Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Specialized Americans

Alex and I are finally leaving for Cardiff on Tuesday and I have no idea what I'm going to be doing there, I haven't found a job. I have been looking at ads for Engineers but I fear that I'm too specialized, that I'm not going to be good to start anything new since there is hardly any Aerospace in Cardiff- or at least I haven't found anything yet. You see we Americans (and I'm sure a good portions of citizens from western societies) go to school or learn a trade and that's it, you can't change. If you wanted to, lets say be an Engineer and then go to San Francisco to be a tailor, you have to go to school again for it. Even if you already know how to sew. I was thinking how awesome it would be to be a rancher or a farmer; But even if I had the money to buy ranch/farm land, I would have no idea of what to do with it. My only experience with plants and animals was my quick stint in Africa and my little yard here in Tucson. I have no idea about fertilizers, pest control, watering amounts, space requirements and choosing which crop, harvesting times, where to buy seed, who to sell the stuff to and at what prices- etc. I have no idea. I'm not even really that good with plants, my mothers garden yields more vegetables in a week than I produced in three years in my back yard. I asked her how she does it but she shrugs and says, I don't know, if you want any feel free to take as much as you want...

I'm thinking of getting a part time job at a nursery so maybe I could pick up some tips, but I'm not sure they would hire me since I'm an Engineer and what could I bring to their business?

I have another example. Alex's friend Garrett. He is an awesome photographer but because he is in Optics, photography has become his "hobby", as gardening has become mine, and even though he is a better photographer than I have seen in a long time, he is an Optical Engineer, and that's what he does. Here are the pictures he took for our wedding

here are others he has taken. http://www.flickr.com/photos/garretb/

He is so good that I feel bad that they are on flickr! that anyone can take them for free! I think he could easily make a living off the ones he has already taken! Here are some of my favorites...


Not in a million years could I take such good pictures. Thanks Garrett for taking our wedding photographs and even more for giving me hope for engineers.


RIP Turbo

I haven't written in very long time, but I have an excuse; I can do what I want, it's my Blog.

But I am mournful today. Turbo died. I haven't included a picture of the poor thing after the incident because frankly it was just too terrible a scene. I know on my siblings Blogs you have seen cute pictures of West Highland White Terriers but don't be fooled, they are not as cute to helpless undeserving tortoises (or anything else!). Turbo was the smaller of the two, Jet, couldn't fit himself in between the bars in the garden but Turbo, cute, tiny Turbo, did. Only to be chewed up by non other than a hound from hell. We buried her under a mesquite tree in the front yard. Rest in Peace my sweet tortoise. I'm glad you and Pippa will be going in opposite directions when she dies so she can't torment you any more.
When Jet gets older, I'm sure he will get his revenge. http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoID=916555776