There's an expression that goes "90% of life is just showing up". There's another that goes "you make your own luck". I don't know if I believe either one, but I will say that being responsible and consistent seems to work for me. By being at work daily, keeping in touch, being responsible and such consistently, I find I am available to be contacted by someone who may need me for my talents or training. I also try not to burn bridges, but to take the high road. It never hurts to say goodbye with a smile, even if you don't like the person. That doesn't mean that you should permit someone to take advantage. It's just as important to stand up for yourself, but to pick your fights.
Last week I was contacted by a recruiter who calls me from time to time. This time he had a wonderful opportunity. More money than I thought I could earn. More Importantly, it is for a challenging job where I could use my best talents. My resume is a job description for the position they have. And, it's for a huge corporation. This is a rare opportunity.
Change is difficult. It is also scary. It took several days of speaking with friends and family to make a decision to leave my current job. It was nice of them to offer me an opportunity to return anytime. When I was younger and dumber, some of the jobs I left were so happy I quit, that it saved them from having to fire me. The difference from today is consistency. That, and a bit of maturity.
Speaking with my wife was helpful in other ways. Valuing her opinion and listening to what she had to say made me feel like we were a team. I haven't felt like this in a long time. She felt connected to me again which is also good. I even involved the kids in the decision. Risky, but it is nice that it is a unanimous decision.
So, I am off to a high profile position with mucho responsibility. Also at the edges of my ability (I think). I am pretty quick to pick things up, so even if it is a bit beyond, I think I can learn what I need.
Things are good, but I am nervous. I think that means I am normal. At least in this regard. Big difference in attitude from my last post. Thanks to everyone for their feedback.

Tomorrow morning my wife and daughters are going away for a few days. It started with Nancy (my wife) asking me if she could go to Florida for a weekend. I said "sure, why not". She asked me several times, being shocked that I agreed so easily. Within a week, the weekend plans turned into almost a week away with the girls.

I will miss my daughters but I don't think I am going to miss my wife. Lately she is becoming a lot like her mom. Her mom lives in an apartment in my house because she is unable to earn a living and squandered all of her savings years ago. At one point in time Nancy co-signed a loan for her when she ran up credit card debt, against my wishes. Sure enough, Nancy's mom defaulted on the loan and the bank came after Nancy (and me) for the money. After a series of other dumb moves, she found herself on the brink of homelessness. I have enough compassion to realize that she had to somehow live with us in some fashion.

I have always been nice to Ruth (Nancy's mom). She has a real mean streak in her and is always nasty to me. I have a favorite expression that she could enrage the Pope. Nasty and not a nice person, even Nancy agrees. I mention all of this only because Nancy is slowly becoming a lot like her mom. Mean and cold, with a nasty streak becoming more evident every day. No, I don't think I will miss her.

Time away from each other may be good. Perhaps she needs to chill out a bit. I am looking at this trip as a kind of test. If I find myself much more at peace, I may think about making it a bit more permanent.

I don't even think she would mind giving up the kids. I know they would prefer me to her, as her nasty streak is evident to them also. This is not what I signed on for.

I find myself alone at night after everyone is asleep, to actually spend some quality time with myself. I am looking forward to quality time with Bambi, my pet house rabbit. I never knew rabbits could be such good pets.

More to follow after they leave.