I haven't seen the movie yet. Believe me, when I do see it, you'll get my full thoughts. From what I've heard of it, this video from Funny or Die is a lot better. And this you can see for free.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Sunday, August 09, 2009
New
This week's prompt over at Sunday Scribblings is "NEW."
It's hard for me to come up with something to say regarding new things in my life. Because I'm a creature of habit. I have my routines. And while I don't think of myself as a slave to these routines, I don't exactly run out and embrace new things.
But embracing newness in one's life requires a bit of optimism. I am not an optimist. While I often hope for the best in situations, I know enough to know that the best is not what will usually come about. I don't consider myself a pessimist either. I think of myself as a realist. And I know that a lot of you out there would call that pessimism, but that's okay. To me, the glass isn't half full or half empty. I'm just happy if I've got something to drink at all.
I just reread that. I'm not talking about alcohol. It almost sounds like I'm only happy if I've got a drink in my hand. I just meant that it's good to have some water in the glass at all. Especially during a drought or the country's current economic climate.
Anyway, I've gotten way off track. I'm supposed to be talking about something new. Well here's something new: my hours at work are being cut back beginning this week. Originally I was hired to work 35 hours a week. My manager has been working me 40 a week, sort of flying me under the radar. But now he's caught some crap for it and has no choice but to drop me to the 35. In monetary terms, this means a cut in pay of $200 a month.
As someone who has been living paycheck to paycheck and just barely making the ends meet, this poses a new challenge. That challenge being one of how to continue to pay bills, which are in fact increasing steadily, based on a lower paycheck.
So that's what's new in my life. Not optimistic, I know.
It's hard for me to come up with something to say regarding new things in my life. Because I'm a creature of habit. I have my routines. And while I don't think of myself as a slave to these routines, I don't exactly run out and embrace new things.
But embracing newness in one's life requires a bit of optimism. I am not an optimist. While I often hope for the best in situations, I know enough to know that the best is not what will usually come about. I don't consider myself a pessimist either. I think of myself as a realist. And I know that a lot of you out there would call that pessimism, but that's okay. To me, the glass isn't half full or half empty. I'm just happy if I've got something to drink at all.
I just reread that. I'm not talking about alcohol. It almost sounds like I'm only happy if I've got a drink in my hand. I just meant that it's good to have some water in the glass at all. Especially during a drought or the country's current economic climate.
Anyway, I've gotten way off track. I'm supposed to be talking about something new. Well here's something new: my hours at work are being cut back beginning this week. Originally I was hired to work 35 hours a week. My manager has been working me 40 a week, sort of flying me under the radar. But now he's caught some crap for it and has no choice but to drop me to the 35. In monetary terms, this means a cut in pay of $200 a month.
As someone who has been living paycheck to paycheck and just barely making the ends meet, this poses a new challenge. That challenge being one of how to continue to pay bills, which are in fact increasing steadily, based on a lower paycheck.
So that's what's new in my life. Not optimistic, I know.
Saturday, August 08, 2009
Aaron's Rules to Live By
When I was in college I began comprising a list of rules that I felt were important. I never wrote them down, so I guess they were unwritten rules. But now, I feel that it's time to pass these rules on to you, my loyal listeners. I mean readers.
1. Don't talk about Fight Club. Just don't do it.
2. If you walk away from the Omelet Shoppe without a classic story, it was a wasted trip. This one made particular sense during the college years when the Omelet Shoppe trip was a regular thing. Luckily, we could count on an endless supply of drunken morons to entertain us during those trips.
3. Every movie is better on the big screen. It doesn't matter if you're seeing Back to the Future (the best movie ever made) or Batman & Robin (the worst movie ever made). Nothing compares to seeing a film in squeaky seats and sticky floors, surrounded by total strangers.
