Using My Time

"The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time."

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Change of Plans...

Well, it turns out that I am going to be working until the 28th of December, and going off to school, or “Academy” as they call it, on the 2nd of January. And, it's official. I gave my 4 week notice Monday night, and I called the Swift Trucking Monday, and have officially stated my intent to go to their “academy” on the 2nd, so basically all that is left is for me to go.
I'll admit, I'm a little scared. A change of job, a change of routine, a change of life. What's not to be scared of? I am throwing away a job with benefits, that pays about $11.50 an hour, and with possibility of promotion. But, I think this is the area for me, at least for now.

Speaking of which, I want to live a long, long time. And I'm not speaking of 90-100 years. I'm speaking hundred and hundreds of years. And, no, I'm not afraid of dying. Actually, in a perverted sort of way, I am actually sort of looking forward to dying, as Peter Pan said, “Dying is a great adventure”. Although, contradictally, I want to live forever because I want to know everything. Although, I would of course have to travel back in time, because I want to know everything about the past as well. Basically I have an insatiable thirst for knowledge.

At the moment, I want to be a trucker, Police officer, college professor (in Economics, Psychics, Chemistry, Biology, History, and Linguistics), Firefighter, Military officer, doctor, and Politician). Basically I at the moment I don't want a career, I want different experiences. At the moment, at the tender age of 23, I can't imagine a career I would enjoy. Because a career would involve live long commitment, and my curiosity just couldn't stand a life long commitment.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

I know, way too soon

Well, I just felt that since pretty soon I will be using this blog to inform all you folks about trucking, that I would update so soon telling you about recent decisions concerning trucking. I am going to give my 2 week notice (well, more like 2.5 week notice) on Tuesday (I am of course saying this hoping no one from Sterling reads this). Why this rapid change in plan? Well, mainly because of a week long vacation I was planning on taking. See, I am basically currently scheduled to take in approximately 3 weeks time a 5 day break, and I assumed that I would get my 40 hours vacation time, and after I returned I would turn in my two week notice. I realized that I would have to owe the company some time, since I haven't worked here for a full year, and you have to pay back to the company for vacation time that you took during the year if you don't work there for the entire year. However, I still have one unused vacation day, so I figured thta would covver any time I might owe back. But, I discovered that, for one, I won't recieve my full 40 hour week during my vacation, since I only have about 25 hours vacation built up, and if I used it all, I would probably end up owing some when I left. So, instead of dealing with all of that, with a max of 25 hours, and probably owing some of that back, I decided to just leave earlier than planned.

So, I plan to give my 2.5 week notice on Tuesday, Nov. 27th. Not on Monday, because Monday's are always bad, and full of work, so I didn't want to ruin the day any more (and by ruin, I mean I am a damn good employee, and no one want to see me leave, not the leads nor my boss). And Tuesday instead of Friday because I am scheduled to start work (well, in truth I was scheduled to start work 2 weeks ago) on some new stuff, and I feel bad enough leaving, I don't want them to start this whole new thing expecting me to be there, only for me to leave. I suppose you can chaulk this up to my soul, or my concience, but I would feel bad giving notice any closer to the date I was leaving, or, just leaving without giving any sort of notice, just kind of saying my last night "well, I guess I'll never see you again". And in case you are wondering, that is perfectly legal. There would be nothing illegal against me simply saying that I won't be in tomorrow, or ever. I guess it's simply human decency.

So, basically, on December 26th, I will be starting the Swift driving school, in order to get my CDL, and then start my 6 weeks of training, and then start my career of trucking. Which, of course means that I will be driving over to Lewsiton, Idaho, where the school is, on Christmas day, since I will be starting on Wednesday Dec 26th at 5:00 AM. And since you are probably wondering, I am actually be calling the Swift guy tomorrow to make sure that they will have a school starting the day after Christmas, but since Truckers keep the country, if not the world going, I'm sure they'll have classes starting the day after Christmas.

Keep on Trucking

Monday, November 19, 2007

Life worth living

It's been three months. I know. It makes me wonder if anyone actually checks this anymore, if indeed any one ever did read this. But it doesn't really matter, I didn't really start this blog for other people, I started it for me self, I started this blog to get my thoughts, feelings, ideas, "out there" whereever "there" is.

Well, if anyone does check this and hasn't heard yet, I'm going to become a trucker. Yes, me, a man with a college degree, a man that is quite intelligent, capable, competent, is going to throw away a possible career with Sterling Savings Bank and hop onto a truck and drive around the country. Why? Well, certainly I'm feeling quite desperate with my student loans and other debt (i.e. credit card debt), and am tired of not having any money at the end of the month....or the beginning of the month for that matter. But I also think it will be fun, be an adventure. I've tried to think about what I will do after it, something a little more permenant. And, I must say I have no idea. I still have trouble seeing myself doing anything for too long. I don't know how people choose a career and stick with it so many years. I can't imagine myself doing anything for too long. Life is so short and I want to do so many things, maybe I'll just float around doing different jobs for a couple years, then move on to something else. I kind of want to be a pilot, police officer (although if I do that Matt and I might not be able to be friends anymore), a lawyer, an economist, a politician, an author, etc. And I've been thinking, why not? Sure, the norm is to choose an occupation and pretty much stick with it, and while most people do change careers to a certain extent, most of the time it still falls within the same skill set, but why should I follow the norm? This is the only life I have (unless the hindus are right), so I figure I might as well do it, I don't want to be 80 looking back at this life saying "I wish I tried that", I want to try it all.....well maybe not any of the hardcore drugs, but you know what I mean.

Which leads me to my next point, I have decided that I am going to try to be more open and honest about myself. I have lived so long and have gotten so used to hiding who I am, mainly because that's what my family does, but I realized that I don't want to be like my dad. I know that sounds like a harsh thing to say, but I don't. So, if you notice me being more open and honest, saying things I normally only say when I'm drunk, don't be surprised, I'm just trying something new.

Speaking of which, if this post seems a little unfocused, it might have to do with the fact that I'm a little hung-over. And before you think too poorly of me, let me explain: It's all Jon's fault. See, I did consume a bottle of wine last night, over several hours, and I was feeling its effects, not to a great extent, but certainly feeling it. Jon and I were talking late into the night as he was doing homework, and I declared that I was going to be. Jon didn't like this idea since he still had to stay up, so he poured me a shot of 151 (sorry Matt, but it was your 151), which I took. And alcohol being the bitch that she is, after having that and feeling its affects I decided I wanted a little bit more, so I poured myself some gin on the rocks (again, sorry Matt). So, I ended up going to bed at about 6:30 this morning, felling rather drunk, and woke up at 1 this after noon feeling rather hungover. So, yes, this post might be unfocused and rambling, but atleast I have an excuse. My next post might be a little better (but I can't really say, since I tend to ramble and be unfocused in my writing even when I'm feeling great).