Ms. Friz, I have definitely been in that position, bored to tears, but fortunately I wasn't as aware as you are now
I wonder if there is career counseling that would work for you - round some of the corners off your perfectionist side? Possibly make you more appealing to hiring folks (if that is ever an issue, I know it is for my dh). Work on that resume to make it *glow* rather than just-the-facts-ma'am. Again, thinking dh here...
I got into technology about 10 years ago after finding that a career in art was not going to be nearly lucrative enough, having just decided I wanted a real family with my dh. DH has also taken this route, I have risen relatively quickly to a great fun job, subbing for a very large company which is known worldwide for picking extremely bright competent employees, so the environment is sprinkled with folks who *get* me and can keep up in meetings when I am on a roll.
Dh took more time getting into tech., has had a slower start out of the gate, but the ball finally seems to be rolling pretty well for him too. I think the difference between his career rate of improvement and mine is that he tends to, ahem, speak his mind, speak in extreme detail, write his resume like he is Spock, no flourish, no emotion, no excitement (well, not much anyway). He has a tendency to assume he needs to stay somewhere an alloted amount of time, play by the rules.
One career tip I read a few years back which has been really really freeing, and is recommended especially for women: Quit your job. Quit early and often!
I have found that this has made a world of difference in my level of job satisfaction and pay. I don't think I am one of the women in the world earning 56% compared to men in the same field (or whatever that appalling figure is).
Ok, so that advice has to be tempered against your budget, savings and job prospects at the moment. But you need to put yourself out there. Obviously from your post you have a "teacher who just doesn't get you" - your boss. Post your resume where ever you think appropriate - let technology help you, even if you are not in the field. Monster is good, Dice.com is great for tech jobs.
Heck, Craigslist is pretty awesome for some of the most unusual work you can find.
The part about quitting often that is really working for me is that I find I can suck in everything about a job in about 1/10th the time it will take a similarly trained and positioned colleague so if I find I have 'had it', something new is usually just the ticket.
One other suggestion: think tank.
Good luck!
