feliz cumpleanos.

For my birthday this year, I got myself a new job. I hadn't planned to get myself anything (hours have been minimal in the last few months, so just getting the power bill paid would be gift enough), but an opportunity presented itself, and so I went for it. Generally, when I take a broad look at my working life - me just jumping into stuff rarely works out, and sometimes (say in the rotisserie chicken-related scenarios) they lead to nervous breakdowns and panic attacks. This year though, on the completion of my 53rd trip around the sun I was moved to say "fuck this boring, tedious life I have allowed myself to settle into, and let's spin the dial again" and accepted an offer to become a paid political operative. Ok, actually I'm going to be a canvasser for the city council race in my home district. I am going to get involved on the ground. Something I should have done 30 years ago, like most politically-minded college kids, but the punk-rock band got in the way, then the debauchery, and then the grief and depression that comes from unexpected loss. Much like my foray into cooking professionally, I want to give being part of a campaign a try. I want to see how it works. Most of all, I want to see if I mesh into the world, see if its something I might be good at. If I can find another opportunity to follow this one, I will be fine ending my time in the kitchen. I have done what I wanted to really do, to feel, to understand about that world and that life. To be completely honest - its time to move on to a new sort of compulsive world. We'll see if I sink or swim. The best news is that my old job will remain for me (I am officially taking a leave of absence) should I decide to go back.