Intermission

In a few weeks I begin a new job. I'm really excited about it for a number of reasons. On one level, things had become a bit stagnant and I'm excited for the change in and of itself. But I also think the new company will address some of the frustrations I've have in the past year or so. They have products, which means I'd actually be contributing to something real and solid. Pure research can be exciting, but it can also get frustrating when it doesn't lead anywhere. Also, I'll be in the same building with many of the people I work with, which I hope will make it easier to establish relationships with them and stay engaged with the company. Finally, the office is much closer to where I live, cutting my commute in half. While this may have some effect on how much I read, it will be nice to have more time at home (and to be able to sleep a little later in the morning).

As excited as I am about my new job, I'm also really excited at the prospect of taking some time off before I begin. I picked a pretty good time to leave my old job. They're in the midst of a company-wide re-org, leaving everything up in the air. So instead of continuing to attempt to figure out where I would land in the new order, I was able to simply leave. And the upshot is that I have a full two weeks of funemployment. That's the good kind of unemployment, where money isn't really an issue and it has a definite end.

I'm looking forward to catching up on some TV shows, like Mad Men, that I haven't really had time to watch. I've got a huge stack of books to work my way through. I'm perversely excited about the opportunity to take some time and get the house really clean. I'm going to take Kina to the dog park as often as I can and spoil her rotten. I may even attempt some new recipes. I'm also going to be able to see Obama's second inauguration. I took so much time off during the holidays that I wouldn't have been able to attend this if I'd still had a job (despite it being a federal holiday). But now I'll get to enjoy one of the perks of living in the DC area.

Mostly, I'm looking forward to getting painfully, mind-numbingly bored. I got a bit burnt out on my last job, especially after the latest proposal season. I'm sure that sitting on my butt for a couple of weeks with no pressing concerns will leave me eager to get started at my new job.