Angst Ahead (But No Clove Cigarettes)

As I spend yet another day, sitting around waiting to see if any changes to a dynamic file generation routine have resulted in noticeable speedups, I'm left wondering whether this is really what I wanted to do with my life.  (On the plus side, the file generation code isn't mine — so I'm not on the hook if complaints come back about how long it takes to generate the file.  Currently it's at 20 minutes between when the user requests the file and when it's available for download.)  It's not that the problems aren't engaging (occasionally hair-pullingly so), but it seems I spend more time sitting around waiting for the user requirements so that I can start working than I actually spend implementing them.

Combine this general malaise with the sight of back to school students, and I've been thinking: if I were just going into my undergrad again, what would I take?  The answer, as of late, has been more and more arts-related.  Screw "preparation for the real world," screw "useful life skills," and all the other things that proponents of the "hard" disciplines like to trot out.  More and more I also feel like retreating into academia and never returning.  At least that way I'd be enjoying myself.

On the other hand, maybe I wouldn't.  Maybe all I need is a change of scenery and I'd enjoy myself more.

Finally, on a more humourous note: I don't even like Football, but I still found this hilarious.

For the record, what I'd take if I had to do it all over again would be either folk lore, or a combination of history and Russian literature.