Going's On

Not much to report. Haven't been getting to the range as often as I should. For the most part, I have been working on Saturdays, and whenever the Dark Lord of the Range needs me.

I started taking accounting courses at University of Houston - Downtown this semester. Getting sick and tired of working in the bank lobby. Not that I don't like my customers, but the platitudes and reassurances that help is on the way are getting tiresome. I have been the only personal banker in my lobby for the last 18 months. I do have help in the form of a consumer banking specialist, basically an overglorified secretary, but that doesn't help me much when I have to spend more of my precious time helping her learn something she should already know.

It has come to the point where I had a 'come to Jesus' meeting with my boss last week. She is in my corner, I truly believe, but is not exerting enough muscle when it comes to getting a new PB in the lobby. I just received word from her on Tuesday that we are, in fact, getting a new personal banker as soon as humanly possible. I guess the threat of me leaving the bank forced her hand. I made it perfectly clear that if things don't change soon, I was out the door. It is as if the fearless leaders we have cannot fathom the true nature of our situation. Every PB I have talked to says the same thing: "We need more help!" But our cries have fallen on deaf ears.

I'm not one to make idle threats. Leaving is a real possibility for me. I can find work elsewhere to tide me over at the range, or at my old radio station job. The accounting courses are to help me move along faster. We have a junior lender position at my bank call an 'Associate Relationship Manager.' It is an entry level commercial lender position that will train me up to be a higher paid banker. That, and I get my butt out of this lobby. Only 9 more hours of accounting, which equates to one summer semester and two regular semesters before I can apply for the position. They hire new people for this job twice every year. We then get three months of training at the home office in San Antonio before coming back to work with a Senior Lender who will polish our skills.

If that doesn't work, I can always bootstrap myself to an accounting degree or even an MBA. I have thought about the accounting field more and more. Seems to be a good place to work. I don't like hearing about the long hours that some entry level jobs entail. I do like having my weekends to myself, but may have to suffer through a few years of it. What field of accounting, I don't know. Auditors and Forensic Accountants seem to abound these days. With all the hoopla around Enron these days, I am not surprised to see why. Once I get further down the road with my accounting classes, I will make my choice and narrow the field. If accounting is where I want to go.

Coincidentally, my wife and I are celebrating our 18th month of marriage. It just so happens that the exact day is this Tuesday. NO, I DID NOT PLAN THE WEDDING DATE FOR THIS!!! But it is a good reminder so I won't forget. Haven't the foggiest idea what to get to make this a special day for her. May end up spoiling her rotten by taking her to dinner and getting the usual flowers and candy sent to work. Did that for her birthday, minus the out to dinner part (cooked instead). I have a few other 'interesting' ideas that I may use, but I won't share with you.