4. Be Prepared. Okay, I just stole this from the Boy Scouts. And Phoebe Buffay. But it just makes good sense.
5. If my door's open, come on in. I keep this rule to this day. My apartment door stays closed and locked. I'm a grown up now and I don't see my neighbors in class every day. This is a safety concern now. But back in the day, if I was in the room and not sleeping, the door was open. It's nice to have people drop by every now and then.
6. Don't let the kid down the hall know you have a Nintendo unless you want him to become your new best friend. In one case, the kid became one of my best friends and was later my roommate. But with a different kid down the hall, I got so sick of him that I had to start leaving my door closed for awhile. Really screwed up my open door policy.
7. Don't wait for all else to fail before you check out the instructions. That new desk you got real cheap at Wal-Mart? Yeah, it came with instructions in four languages for a reason. If you try to put screw E into slot B, you're gonna have some pretty cheap modern art. I wouldn't suggest setting up your computer there.
8. Never turn down free food off campus. This especially goes for instances when someone is willing to buy you a meal at a sit-down type place. But it also applies for anyone who welcomes you into their home and cooks for you. Also for the drive through. Seriously, have you ever eaten in the cafeteria?
9. If a woman wants a real opinion about what she's trying on, she shouldn't take a guy with her. Again, this just makes good sense.
10. If you can't look back on it and laugh, it wasn't worth doing. Come on, life is funny. Okay, so a lot of the time, life isn't funny. It's stressful and worrisome. But you need to be able to find the fun in whatever it is that you do. Otherwise you'll just end up an angry and bitter person.
1. Don't talk about Fight Club. Just don't do it.
2. If you walk away from the Omelet Shoppe without a classic story, it was a wasted trip. This one made particular sense during the college years when the Omelet Shoppe trip was a regular thing. Luckily, we could count on an endless supply of drunken morons to entertain us during those trips.
3. Every movie is better on the big screen. It doesn't matter if you're seeing Back to the Future (the best movie ever made) or Batman & Robin (the worst movie ever made). Nothing compares to seeing a film in squeaky seats and sticky floors, surrounded by total strangers.
4. Be Prepared. Okay, I just stole this from the Boy Scouts. And Phoebe Buffay. But it just makes good sense.
5. If my door's open, come on in. I keep this rule to this day. My apartment door stays closed and locked. I'm a grown up now and I don't see my neighbors in class every day. This is a safety concern now. But back in the day, if I was in the room and not sleeping, the door was open. It's nice to have people drop by every now and then.
6. Don't let the kid down the hall know you have a Nintendo unless you want him to become your new best friend. In one case, the kid became one of my best friends and was later my roommate. But with a different kid down the hall, I got so sick of him that I had to start leaving my door closed for awhile. Really screwed up my open door policy.
7. Don't wait for all else to fail before you check out the instructions. That new desk you got real cheap at Wal-Mart? Yeah, it came with instructions in four languages for a reason. If you try to put screw E into slot B, you're gonna have some pretty cheap modern art. I wouldn't suggest setting up your computer there.
8. Never turn down free food off campus. This especially goes for instances when someone is willing to buy you a meal at a sit-down type place. But it also applies for anyone who welcomes you into their home and cooks for you. Also for the drive through. Seriously, have you ever eaten in the cafeteria?
9. If a woman wants a real opinion about what she's trying on, she shouldn't take a guy with her. Again, this just makes good sense.
10. If you can't look back on it and laugh, it wasn't worth doing. Come on, life is funny. Okay, so a lot of the time, life isn't funny. It's stressful and worrisome. But you need to be able to find the fun in whatever it is that you do. Otherwise you'll just end up an angry and bitter person.
Friday, August 07, 2009
Question of the Week: Tall Tale
When you tell a story, do you often exaggerate of embellish it? If so, why?
Of course I do. If you've read this blog once or twice, you know I do. Life's more fun when you embellish.
Short question, short answer.
*Question of the Week comes from The Book of Questions by Gregory Stock, Ph.D.
