Spring is springing here in Northern California, and it seems to be the time for change and renewal.

My oldest daughter is moving into her own apartment today, and I'm not sure how I feel about that. She's been living full time with her mom for the past 3 years, since her mom and I split up, and things have been sometimes rocky, sometimes wonderful, but she is nearly 20 (going on 30), and very independent minded. Its time for her to make this move, and I'm not sure how to feel.

I'm know I'm proud of her. She's got a decent full-time job (it doesn't pay all that great, but it is with a very respectable firm, and it's steady, secure work, and she does get periodic raises), she's responsible about her job, and she's happy with it. She and her roommate (a girl-friend from work) found the apartment on their own, and have made all the arrangements by themselves. She's a good kid, really.

But I'm also kinda nervous. She's not going to college (ok, I didn't either, but THAT's why I'm nervous: I know it can tough with or without a college education, but there's no denying a college education can help in the workplace competition), and we all know that children who don't go to college while they are at home are much less likely to do so once out on their own. The apartment is going to be party-central for a time - she already jokingly told me as much, and she's an energetic 20-year-old - how could it not be? I think every kid who's ever had their own apartment as a young 20-something has stories. Independence and complete freedom from day-to-day parental observation and input always results in chaos for a time. How could it be any different? I don't like the tradition, but it's time honored, and for the most part, in the long run, harmless. I hope.

But I know I'm not scared. She's a smart young-lady. She's made a few choices that raise my eyebrows (didn't we all?), but over-all she's been pretty smart in what she's done. She's learning about the world, learning about people, starting her freshman year at Life U, if you will, and she's got a full load. She just needs to be picky about the extra-curricular activities, choose wisely, and I think she'll be fine.

Change In the Winds

For the first time in about 4 years, I'm going to have a weekend day off. At work they post shift bids, and I won the Thursday/Friday/Saturday days-off shift. Aside from when I was on graveyard for years, I haven't had a weekend day off for, well... four years.

I don't know what I'm going to do with a weekend day off. Saturday's free? I don't know what that is anymore! My goal is to get the Sunday/Monday/Tuesday days-off shift, which should become available soon, but for now, this is a nice change.

Although, I may have shot myself in the foot for the next two weeks.

See, for the next 11 days, I think I only get 1 day off. Due to the way our work weeks go (Sunday through Saturday), when I switch days off, I'll wind up working a straight 7 days (Thursday through Wednesday the following week). Add to that the fact that I signed up for 2 days of overtime THIS week, that leaves me one day off.

Sigh.

Oh well, the money's good, the job's easy, and it'll be over soon.

And I'll have a Saturday, somewhere in there, to spend with family.