But my mind wavers. I didn't feel good about the idea of quitting. Maybe it was a decision to sleep on? Maybe it was just the end of a long day that was making my decision?

When I finally got home I sat down with a six pack of Spaten and began watching the Packer - 49er game. The first sip of beer was like one of those Chicken Noodle for the Soul books only with more clear and immediate affects. I discussed my day with Shavonne and intimated my idea of quitting. Ever the supportive wife she said I should if I wanted. 

I had cracked open my second Spaten and started second guessing my quitting plan and then the phone rang. It was one of my best friends from college phoning from Nottingham, England where he is a professor. It was a call that turned out to be fateful. He was curious about how this job was going as he had been somewhat shocked when I told him about it in a recent email. It didn't seem like the kind of thing I would end up doing, he reasoned. Isn't there some store or something somewhere I could manage? I told him about the day I had and by the end of the conversation my decision was solidified and any wavering was gone.

The next day I wanted to make sure to get something out of this whole experience (all the training was unpaid) so I gave my house a thorough cleaning with the vacuum from the future. Waylon and I cleaned his bedroom carpet and ceiling fan and we used the special cushion attachments on the couch cushions ... I was going to miss this machine but there was no turning back and I had to say goodbye.

That afternoon I handed in the equipment, said I was sorry but it wasn't for me, and thanked them for the opportunity.

I went home and started searching the want ads again.