As I start this post it’s just about 5 pm, but already to this point I’ve been able to visit the chiropractor in Long Beach (1 hour total), come home and chat with the wife and baby, go through the mail, change my clothes, spend a few minutes online, and it’s only 5 pm! Most people don’t even start to get home until 5 pm or later. Granted I might go in maybe an hour before some of those people, but I chalk this up to another great perk of being a teacher.

One of my students got me thinking today when she said “teachers don’t get paid enough!” When I asked her why she said because her mom is a teacher. I don’t know what her mom is smoking, but I wouldn’t do this job if I didn’t think I was adequately compensated. I made a choice my senior year in college that I didn’t want a career where I’d have to work until 8 pm every night in the cutthroat ad business. For a while I thought that it might be leading worship, but that wasn’t it. When I started substitute teaching though it all became very clear! Here’s a job where I can be my own boss, work literally half the year, have the same schedule as my wife, get 2.5 months off every year to spend with my kids, and get some guaranteed raises and stellar retirement to boot.

And with all that, I can say fairly confidently that I don’t LOVE teaching. I enjoy it, and I come home from work in a good mood and I don’t mind going in the morning, but I would much rather be AT HOME. I’d much rather be playing with the baby, hanging out with my wife, making feeble attempts at writing a novel, watching baseball, or editing home movies. Yes my career is rewarding, but it’s not what I live for. Instead it gives me the freedom to have the time to do all the other things I’d rather be doing.

So to the two or three people that read my blog and have not settled on a career, here’s some food for thought. As you decide what to do with your life, think about the things that make you happy, and then consider how that is impacted by potential career choices. If you can find a career that you love and you wake up excited for work everyday, then that’s totally awesome. But think about who you are as a person (type A/B, people pleaser, independent, etc) and find a career that meshes with your personality. If I was working at some big ad agency right now I have no doubt I’d still be happy, but I couldn’t be happier that I decided to change careers early on when it was still easy to do. So find something you love to do, and if you can’t do that, find a career that gives you the freedom to do the things you love.

Vacation is terrible for the blog, but great for my sanity! One week or so of vacation is over, and only one left. It’s really tough being a teacher.

We’ve started working on turning the 2nd bedroom into the baby room. My dad came over and helped me move the arcade downstairs. I ran network cable to the second bedroom so I’ll have a wired network connection once I move the computer desk. As we plan where to put a crib and changing table and bassinet, we’ve come to realize that having children makes you run out of room really fast. Originally I’d hoped we could stay in this house through two children, but we’ll have to see how that goes now.

I started recording the Amazing Race two months ago, and now that the writer’s strike is still continuing, I’m glad we did. We’ve watched 5 episodes so far, so by the time vacation is over we’ll be all caught up. If there is a lack of new shows we can always watch some movies instead, or heck, even talk to each other!

The book isn’t getting as much attention this break as I’d hoped. I’m waking up in the morning, putting on a pot of coffee, and getting to work. I hit 70,000 words the other night, so it always feels good to hit a milestone. I’m predicting somewhere in the low hundred thousands, so the end is at least in sight. I can’t believe I thought this project would take a couple months, but if I’d known it would take a whole year, I probably wouldn’t have started to begin with.

Hope everyone is enjoying vacation, or if you have to go back to work, enjoy the weekend! Ah frick, I have to call in for jury duty on Sunday night. Please, please, please judicial system, don’t screw with my vacation. In case I have to go, can I take a laptop with me to work on the book?

It’s been a year and a half since I had a routine school schedule, and it’s weird getting back into the swing of things. Going to school two nights a week, doing homework, and having tests. It all seems so foreign, but at the same time welcome. I feel like I’m finally on my way to being a teacher and closer to having a career. Now to just bare down and get all the hardwork done so I can get there. Bring it on.