Gettin Stuff Done

I feel like I've made a lot of progress lately, and while it's probably not that much, I feel like I've figured a lot of stuff out.

First off, I've figured out what type of volunteer work I want to do. Ever since I stopped being involved in Boy Scouts, I've felt like a lazy bum because I haven't been doing any community service. I've had issues trying to figure out what type of work I wanted to do. I tried doing some volunteering with a local organization but I just ended up painting a mural for an elementary school. It was fun, but I didn't feel like I was really making a difference.

After a search for literally about 6 or 7 months, I finally figured out that I want to do IT work (why not, I know how) for a non-profit. Through the help of one of my coworkers, who happens to be on a board for a particular non-profit here in Chicago, I'm going to be meeting with some people next week to see how I can help them with their environment. It's a non-profit that helps homeless people after they get out of the hospital to make sure that they're healthy, and to help them put their lives back together. It's a great organization, and I'm really excited to hear more about how I can help them.

The biggest motivator for me to volunteer (besides Obama) has been my new interest in philosophy. I've been reading a philosophy book, and so far I've read about Socrates, Plato, and I'm starting to get into Aristotle. It's opened my eyes to an entirely new way of thinking about the world and human existence. I still have a lot left to read, but I feel good about what I've accomplished so far.

Other than that, I've been:

• doing some studying for the CISSP
• trying to find a parking spot for my car (since I got kicked out of my really nice parking spot, forcing me to park on the street)
• realizing that I'm really lucky to still have a job
• traveling to NJ, WI, and OH
• learning more about SAN security

I'm hoping that by writing all of this down, my brain will hopefully make more sense and quiet down for a while. I'm also trying to write here more so that people I know don't think that I fell off the face of the earth. It would be nice to get in touch with some people from college, but without a Facebook account my chances are dissapointingly low. Too bad I'll never give in and get an account.