The New Grind

It has been a relief that the ax has fallen, that the past is really now the past and I work towards the future. One of my "traits" is OCD... and once that gets going, it can be both a blessing or a curse. I tend to see it as a blessing.. after all, it's what got me to Everest Base Camp and to endure 13 miles of 105+ degrees heat of the Spartan Race. This trait of mine... is my method for achievement. It may be slow and arduous, but surely I will make it.

In the course of 2 weeks, I have spent on average 10 hours a day "working" towards my new future. I have 4 sessions of 2-3 hours each, where I review engineering theories, practice presentation style, white boarding different topics, drill myself on theories with flash cards, read various articles on similar topics to obtain different viewpoints, watch YouTube videos, and follow up on job hunting leads. I estimate I have put in over 200+ hours now of engineering study this month.

My kids have been on their own, wild and crazy, eating whatever quick fix dinner I can dig out of the freezer, and totally taking advantage of the fact that I'm letting them watch TV and do whatever they want as long as they leave me alone.

My new "office". Ryan help set up a whiteboard for me.

Occasionally I'll get a visit from my new co-worker..

Another day, a different place of work. I take advantage of studying and "working" everywhere and anywhere I can. On this morning while running errands that required waiting, I reviewed different op amp configurations on Starbucks napkin.

Taking up the corner office location at a local Panera...

Yes.. Starbucks does seem to be a theme. It's a good place to go while waiting for things. Free wi-fi is always helpful.

And I can't forget to leave out my other new co-worker, Rose. I cannot thank Trader Joes enough for coming out with this inexpensive bubbly, which I meet on occasion at the end of a long work week. (I limit the drinking to the end of the week.)

To be continued...