Changes

We went out for karaoke for Gemma's birthday a few weekends ago. (I didn't sing. Not drunk enough, I guess.) A drunk old man got close enough for me to smell the hard liquor on his breath, and asked me, "Is this what you all are going to do with your lives?"

I don't think we're going to move out east in the next year or so anymore. Zac started a job at TDS a few days ago, and really likes it. I think it'll be great for him. I don't think it'd be fair to take him away from something that he's found that he really likes, and I'm not all that hung up on finding a job teaching anyway.

The change in plans equals a change in my work situation, though. After School was supposed to be a temporary job for me-- something to hold me over until we possibly moved out east, and I could find something more permanent. With the change of situation, I've started to look for something I can call a career here.

I feel guilty about leaving my kids, but know that it'll be better for me in the long run. One of my kids asked yesterday, when a risk management assessor showed up, "Is Dawn leaving?!" I told him no, and he said, "Good. We've had too many substitutes." Then another little girl said to me, as we were playing tetherball outside waiting for her mom to come, "You're the weirdest and coolest person I know!" God, my heart.

But I'm applying for jobs that I think would be good for me-- I had a phone interview with Epic, which provides software to health care groups, for a job as a trainer. I've also applied at a few other companies for training jobs. As soon as I got a few years of training under my belt, I'd be able to go almost anywhere to work as a trainer, and make a pretty decent salary.

So I'm excited, nervous, sad and happy about the change all at once. It sounds snarky of me, but I feel overqualified for After School, and feel like I could be doing something more challenging with a work schedule that I enjoy more, and that pays a whole heck of a lot more. I have to give 3 weeks notice to After School before I leave. My guess is that if I find something, I'd either be out of there in the middle of November or the beginning of December.

I could quit Captel, too, which would leave me with weekends and evenings free. Oh, the gloriousness of it all. I just want to settle into something long-lasting. Something that I can work on getting better at, something that I can use my skills at, and somewhere that I'll feel appreciated.

In other news, my goal is to get back into shape. I read once that it takes 10 weeks to get to the point of being "in shape", so for the next 10 weeks, I'm going to make a point of exercising much more, and eating a bit better. This Friday will be the end of week one. I already feel more energetic and hopeful. That could be the combination of everything involved in life, though. Looking for a new job, a good relationship, Zac's happiness with his new job... the future looks bright.