Of course I do. If you've read this blog once or twice, you know I do. Life's more fun when you embellish.
Short question, short answer.
*Question of the Week comes from The Book of Questions by Gregory Stock, Ph.D.
Thursday, August 06, 2009
The Murtaugh List
On the most recent season of How I Met Your Mother, there was an episode titled "The Murtaugh List." The name Murtaugh comes from the character played by Danny Glover in the Lethal Weapon series of films. Detective Murtaugh's signature line was "I'm getting too old for this stuff." Well, he says stuff in the TV edit.
The title refers to a list of activities that the characters of the show are getting too old for. Over the last few months I've experienced some activities that I now feel I'm getting too old for. While I can hope that the following list is definitive, I have a feeling it will be an ever expanding thing.
1. Midnight Movies: When Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen was released, I went to see it at midnight. It was a Tuesday night. This meant I needed to be at work the next morning at 8:30. I'm not sure how much sleep I got after I got home from the movie. But I know it was well after 3am when I hit the bed. I'm getting too old for this stuff.
2. Eating After Midnight: Whenever I eat something late at night, especially if it's something fried, it isn't a good thing. I'm not entirely sure, but I think I turn into a little big-eared monster that likes to destroy things. I'm getting way too old for this stuff.
3. Strenuous Activity Involving Small Children: See, I'm out of shape. I'm not sure that I've ever been in great shape, but 10 years ago I was in pretty decent shape. Now I'm older and I find that it's difficult to breathe when chasing kids. Also, it's easier to pull muscles and twist joints. Things pop that didn't used to pop. I'm a little concerned. I'm definitely getting too old for this stuff.
4. Roller Skating: Yeah, a couple years ago when I was working at Northside Middle School as a day-treatment counselor, I had the privilege of chaperoning a trip to the skating rink. It's like I forgot how to use my legs properly. When I was a kid I could skate pretty well. I wasn't trying to win a competition or anything, but I could do it without falling. No more. I didn't fall on that particular outing, but I may as well have. The next day I could barely move.
5. Spicy Food: I've never been a big fan of the spicy food, even as a kid. But these days, the few spicy items that I did enjoy have a tendency to tear me apart. I'll spare you further details.
At the moment that's all I can think of. But as I said before, I'm sure it'll be a growing list.
The title refers to a list of activities that the characters of the show are getting too old for. Over the last few months I've experienced some activities that I now feel I'm getting too old for. While I can hope that the following list is definitive, I have a feeling it will be an ever expanding thing.
1. Midnight Movies: When Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen was released, I went to see it at midnight. It was a Tuesday night. This meant I needed to be at work the next morning at 8:30. I'm not sure how much sleep I got after I got home from the movie. But I know it was well after 3am when I hit the bed. I'm getting too old for this stuff.
2. Eating After Midnight: Whenever I eat something late at night, especially if it's something fried, it isn't a good thing. I'm not entirely sure, but I think I turn into a little big-eared monster that likes to destroy things. I'm getting way too old for this stuff.
3. Strenuous Activity Involving Small Children: See, I'm out of shape. I'm not sure that I've ever been in great shape, but 10 years ago I was in pretty decent shape. Now I'm older and I find that it's difficult to breathe when chasing kids. Also, it's easier to pull muscles and twist joints. Things pop that didn't used to pop. I'm a little concerned. I'm definitely getting too old for this stuff.
4. Roller Skating: Yeah, a couple years ago when I was working at Northside Middle School as a day-treatment counselor, I had the privilege of chaperoning a trip to the skating rink. It's like I forgot how to use my legs properly. When I was a kid I could skate pretty well. I wasn't trying to win a competition or anything, but I could do it without falling. No more. I didn't fall on that particular outing, but I may as well have. The next day I could barely move.
5. Spicy Food: I've never been a big fan of the spicy food, even as a kid. But these days, the few spicy items that I did enjoy have a tendency to tear me apart. I'll spare you further details.
