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So the days are ticking down to my departure for the northern wilds of Minnesota. I can't wait. The compression has started at the office and I have so very much to do before I leave and not a lot of time to accomplish it. I've started going to the fitness club at work over my lunch hour to utilize the indoor track. I'm not a runner. I don't enjoy it for an instant, but I need to do those thirty-something year old things like watch my cholesterol, blood pressure, and all that crap. I'd also like to lose a few of the kilos put on by the heavenly Mexican food found in the south... specifically Texas. I haven't forgotten about your tortilla Lisa. The opportunity hasn’t presented itself in recent weeks. Speaking of the south and Texas, we're off to the Corpus Christi area for EL's birthday on Saturday. What do you get a woman who deserves the world? My budget just won't cover that, I'm afraid. I think the biggest excitement of our forthcoming trip is just getting away from metropolis for a bit. I am fed up to my noodle with traffic and the latex skins everyone drapes over their personalities in this town. It's not as bad as Dallas, but still. Actually, Houston overall isn't bad. It's just the professional world in Houston. Find you some simple folk from the rural edges and they are as real and it gets. People with titles by their name are the one you have to watch out for... sometimes I wonder if they've lost all objectivity from eating shovels of their own shit for so long. Yes... a break from that facet of society is what I want. I think that's why I enjoy nature photography so much. There isn't any of that around. Anywhere. The biggest thing about the corporate environment that really boggles me is why we do it. I mean, bills and stuff... sure. The house. The car(s). The material stuff. But why else? I've mentioned it before, but it's worth saying again. There is nothing that I do from the time I leave for work until the time I get home in the evening that is nurturing to the soul. Nothing. It's an empty existence really. I live for time at home with my wife and gaggle of four legged family. The only reason I get up and go to work is to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table (or kitty/doggie dish). Other than that, I hate the rut. Greg mentioned doing something different... a 180 degree career switch to break the trudging mess up. I don't think that's the answer. First off, it is never an easy transition. Secondly, you'll probably find yourself feeling the same way in your new career within a short period of time. Pessimism. Actually, I think if you find something you really enjoy, and then find a way to support yourself with it, that's the way to go. My problem is I enjoy doing nothing. I don't mean "nothing" as in I don't enjoy anything. I mean "nothing" in a Peter Gibbons kinda way. Look out chair, here comes my ass! I've been playing Texas Hold'em on my BlackBerry when time seems to hang occasionally. I'm at the finals table at the World Series of Poker. It's me and another dude. Well, his head is about 3 or 4 millimeters big and he lives on a cell phone, but still. I have $22,320,886 dollars in chips and he's only got $16,721,000. Useless info... I know. Anyhoo, I need to get back to the daily grind. I just wish I was working from home and had a completely flexible schedule getting paid to do nothing. *sigh* That would be something.