I’ve been trying to figure out a fun way to sum up the vacation but I don’t think I can do it. Anyway, it was really pretty nice. Saugatuck was sort of dull, but since my goal was to do as little as possible it was just fine. I think I was able to adjust to the “nothingless” easier than Andy—we talked about that. I was mostly happy just to read (the book on Disco was very good, and I’m really digging Deborah Eisenberg’s stories), listen to my iPod, eat and watch random mediocre TV. I do wish it hadn’t rained off and on the whole time (never did make it out for a swim) and that my allergies hadn’t been going nuts so much, but oh well. I don’t think I’ll really want to go back to Saugatuck (too tourist-centric). Maybe Madison? David Lynch goes there in the summertime occasionally.

 

Having the rental car was both liberating and constricting. We certainly made good use of it: a seriously large IKEA run, a huge grocery trip, etc. But I breathed a sigh of relief after we dropped off the car at Midway. I prefer being a pedestrian, thanks very much.

 

The IKEA stuff has already made a big difference in our living room. Next weekend we’re rearranging the office and the place will practically look like a new apartment.

 

Back to work. What I am realizing is that, in a perfect world, I would find a reasonably well-paid job that I could work at four days a week, leaving time to do my freelance stuff. Heh, right. I have been nibbling here and there for the past few weeks but there’s nothing definite to grab onto thus far (the one really practical-sounding job just wouldn’t pay enough to live on).

 

I had my performance review here at work week before last. I don’t feel like launching into a blow-by-blow, but bottom line was: blech. My final score was “exceptional” yet I got little more than nitpicking criticism, the absurd accusation that “the quality of your work is very high but there isn’t enough quantity” (despite doing two people’s jobs as is), and a complete lack of upgrades in the benefits department. So. Because things here remain rather chaotic I know that I’ll probably be able to coast for awhile without any consequences, during which time I can continue job hunting. Part of me is so damn eager to just quit cold turkey, 2 week’s notice thanks very much for the ride, but I don’t think I can do that when it comes right down to it. Aargh.

 

Tomorrow is my birthday. Chinese food dinner + tropical drinks.