Do you ever feel as if you are standing in the center of a tornado? Right now I’m watching many things swirling around me at a very high rate of speed.
Foremost is the ever-present CCIE Voice exam. I’m taking it in less than a week for the 5th time. To say that I’m ready to be done with this test would be a ridiculous understatement. I’ve ridden so many emotional rollercoasters over this that I’ve lost count. The good news is that I’ve made some huge leaps forward in my understanding of the material. The last time I took the exam I came within a few points of passing. Since then I reckon I’ve added about 15 points to my total through my studying, so in theory, I should have a much greater chance of passing this time. We’ll see soon enough.
Then there’s mom. She’s plowing through her chemo like only mom can do, but the last week is going to be the worst of it. She wants me to come down and be with her for that week. It couldn’t have come at a worse time though. Nick is preparing for his CCIE attempt that week, plus we have an installation in Cabo San Lucas that is probably going to get scheduled for that week.
Added to that is our house. Meghan and I are planning some major improvements that are going to take place after I pass my exam. We’re painting the whole interior of the house, adding crown molding, replacing our laminate countertops with stone ones, refinishing our cabinets, putting in hardwood floors, and replacing some of our shitty furniture. Meghan is super excited about it, and so am I, but I have many things on my mind and am having a hard time being enthusiastic.
On top of this, our 5 year anniversary is coming up. We’re planning to spend a week relaxing in Hilton Head at Meg’s parent’s condo. I’m doing my best to make sure that we get to go without any outside interference. But there’s a lot going on and it’s looking sketchy. I’ll be pissed if work messes up my well-earned vacation. Meghan is understanding but still. We only will have one 5 year anniversary. I don’t want anything to fuck it up.
So right now I’m just mentally preparing for a tough couple of weeks. Of course, all this will change if I pass my exam. It would take a major tragedy to wipe the smile off my face if that happens.