New job!
Monday, October 26th, 2009My wife and I both started new jobs today. How’s that for amazing? This also marks my return to bicycle commuting. Here are a few thoughts about both my job and my commute.
The Job
I started a new job today, as a Web Developer at the Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands. According to their Web site:
The Eppley Institute is dedicated to meeting the needs of park, recreation, and public land organizations. As a unit of Indiana University’s Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Studies, Eppley combines academic expertise with real-world experience to design practical solutions that work.
I will be working on various projects including building e-courses and working on their Web site, and any other projects that come up.
Those who have been following my blog for a while, or who know me personally, know that I got laid off back in December. At that time, I started my own Web Development consulting company. I decided running my own business wasn’t for me, so I started looking for other options … and ended up at Eppley.
On my first day, I managed to completely hose the copy of Windows XP on my computer (the classic hal.dll not found error). Probably fixable, but my boss suggested another option … so now the machine is running a shiny new copy of Windows 7. My first impression? Well, I’m not too impressed. However, I’m told that I can install Linux on my workstation if I want — which I just might do. I think it’s going to be very cool to be in an environment that’s not completely Microsoft-centric.
The Commute
I ran my consulting business out of our apartment, so I missed being able to commute by bicycle. Oddly enough, my new commute is nearly identical to the one I had at my last job. Completely identical, in fact, except for the last turn. The distance is about the same — a little under three miles each way. Not an epic commute by any means, but I ride year-round, in all conditions, so things can still get pretty interesting. And, I’m a little more committed to riding every day than I was before, because we are a single-car family and my wife will be using the car to drive to her new job. Previously, she was in school and rode the bus to work, which meant I always had the car as a backup option. I didn’t use it much, but it sort of functioned as a safety net.


