I'm starting to think about a pattern of people changing careers. I'm not sure yet whether I want to go into it more deeply or whether there's something of interest to say. I also think there's a gender-related aspect, and I'm not sure if I want to focus on women only or on the men I know (whose career changes are also pretty interesting). So far:
> Me! (female) software engineer > technical writer > ???
> LBM (female) economist > educator
> KE (male) release engineer > starting school to become a radiology technician and eventually combine technical skills with new skills
> BT (male) software engineer > preschool teacher
> GF (male) technical writer & supervisor > LICSW
> LL et al (female) belongs to a group that meets monthly; originally consisted of women who were in healthcare administration. Now they're all doing something else, including one woman who just accepted a position as a president of a college.
> SO'D nuclear engineer (I think) > pipe organ mechanic
LBM points out that we no longer feel tremendous loyalty to our employers (I would say that our employers have broken our trust).
GF points out that some women seem to feel entitled to support from their spouse.
Again, not sure if there's a pattern here, if deeper anecdotes are of interest to others, or what someone reading about this phenomenon (if indeed it is one) would be looking for.
Wednesday, June 23, 2004
Thursday, June 17, 2004
Guilt by association
My mother told me that at a party this weekend, someone came up to her, saw that she was wearing a Kerry pin, and said that Kerry had lived in a neighborhood known for being antisemitic, so he wasn't going to vote for Kerry. The speaker was convinced that through osmosis, I guess, Kerry had picked up the prejudice.
Gee, I'm sure that in my lifetime, I've lived in neighborhoods, towns, cities, and even countries that were known as (pick as many as you'd like): antisemitic, mysogenistic, homophobic, racist, and ageist. Good thing I'm not in politics.
Gee, I'm sure that in my lifetime, I've lived in neighborhoods, towns, cities, and even countries that were known as (pick as many as you'd like): antisemitic, mysogenistic, homophobic, racist, and ageist. Good thing I'm not in politics.
Wednesday, June 16, 2004
Time and happiness, novel concepts
Yesterday, I had lunch with a friend. I actually had enough time to walk into our little "ville," have a leisurely lunch, stop off at the office with him on the way back, then stroll home via several shops I've been meaning to visit. A very pleasant afternoon. I'll try to have more of those.
Also, at my friend's office, I visited with a former coworker, someone who, when we worked together, always seemed tense and unhappy. I chalked it up to her personality. But yesterday, she seemed as if she had just returned from vacation -- she was relaxed and cheerful. OK, she had just gotten back from a lunchtime yoga class. But still -- if you hate your job, all the relaxation can drain out of you in seconds as you cross the threshold of your place of employment. You mean -- it's really possible to enjoy your job so much that you actually smile when you're there? And not just when it occurs to you to leave? I'm impressed.
Also, at my friend's office, I visited with a former coworker, someone who, when we worked together, always seemed tense and unhappy. I chalked it up to her personality. But yesterday, she seemed as if she had just returned from vacation -- she was relaxed and cheerful. OK, she had just gotten back from a lunchtime yoga class. But still -- if you hate your job, all the relaxation can drain out of you in seconds as you cross the threshold of your place of employment. You mean -- it's really possible to enjoy your job so much that you actually smile when you're there? And not just when it occurs to you to leave? I'm impressed.
Presidential (In)action figures
As seen in Time magazine and on the internet!
Toy presidents!! Yes, President action figures, just in time for father's day!! Collect the whole set for only $29.95 per pres.
And they speak! Just press President Bush's Amurikan Flag lapel pin and hear him say such keepers as "Our country's unified, and we are strong and we are resolved and that makes this president feel really good."
Or, "excercise your right to vote" and suggest the next president or write-in candidate (Barbara Bush, anyone?) to include in the series.
http://www.toypresidents.com/
Toy presidents!! Yes, President action figures, just in time for father's day!! Collect the whole set for only $29.95 per pres.
And they speak! Just press President Bush's Amurikan Flag lapel pin and hear him say such keepers as "Our country's unified, and we are strong and we are resolved and that makes this president feel really good."
Or, "excercise your right to vote" and suggest the next president or write-in candidate (Barbara Bush, anyone?) to include in the series.
http://www.toypresidents.com/
Thursday, June 03, 2004
Head's there, heart's not
On Day 2, I drove to work to pick up a friend for lunch. I realized that my head knows that I no longer work there, but my heart hasn't caught up yet. It's odd being in this split place. Part of me says "I'm on vacation -- woo hoo!" while the other part says "And I'm not going back -- huh." I realize I just need to sit with it for a while and answers -- as well as feelings -- will come. Yesterday I felt nothing about the place itself, but I was glad to see my friend.
Also, I realized that there's another blaugustine out there. Darn. Just goes to prove that there's no such thing as an original thought. eblaug, anyone?
