Tuesday, July 10, 2007

It's getting hot in here...

Man.

It's freaking hot.

Not that you didn't know this -- even if you go from an air-conditioned house to an air-conditioned car to an air-conditioned office and back, you can't escape the dreadful, stifling heat (or people talking about it).

Naturally, I picked this week to paint the house.

The outside of the house.

Of course, given that I live in a 35 year old house with wood siding, I haven't actually gotten around to painting just yet. Four days and all I have to show for my work is a new post for the carport, a handful of new pieces of trim, and gobs and gobs of patched and caulked holes, cracks and crevices. Also, I've probably lost 10 pounds (a lot for someone as skinny as I), but I've consumed at least two, maybe ten, times that much in Gatorade and water.

I actually didn't pick this week to paint. It just sort of happened that way.

I hinted at something in the last post I wrote but claimed I couldn't explain it. See, I had planned to write a comprehensive, long-winded post describing something that's kind of a big deal (for me, anyway). I was probably going to talk about it in philosophical and psychological terms, about how it's changing the way I've defined myself for the last several years (mainly as a thrower of "wrenches" -- figuratively speaking).

After trying for weeks to write something about it, however, I couldn't figure out how to say what I wanted to say. So...

I left my position with Enterprise last Friday to take a job with Ken Ulman's administration. Starting next Monday, I'm going to be an Executive Assistant in his office, helping with a variety of things like writing, constituent service and policy. In a lot of ways, it'll mean getting paid for things I already do -- attend meetings, write about local matters, think about ways to make Howard County even better -- but from a completely different perspective.

That I'm taking this job should in no way reflect poorly on Enterprise, which was the best place I ever worked. As excited as I have been for the new opportunity, saying goodbye to Enterprise was one of the main reasons I've been out of sorts for the past couple weeks.

Now, obviously, I'm expecting at least one hater to come out of the woodwork and criticize me, my new job and Ulman (I think Berkhouse once even asked whether Ulman had promised me a job before the election, which he didn't). That's fine. Sometimes you just gotta let it out.

But just know that I wouldn't have taken this job -- or ever started this blog -- if I didn't want what everyone here wants: a great place to live. We may have deep, fundamental differences of opinion about what that means or how we accomplish it, but the end goal is still the same.

So, what does this mean for the blog? Well, you may have noticed that over the past month I've drifted away from some of the more controversial and political stories -- the Tower, the duplex legislation, etc. For myriad reasons, I won't really be writing about such things, but I will continue to write about all sorts of other happenings in the county and, of course, the deck (getting the permit tomorrow and the guys will start working later this week, hopefully). I can't say with any certainty how much blogging I'll be able to squeeze in, but I'll try to keep up the usual pace.

Anyway, lunch time's up and I've got a bunch of stuff to do before going to see Harry Potter tonight (woo-hoo!), so that's it for now.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

good luck with your new job, I know you will do well.

FreeMarket said...

This is the smartest move Ulman has made! Congratulations and best of luck!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations! This means great things for Howard County.

Good luck and best wishes!

Anonymous said...

Good luck and best wishes.

Anonymous said...

Congrats! This is well deserved!

B. Santos said...

I am so happy for you! Good luck with the new job and the new deck.

B. Santos said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

"Hater" is such a generic term. True, I do hate liars and hypocrites, and most politicians (who are both of the prior), which explains my disdain for Ulman. Hayduke, I'm sure that deep down you believe you've got the best intentions as far as your ideas and vision for Howard County and Town Center. But we all know where good intentions lead.

I can't say I'm surprised by this move. After all, you're an enabler for Ulman and have always blindly stayed loyal to him and all that he does. But blind loyalty is a fool's loyalty. You can't be true to yourself or the public and let your buddy do whatever he wants and break laws and so on. I know, you don't think he has done anything wrong, and you'll be singing that song til the end of time. Doesn't change the truth.

Maybe you can and will accomplish some good things - I hoe you do - and I'll applaud you when you do. But just the same - I'll be a vocal critic if and when you do things unethical or questionable. I think that's fair.

Anonymous said...

Sorry - the word "hoe" in my last comment is supposed to be "hope". Was out working in the garden....

Anonymous said...

You know, some of us were talking the other night that it seemed like you were avoiding political topics lately and had come up with a myriad of reasons why. Now I guess we know the real reason.

wordbones said...

Hayduke,
Congratulations. As someone who has had several careers in his life (so far) I hope you will find that your new path leads you in a positive and fulfilling direction.

-wb

Anonymous said...

Best of luck. Ulman surely takes care of his supporters. Don't cross him or you will pay the price!!

Maybe you can convince him to come clean about his resume?

Anonymous said...

Congratulations and best of everything to you! I've always liked your blog, even if I don't always agree with you, per se. I've appreciated the more personal, as-I-live-it type of writing you've been doing of late. Rock on, Ian.

Anonymous said...

Congratulations Ian!

Anonymous said...

Good Morning Hayduke,
I attended the Green Building Legislation meeting last night. Joshua Feldmark did a fine job presenting the subject. He mentioned your contribution, and because of the importance of this legislation I want to thank you for your work as well as a big thanks to all those on the Commission on the Environment and Sustainability.

Anonymous said...

Hayduke, where are you???

FreeMarket said...

Good luck on your first day. Break a proverbial leg!