lost their job yesterday and I realize how much I take my job for granted. So, I am thankful that my job pays me a reasonable wage and that generally I have bosses that allow me flexibility I wouldn't get at any other job. I am thankful that we can pay our house payment, travel and enjoy a very comfortable life and not have any real money worries. The worries we have are "rich people's problems" and never involve how we will eat or where we will sleep. Somehow I always think of all the things my job ISN'T and forget all the things it IS. My thoughts are with anyone that is unemployed or underemployed now, I can't imagine how tough it is to face this economy with the uncertainty it provides...