Also, I realized that there's another blaugustine out there. Darn. Just goes to prove that there's no such thing as an original thought. eblaug, anyone?
Tuesday, June 01, 2004
at a slower pace
And after a long Memorial Day weekend, today is my first "work" day not at work. I had my first big insight about "how it feels" when I stopped at my friend Wendy's house to drop off something that had been mistakenly delivered to me. She invited me in. I had places to go! I was busy. But suddenly I realized that I wasn't that busy. As I relaxed, I took pleasure in having a neighborly visit.
People talk about how fast-paced our lives are. Today, I'm happy to report, the pace of my life slowed down to something more reasonable. I swam a mile instead of my usual 3/4. I spent a few minutes chatting with the lifeguard, whom I almost never engage with besides a friendly hello.
I'm still not sure "how it feels," but today, it feels remarkably better.
Onward.
People talk about how fast-paced our lives are. Today, I'm happy to report, the pace of my life slowed down to something more reasonable. I swam a mile instead of my usual 3/4. I spent a few minutes chatting with the lifeguard, whom I almost never engage with besides a friendly hello.
I'm still not sure "how it feels," but today, it feels remarkably better.
Onward.
Farewell to IBM...
Last Friday marked my last day at IBM. I'm not sure what's next. Here's my goodbye note, which I sent only to internal IBMers.
Summary: I'm leaving IBM; contact info at end of message.
Dear colleagues and friends,
As I look forward to my first summer off in over a quarter century, I want to thank each of you and all of you. Over the last eight-and-and-a-half years, we might have collaborated on UI design or on creating an article, a short course, a tutorial, a manual, a white paper, or a book. Or, we might have more generally solved a customer problem, or in some cases averted one. I hope that our work has resulted in a more positive and successful experience for our customers -- the people we really work for.
Along the way, we have:
> Worked hard, accomplishing more individually and collectively than I can imagine, even now.
> Survived a lot of change. (Atria, Pure Atria, Rational, IBM; what can I add to this point?)
> Eaten many meals together. Yes, there have been lunches, and I hope those will continue. I've eaten many dinners with some of you, and even a few breakfasts.
> Had fun. Some of you will remember ... Halloween costume contests; throwing parachute toys off the third balcony and marvelling as they made their way back up to the third floor; singing happy birthday to Joan, our receptionist, from the same balcony; the Hawaiian-themed Christm-er-holiday party; the candy dish; the candy dish rules; the fresh-baked bread; Jo's poems; the plastic insects that lived in the plastic plants; Friday lunches; emergency ice cream runs; filling Fred Mueller's offices with balloons; hiding Scott Chapman's shoes in plain sight on his ceiling; Evelyn's raffles; playing miniature golf; Christmas potluck lunches.
> Gotten to know each other. We've shared stories of our love for the humans and animals in our lives, of our kids and parents, of our pianos and our travels. We've celebrated life's victories, cried together over our losses, and laughed endlessly about the absurdities and delights of life.
I may be leaving my work behind, but I hope to stay in touch with the people here (that's you). So here's how to reach me:
[etc]
Summary: I'm leaving IBM; contact info at end of message.
Dear colleagues and friends,
As I look forward to my first summer off in over a quarter century, I want to thank each of you and all of you. Over the last eight-and-and-a-half years, we might have collaborated on UI design or on creating an article, a short course, a tutorial, a manual, a white paper, or a book. Or, we might have more generally solved a customer problem, or in some cases averted one. I hope that our work has resulted in a more positive and successful experience for our customers -- the people we really work for.
Along the way, we have:
> Worked hard, accomplishing more individually and collectively than I can imagine, even now.
> Survived a lot of change. (Atria, Pure Atria, Rational, IBM; what can I add to this point?)
> Eaten many meals together. Yes, there have been lunches, and I hope those will continue. I've eaten many dinners with some of you, and even a few breakfasts.
> Had fun. Some of you will remember ... Halloween costume contests; throwing parachute toys off the third balcony and marvelling as they made their way back up to the third floor; singing happy birthday to Joan, our receptionist, from the same balcony; the Hawaiian-themed Christm-er-holiday party; the candy dish; the candy dish rules; the fresh-baked bread; Jo's poems; the plastic insects that lived in the plastic plants; Friday lunches; emergency ice cream runs; filling Fred Mueller's offices with balloons; hiding Scott Chapman's shoes in plain sight on his ceiling; Evelyn's raffles; playing miniature golf; Christmas potluck lunches.
> Gotten to know each other. We've shared stories of our love for the humans and animals in our lives, of our kids and parents, of our pianos and our travels. We've celebrated life's victories, cried together over our losses, and laughed endlessly about the absurdities and delights of life.
I may be leaving my work behind, but I hope to stay in touch with the people here (that's you). So here's how to reach me:
[etc]
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