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Nothing is really work unless you would rather be doing something else.


Lately I've been thinking quite a bit about work. More specifically, finding a line of work that I, well, am a little more enthused about. Très diplomatique Monsieur McCracken!

So I was testing out my skills as seagull papparazzo, and snared this little lady trying to evade capture. I got her just in time though. So, ideas about alternate careers, anyone have any?

Anyone know of any jobs? I'm open to suggestion!

Comments

You should be writing a column in one of the local newspapers and answer questions to who writes to you. I am sure you would have a lot of success among the youngsters in your age-group! Try!!
smudgeon said…
Ever considered the exciting world of lower-level government drudgery? I can heartily recommend it if you wish to end up with the deepest loathing of all living beings.
Priyanka Khot said…
you should write a book... a nice caustic take on life, but not necessarily an earth worm's view of the world.

with your sense of humour i am pretty sure the book would be a best seller and might grab one of those Booker prizes as well. :-)
Miles McClagan said…
I went to a soccer game once between St Mirren (yay!) and Hearts (boo!) and in the middle of the ground at 1/2 time there was a lone seagull just standing there that wouldn't bugger off and slowly but surely, a chant echoed from the Love Street end..."SEEEEEEEE....GULLLLL..."

Went round the whole ground, fantastic it was. It flew theatrically away to a big round of applause.
USelaine said…
You are capable of doing anything, Kris.

I can imagine you...

... producing and presenting a weekly, multi-media television hour. Or as a talk/chat show host (or both of the above combined).

... writer of children's books.

... teacher of anything to anyone.

... goat farmer and cheese maker.

... International Youth Hostel operator.

... a Vespa scooter dealer.

... novelty furniture maker.

... a museum director.

... a social services centre director.

... a summer camp developer and director, serving special needs populations.

What do you love?
Dina said…
Oi Kris, is it that bad? Sorry about that.
I was going to suggest being a goatherd or a sheep farmer and cheesemaker, but Elaine got that one already.
If you opened a kindergarten and taught little kids, I'd send my grandsons there. Always thought kids deserved having more men teachers, esp. at an early age.

In 1993 I rebelled and quit my desk job and never went back to indoor, sitting-down work. Never regretted the new life this brought me. But then, my kids were almost independent in '93, not like your Sitz in Leben.

Good luck to you.
Anonymous said…
Miles I love that Love Street story! You know that St Mirren have just played their final game there and are moving to a new stadium?
Kris McCracken said…
Blognote, unfortunately the local rag would not have me. I have far too keen a grasp on spelling, grammar and syntax for them!

Me, unfortunately I inhibit the world of middle to upper level management in the Community Sector, although the nature of policy work (and for the moment Acting-CEO work) means that I spend more time in liaison the assorted chancers in DHHS.

I cannot say that either side of the fence enthuses me.

Priyanka, I have started one or two. I would gladly take a Booker!
Kris McCracken said…
Miles, as a Hearts man, I resent that boo! I’m surprised that they didn’t kick it to death.

I saw a bit of graffiti on either the Edinburgh or Glasgow photo blog that read “[Partick] Thistle fans riot! Both were arrested.”

Well I liked it.

Wonderful names, Scottish clubs: Heart of Midlothian; Partick Thistle; Hamilton Academical; Inverness Caledonian Thistle; Greenock Morton; Queen of the South; Stirling Albion; Forfar Athletic; Stenhousemuir. And not to forget poor old Airdrieonians!

USelaine, TV? Hmmm.

Children's books? Already done one of those (Henry’s first b’day; it involved a cat, a hat, and the ‘Happy Birthday’ song).

Teacher? Done the uni teaching stuff. Couldn’t hack a daily gig.

Goat farmer and cheese maker? I like cheese, not so keen on goats.

International Youth Hostel operator? Hotels/hostels/motels/B&Bs = too much work!

Vespa scooter dealer? The Vespa market has crashed.

Novelty furniture maker? If you’d seen my woodworking from high school, you would be correct in assuming that it was a ‘novelty’ piece.

A museum director? Interesting, but the HR stuff is annoying. Do I have to have staff?

A social services centre director? Christ almighty NO!

A summer camp developer and director, serving special needs populations? Special needs populations make me uncomfortable. I can fake being comfortable with no problem, but deep down I’m still a bit uncomfortable. I am aware that this makes me a bad person.

What do I love? Henry, Ezra, Jen, pizza, sleeping, peace and quiet.

Not a lot to work with there. A family pizza parlour with a mime theme?

Dina, I might be able to explore archaeology, but need a new sun hat.

Jackie, typical St Mirren.
USelaine said…
Yup, TV. Go for it.

Museum Director - You don't have to have staff (think small), but you have to report to a board of directors if it's a proper non-profit, etc. There will be people. Otherwise, it'll just be a business, with the attendant B&B-type pitfalls.

But now I understand the source of your anguish. Any management role prefixed by "Interim" or "Acting" is pure hell. All of the responsibility, none of the power to make lasting, or even short-term, plans and institutional renovations, or implement any other remedies. Just sign the checks while "they" dawdle over filling the position for real, with the corresponding money, perquisites, and authority.

You could learn to love goats.
Dina said…
So how 'bout I send you an Indiana Jones hat?
Elaine is right. Give goats a chance. They are such individualistic creatures, just like a blogger I know.
Anonymous said…
Well I'd never have had you down as a Hearts man - there's a turn up for the books. Hey, maybe Henry isn't gearing up to be the next Mussolini or Khrushchev, but is actually going to be the next Vladimir Romanov?

The Thistle graffiti was on my blog by the way. I laughed out loud when I saw it. I agree, there are some cracking team names up here (I'm a Stenhousemuir supporter myself).
Kris McCracken said…
USelaine, I haven’t the head for TV.

The ‘acting’ bit is even more unbearable when you tell them you don’t want the gig for the long run (for many reasons). It’s like people are incapable of understanding why you’d knock back a promotion, despite have dozens of legitimate (and very good) reasons. Thus, you’re seen even more as a non-entity.

Goats are just plain nasty. There, I said it. I’m more a cow man anyway.

Dina, as long as the hat is dusty and beat up!

So, all you are saying, is give goats a chance?

Jackie, there is a long family connection to Hearts, my mother’s grandfather apparently captained them (and later Dunfermline) before WWI. Romanov is yet another blow in.

Always had a soft spot for Stenhousemuir based purely on the name. That fellow on the BBC World Service does great justice to the Scots’ names, “[as one word] InvernessCaledonianThisle NIL, ForfarAthletic TWO”. Far more entertaining than The Shipping News.

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