A good day: I did what I set out to do

[redbird]

I quit my job this morning, and I went to the gym after work. In between, I saw an excellent sunset.

I did not throw a fit and storm out of the office: I'm not angry at them. Or I wasn't--there's something decidedly irritating about having the outgoing phone line turned on, after weeks of delay by my boss, one hour after I gave notice.

Be that as it may (and I'm glad to have the phone, even for a little while), I quit because I can't handle the two-hour-each-way commute anymore. I had stripped my life down to essentials, but it had reached the point where I couldn't even manage the time and energy for those. Therefore, I have given notice that my last day at PCH will be Friday. Since I'd promised the agency that I could do this through August (2004), this seems more than reasonable. I spoke to my distant boss in person, and left a message for my contact at the agency, telling her that I'm leaving this assignment effective Friday, that I had already told Karen this, and that I would be available for future work in the city.

I then went back and told Cristina and Brenna that I'm leaving, since I didn't know whether Karen would think to notify anyone in our group. I told Marvin a few hours later (he had been away from his desk when I told the other two); Karen hadn't told him, despite having had the three of them in her office for a meeting. His response was "That's terrible", but he understood about the commute.

I left at the usual time, stepped out the front door, and saw a gorgeous piece of red-and-purple sunset sky behind the other building. I stepped a bit left to get a better view, all colors and flowing gray clouds. By the time the van showed up three minutes later, the colors were almost gone, lost to heavier clouds and the turning Earth.

I had a decent workout and even found out why I've been having problems with the new exercise bikes: on this model, if you pick "random hill" or "alpine," it simulates downhills without warning, meaning all of a sudden there's no resistance. This is a Bad Thing on an exercise bike, especially one that is also programmed to go into pause mode if you stop pedaling. But now that I know this, I can use one of its other programs from now on.

I did 7 minutes 45 seconds of cardio (I don't think I got my heart rate above the 120s), then the Xpressline. The trainer I got this time, Earl, joked about wanting to see me do 370 pounds on the leg press, but he believed that's what I can do: I've had at least one who was sure he was misreading the chart. He also gave me advice/instructions on using the lat pulldown machine that directly contradicted what another trainer had told me about the same machine: he says I should sit straight throughout, whereas the other trainer had me leaning forward on the relaxation part (when the weight is returning to its starting position and I'm inhaling). He also strongly advised that I should use the wider grip on the two chest press machines, and reduce the weight to compensate if my shoulders bother me. So, 12 reps on everything, again, except the shoulder press, where I did 12 at the previous weight with the narrower handles, then two wide at 35 pounds. Vertical chest and triceps both down to 40 pounds.

Comments

[womzilla.livejournal.com]

Yay you! I hope this makes your life better.

[snippy]

I'm very glad you've done what was right for you, and I wish you a new, better job in the very near future.

[micheinnz.livejournal.com]

It sounds to me like you made the right decision, and I'm pleased for you.

[brisingamen.livejournal.com]

when one door closes, another very often opens. A job that makes you feel miserable, tired, sucks up your life like this, is not a job at all, so yay for leaving. I dropped a freelance gig a while back, at a time when I didn't have much money, but never regretted doing so, it was so soul-destroying.

[athenais.livejournal.com]

You have undoubtedly made a wise decision. I hope you find more balance in your life, and a job closer to home.

[yonmei.livejournal.com]

Good for you.

And, well, good for you.

[whumpdotcom.livejournal.com]

I remember talking with you at WisCon about that horrid commute, I'm stunned that you survived it for as long as you did.

Hoping that something good and close to home comes soon.

[bibliotrope.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on being free of that long commute! Good luck with finding something closer to home.

[elusis.livejournal.com]

Congratulations. And good on you for doing so in a slight more... controlled fashion than what I managed. ;)

[roadnotes.livejournal.com]

Huzzah! Let's hope for sunshine all next week, so that you can feel it.

[threeringedmoon.livejournal.com]

Four hours commute a day is horrendous, even if one can read!

Re: A good day: I did what I set out to do

[pir-anha.livejournal.com]

sounds like a good choice to me, since the commute was basically eating your life. here's hoping you find an interesting job closer by!

[fuzzygabby.livejournal.com]

Good luck finding the right job!

[papersky.livejournal.com]

Well done.

[rdkeir.livejournal.com]

I am so glad for you. Life is too short to be a commuter. Good luck!

[kate_nepveu]

Congratulations on quitting, and good luck finding work with a more reasonable commute.

[pyrzqxgl.livejournal.com]

Here's to a job that's a better fit (including the commute)!

[jerrykaufman.livejournal.com]

I'll add my good wishes - your commute was worse than mine!

[trinker.livejournal.com]

To the hope that what's coming next is far better.

[nwl.livejournal.com]

I can't imagine taking a job with that long a commute, much less sticking it out for that long. Good for you and hope you get a great work opportunity soon!