THE CENTURY MARK
After the last one, the prospect of something really big happening to warrant saving the 100th post for something important are about slim and none. In that event, let's look ahead to the future a little. First of all, Korea is really not a bad place, as I have said, but none the less, I'm an American, and I know I am. I can't wait to get home, I miss my wife, I could do with a really good steak, and the heat and humidity are really beginning to get on my nerves as we push into September here. The job prospects in ESL, and education period amount to a growth opportunity the likes of which I can't pass up, particularly taking my responsibilities into account. There's more work to be done, but not being unnerved by the prospect that I'm going to be at a workplace 12 hours and get paid for maybe three is one hell of a load off my mind. And in case you were never aware, yes, the above situation is the definite risk of working as a flat-rate mechanic. And one I can't do any more, as if it was ever good for me. In light of that, too, expect that the toolbox will be going away to the highest bidder once I'm back; I'm tired of lugging that monster everwhere I go. And as many ugly and unpleasant moments came out of it as good ones ever did, so there's no great sorrow in turning it loose to someone who might be able to make better use of it. As sentimentality, it's big baggage. There will be some period of attempting to determine how the pieces of a new life are all going to fit together, so everyone is going to have to be patient. I can say this much, there will be no more overseas ventures, in large part because at the ripe old age of 41, by the time Martha and I ARE done with our respective educational updates, I will be past the prime where any overseas ESL employer will touch me; as a rule, if you're over 45, they won't touch you with a 10-meter pole. So the new life is still fairly soft in the forge, it's me that might be getting brittle.
And what of my life as an artist, writer, or whatever? First things first, but it'll all make a comeback, big as life, I'm quite sure, and in ways better than I've been able to manage to this point. The next step is going to have to be onto solid footing first, and beyond that, I should indeed be able to afford some amount of creative outlet, experimentation, however you care to see it. The bottom line to it all is that big things are coming, I'm quite sure of that now, I've just gotta figure out how all these new pieces go together.

The following is excerpted from an MSN/Encarta story
Whether you're climbing the corporate ladder, fine-tuning your skills, or breaking into an entirely new field, certificate programs offer a measurable way to build your résumé and expand your marketability. Check out 12 careers in which specialized degrees and programs are opening doors and creating opportunities.
1. English as a Second LanguageIf you can read this, there may be a job waiting for you just around the corner or across the sea. English is the international language of business, medicine, commerce, technology, and tourism, making English language teachers an invaluable professional commodity, domestically and abroad. Julie Jaskol, public affairs manager for UCLA Extension, the continuing education branch of the University of California, Los Angeles, says that those holding a Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) certificate have a distinct advantage over those without.
"Many language schools, community colleges, and companies look upon our certificate programs as strong positive factors in hiring and offering promotions," states Jaskol. "We expect our program to continue to grow because of the increasing opportunities for English as a second language (ESL) teachers." With an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 English teaching jobs currently available around the world, that's probably a safe bet.
This is an iframe of a ClassesUSA Article Box
2. Medical TranscriptionistAs long as there are doctors, nurses, therapists, pharmacists, and dieticians, there will always be a need for those trained in writing concise, well-organized medical reports. Ranked as one of the 20 fastest-growing occupations by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), skilled transcriptionists have the freedom to work in nearly any aspect of health care. In some cases they create their own hours or even work from home.
3. Nonprofit Management If you want to mix passion with your profession, start building a career with one of the 1.4 million nonprofit organizations in the United States. For the past four years, the annual growth of nonprofit agencies has exceeded that of business or government organizations, creating a demand for management personnel with a background in fundraising and community development.
Besides covering the basics of budgeting, planning, evaluation, and marketing, a specialization in nonprofit management equips the applicant with an acute knowledge of grant writing, social issues, and the framework of international nongovernmental organizations.
4. Terrorism and National SecurityWhen Kirk Rockwell, a baggage screener for the Transportation Security Administration at Miami International Airport, enrolled in a Terrorism and National Security certificate program, he wanted to learn more about the history and structure of international and domestic terrorism. When he graduated, his ability to educate others on how to identify different forms of terrorist threats led to an almost immediate promotion.
With terrorism at the forefront of many federal agencies' concerns, applicants with specialized knowledge of the social, religious, and political earmarks of terrorist groups are highly sought after by both private and public sector employers.
5. Desktop PublishingBefore reaching your hands, your favorite magazine passed through a team of computer-savvy writers, editors, graphic designers, production personnel, and marketing agents, whose job it is to make sure the publication is accurate, well-written, elegantly designed, and delivered on time. It's called desktop publishing, and it includes everything from editing copy for book manuscripts, to setting page layouts for corporate newsletters, to choosing the proper font for promotional calendars.
