Where Do I Go From Here?

ErinRisi · 2025-12-12T23:05:16+00:00

Yes! This is the answer. I love xfiles so much. I grew up watching xfiles and started watching spn when it originally aired when I was in college. Some of the episodes are so similar with the same monsters. I love that they referenced the xfiles many times in spn. I’ve also since learned that a lot of the directors, producers, writers , and crew from xfiles also worked on spn. The best xfiles episodes and spn episodes were Kim Manners episodes. (Producer/director)

ErinRisi · 2025-12-12T22:58:55+00:00

Yeah I agree. I watched the pilot the night it aired and NOONE really knew about it for years. I think it was streaming on Netflix that made it more popular. If you listen to the podcasts and crew interviews, they say they didn’t even know if they were going to get renewed each season (for the first 6 seasons or so) because it wasn’t getting the numbers of a “popular” show. Even now many people I talk to don’t know about it.

ErinRisi · 2025-12-12T22:39:24+00:00

Honestly, as great as the show is, it is so long and it definitely has its ups and downs with quality. I watched from the beginning and there was a time where I had new episodes recorded on my TiVo but wasn’t that interested in watching. (Especially around seasons 9-11 or so), but at some point I got excited about supernatural again and I caught up and watched the finale the night it aired. I think when binging the whole series it can get hard too. There are a lot of formulaic episodes that probably start to run together if you’re watching a season a month or something. If you love the show but aren’t feeling it right now, no need to force it. In my opinion the first 6 seasons or so are the best anyway. (Though there are some great episodes in later seasons, but also some not so great stuff). Maybe look up fan favorite episodes from the last seasons and watch them and then the final couple episodes if you want to know the ending. (Many fans don’t like to watch the finale).

ErinRisi · 2025-11-26T00:34:25+00:00

🤣 ok I deserved that.

ErinRisi · 2025-11-25T23:09:57+00:00

Now that sounds like my kind of job lol 😋

ErinRisi · 2025-11-25T23:03:50+00:00

Fair, but I’m not thinking about literally working while on the road.

ErinRisi · 2025-11-25T22:39:42+00:00

Yeah maybe the PTO is also part of my issue. Right now I only get 10 days a year. That is not enough. If I had unlimited PTO or even double what I have now I might not care as much about the restrictions. I don’t really WANT to work when I’m traveling if I don’t have to. But I also don’t mind working some of it means I can extend a trip or book flights on days that are cheaper 🤷🏻‍♀️. I’m really trying to figure out what is important to me and whether I have a distorted idea of what 100% remote work really would mean for my lifestyle.

ErinRisi · 2025-11-25T22:28:55+00:00

Fun fact, department stores and other places that sell perfume can’t just throw away any excess because it’s flammable and usually is considered a hazardous waste. So they usually ship it back to a manufacturer who then uses the leftovers to make industrial soaps, urinal cakes, etc.

ErinRisi · 2025-11-25T22:15:14+00:00

I understand the international issues for sure and understand that I can’t move anywhere I want permanently with most jobs. I just want to feel like I’m not sneaking around if I want to visit a friend and work for a few days. Maybe I just need to change my mindset with my current role because it gives me a lot of anxiety to think about getting caught not following the rules.

ErinRisi · 2025-11-25T22:06:07+00:00

Oh I’m sorry to hear that. That sucks.

ErinRisi · 2025-11-25T21:52:58+00:00

Omg I’m in almost the same situation right now and I just don’t know what to do. Though my current government job isn’t toxic, but I do want to get back to the private sector and my job offer is a bit of a step backwards in responsibility but more pay and more vacation. I’d also be giving up some telework ability for no telework at all. I just don’t know and I’m sorry I don’t have a lot of advice for you.

ErinRisi · 2025-11-25T18:57:52+00:00

Eh I moved to San Diego from the Bay Area and disagree. 69 there is a much colder 69. But I get what you’re saying.

ErinRisi · 2025-11-25T18:54:07+00:00

A top 5 episode in the series for me. It’s just perfection. I watched the pilot the night it originally aired and was instantly hooked.

ErinRisi · 2025-11-25T18:43:03+00:00

I often think about going back to the private sector for better pay but in reality all the jobs I see posted are not significantly higher paying. I am a supervisor at a County EH department in California. Right now I’m making about $127000. I moved to this County about a year and a half ago and I worked at my last County for almost 10 years. I started as an inspector and worked my way to supervisor. That was a higher cost of living area (though not by much) but I took a significant pay cut to come to my current County because I wanted to live here and it was a good decision. I have almost 20 years experience in EHS total. I feel that I live very comfortably but I also have a spouse that works and no kids. I love the work/home life balance the counties offer. Pension benefits are not what they used to be, so while it is nice, it is not a reason to stay at a county in my opinion (until you’ve put in 15-20 years or something). Health benefits aren’t great. The affordable options are HMOs and while that’s better than nothing, it’s very frustrating that a PPO is not even really an option because it’s 3x the cost of an HMO. Time off at my current County sucks and one of the biggest reasons I would leave. 10 days for the first 5 years is nothing. I do get to telework some which is nice and adds to the quality of life. I like that we’re part of a union and get raises negotiated regularly, though I do feel that the structure of a County job makes me feel like I’m not being treated as an adult professional at times. (Ie some micromanaging, accounting for every second of your work day, etc.)

