Card Tags: Skinbrand Goblin; Skarrg Goliath; Fortress Cyclops
I feel the need to blog for a second, so please bear with me while I work out some melodrama. As some of you are already aware, I graduated in December with a PhD in astrophysics. My wife graduated six months either and got a job in New Mexico. Having complected my own degree I spent the last month or so moving to New Mexico myself to be with her.
Having a PhD in astrophysics means that I am somewhat specialized in what jobs I can get, and looking just in New Mexico limits my options. I was hoping to get a job as a college lecture, but missed the window for this semester. I was planning on trying again for the spring semester, but that left me out of work in the mean time. I was going to use that time to write a novel.
I’ve been in Albuquerque New Mexico, jobless, for about a week at this point. The Magic scene here seems rather weak compared to what I am used to in New England. I was toying with the idea of maybe rebuilding my Necron army (40K is big here), or getting a MtGO account (something I’ve been avoiding since I know it would likely stop me from going to local game stores). Maybe even find a pick up game of DnD. DnD is the riskiest of all 3 ideas, since THAT is a game one should only play with friends. I haven’t made any of those yet.
I was also working on that Novel. I had written 50,000 words in it, but all of those words suck. I have taken a page from Patrick Rothfuss‘ process and deleted the digital version of that text. I have a paper copy and am now rewriting my book from scratch. I’m about 3,000 words in and already it’s completely different, which is a good thing. I will likely try and convince you to buy a copy of it at some point. All of these neo-writers seem to use a blog to promote their books. After mine is rejected a few times I am likely to break down, digitally publish it, and then beg you to buy a copy. Maybe you might even consider doing so? Who knows? The future is not ours to see.
Anyway, I felt like I might have been settling down here in Albuquerque. I spent Friday trying to infiltrate a clique of pro-magic players. They let me join their super-secret facebook page, so that seems hopeful. However, just today, I received an email from a lab out in Mexico. That’s right–not NEW Mexico– but Puebla, Mexico Mexico. Last month–almost on a dare–I applied to a post-doc position at the HAWC Gamma-Ray Observatory. They just sent me a starting offer of 20,000 pesos. The thing is, I’m pretty sure I DON’T want to get up and move to Mexico right now. Honestly, I’m not even sure I want to continue doing Physics research. I don’t really enjoy it the way you NEED to in order to be a researcher. I was more or less hoping I could start teaching at community colleges or even private high-schools. However, I’m not sure I should turn this down for such frivolous reasons. I need to talk it over with my wife when she gets home.
The punchline is that I’m looking for advice. I like to talk things over with people, but I don’t have any people to talk to in Albuquerque. I’m isolated. That is the reason I am burdening you with all of this. I know you don’t come to this part of the internet to hear about someone else’s life. You are here for a comic about Magic cards, which is why I don’t often reach out to you over matters such as this one. But–other than my wife–I don’t know who else to turn to. I can’t promise I will follow your advice, but I will listen. I like hearing other points of view. What’s yours?
-Taylor
I remember a few years back……oh gosh….6?5? years ago, this tall bearded gent wearing a trench coat showed up at Toys. And while he seemed a little odd compared to the rest of our group, he very slowly worked his way into out group, and we were very sad when he finally had to go. I think you know who this guy is, Taylor. The guy who has always seemed to be in a rush, yet always took life slow. You’re a likeable guy, you’re one of hell of a magic player. Find a serious group out there and show them how Memnarch does his thing
Taylor, on whether you take that job or not, I think at this point you should only take it if you feel like you NEED the job. In other words, if you and your wife have enough money saved up so where you don’t need to get a job right away, I would wait till you find something you enjoy. Is it too late to apply for Summer semesters for teaching at Colleges? Maybe you could be a subsititute in the mean time? I know your not big on research, so I’d only do it if you really needed the money and needed a job now. Otherwise, I would relax and write your novel, and hopefully make some new friends along the way in the gaming community.
Dude, Taylor, you’re an artist, man. Take some time and write novels and shit or whatever you writers write. It will at least ease your mind. You may have to work a shitty job or two until you make it big, but what’s important is to have passion about something.
Homes, I know those feels. I just finished my second degree but there’s no jobs here in my field, so I’ve taken a completely different job working for the government. It’s not in my field and it’s not the greatest job, but I get paid decently and it gives me time to look for a job in my field. In short, you may have to settle for a non-Physics jobs for a while until you can find one you want. Also, it sounds like you need to get away from science for a while, so this can give you a much needed break.
hello Taylor, welcome to ABQ, I’ve been here only for a few months, I’m currently studying plasma physics under the ECE department of UNM (the physics department didnt take me). As far as I know, there are space and astro plasma physics of various sorts with the AFRL (with the military), as well as the physics department here is really theory base, so… dont give up on physics, learn what you love and do a living using what you love.
Taylor,
I would say don’t take the job unless you really feel you have to, since it seems you really don’t want it. If your heart isn’t in it, then there’s no point to it. You might have to simply wait for the opportunity. Also, immigration is a though matter, so why force you and your wife through that? Perhaps if you could commute to the job, it may be doable. For you it seems that you just want to do something, or have something to belong to. It’ll come in time.
Hang in there and send me an email if you’d like to have penpal!
Cheers
Klavier
well im from mexico and also a friend is currently living in puebla actually, so if you want some advise at that part (like lifestyle) hit me up via e-mail! and i’ll try to be the must helpful i can be! , greetings
Taylor
You have many gifts, talents and interests. Maybe doing Physics research is not one of them. Do what you love. Maybe you could teach high school physics? I think spending time with your wife is a wonderful idea. She herself is a calming, soothing, fun, person.
Writing is a cool idea. Harder than it looks. I like Rothfuss’s work, too and am eager for his next installment.
I vote for staying with your wife in New Mexico, writing, and continuing to explore the universe of alternatives. Something will surely come to you.
Wishing you both all the best,
Betserina
If only you had a family to talk to about this….wait that’s me, let me give you a call
Puebla is beautiful, and it has a very good magic community until i know.
.
20,000 pesos each moth is more than enough for your needs, trust me
If you wanna talk, hey! what are the fans for?.
if you need to tal o a compleete stranger, just e-mail me.
When I first started college I met my first clique of friends playing magic, something which I already loved doing, and my second clique of friends doing improv theatre, something I didn’t have a lot of experience with. Last summer I graduated and moved two states over for a job. I literally knew no one. I was hoping to replicate the results I had in college by playing magic locally and joining a theatre group. Unfortunately the magic scene here did not meet my expectations and I don’t have time to be involved in theatre production. I met my friends here through work, and we play a lot of D&D, board games and have dinner parties. The lesson is that sometimes you have to try different things to meet people. I’m sure you still love Magic but that might not be where your next group of friends comes from, and you may have better luck making new friends in a different venue and then teaching them about magic. Good Luck.