i can bring home the bacon...if i don't eat it all first

A reader specifically requested a report about my first week at work. And since I take requests...

I spent my first week at work rather in a daze. They threw me right in to the thick of what could potentially be a multi-million dollar website. A two hour briefing was all I got on the project and then told to "go"--given a list of tens of thousands of nonprofit charities to research, classify, and contact. Website content to write in both legal-eze and conversational tone. And lots and lots of lists to make and check off. Not to mention a few new computer programs I had to teach myself to use. So, I'd be working along and then suddenly feel all empty inside...realizing I missed my kiddos ever so much. Remembering that I would now only get 4-5 hours a day with my little J while he spent 7-8 hours being watched by someone else. It helps though, that I have three dear friends with similar homes and values to mine, willing to take him one day a week each; then one day of a preschool type daycare I pay for; and one day a week my boss agreed to let me work from home. The older boys have an hour to entertain themselves after school each day with loving neighbors to help if needed. It's not ideal, but it's as ideal as it can be.

I work in what used to be an Aamco transmission shop. Here's a little peek at my yummy post-modern industrial workspace:

Yes...that's a ping pong table in the middle of the desks. And we play...a lot. Note also the stuffed swordfish on the wall with the car bumper art. There's also a yoga studio upstairs with classes twice a week. And the gorgeous light pouring in through the oversized windows keeping things bright and happy. I have metal business cards with the company logo embossed on them. Also, I work with several gourmet bakers who bring in all types of yummy, healthy stuff. For an office of only 15 employees, we have it pretty sweet. My desk is near the reception area and all day long I hear people coming and going, asking if we're hiring, and the answer, "No. And we won't be anytime soon."

Yeah...I'm pretty darn lucky.

AND guess what?! I'm also in a "wheels down" zone of downtown-- meaning I can hop on my longboard at lunch (if I'm not wearing a dress :) ) and head over to my favorite little cafe for lunch to eat this....

 

Mmmmmm. There's yogurt and granola under that mass of fruit. Goes perfect with a book of poetry.

I love the people I work with too. They've worked together for years and operate like a well-oiled machine--all creative, focused folks. Even the slightly eccentric guy who decorated his whole house with post-it notes.

And, as if one cool job weren't enough...twice a month I  get to go to a staff meeting for the magazine I'm freelancing for, located in the most gorgeous ever restored Victorian Bed and Breakfast.  Here's the cover of our first issue set to launch June 4....

Our launch party is an exclusive, by invitation only event being held in a 3 million dollar penthouse with red carpets and photo ops and NFL players in attendance and all the free alcohol I could drink but don't. I also have access to free tickets for any concert or event in the area I want, along with backstage press passes and use of a photographer. All I have to do is write a story on it. My PR/Marketing job comes with lots of cool social events tied to it too--art showings and the like. I now have the suavest social life ever and am completely dateless. Isn't that how it goes? :)

Proceeding with my design work as well and anxious to get started on the house I'm working on--international eclectic style.

Also started my very inspiring summer writing group and will be doing a lot of drafting and sending out for publication this summer, as well as more MFA applications--Southern California universities for full tuition, Pacific Northwest for low-residency.

I'm busy, but not as busy as I was with school. I feel like I can come home, hug my boys close, and just play with them for a while. Eat dinner. Help with their homework instead of having to do mine. I have a little time to think, to breathe--not much, but a little. And that's nice.

It's going to take a while to make my way up in the working world to a point where I can be as financially comfortable as I was during my marriage, but I have complete faith in myself. I've never been content to stay at the bottom of anything for long. The trick will be doing it while not neglecting the four most important things to me in the world. I know my boy squad understands as much as kids are able to, they're even pretty proud of me. But this still remains a life-altering change for all of us--financially, emotionally, spiritually. Scary stuff.

I have worked so hard to hew some stones out of the rock--some offerings that I place before the Lord and ask him to touch, to bless my efforts with his Light and make more of them than I ever could. To make it not so scary to cross this great deep holding tight to Him and to one another. To give opportunity to my preparation. Thus far, He has been generous. My heart is full and grateful.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got some bacon I brought home to fry up in a pan and Sportacus (my pretend husband) to never let forget he's a man. Because I'm the breadwinner, bacon fryer, and forever mother first in this family now.