The market for those trained to use the latest publishing software is expanding and will continue to grow as more companies cut the cost of printing and publishing by hiring their own in-house staff. A certificate in desktop publishing will introduce you to the major computer programs used in publishing and teach you how to create your own professional portfolio.
6. Electronic Commerce We live in a world where love is found, bills are paid, and careers are both made and broken with the click of a mouse. Welcome to the age of electronic commerce, where anything imaginable can be bought and sold in the realm of cyberspace. Total e-commerce sales for 2005 were estimated at $86.3 billion, an increase of 24.6 percent from 2004, according to the Department of Commerce, opening up fresh opportunities in the areas of electronic marketing, sales, and management. With revenues soaring to $25 billion per quarter, both stand-alone enterprises as well as traditional businesses with e-commerce outlets are actively seeking individuals with a background in Web-based business management.
7. Dental AssistantFrom now through 2014, one out of every four new jobs created in the United States will be in the fields of health care or education. By 2012 health care alone will add 4.4 million jobs to the U.S. economy, per the BLS. A dental assistant certificate will give you the credentials to immediately begin work as a dental assistant, front office receptionist, or dental office manager. "Our Administrative Dental Assistant [certificate] course will prepare students to handle the administrative duties of a dental office, such as dental insurance, billing, and coding," states Sarah Karr, operations manager for Gatlin Education Services. A program of dental assistant study will introduce you to the clinical, laboratory, and administrative aspects of dentistry and prepare you for a career in a rapidly growing industry.
This is an iframe of a ClassesUSA Article Box
8. Paralegal StudiesAccording to the BLS, the paralegal job market is projected to increase up to 35 percent by 2014, creating 70,000 more jobs in the areas of criminal law, health care, intellectual property, and environmental law. If you're looking to break into the legal field, a certificate in paralegal studies will provide you with an excellent introduction. If you want to specialize or move up, a certificate will prepare you for your next career move.
Evelyn Rawley, a paralegal for the U.S. Department of Justice, the largest employer of paralegals in the federal government, used her certificate as a bridge between her current job and law school. Rawley says that the experience gained through the certification program provided her with a taste of law school. "A lot of the classes I took within this program were duplicated in law school as required credits."
9. Network Security In 1988 the Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Center at Carnegie Mellon University reported six incidents of deliberate attacks against computer systems. By 2003 there were more than 137,000. Cyberterrorism, the ability to penetrate and destroy computer systems and programs, is a relatively new phrase in law enforcement jargon. Creating protected networking systems that secure customer confidentiality is crucial in safeguarding both commercial and governmental operations. A certificate in network security will give you the ability to recognize different forms of security threats, detect system weaknesses, and implement disaster recovery strategies.
This is an iframe of a ClassesUSA Article Box
10. Forensic NursingThe American Nurses Association recognized forensic science as an official nursing specialty in 1995. Since then, the field has exploded, with membership in the International Association of Forensic Nurses rising 400 percent and careers springing up in hospitals, nonprofit agencies, and private investigation organizations.
From collecting evidence, to giving courtroom testimony, to examining victims, crime scene health-care technicians play the part of medical expert as well as investigator, and work hand in hand with detectives to solve cases. For current RNs, a specialization in forensic nursing will provide you with a legal, medical, psychological, and social framework for working with hospitals, law enforcement, protective services, and/or assault counselors.
11. Disaster ManagementIn the wake of the tsunami tragedy and a war on terror, the demand for professionals trained in managing and diffusing disaster situations has skyrocketed. This certificate not only outlines response procedures for environmental catastrophes ranging from earthquakes to accidents involving radiation, but also provides guidance on how to assess and administer relief efforts for multifaceted disasters.
As a result of the 2003 California wildfires, Captain Daniel Finkelstein, chief of transit police for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office, used his security background as well as his university-level disaster management training to implement an emergency management system.
12. LeadershipFor enterprising individuals who want to solidify their ability to plan, prepare, and execute business initiatives, a program such as the Studies in Proactive Leadership certificate offered through Cornell University may be just the thing to separate your résumé from the hordes of others seeking administrative professional positions. Leadership programs focus on developing the critical thinking skills necessary in devising and implementing business plans and corporate initiatives for private, public, and nonprofit organizations.
"Organizations today place increasing value on employees with a demonstrated ability to execute organizational initiatives--to get things done," comments David Shoemaker, Cornell's director of learning solutions. "It's not enough in an organization to be a thinker--truly effective employees are those who couple thinking with doing."

Much as the thought of a lot of these professions scares me, particularly that Forensic Nursing thing, this is the real deal, and where the future is headed; all aboard.