November - New job and stuff

Oct-Nov

The weeks sort of fly by and I log less and less in the blog. I suppose when I was in Vanuatu there was so much more free time to write and getting back home means doing more stuff and less sitting on the computer writing. I strangely miss those moments but also I was frustrated then and writing more about the hardships than about fun times. I guess it was never a perfect fit for me being in Vanuatu but it was good to be out of my comfort zone for a while too.

When I got home I figured I would throw myself into building at the Soap Factory and being around my group of friends there but that did not come to be. Most had stopped coming as the volunteer program ended, the staff changed dramatically, and the new younger volunteer made the old crew feel less welcome. I think there were some there (Haunted Basement vols) that did not want me to steal their limelight (i'm not sure) and so I let them have their fun but it was their loss because I could have contributed a lot for free but oh well. Better to move on. I had fun working with Mitch building things and getting some money as well. But it is sad that the Soap Factory is closing its' doors as it is in the throws of trying to figure out its direction in so many ways. I hope that they will find a full time director, and staff that can restart the ways in which the old org inspired us so deeply.

The best thing that came to be recently is I got the job at Catholic Charities... and I never expected that. I signed up to help in a volunteer capacity and it turned into a job offer instead. How lucky can I be? The people there are really nice and the work is meaningful helping the less fortunate get out from a bad place. I like that aspect a great deal.

Experimenting with some reporting tools such as Tableau: https://public.tableau.com/profile/david.bekkerus#!/

Also reviewed some cool stuff from a tool I learned about from Nic Karr aka peace corps a reporting tool used to show how life expectancy and wealth per nation has changed over the last 100 years at:  http://www.gapminder.org/. A great tool but not available for personal use.

House projects

Been working outdoor most of the last couple weeks helping Mitch fix up both his house, and Lillians.

I really like working with Mitch. He's been a lifesaver, and probably over the years he's been one of my best friends. Hope we can complete fixing up his 4 plex this week and help him sell that property.

Other than that... I am sometimes posting knee jerk reactions to my readjustment. Sorry if I come off harsh at times. I am just not always in the best of moods when I write on my blog.

Fall days

Things are strange when you first return home after being gone a while.

I think I expected everything to be like it was when I left for Vanuatu but things have changed, I have changed. I think I need to let that go, the season of fall is an ironic time to return symbolic of letting the old me, my way of thinking fade and start a new chapter.

week 7-10: Time slipped

week 7   Sept 28-Oct 4 - slow week
week 8   Oct 5-11 - more of the same
week 9   Oct 12-18 - same same same...
week 10 Oct 19-25 blah... but i got to visit a friend in Eau Claire... that was fun.

The good news is that I think I am close to landing a job... that is the first step in my recovery process.

1) Job
2) car
3) home
4) live again

Lets hope that maybe someone will want to hangout with a returned peace corps vol in the near future ... betting that once I am working, have money, a car and a cool place... I am sure things will improve.

That is the funny thing about serving... you leave for a bit and most people forget about you, so you start over. Friendships in the USA a lot of them are not so deep. Lesson learned.

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Woohoo... Landed the job. Soon I can start making my life matter again in the states.

week 6 - American life

Sept 21-27

More of the same old same old... but getting closer to a job and stuff so that is good.

Watched some of the new rick and morty and a show called the house of cosby's pretty funny.

Week 5 - Quick summary

Monday-Sunday (13-20)

Ever since being back having a blog seems mostly pointless... the only reason people read this was because I was in a funky place (Vanuatu) and working a strange job (Peace Corps) now I am just a bum back in the states.

What is interesting about hearing about my working on some small projects here and there? They are pretty common things. But maybe I should start a new one... life in the static state. Nothing seems very challenging here... wake up, eat, go outside and do stuff and go home. repeat... maybe once I start a new job and move back into my condo my social life will return but being away in the south pacific definitely had an impact. I saw a world that is fading from existence... one being impacted by global environmental change, social change and so on... maybe some for the better some for the worst. Nowhere is left that is untouched by western influence. But it was interesting seeing a place that was only softly impacted. It will be vastly different in 10 years, maybe completely different in 20... but such is life.

week 4 - Replug into the matrix

(07) Monday

It was a mostly boring memorial day... took a few photos:

Loring park

Wrote a little on a short story... not sure it is any good or not might post it later.

I guess since returning from the Peace Corps, no one really gives a shit about my blog so it might be pointless to post anything.

(08) Tuesday

Going to build some shit today with my friend Mitch. Might rain but who cares.

(09) Wednesday

Slow day just biked around mostly.

Foods

Then back to the soap to help with lighting

(10) Thursday

Got out of the dog house but not sure I want back in now. Best to help people that want your help versus being made to feel a fool by foolish people.

(11) Friday

Helped Mitch building his shed but then the next door neighbor decided he did not like how close it was to his property line so we paused to consider how to move it.

Hung out with Lillian at some art opening.

(12) Saturday

Did a bit of BBQ with the fam and made some burgers. Tonight have a little get together with some friends.

Went to the heart of the beast and celebrated Kat's birthday...

(13) Sunday

I did pretty much nothing all day