Jobs

I spent all day excavating my desk (everything else I can keep very organized on an ongoing basis! but somehow not my desk) to prepare for the new school year; my mind is on preparations, so it's as good a time as any to talk about what's coming up and what's going on.

First, Christian AND Libby have been 200 miles away at college since August 17. That is a huge adjustment for me. I don't even know what to do with myself, having only four children here at home; there are just six chairs around a table built for 10 and when I'm calling everyone, like for dinner or something, the list is so short. Libby and I have been very close this summer—we spent all her free time together—and I miss her very much; thankfully we talk on the phone a couple of times per week, and email or text quite a bit. (All about Kpop. It is the language we speak right now.) I also miss Christian and his daily piano recitals, but he really seems to be doing so well. Most of his friends didn't return to school, because they went on missions. I'm not sure yet what effect that has on him, but his spirits are good and he seems very excited now that he's chosen to major in music.

Emma has been out on her mission for a year, which only leaves her six more months. Sometimes it is like a punch in the gut to think that I haven't seen my firstborn, my beloved, my sweet girl for a year; other times I think it is miraculous how quickly the time has flown and that another six months will go equally quickly. Anyway, she is doing really well. Her Spanish sounds incredible to me, and in between all her work she is putting in a lot of thought about her future, whether she wants to go back to the same university, whether she loves her major, etc. All very grown up stuff. I'm so proud of her.

Blaine has been in his new job for six months tomorrow. He's killing it. His bosses love him. He thought he was an assistant or at least a junior employee to the guy he shares an office with; turns out he was hired as an equal, but because of Blaine's facility with technology and willingness to progress and learn (and the other guy's lack of both) he is advancing ahead. I have no doubt this job will be his as long as he wants it; once he gets the new computer registration and module system* really fine tuned and can train someone else, I also have no doubt he'll be able to move even somewhere else inside the school if he wishes to.

My supervisor texted me about a month ago and said, "I have six students lined up for you to tutor. Is that okay?" Well, no. I still need a block of time every day to devote to homeschool. But what was okay about it is how much she trusts me and wants to give me students to take care of. So I will tutor three students. I'm a little overwhelmed, honestly. I'll probably have to be at the Academy every day at about noon. I've never left my kids for so long for so many days. (Even last year with two students I didn't tutor at all on Wednesdays.) I know many moms out there juggle kids and a job, and even homeschool; but it is all new to me and I'm a little nervous, mostly about how my sweeties will do at home alone without me. I want to give them the same full-time mom the older kids got. But I really do love tutoring, and what a straight-up blessing it is to me to slide into this job this way, rather than having to take time out and finish the one required on-campus class and then student teaching for my degree. I actually think I like this one-on-one work better than I'd like to have my own classroom. Seriously, this is a dream come true for me.

Orientation and check in is next Monday, Labor Day (as it is every year), our homeschool starts Tuesday, and I begin tutoring on Wednesday. I feel like I need to buckle up and keep my hands inside the ride.

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* Modules: this year the Academy isn't doing class periods, they're doing modular blocks. Some of the kids classes they can show up any time, there's nothing specific assigned; other classes do have assigned modules. Teachers have big blocks in the middle of the day where they can hold office of classroom hours, and kids who have those modules open can go and get help. It sounds really experimental, I can't wait to see how it turns out. My worry all along has been how this modular system will work with the academic coaches like me, who really do need to keep to a certain schedule.

So let's skip right to the positive stuff.

Briefly: Blaine got laid off from his job last Friday at end of day. No warning, no severance pay, no two-week notice.

So we had an interesting weekend, with emotions pretty much all over the map. That's to be expected, right? But here's how the landscape looks now, five days later.

For the last few months while B worked at the printing company, they had one client in particular, a Mexican restaurant chain plus corporation, who was sort of courting him to work full time for them. He already designs all their promotional materials, menus, etc. He never got an actual offer, but there was a lot of talk.

Now negotiations are less tentative. They can't offer the wage he was making, which—though a decent wage—was just barely adequate for our needs (family of nine and all that). And they don't really have enough graphics requirements for a full 8 hour-per-day job, but they'll find other things for him to do besides graphics to fill the workday hours.

But there's this other old client who also loves his guts, and who wants him to work for her, pretty much full time, freelance at home.

And another client of printing company's who considers B an essential part of his company.

So anyway, it looks like, after six years of blissfully regular paychecks, we may be plunging into freelance work again. He has three bread-and-butter clients to get started, all of whom have accepted his hourly rate and who have long-term, recurring projects for him. They love him. If these potentials become certain, they "job security" would be good: all three companies are growing, with increasing earnings and success, despite the recession.

So our prospects are good. I'll keep you updated. Here's to making our next house payment!

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Now playing: Radiohead - There, There

Ringing out the old

Here we stand, almost at the very edge of 2008, and how quickly it has passed. In some of my resolutions so determinedly made last January I made great strides, and in some not at all. In a few things the landscape looks about the same as always, and in some so different. But this year has been very good to me. Here are a few of the things that I consider the great blessings of 2008.

• My husband and children. Always they top the list. It is my highest honor and blessing to be mother and wife to this crew of amazing people.
  
• Emma's entry into the academy. I honestly thought I'd homeschool forever! Despite my initial reticence, it has turned out to be one of the best decisions we've made, and she is doing better than I would have dared to dream.
• Our fabulous Christmas at the cabin in Idaho, and our other wonderful trips to Zion National Park and Kodachrome State Park.
• Paying off two car loans in entirety.
• Having a really good group of friends here in Fairview, people that we care about and have fun with.
• Despite the economy, Blaine's company is doing terrific business right now and his job is as secure as it can be.
• Getting out of diapers completely and totally.
• My strength training program—it rocks given that I work out at home with only eight-pound hand weights.
  
• Finding Eat Stop Eat, which has changed my perspective, my motivation, and my hope.

Yes, I'm another year older. Yes, I have a few regrets, but more things I pat my own back over. It's been a lovely year, and I go into 2009 with my arms wide and a smile on my face.

Tomorrow when I flip the calendar page, I'll probably also take down all the beautiful Christmas cards we received. So here is a blurry photo of the calendar and card door, before I have to make it bare again. Happy 2009, everyone!



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Now playing: Syntax - Pride
via FoxyTunes

Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

So there are big things happening over at Hedgehog Print Solutions. To wit: Blaine is no longer the manager of graphic design*, he's been promoted to general manager. I think this is a terrific move for him.

• A graphic designer can really only climb so high, and he was basically at the top rung. Yes, he could have moved to the top rung at another company for more money, or perhaps become art director somewhere, but managing a graphics department is managing a graphics department, really.
  
• He is fabulous with people. He inspires and guides without being bossy and overlordy. He's a people person, and I think both he and the company will thrive with this arrangement.
  
• It's a career move he probably couldn't have made under any other circumstances. Without an MBA he'd never have moved into running a company, except in this small business situation where the company's owner trusted him to do so.

I am really so proud of him. Now here's hoping that he hires all the people he needs!

* Well he really still is the graphics manager, until he hires a new one. He's sort of doing several jobs right now, juggling a lot of balls and sort of long hours. Hopefully that will all work itself out soon.

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Now playing: David Bowie - Changes
via FoxyTunes