🦋 CV: entr'acte and reflections
A chapter of my and Ellen's life has closed; another will be opening in a few weeks. A little time to rest and prepare ourselves. Some reflections on where I've been and where I'm going.
I have been working as a computer programmer since May of 1994. I've been employed continuously over the past 27 years, with the exception of a month or so at the end of 2001, when Xyris Software downsized and let me go (with a generous severance package, no complaints). This past week I resigned from my current job (at Audible) and am not intending to work in software again. (Fingers crossed that it works out that way.)
This summer we will be leaving our home of 19 years in South Orange, and will make our way to Red Wing, MN, where I'll be studying violin repair and restoration at Minnesota State College Southeast's luthery program. At the end of the 1-year program I will seek employment with a violin shop or an orchestra, with the long-term goal of entering an apprenticeship with a luthier and starting my own business. Depending on how old and how skilled I am at that point, the business may be a violin repair shop, or may be an instrument-making pastime. The best-laid schemes of mice & men gang aft agley,/ an' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain,/ for promis'd joy; and I'm open to things working out differently from the path I currently have in mind.
I've been dissatisfied with my career in programming for a long time, like 20 years give or take. I've been searching for a different path, and luthery seems like the right way. I've also been depressed, and in denial about being depressed, for a similar period; I've also been smoking weed pretty heavily, for a similar period. It's an open question which way the vector(s) of causation point(s), between drugs and depression and dissatisfaction with my career. (Maybe the arrow is tridirectional!) Over the past year I've been addressing all this with therapy and medication, and with not smoking grass, and with making plans. I'm feeling pretty good, compared to how I've been feeling for the past several years. I'm looking forward to the next chapter.
posted afternoon of Wednesday, March 10th, 2021
➳ More posts about Curriculum Vitæ
➳ More posts about Luthery
➳ More posts about Woodworking
➳ More posts about Projects
Best of luck!
posted morning of March 23rd, 2021 by Randolph
Thanks, Randolph!
posted morning of March 23rd, 2021 by Jeremy Osner
Luthier. Now that's a word I did not know before, and I thought my command of English is fairly comprehensive.
As someone desperately unhappy in my current line of work (dentistry), and desperate to get out, I wish you much luck.
- you know me as Jihadi Colin from Comics Curmudgeon
posted morning of April 21st, 2021 by Biswapriya Purkayastha
Thanks Biswapriya, sorry to hear about your career woes and best wishes for a resolution.
posted morning of April 23rd, 2021 by The Modesto Kid
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