Labor Report

Key Words: State of the Union
Word Count: 'Bout 900

Happy Labor Day! Naturally, it's raining here, so no running so far today). As it has has been many moons since I had a non-running topic, here's a quasi-state of the union address on this lazy Labor Day.

Automobile
My car turned two last week, celebrating it's birthday on the same day as Andy. Only 22,500 miles and that's with two trips home (3000) and one "run from the 'cane" (2500), so on a weekly basis, I don't put many miles on the car. I suspect my car pooling situation will hold at least through the end of this year, so no reason to think I won't make it to the four year mark with my warranty intact (4y/50000m). I suppose I should start thinking about whether to extend the warranty, as I think I can get that cheaper if I do it earlier ....

Stock Market
The stock market is a mess, but I think it might be stabilizing a bit. George W's statement that the government should come up with ways to bail out people unable to pay their mortgages has/will make the markets happy. Also, the Fed said they are ready to jump in and save the economy if the housing market drags us into a recession. This housing woe scares Wall Street because they are afraid it will make people be unable to, or scared to spend money. "Buying stuff" is about 70% of our economy, so it's smart for them to be scared. My personal opinion is that the market will go sideways, up and down but ending near where it is, until we figure out just how bad this mortgage problem is. I've taken my "play money" out of the market and put it into my money market account at GMAC Bank.

Work
I'm a bit angered by work at the moment. The basic reason I didn't go somewhere this weekend is because it is bad for planners (that's what I am!) to be out this time of year, because next week we start presenting out budgets to the Upstream presidents (they find oil, they're important). Though I think it's a bad time to be out, my boss was in training the first three days of the week and on vacation the last two! Another guy I work with, who is key to this process, was on vacation Thursday and Friday. I don't begrudge either of them personally; I'm glad they took the days off. This comes down to my HATING when work interferes with my right to take vacation. It angers me when people say "I couldn't take vacation at this or that time because I was too busy", but yet I've let that happen here. For a good part of today, I actually need to log in to work and finish up some stuff ... and then get to bed early so I can be at work for my 7AM meeting! I'm glad to have a good job, still, "Me Keith Mad!" is the mantra of the moment for work.

Literary Fulfillment
I purchased Michael Chabon's new novel, "The Yiddish Policeman's Union", and need to start it soon. Chabon is one hell of a writer and the first one whose work I always get and read.

Cell Phone Service
I'm disappointed with Verizon. The call quality is, in my opinion, inferior to Cingular. Also, though they were quick to fix this, they've already charged me a late fee! And I can't tell what features I do/don't have from the bill. Chaos. Nice phone though (it's got like, the longest battery ever made in it, it won't die), and I am saving a little bit over Cingular.

Money in the Bank
I was on a "cash quest" to save $62.50 out of my monthly, fixed expenses. I failed, but I'm happy all in all. Storage unit, NetFlix, and Comcast saved me $44.50 plus whatever monthly savings I get from Verizon (maybe up to $8) over Cingular. I never made the switch from cable internet to DSL, and now that fantasy football has started, I doubt I will.

My Next Job
I've been thinking I might like to try my hand at teaching one day. I think I have the disposition to teach, and I think I would get a certain amount of fulfillment from it. The question becomes where, when, and how. Ultimately, I would need a Master's degree to do any teaching. With a Masters, I could teach at most any Junior College, and could be an adjunct (aka, temporary) professor for certain classes at a four year joint. With a PhD, I could actually teach for real! While at the XOM I could get the Masters and potentially then go on (outside of the XOM, I would think) and get the doctorate. Going back to school would certainly be a distraction, and while that might be good, it causes a bit of caution. I would won't to make sure I'm doing this because I want to, and not just as a way to shake things up. Going to school while working would be a "helluva shake up", so I had best want to do it if I pursue it.

Well, there you have it, a mental dump on this most rainy of Labor Days. The marathon is just over one month away, and while I can make no predictions as to my finishing time, I am slowly starting to think that I'm rounding into running shape (still need to lose about four pounds ... BEEFCAKE!). Later.