Crunched...

...for time. Yikes, it's getting closer to the line for me every day now.

I had a great lunch with a friend today, actually an old boss, who I hadn't seen since little G was born. She actually hired me for my first job in my profession. But she took a short leave of absence after I joined, to be home for her kids as her longtime nanny had just left. She's amazing, a busy mother with a Ph.D. and some smarts despite her advanced degree (I jest, but you'd be surprised at how insular some Ph.D's can be). So she's been a consultant in the industry, and doing quite well. In fact, when I was working in the "big company", we even hired her to do a few projects for us. She's had some setbacks in her personal life in the last few years, but we've always maintained a connection, even though the communication has been only a few times a year. It was so nice to see that she's doing well, looking great, and she's pulling back on her work to enjoy life a little more.

She and her business partner had asked me years ago, when I was on maternity leave with L, if I would consider working with them. I was quite honoured, as they're both seasoned professionals, with tons of experience and the most down-to-earth Ph.D's I knew. It seemed too distant an idea for me then. I was enjoying the company I was at, the camraderie, the mood of the company. And the bond I had with my department at the time, made leaving seem like a crazy thing to do. [We had a good thing going, in fact I still get together with that group about three times a year. It was sort of magical how well we bonded, halcyon days really.] But I filed that thought away, thinking that it might be an option at some point.

Well, I guess that point was today! She asked whether I would be interested in taking on some work! I'd been thinking about approaching her, to get my feet wet with a project here or there. I've actually been contemplating doing some work for a little while now. Now that G is a little more independent, and Liam certainly doesn't need me as much as he did when he was younger, it seems a logical progression. I've been feeling a bit bereft of my career. Don't get me wrong, I'm so glad I've been able to be at home for my kids. But for a little while now I feel that I've been missing a little part of me. Which is one of the reasons I started this blog, as it is my own thing, my own space. But I've also been missing a little part of my bank account and the independence that having an income of my very own, was giving me. I don't want to go back to any old thing, though. That full-time gig isn't in the cards for me now; but if I can set my own hours and do my own thing, well that's a whole other story.

A few weeks back I was approached to teach a course at college; but the hours weren't convenient for me, childminding arrangements would have been impossible, and to be honest, I couldn't fathom having to lecture about Good Manufacturing Practices for a 3 hour evening class. And then prepare for a couple of exams within a space of a couple of weeks. Not as my first dip back into the working world.

So, while I'm super-excited about this opportunity, and hopefully it is the start of a new type of career for me, I know this will make my Nablopomo mission very difficult. There are deadlines of another kind that need to be met now. I've been making such progress, too!

I will still endeavour to post everyday, but won't likely be able to comment as much as I would like! And the posts will probably be shorter, but hopefully sweeter.

So, until tomorrow...