I've got too much...time on my hands

I've made a habit over the last couple of weeks of working ridiculously long hours (not by my choice of course), but now that its kind of over I don't really know what to do. I just spent about 2 weeks straight of waking up at 6:30, going to work, coming home between 9-10, then going straight to bed. If I had to do that for one more week I was about to start looking for another job, but thankfully now things are back to normal. I guess I shouldn't complain about it too much, I just don't ever want to be in a position where my job runs my life instead of the other way around. It's times like these that make me wish I was teaching instead, but I figure I'll give the career with a big company a shot for at least a few years and then have an early mid-life crisis and career change later on.

Do you remember those career tests you took back in high school? I totally want to take one of those just for fun again. I think the tests are subjective and results can change at different stages of life, but it would be fun to see how close (or totally far off) I am right now. Joni said her results told her to be a dancer or a cattle rancher, take your pick, they sound the same to me. Actually, I laughed really hard because after researching what a cattle rancher does it was clear that they are free spirits that don't enjoy being told what to do...maybe those career tests are pretty accurate after all. Is a job really just a job? How many people out there are truly doing what they WANT to do? I think the biggest and best excuse is that once you are far enough along in school, you don't want to have to start all over, so you settle on whatever pays the bills. Its a good excuse, but its also really sad if you think about it. Maybe that's why schools are in horrible shape right now around the country. There are some great teachers out there (my mom was one of them) but there could sure be more of 'em.

When I try to think about my dream job it involves making my own schedule, managing others, completing projects, having contact with people, and seeing physical results. Joni wants a job where she can be creative and focus her attention on her artistic side. I guess when it comes down to it, I just want to learn how to do everything. If money didn't matter, I think I would spend all my time learning how to fix cars, or play an instrument, or build something cool...is there such a job out there? I guess we can all dream, but that's what hobbies are for too. Maybe I'm that way because I haven't had a lot of stability as far as living in one place for a long time, or holding one job for a long time. Who knows? I've got some solid foundations in my life, one of them is my wife, another is my family, and another is my church. If all else fails on the career front, at least I have these things.

I just bought a book called "How Starbuck's Changed my Life". I haven't even read it yet but I'm already recommending it to you. When I read the description it really hit home, it was one of those things that just jumps out at you. I'll let you look it up, but don't tell me how it ends because I haven't read it yet, its a true story. I heard Tom Hanks is already working to make it a movie. Anyways, thats enough deep ramblings from me for one day. If any of you figure it out let me know.