When life looks like Easy Street, there is danger at the door.
Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.
Twenty years of schooling and they put you on the day shift.
The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one.
Well, it’s time for the year’s most anticipated annual activity. No, I’m not talking about the Bridge Benefit Concert or the KFOG Kaboom. I’m not talking about whale migration or the swans returning to Capistrano. I’m not even talking about Groundhog Day. I’m talking about my annual job loss.
That’s right. Right after setting a new personal best of 13 months and one week, I suffered another job loss as MS2 decelerated me out of the picture. Game over. This is an especially hard loss as MS2 really values usability and appreciated the discipline, and my contributions to it, more than other places. But it is a tough business climate, and as Grandma would agree, I am a great luxury, so I am unfortunately expendable in tough times. I will greatly miss the people and biking to work. The paycheck was nice too! As my buddy Letterman says, “I’m laughing on the outside and crying on the inside.”
So I’ve been dealt another lemon, and it’s time to make more lemonade. Who’s buying?
This is yet another setback for my twin goals of being a millionaire and married by the age of 40, although I’m not sure which one is affected more. As usual, though, I still have the utmost confidence in the mission. NASA must too, as the Astronaut Office just asked me to update my application. It’s good to know that someone wants me!
It’s also time to go on vacation! Last year between jobs, I went diving in Hawaii. I already had plans to go to Maui in two months, so that base is covered. What else can I do? I’m hoping to visit friends in London and Dublin, but I am also looking for additional options and opportunities. The world is my oyster. (Good thing I’m not completely kosher!) Who wants to go play? Places of interest include the Caribbean, Korea, and Queens. Australia, Antarctica, and Alaska. Snorers need not apply.
Also on the positive side, now I can get in line early for the new Scooby Doo movie. I can also begin to make a dent in the stack of Technology Review and Tennis magazines that are taller than I am. The added TV channels I got yesterday also intrigue me. I figure I can learn a few new languages studying at home as some of them are not in English.
I bumped into Polly at a job-hunting lecture last night. She was surprised that I was only a few minutes early rather than my usual larger cushion. I replied, “What do you mean? I am an entire day early. I am not losing my job until tomorrow!”
I’m staying in good spirits, though. Grandma keeps telling me that health is the most important thing. Alternatively, many women my age think that humor is the most important thing. Maybe it’s a generational thing, but I’ll let them fight it out. As far as I am concerned, except for my rotator cuff needing a new cuff link I have plenty of both health and humor, so I’ll do all right.
Speaking of Grandma, please don’t tell her about this week’s news. For years, I’ve been telling her that I’m a famous gynecologist to distract her from my ambitions of becoming an astronaut and I don’t think she can handle this. Things have been hard enough for Grandma lately with Oprah refusing to call Letterman, rumors of this being the last year of the Simpsons, and the likelihood that Kenny is not returning to South Park so let’s just keep this event our little secret.
As usual, the best way to reach me is brody@alum.mit.edu.
Doo happens!
Stay tuned,
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