At the moment that's all I can think of. But as I said before, I'm sure it'll be a growing list.
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Life Story: Chapter Thirty Two
I had one year to go at Woodrow Wilson. Part of me just wants to say I went to the eighth grade and enjoyed it about as much as I enjoyed sixth and seventh. But before I get to eighth grade, I've got something else to say about seventh.
Seventh graders were allowed to play team sports for the middle school. And somehow, I thought it would be a good idea for me to play baseball.
I had never been all that athletic, but I'm pretty sure in middle school everyone made the team. So while I tried my best, as you can imagine, I wasn't all that good. Plus there was that whole anorexia thing. That didn't exactly help me with my stamina.
There was one game in particular that was difficult for me. There I was, standing in right field (the position I played), soaking in the hot springtime sun, and down I went. I passed out in the heat of the day. Why would that happen? Probably because I had eaten very little during that day. That was my lowest point on the baseball team.
My highest point was at an away game. We were playing James Madison Middle School. If middle schools had rivals, Madison would probably have been ours. And I somehow managed to get my only hit of the season. The only hit of my middle school career. I knocked the ball right between Madison's left and center fielders. I wasn't all that fast, so I only made it to first. But I did get the guys on second and third home. And not long afterward, one of my teammates brought me home. I ended up being the winning run. It was a good day.
Seventh graders were allowed to play team sports for the middle school. And somehow, I thought it would be a good idea for me to play baseball.
I had never been all that athletic, but I'm pretty sure in middle school everyone made the team. So while I tried my best, as you can imagine, I wasn't all that good. Plus there was that whole anorexia thing. That didn't exactly help me with my stamina.
There was one game in particular that was difficult for me. There I was, standing in right field (the position I played), soaking in the hot springtime sun, and down I went. I passed out in the heat of the day. Why would that happen? Probably because I had eaten very little during that day. That was my lowest point on the baseball team.
My highest point was at an away game. We were playing James Madison Middle School. If middle schools had rivals, Madison would probably have been ours. And I somehow managed to get my only hit of the season. The only hit of my middle school career. I knocked the ball right between Madison's left and center fielders. I wasn't all that fast, so I only made it to first. But I did get the guys on second and third home. And not long afterward, one of my teammates brought me home. I ended up being the winning run. It was a good day.
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Legends of the Bank Teller - Episode LIX
Today my assistant manager began a weekly coaching session with each of the tellers. In preparation for this, we were all given short surveys to fill out a few days ago. These surveys consisted of questions pertaining to the ins and outs of our job, including the things that we like, dislike, and become frustrated with.
At first glance, the questions concerned me. I was pretty sure if I answered honestly, Natasha would just look at me and ask why I was even working at the bank. I may have mentioned that in my post on Saturday. But I didn't get that response. She just thanked me for my truthiness.
I told her up front why I got into being a teller and made it clear that this isn't where I see myself in five years. So the conversation steered to what I really wanted to be doing. When I told her I wanted to write, she latched right on to that.
She brought up the idea that some banks and branches put out monthly newsletters for their customers. She asked me how I would feel about doing something like that for our branch. This excited me just a little bit. So, coming September 1st, there will be a two page newsletter at the Cameron Village branch of my bank.
Any article ideas will be incredibly helpful. See you tomorrow guys.
At first glance, the questions concerned me. I was pretty sure if I answered honestly, Natasha would just look at me and ask why I was even working at the bank. I may have mentioned that in my post on Saturday. But I didn't get that response. She just thanked me for my truthiness.
I told her up front why I got into being a teller and made it clear that this isn't where I see myself in five years. So the conversation steered to what I really wanted to be doing. When I told her I wanted to write, she latched right on to that.
She brought up the idea that some banks and branches put out monthly newsletters for their customers. She asked me how I would feel about doing something like that for our branch. This excited me just a little bit. So, coming September 1st, there will be a two page newsletter at the Cameron Village branch of my bank.
