January 9, 2006

On to the next phase in life. I got the air pollution position. I will be starting next Tuesday, the 17^th. This is exciting. I can see how this could lead me in a totally new and meaningful direction in life.

The pay is an improvement over ski instructor, but Burger King could probably provide that. Our combined income will now be less than I used to make and Kris will be making more than me once again. She is actually a grade level higher than me in the State‘s system. That MBA finally paid off for her. Regardless, we are each making more than enough to cover our expenses which leaves a lot of money for savings. Money will not be a concern anytime soon.

I told the ski school director that I would be leaving. She took it rather nonchalantly. I explained that I would work the Saturday program until it ends on the 21^st. I looked at the schedule and there wasn’t anything else pressing that my leaving was going to hurt. So I will work this week, next Monday which is a holiday, and the first Saturday after I start my new job. The ski school director later congratulated me and asked a few questions that expressed a genuine interest. She also told me I was welcome to work part time in the future if I wanted. I told her I would think about since I have enjoyed teaching, but I doubt I will. It was a fun chapter in life, but maybe I am done with that.

I caught a cold. It has been going around. Kris had it last weekend and a few instructors were sick this past week. I worked the morning on Saturday. There is a weekend program that involves lots of children so I knew I was needed for the morning. I left afterwards. Yesterday morning I woke up with the worst sinus headache I have ever experienced. It felt like a migraine. I am feeling much better now.

Ski instructing has become a routine. I usually have fun in a lesson, but I always seem to be hoping to not have a lesson. I guess that mostly means I would rather be skiing even though often I just sit and relax when I don’t have a lesson. The 6 day weeks are getting old. I think I have only had one Monday off even though I am supposed to have both Sunday and Monday off.

I achieved yet another milestone in my transformation from Ohioan to Alaskan. Saturday, while driving home on the Seward Highway, I moved over for some merging traffic. Something was kicked up by one of the vehicles and put two large stars in my windshield. In a few days I am sure I will look pretty average when those points start running all over the windshield. I used to count broken windshields when stopped at traffic lights. There are always a few. Anymore, I don’t even notice them.