My definition of a free society is a society where it is safe to be unpopular.
~ Adlai E. Stevenson Jr. ~
It’s looking increasingly like I will be employed this time next week as a consultant working for the City of Philadelphia on a large software implementation project. I’m still in the process of setting up a business entity so that I can actually get paid, which is one of the primary attractions of this job.

Working downtown will probably be exciting and interesting until the first snowfall that shuts down the rail lines out to the ‘burbs. Taking the train every day will probably be relaxing until the first serious delay that occurs, forcing all the riders to evacuate the train and walk the tracks to the nearest station. Working on a big, highly visible project will probably be challenging until the first speed bump that makes everyone’s stomachs lurch up into the back of their throats.

But right now all those inconveniences and irritations that make up having a job are somewhere out in the future and I’m just glad to be part of a group of people who will all be working toward the same goal.

One of the great unsung advantages to working in a city is the ability to watch all manner of street theater. Today I was treated to an individual performance of a guy walking through the train station who was arguing with himself about whether or why he was fired. Perhaps the solo conversations scared his boss. And the guys at the bus stop who were discussing the merits of marriage: “You’re gettin’ fuckin’ MARRIED, man. It’s ALL fuckin’ over.” A truer statement was never made. Even on Dr. Phil.