research methods

i haven't taken research methods in a really long time. it doesn't feel like it has been so long, but it has been about 4 years. i can't really believe it. but now i am taking research methods at the grad level and am a little unsure of exactly what i am supposed to be doing in this class. on the one hand it seems the prof wants us to set up a research design, but on the other we technically can't run any real research. i am of couse focusing on what i am currently doing at work...juvenile fire setters. there isn't much out there for research, but i think that's why it would work. anyway it's what i'm up to. also today at work i set up about 5 family meetings, and moved a 6th off my desk cuz the parent didn't want school involved and didn't want to talk to me either. what ever, i don't really care that much anyway. meanwhile i joked with suzanne about the fact that i practically have my masters but am basically an administrative assistant. it's kind of sad really. i mean i sometimes think that i could be doing so much more than what i am actually doing. is it laziness? i have tons of reasons why i stay in the job i am in, and let's face it in today's hard times i am not about to give up a job, no matter how meager the pay is. but i wonder sometimes if i am just comfortable, with not a lot of responsibility, but enough to keep me busy. i love my job, but it is seldom a challenge, it has become mindless work for me. i make phone calls, i make copies, i watch the danger rangers with little kids who have played with fire i deal with random requests and set up respite. should i be striving for a bigger challenge? what kind of work will make me happy? where do i want to live? this is a biggie, since i refuse to believe that i will live here in elmira for ever, i don't want to do that to dylan. there's so many questions, i guess i will have to delve a bit deeper to answer most of them. but first i will finish my master's program...and then who knows what i will do or where i will go. one more year.