Any article ideas will be incredibly helpful. See you tomorrow guys.
Monday, August 03, 2009
Inspection
What a weekend.
Saturday morning I got up and drove into Roanoke. It had been eight months since my last visit to the old hometown. In that time, my car's inspection sticker had expired. In fact, it expired back in February. Better late than never, right? Sure, it's six months late, but I have a good reason.
I knew that there were a few issues with my car. I knew that there were problems that would cause Jade not to pass this year's inspection. And I knew that these issues would cost me more money than I could afford in order to have them fixed. So I put off entering the Commonwealth of Virginia for as long as I thought I could. But this weekend, the time finally came.
I arrived too late to have the car looked at on Saturday. Thankfully, I had asked to have Monday off from work, so that gave me all day today to get Jade taken care of. But there was some hesitation. After running down a list of problems (that I knew of), I decided there was no way I could afford to go through with the inspection. So I very nearly talked myself into skipping the inspection and just pressing my luck by returning to North Carolina. My plan was to then drive my car for as long as I possibly could.
But Jerry, my step-father, determined that the problem with my noisy exhaust could be fixed for under a hundred dollars. My grandmother had said that she would be willing to help me out with that. And from there, I decided that kind of amount would be easy to pay back. So this morning I dropped the car off at a dependable garage and had them perform the inspection and the repair that we knew was needed.
Around 10:30 this morning I got a call. There were more issues that needed to be fixed in order for Jade to pass her inspection. This brought the estimated grand total to $620. I wanted to cry.
I didn't really want to cry. But I did regret taking the car to the garage at all. By this point I was thinking I should have just cut my losses and gotten the heck outta Dodge. But Mamaw still said she'd be willing to help me out. If she's reading this, I say thank you once again and I promise I will pay you back as soon as I am able. Even if it's just a little at a time, that $622 and change will be back to you.
There were some other events that occurred during my time in Roanoke. I had dinner on Saturday with my old roommate Brandon and a mutual Bluefield friend, Teresa (known henceforth as Tree). Neither of us had seen Tree in a couple years, so it was a nice get together. Brandon convinced me to come back to his house, then he and his wife convinced me to stay the night. So we stayed up late playing Punch-Out. Always good times.
Sunday after church I had lunch with the members of my family that were able to be there. It was good to see my great-grandmother and aunt while I was in town. After a late lunch I headed back to Brandon and Kara's where we got together with our other former college roommate, Mark. The four of us went to Putt-Putt, and though I did the absolute worst of all of us, I did manage to get a hole-in-one. And the blue light was on, so I got to trade my ball in for an orange one. That was always exciting as a kid.
After the miniature golf outing, we convinced Mark to call a friend of his who had just moved to Roanoke. Jessica is a girl that we had all heard Mark talk about for a while but none of us had ever met her. Turns out, she's a fan of the Carp Dime. So see there? If you're a blog reader and you let me know it when we meet, you get a shout out the very next day.
Despite the stress of car repairs, it was a good trip to the 'Noke. And the car runs like a dream now. Maybe not a dream, but it runs. And it isn't deafening when I push the gas pedal.
Saturday morning I got up and drove into Roanoke. It had been eight months since my last visit to the old hometown. In that time, my car's inspection sticker had expired. In fact, it expired back in February. Better late than never, right? Sure, it's six months late, but I have a good reason.
I knew that there were a few issues with my car. I knew that there were problems that would cause Jade not to pass this year's inspection. And I knew that these issues would cost me more money than I could afford in order to have them fixed. So I put off entering the Commonwealth of Virginia for as long as I thought I could. But this weekend, the time finally came.
