SECOND GUESS = SECOND CHANCE?

I just found this fortune-cookie sounding description while browsing. It fit me, so here 'tis:

You are expressive, original, and independent. Your talents lie in your artistic abilities: creative writing, drama, crafts, music, or art. You would make an excellent: Actor - Art Teacher - Book Editor - Clothes Designer - Comedian - Composer - Dancer - DJ - Graphic Designer - Illustrator - Musician - Sculptor. The worst career options for your are conventional careers, like bank teller or secretary.

Here comes one of my odd rants, so if you get depressed easily, stop reading. Come back later when I'm back to writing about how much I love ice cream, puppies and my new pair of argyle socks.

Should I seek career counseling, now that I've turned thirty? Teaching is great and all, but it seemed more cool when I was an idealistic twenty-something. I felt I could afford to be totally altruistic. Who needs just financial compensation when you have a job that's an emotionally satisfying outlet for your talents? (And didn't I think God wanted me to be a teacher?) Now that I am seriously dreaming about a wife and kids, buying a home and saving for retirement, I'm second guessing my career choice. (Does he still want me to be a teacher? Do I want to be one?)

Some extra expenses this month are the catalyst for this line of thinking. I had to go to the Dr. unexpectedly. She wanted to refer me to a specialist for some tests that I knew might cost thousands of dollars. Not having health insurance seems like the stupidest decision I've ever made. (Thankfully the symptoms went away. Yippee for answered prayer.) And then the repair quote for the car came in at $1900. Hearing that price ringing in my ears, I seriously started wondering why I've chosen a career that forces that small amount of money to be such a big deal!

I think the only way I could continue teaching would be to supplement my income with other jobs, but I don't want to work myself into an early grave, either. Maybe I could work another job, and then go back to teaching in 25 or 30 years, after I retired. God, what am I supposed to do? I have to make a choice. Any advice?

THE USUAL

For the last three nights, I've been to IHOP with friends after the show. Too much of a good thing?

The first night it was just me and Ryan. Then it was Josh & Rachel, Chris & Wendy, Ryan and me. Then it was Terry, Jo, Ryan & me. If I go again tonight, I'm just going to greet the waitress and say, "The usual. Thanks."

Three nights...if I go again, I've got to order something new. I always fall into a rut when it comes to restaurants. At OCharleys, I get the fried chicken salad. At McAllisters Deli, it's the chicken salad on a croissant. At Ruby Tuesdays, the salad bar and half a club. At Sonic, it's the BLT. And at IHOP, I order the chocolate chip pancakes.

I'm becoming like my friend Judy. In college, I went to Outback with a group of friends about once a month. Judy would always get the Alice Springs Chicken. And everyone would laugh every time she ordered it. Judy took the joke pretty well. She knew what she liked, and it wasn't steak.

I guess my deal is that I really don't like restaurant food. So, when I finally find something on the menu that I like, I stick with it. But, three nights in a row is a little much, so what would you suggest that I order?