Like I Said, Strongish

I have no excuse and yet one of the best excuses in the world... I'm sorry I've neglected you, faithful readers, but alas I've been busy. Not just any ole busy, but "trying to plan my wedding" busy. Not just any wedding, but a wedding that's a hemisphere away with a wedding planner who's idea of "planning" is to do it all at the last minute.

But... I was going to tell you about my new job.

So, I've left the world of do-gooding, environmentalism for a stint at shilling consumer products. I do feel a bit ashamed. I really wanted to stay on the righteous path with the rest of the high and mighty. On the other hand, you could say that I did pretty well considering that I barely speak the language of the country in which I live.

I had to give up on such crazy notions as continuing with non-profit work or focusing on a low-impact industry. I had to go, and go strong, for whatever I could get. I bought a new suit and actually practiced my interviews in the shower.

The sad truth is that I interviewed at: an oil company, a shipping/trucking company, and a Fox television channel (dude, that guy was really weird too). I declined to interview at a portal with a large porn collection. I dropped my name in the bucket for an internal communications position at a massive, and I mean massive, consumer products company. They were "overwhelmed with applicants." Oh well.

So, ending up at a teensy weensy marketing/advertising company (I'm employee number 1 or 2 depending on whether you count the owner as an employee) run by a British expat is not so bad, really. One might even say I'm lucky.

Setting aside the fact that we have only two clients, it's not a bad deal. I've always liked working at a start up. I have a lot of autonomy and my boss is really inclusive. No more silo. It's refreshing. On the other hand, it's a lot of time spent hanging out with one person... who has a big personality. On yet another hand, he buys me coffee and had someone come in the other day to give us head and neck massages.

It's like the good ole days of the .com boom. Some who read this blog might remember the muffins. ;)

Another plus is that my job is in Amsterdam, right in the Jordaan. My window looks out over the lovely Prinsengracht, the Princes Canal. Never mind the 45 minute train ride there and back, life is clearly better in Amsterdam. B- and I went to one party and managed to meet two climbers and someone connected to the yoga community. We could even have, uhm, what do you call that again? Uhm, uh. Oh yeah! A life. We could have one of those. Imagine that.

The commute is a drawback in so much as we are about an hour away from any friends we make.

Bugger.

So, what are we to do?

Move!