Not much to do with bikes...

Got a new job today. For a few days there it was looking like I would have to change my blog address to portlandcyclist. Had a job lined up in PDX. I was kind of looking forward to moving back.

Soo, however, is quite happy up here. I truly believe "If mama's not happy, no one's happy." So, I didn't take it. She has made so much progress as a person since we've been up here that I was loathe to fuck with it.

A job came through that paid rather nicely. Not rolling naked in cash nicely, but it's an extra few hundred bucks a month. Plus, I get to work outside once in a while and I will be able to contribute to cleaning up the environment a bit.

I'll be a Project Manager for Clear Water Compliance Services which means I'll be managing 3 or 4 construction sites at a time, ensuring the water that drains off isn't loaded with sediment or some other such funk.

So that's good. The commute to work is a little shorter, about 8 or 9 miles vs. 13 to 15. No more riding down Lake City Way. The BGT is a non-option because I don't work that direction anymore. Hell, I won't even leave Snohomish County. From what I've heard about riding in the Eastside, I'll be happier.

This is why I came to Seattle in the first place. Career-wise, Oregon in general and Portland specifically is a dead-end for me right now. I don't program the right languages well enough, just barely know my way around a server.

Seattle's a bit different. I got a gig programming just long enough to realize that I need to find another gig. No science, no programming. Computers are just tools, not my reason for working.

With the help of some great people who totally contradict the image of Seattlites being cold, distant and self-absorbed, I did a major overhaul of my career goals, played to my strengths and reworked my resume. I don't know these people, no chance they'll hire me but they took the time to help me anyway. I'll not mention their names here because they may not want their names associated with some of my antics and lunatic ravings.

I don't want to boast, but I've been the person helping people just to help them. Hopefully, I'll get a chance to pass on the kindness I've received. If there is a god and she is just, I will.

The weather. Rainy. Windy. Gorgeous late-fall storms. The Aleutian Low is driving one storm after another ashore. The latest is a fat, wet juicy one. A little bit of tropical influence, but not enough to make it a Pineapple Express. Forecast is for 26 mph winds and a couple of inches of rain.

I was pretty happy this time last year, but I was still a bit bitchy about the rain. Come January, I may be singing a different tune. But maybe not.