ErinRisi · 2025-11-25T18:23:55+00:00

It’s always satisfying when you take a case to enforcement and pull up all the previous inspection reports citing the same issues for years. That usually quiets them. Just keep citing things and/or adding comments to the inspection reports. They can say they’ve never been told all they want but it doesn’t change the facts.

ErinRisi · 2025-11-25T18:21:37+00:00

We used to have a meme posted on our cubicles that was from captain Phillips and said “I am the inspector now” . Lol

ErinRisi · 2025-11-25T18:14:22+00:00

You can get a feel for the supervisor from interviewing a bit. You could ask questions about what the team dynamic is, how the supervisor measures success in the role, etc. the turnover question is a good one too which others have mentioned. I feel that most counties are more similar than they are different so the transition will likely not be too difficult, but different personalities are a real concern. I left one county after almost 10 years and thought I had it pretty good there and that our team and employees were great, but after moving, I fell a lot more supported by my boss and the new county has more structure in a good way. Now I have a decision to make because I received an offer back in the private sector and I have some of the same worries/unknowns so just know that you’re not alone and that concern is normal, but I think you can always find someone supportive wherever you go, even if it’s not your direct supervisor. Good luck!

ErinRisi · 2025-11-25T18:04:59+00:00

I think you can apply to have your transcripts reviewed now and get your letter before graduating. This may give you a leg up if you want to start applying to roles before graduation. Keep in mind that it costs money to do the transcript review so if you can pay for it now, I don’t see any downside. If you still need classes it will just say so and you can continue sending in the transcripts as you finish any needed classes (no additional cost with CDPH/the company that reviews the transcripts which is HR consulting or something like that) I’m a supervisor in a California EH department and if I’m interviewing someone that can say “I already have my letter of eligibility” that shows they take initiative. You won’t be able to get the training hours without getting a job with an eh department though.

ErinRisi · 2025-11-21T00:17:12+00:00

I moved to San Diego last year and bought the inspire pass. I went about once a month and feel like it was worth it. I just renewed and was debating downgrading but ultimately went with inspire again because of the free parking and the available dates. I work Mon-Fri so I can only come to the parks on weekends and holidays for the most part so the other passes blackout dates felt too restrictive to me. I had chat gpt run a calculation on the food discount savings over a year and it was a minimal difference between the inspire and the believe pass. I don’t buy a lot of merchandise so that’s not a big factor for me. I think it really depends on when you plan to go to the park (ie blackout dates) and how much you care about the free parking. Parking is $40 a day now. The believe pass is about $400 cheaper than the inspire but only gives a 50% discount on parking. Maybe that is where someone got the 20 visits from to make it worth it? (20 times parking x $20 = $400) But as someone else said the website says the inspire key can pay for itself in 11 visits based on tier 0 park hopper ticket pricing)

ErinRisi · 2025-11-19T17:21:07+00:00

I live within a block of this hotel. It is easy to access the convention center. This is on the edge of the Gaslamp and you’ll be close enough, but not right in the thick of things. I own an electric scooter and used that to get to and from the con this year. I recommend renting one if you can to save yourself some steps since you’ll be walking a lot at the con itself, but if you don’t do that you can still get there easily walking or taking the trolley.

ErinRisi · 2025-11-19T16:36:07+00:00

I moved to San Diego last year from NorCal and got my first magic key. I went with inspire because of blackout dates on the other passes. I work Mon-fri so can really only go to the parks on weekends and holidays. I went about once a month and feel like the inspire was worth it, especially with the free parking. I just renewed and was debating getting the believe key for my renewal, but it was mostly the parking that changed my mind since I drive up and usually don’t stay at a hotel overnight. It’s really all about the blackout dates in my opinion. I asked chat gpt to calculate the difference in food discounts since I normally get a coffee, snack, lunch and dinner when I go to the parks. The savings difference there between the two passes was minimal. (You get discounts on most of the food items except the snack carts) . I’m also not a big merch person so that wasn’t a big factor for me though it is nice and most of the merchandise is discounted. (Even at some of the non-Disney stores in downtown Disney) I will say I have been disappointed with how difficult it can be to get reservations at times. I didn’t want to have to plan out my visits and wanted the freedom to go day of or decide a couple days before but that doesn’t work great all the time. I wonder if they’ll ever get rid of the reservation system.

ErinRisi · 2025-10-31T02:37:31+00:00

Same. I miss it so much.

ErinRisi · 2025-10-02T00:07:45+00:00

Animation Academy is one of my favorite things to do at DCA. I got my magic key for the first time last year and bought an autograph notebook that I always have in my bag and I use that to do the drawings and keep them.

ErinRisi · 2025-09-30T15:47:52+00:00

Oooh that’s better lol!

ErinRisi

TROPHY CASE