How have I gotten so far off track? I envisioned myself with my Masters Degree by this point, and using it to enhance my career in the environmental engineering field.

Instead, I am so far from that plan that I don't even know where I am at. I am in Odessa, Texas, which is not a bad place to be, but certainly not a hot bed for engineering jobs. Instead of working for an engineering firm and using my skills, I am working part-time as a cashier at Target trying to dig out of a financial hole. Not that there is anything wrong with Target, especially since I have enjoyed it so far, but it is not a final destination.

I have not found a way to jump-start my career, and my degree remains unfinished because the experiments took longer than expected and my advisor is super busy and doesn't email me back very quickly (if at all).

It feels like my mind is eroding. Will I be able to jump-start my brain and get back into the engineering mind-set when I find a job. Or have I started to lose my skill-set by not using it. I feel like I am a knife that is becoming dull from being used the wrong way. I am becoming bored with life at the moment.

I just feel very lost today. I am listening to Christmas music to try and kick my mood up a little bit, but it only makes me homesick for the U.P. and reminds me that I won't be home for Christmas.

Not much else to say, just needed to rant on life a little bit and get a few things off my chest. Hopefully I will have more upbeat news, or at least lifted spirits soon.