Thread Drift

[Pax]

I don't care about sports at all, but my mom and dad used to bet a buck a week on a football game so I keep that alive for mom. I never know who I'm betting on or if they're any good, but it sure makes her happy.

[Owlie]

Am I the only one around here who could care less about the Patriot's game? Usually, DH and I go out to some restaurant that is really hard to get reservations at during play off games, but he's at his company yearly meeting, and everyone I know is watching the game, or at some party.
I guess I will use the time to do some work.

I felt that way about the Cavaliers when I was living in Cleveland. And if I ever hear LeBron James' name again, it will be 20 billion years too soon.

[Crankin]

I mildly follow the Red Sox, but it is NEVER the center of my social life. I was a huge fan as a young teen (went to a lot of games and sat in the bleachers). My interest has waned since I started doing my own sports like cycling, hiking, etc. I don't even know who half the new players are, now. Watching cycling is fun, because I can relate to it, but if I never watched a race on TV or on line again, it wouldn't be the end of the world. I abhor football, basketball, and especially hockey. Thankfully, even my "regular" friends aren't huge fans, but they do go to games and watch on TV some of the time.
My son has a new job where he is opening an office of a company based in SF. He told me that he immediately was sent to deal with a long time client here in the Boston area, as they need a "New Englander to deal with them." He told me he has to brush up on the local sports scene to converse with these people...

[Owlie]

I'll watch football if someone else has it on. I won't go out of my way to watch it. If I find out the Bengals are playing and I'm at my parents' place, I'll wander into the room and ask my dad if the Bengals are losing again, watch for five minutes and wander back out.

[OakLeaf]

He told me he has to brush up on the local sports scene to converse with these people...

My family never watched sports when I was growing up. Football wasn't a big deal in my schools (my second high school didn't even have a football team). My first husband had to explain the rules to me. When I hung out my shingle I did some appointed criminal defense work, and with that, there was a lot of waiting around in the courthouse for cases to be called. I needed to be able to make small talk with the other lawyers, so I learned what I could about football. I was as surprised as anyone that I actually like it! But yeah, Owlie, being a Bengals fan takes a special kind of devotion.

[skhill]

Around here it's University of Kentucky basketball that is all-encompassing. Men's, that is. I'm a big fan of the women's team, ranked #5 right now; the men, not so much. But when the men's team is playing, there's less traffic on the roads, businesses are less busy, etc. It's a good time to run errands! And on evenings like we had last spring when they were playing for the national championship, the city pretty much shuts down. It's also a sad fact that during the victory celebrations that ensue upon winning the championship, you can count on a very slow response time from the police if you want to get up to mischief anywhere but right around campus.

[Owlie]

I think we have a proto-spammer around here...

[snapdragen]

Possibly, but until the spam actually appears.....

[lph]

Way to go, Dogmama :-)

I just got called in for an interview for a job in the XC Skiing Association. It involves equal amounts of bureacratic nonsense and practical work, so I'm trying to figure out what on EARTH to wear... I think maybe a new pair of jeans and my dh's smart black wool jacket might be appropriate.

Yup. I wore a new pair of jeans (read: 3 hours of shopping hell on a sunny Saturday morning) and my dh's smart black wool jacket - and they worked. I just landed a second interview

I'm flabbergasted. I didn't think the first one went very well, I got nervous and started waffling and giving politician type answers just to have something to say.

I'm not 100% convinced I want the job because it would mean a lot more time away from home, but I gotta admit, I'd LOVE to be offered it...

[Crankin]

Congrats, LPH. Even if you turn it down, it will still feel good. And considering your free time when taking a job is very important to people like us, who actually value and use free time.

[Pax]

That is cool, lph. Always fun to be in the drivers seat!

[lph]

Oh. My. God.

I just got an offer. It's for a little less than I already make, and sounds unnegotiable. However they also offer one day working from home a week.

When I was asked to describe myself I should have added "undecisive" and "anxious". I should be through the roof with joy! Why am I just all wibbly and teary about leaving my wonderful colleagues, and worried about not being able to do the job properly...? I've asked for a years unpaid leave to try it out, but I have no idea if my boss will even recommend it, and if he doesn't it's really decision time.

aaaaaagh........................

But if I don't take it I will probably kick myself for years wondering why.

I HATE making big decisions!

[emily_in_nc]

I have definitely been there on those kinds of decisions. And I am terribly indecisive and always second-guess my decisions.

Ultimately, I usually follow my heart and gut. When I don't, I end up regretting it.

As my yoga instructor likes to say "listen inside".

Congratulations!

[Crankin]

Take the job.

[lph]

Yeah. I know I will. I'd be an idiot not to. But I wish I could be a bit happier about it, right now...

But I've been in the job I have now for 13 years. I have most of my friends there. I've been on climbing trips, skiing trips and dozens of bike rides with coworkers. I've lost several coworkers to cancer, and one to suicide. I've mourned with the one who recently lost his wife after three rough years of illness. I've seen friends meet, fall in love and marry, and of course I've been out shopping for gift after gift for the ones who have big birthdays or who are home with a troublesome pregnancy, or who have a baby. In many ways I'll be saying goodbye to a large portion of my life the way it is today. I guess it's just normal to feel pretty darn sad about it. I know I can keep in touch with some of them, but most of them I won't, and even the ones I'm closest to I will only meet once in a while, instead of every day.

I will get over it and see the bright side. Just a bit despondent right now. And a little shocked at how badly I'm responding to change.