Tick tock tick tock

It's getting toward the end of Week Four at the new gig. My boss asked me if I was ready to make it permanent. And I punted. Said I needed more time.

A myriad of factors really have made it hard to judge. (Really!) Factoring in the long commute. The inertia of getting my thinking reoriented after 14 years of TDI. The unusual helplessness of a new gig (Where do I get Post-Its...and other, less trivial questions).

But, in the end, she asked me if I can really be happy doing what I've been doing - in the way the New Gig does it. And honestly truly seriously...I just don't know.

I'd be a fool to walk away from a reliable paycheck. I can make this great. Right? Can't I?

Everybody likes a warm shower

Imagine it: You turn on the water...you climb into the shower - and the water is scalding. You tell yourself the water can't stay this hot for long. You get a little used to it, but ask yourself how long you can take the scalding water until you'll start to burn.

Then, without warming, the water turns frigid.

You wonder: How long will this last? Is this better or worse than the boiling streams?

And you wish that you had some way to regulate the two - just a little - to make yourself a warm and satisfying shower.

This, in essence, has been my first few weeks at the new gig. Frantic one day - playing catch up, scribbling on Post-Its, running from desk to desk, files were due an hour ago...then - the next day - wait and review and archive and wait and think and hope and collect and review and wait.

I know every job has its ebb and flow...but tidal waves and trickles is a new one on me.