I arrived too late to have the car looked at on Saturday. Thankfully, I had asked to have Monday off from work, so that gave me all day today to get Jade taken care of. But there was some hesitation. After running down a list of problems (that I knew of), I decided there was no way I could afford to go through with the inspection. So I very nearly talked myself into skipping the inspection and just pressing my luck by returning to North Carolina. My plan was to then drive my car for as long as I possibly could.
But Jerry, my step-father, determined that the problem with my noisy exhaust could be fixed for under a hundred dollars. My grandmother had said that she would be willing to help me out with that. And from there, I decided that kind of amount would be easy to pay back. So this morning I dropped the car off at a dependable garage and had them perform the inspection and the repair that we knew was needed.
Around 10:30 this morning I got a call. There were more issues that needed to be fixed in order for Jade to pass her inspection. This brought the estimated grand total to $620. I wanted to cry.
I didn't really want to cry. But I did regret taking the car to the garage at all. By this point I was thinking I should have just cut my losses and gotten the heck outta Dodge. But Mamaw still said she'd be willing to help me out. If she's reading this, I say thank you once again and I promise I will pay you back as soon as I am able. Even if it's just a little at a time, that $622 and change will be back to you.
There were some other events that occurred during my time in Roanoke. I had dinner on Saturday with my old roommate Brandon and a mutual Bluefield friend, Teresa (known henceforth as Tree). Neither of us had seen Tree in a couple years, so it was a nice get together. Brandon convinced me to come back to his house, then he and his wife convinced me to stay the night. So we stayed up late playing Punch-Out. Always good times.
Sunday after church I had lunch with the members of my family that were able to be there. It was good to see my great-grandmother and aunt while I was in town. After a late lunch I headed back to Brandon and Kara's where we got together with our other former college roommate, Mark. The four of us went to Putt-Putt, and though I did the absolute worst of all of us, I did manage to get a hole-in-one. And the blue light was on, so I got to trade my ball in for an orange one. That was always exciting as a kid.
After the miniature golf outing, we convinced Mark to call a friend of his who had just moved to Roanoke. Jessica is a girl that we had all heard Mark talk about for a while but none of us had ever met her. Turns out, she's a fan of the Carp Dime. So see there? If you're a blog reader and you let me know it when we meet, you get a shout out the very next day.
Despite the stress of car repairs, it was a good trip to the 'Noke. And the car runs like a dream now. Maybe not a dream, but it runs. And it isn't deafening when I push the gas pedal.
Sunday, August 02, 2009
Kittens
It's gonna be a busy day here in Roanoke, so I'm probably not going to have time to really write something. So no Sunday Scribblings today. Instead here's a video that Brandon pointed me to. Kinda cracked me up...
Saturday, August 01, 2009
Career
This is not my resume. Nor is this a plea for someone out there to give me a job. Then again, maybe it is.
I've told many of my Legends of the Bank Teller. It's easy to do because that's the job I perform on a daily basis. I am a bank teller. But last night it hit me, I really don't like that job.
I saw my friend Ryan for the first time in two years at dinner last night. One of the first things he asked me, sarcastically, was, "How's the job?" When I said it sucked, he just laughed and said he could tell as much from reading my blog.
Let me be honest, the job doesn't suck. There are worse jobs. I've seen Dirty Jobs on the Discovery Channel. I know what's out there. I also know what's not out there. In these troubling economic times, having a job of any kind is a blessing. Period.
But if I were to sit here and tell you or anyone else that I'm entirely happy and content with my place in the universe as a bank teller, I'd be lying. My assistant manager gave each of us a survey with questions about our jobs. The answers we give are purely opinion. But as I looked at the questions, I realized that if I answered them all honestly, my assistant manager will just look at me and ask, "Why are you working here?" And my honest answer to that would be, "Because it's a job and I need the paycheck to survive from month to month." I'm not working at the bank because I see myself climbing that particular ladder to become a branch manager someday. That's just not who I am.
So who am I? What is it that I want to do with my life?
I want to do this. I want to write. And I want to get paid to do it.
