I've figured out what I'm gonna do on my vacation.

ROAD. TRIP.

I've been wanting to do this for the longest time, and now (after consulting with Mr. McNally), I've figured out that I can (and will) do it.

The planned itinerary is as follows:

SA-> Austin, TX
Austin, TX-> Dallas, TX
Dallas, TX-> Little Rock, AR
Little Rock, AR-> Memphis, TN
Memphis,TN -> Nashville, TN
Nashville, TN-> Birmingham, AL
Birmingham, AL-> New Orleans, LA
New Orleans, LA-> Houston, TX
Houston, TX-> SA

Total distance: 1081 miles. An estimated 15.4 hours on the road (assuming speed of 70 mph). I figure that I can make the trip in the time alloted.

Now, I won't be stopping in every city above, probably only just Austin, Dallas, Nashville, and Houston. (Of course, I could be convinced to make stops...)

So, if anyone out these has ANY advice on how to navigate such a trip, if you're along the way and would like to meet me in the flesh (hint, hint, C.J.), or would like a some postcards, feel free to let me know.

It looks like after 4 months on the job, I'm not enjoying the job. Allow me to elaborate.

Without revealing too much, I work in the investment field, talking to a lot of clients throughout the day. And the thought of going to work in the morning does not make me happy. I realize that going to work doesn't make a lot of people happy, but it really doesn't make me happy.

Here's the thing: one month into actually performing my actual job duties, my performance is okay. Yesterday, we were pulled into meetings and given the scale by which all employees are measured. My performance, compared with those other newcomers like me, was okay. I could be a bit more efficient, but I'm good so far.

But the actual job really stresses me out. Clients seem to keep coming, one after another. Different needs, different approaches. Some are easier than others, but the hard ones just seem to be ones that I can't handle. The worst part is that I seem to bring work home with me: stewing over bad experiences, wondering when the next bad one will be. I even stress so much during the day, my armpits turn into fountains, soaking any and all shirts I wear. (I've dealt with this problem for a while, but the day just seems to exacerbate things.)

Don't get me wrong, I'm not ready to quit. For one, this is the nicest regular paycheck I've ever received. After going without a check for almost a year, I'm not ready to go back to unemployment. Secondly, I don't know what the hell I'd do. (Then again, I've had the "what am I gonna do with my life" thought since I was in college.) Thirdly, I have an agreement to stay with the job for at least two years, or I'm out a few thousand dollars.

Guess I just needed to rant. Any career happiness tips or other advice would be greatly appreciated.

Last night, I hung out with some people that I met at last weekend's retreat. During the night, a gal named Diane (I believe that was her name) came up to me and talked with me for a bit.

She was a leader of a small group, one that happened to include Suzanne. At a prayer service held during the weekend, she ended up praying over both of us. It was at different times, and for (I assume) different reasons, but we both went to her station.

Last night, Diane told me a story about how she was talking with Suzanne about how nice it is being at a retreat with her boyfriend. Suzanne then told her that we had broken up.

After relaying this story to me, she told me, "I got the feeling that you and her are on different spiritual planes, and that's why it didn't work out." That statement has been on my mind ever since, even though I'm not exactly sure what to do with it.

So I'm thinking about hitting the Pacific Northwest during my vacation (offically Oct. 29 - Nov. 6). Anyone out there have any ideas about how a guy can kill a few days in Seattle/Portland/Vancouver/etc.?

Well, well, look who's back from the dead...

Seems like Teri is public-blogging again. Now, instead of blogging about class, she's blogging about... well, go see for yourself.

In case you were wondering (and even if you weren't), yes, I did break up with her tonight.

I "surprised" Suzanne with outings to a couple of shows last week: a blues show, and a spoken word show.

This weekend, we went on a young adults' church retreat. During some free time, we walked the grounds. During this time, I felt comfortable enough to tell her that I didn't see myself marrying her (or anyone else) anytime soon.

She then told me that she thought I was going to have a different sort of surprise.

My latest myspace comment from my friend Laura...

"Thirty days until your debut!!!"

Number of jokes I've actually written down for my grand debut?

Zero.

Submissions are welcome...

I have 7 vacation days to use between now and the end of the year, and I've been wondering how to use them. Should I...

• travel to Tennessee to see G?
• travel to San Diego to see some old friends of mine from the station?
• discover the joys of soap operas?
• save them for a possible trip to Pasadena in early January?
• travel to Calgary to see a real hockey game?
• travel to NYC to see how REAL stockbrokers do it?

Feel free to add your suggestions below...