Recently in education Category

Being between contracts, as I've been, is a more pleasant way of looking at my current state than being "unemployed" even if the net difference is minimal. From my point-of-view, though, the former provides a certain headspace that makes it easier to see that status as temporary. After all, I've been doing contract work for years now and the usual contract lifecycle isn't completely alien. In fact, I was able to prepare amply for this gap and have been relatively comfortable for the last couple of weeks.

Why the gap? I simply didn't have time to find a job before closing down my project with the large local medical school (LLMS). As I was shutting it down, I was also taking classes to finish my degree at SFSU, as well as get the education credits necessary for my PMP certification. 4 classes, total. It wasn't accomplished gracefully, at least from the schooling perspective, but it was (finally) accomplished. But that load was almost unsustainable. Seeking a new contract on top of that was pretty unrealistic. As a result, I wasn't able to overlap my search for a new position with the end of the project. The resultant gap, as I sort my way through a number of interesting opportunities, as given me time to deal with a problem I've been ignoring for the past year.

I've forgotten how to have hobbies away from my computer.

Yee-hah!

So apparently depression and anger shall be the fruits of my labor. But are they sure they have causation correct? Is it the graduation...or is it exposure to real life? Most people I know are angry and depressed to some extent...dare I say...bitter?

My hope, of course, is that these things can be assuaged by ample free time, coupled with abundant funding.

Well, after a full week of illness, I think I'm on the mend. My brother concurs; apparently, I no longer have that glossy effect over the eyes I've had.

This illness has been interesting, actually. Typically, I'm high-maintenance when ailing, but this time, I just had too much to do and too much to think about to indulge anything beyond the most minimal acknowledgment that something was amiss. I went to work (but not school...the days were just too long) and some of my classes. I must have looked unwell because strangers would inquire if I was alright. Trying to keep being sick quiet is a totally different experience from wishing you had someone bringing you soup.

Fuck soup. I'm busy.

Also, my request: to all of my friends, etc. Please. If I ever think that doing something tremendously stupid, such as attempting to take four classes...and succeed!...while working, is a good idea, correct me. You don't even need to do it nicely. This was one of the dumbest things I've done in a while. I'm barely scraping by and it's embarrassing. My hubris is bringing me down to an unflattering level of achievement, and the stress is killing my health.

Dumb. Just...dumb.

Note to self.