Foreign Service

I've been sitting here for some time thinking of an eloquent, articulate way of blogging the fact that I just passed the Foreign Service Oral Exam, and I've concluded that the best way of intimating it is just by saying it. I passed the Foreign Service Oral Exam.

And now, if I may hop on that horse named Sentimentality, I wish to elucidate my thoughts:

Of my attained successes in life, this ranks among the highest thus far. Getting into BYU was a major success (that place is hard to get in to). Serving an honorable mission was a success (some days the mission just sucked). Graduating BYU was a definite success (that place is insanely difficult with all the cut-throating that goes on there). But for a host of reasons, I feel this most recent of successes carries different, perhaps greater significance. Maybe it was how notoriously hard both the written test and this oral exam were that makes it so satisfying (all I can say is I'm glad I never have to go through that again). Maybe it is the prestige that accompanies the career of Foreign Service Officers that enthuses me. Or maybe, just maybe, it is that I was able to do something, against all odds, that I have dreamed of doing.

(And here's where I hop back down off Sentimentality - she's only good for short rides anyway).

So, after passing the written test, and after writing acceptable essays, and after completing a gruelling 7am to 4pm oral examination, I have made it. Now I just have to wait for a security clearance to go through and I will be set on my way to the first of hopefully a career full of posts around the world. Cool huh?

Is It Worth It?

Every so often one is struck by a epiphanic lighting bolt. Sometimes these thoughts can be grandiose and life-altering, like Archimedes exclaiming "Eureka!" as he discovered how to measure the density of an object. Other times these ideas come as simple, common sense-type notions that are so obvious one almost feels doltish for failing to realize them sooner.

These epiphanies can be positive, and they can be negative. I just had a negative one. I ran my own financial numbers and discovered, to my great indignation, I am not making any money but barely covering my expenses. Yes, I have a job (a good one which I very much enjoy). Yes, I make a decent wage. No, I do not spend much money on anything, exept...well...gas. You see, I figured out the money that I would be saving for international travel and sweet new gear is instead being pumped into the fuel tank of my car once every 5 days. Driving to and from Park City each working day is really a vibe killer.

But, before anyone tells me that no job - especially one with an hour long commute - is worth subsistence survival, know this: I get to ski Deer Valley free. (And, just FYI, yesterday was an incredible powder day, a great way to start off my season).

So, is it worth it? HEAK YES! This could very well be my last winter in the lovely Deseret with none other than the peaks and slopes of the Wasatch right in my back yard. And they are mine, for free!

So, in the eloquent words of David Luck, "SCREW YOU FOR JUDGING ME!" And screw myself for judging myself. Like I'm going to let monetary constraints dictate my fiscal actions. Hey, I should be a Congressman.

Back in the Game

I've been inspired to write again; to what end and purpose I know not. Nor do I know that anyone cares. Nevertheless, it behooves me to update these annals so that in the unlikely event that anyone passes this way, they will observe an up-to-date blog.

Which reminds of this one time a former roommate - and in order to protect the anonymity of Jamison Thiel, I won't mention his name - was speaking on the telephone with someone and said loudly, and with the strident confidence of a peacock showcasing its plumage, something to the effect of, "You just wait and see! And let it go down in the anals of history I am right!"

Notice that he said anals, like an anus, not annals. Funny stuff.

There, updated blog.