Okay, I can truthfully report that I am working on a novel and I'm happy to say that I'm actually making progress with it. But that's not a guaranteed paycheck. I can't just look at a completed novel (once it's completed) and assume it will be published. It would be a nice ending this tale, but it certainly isn't a sure thing.
But what about writing for a magazine or a newspaper? What about writing for a blog, other than my own?
I love writing. I don't know how talented I am with it, but it's something I enjoy. It's something I'm passionate about. If you can't love what you do, then why do it? I do not love working at the bank. I don't love pretending to have patience with people who refuse to have patience with me. I don't love pretending to respect customers who refuse to pretend to respect the people who are serving them.
I know, as a Christian, that we are called to serve others in whatever capacity that we are able. I know that I shouldn't be relying on my own strength to do this day after day. I know that, with my personality, doing it on my own is impossible. So while I work for the bank, I will endure. I will perform the job required to the best of my ability, but not for the sake of my ability.
In the meantime, I'd like to put the feelers out there. I don't have a degree in journalism or communications, but I actually feel that I have something to offer in terms of writing. If you disagree, please tell me, I can certainly handle the criticism. But if you agree, I could use the advice as well. Writing a blog for the News & Observer didn't turn out to be the foot in a door that I hoped it would.
So until you find me on the bestseller list, you can find me here. And also at the bank's drive through window.
I've told many of my Legends of the Bank Teller. It's easy to do because that's the job I perform on a daily basis. I am a bank teller. But last night it hit me, I really don't like that job.
I saw my friend Ryan for the first time in two years at dinner last night. One of the first things he asked me, sarcastically, was, "How's the job?" When I said it sucked, he just laughed and said he could tell as much from reading my blog.
Let me be honest, the job doesn't suck. There are worse jobs. I've seen Dirty Jobs on the Discovery Channel. I know what's out there. I also know what's not out there. In these troubling economic times, having a job of any kind is a blessing. Period.
But if I were to sit here and tell you or anyone else that I'm entirely happy and content with my place in the universe as a bank teller, I'd be lying. My assistant manager gave each of us a survey with questions about our jobs. The answers we give are purely opinion. But as I looked at the questions, I realized that if I answered them all honestly, my assistant manager will just look at me and ask, "Why are you working here?" And my honest answer to that would be, "Because it's a job and I need the paycheck to survive from month to month." I'm not working at the bank because I see myself climbing that particular ladder to become a branch manager someday. That's just not who I am.
So who am I? What is it that I want to do with my life?
I want to do this. I want to write. And I want to get paid to do it.
Okay, I can truthfully report that I am working on a novel and I'm happy to say that I'm actually making progress with it. But that's not a guaranteed paycheck. I can't just look at a completed novel (once it's completed) and assume it will be published. It would be a nice ending this tale, but it certainly isn't a sure thing.
But what about writing for a magazine or a newspaper? What about writing for a blog, other than my own?
I love writing. I don't know how talented I am with it, but it's something I enjoy. It's something I'm passionate about. If you can't love what you do, then why do it? I do not love working at the bank. I don't love pretending to have patience with people who refuse to have patience with me. I don't love pretending to respect customers who refuse to pretend to respect the people who are serving them.
I know, as a Christian, that we are called to serve others in whatever capacity that we are able. I know that I shouldn't be relying on my own strength to do this day after day. I know that, with my personality, doing it on my own is impossible. So while I work for the bank, I will endure. I will perform the job required to the best of my ability, but not for the sake of my ability.
In the meantime, I'd like to put the feelers out there. I don't have a degree in journalism or communications, but I actually feel that I have something to offer in terms of writing. If you disagree, please tell me, I can certainly handle the criticism. But if you agree, I could use the advice as well. Writing a blog for the News & Observer didn't turn out to be the foot in a door that I hoped it would.
So until you find me on the bestseller list, you can find me here. And also at the bank's drive through window.
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