18 months later....

Well, 18 months ago I wrote that I was blanching asparagus and getting ready for a trip to visit my children. What I didn't write was that I was also waiting for a job change: the organization for which I was working at the time was re-structuring. It was painful and stressful and blogging was the way I handled the stress of not know how my job situation was going to resolve. To my great relief, I was rehired, to do a job I was very pleased and excited about doing: writing curriculum and designing online courses. (Another really good part was that for the first time in our married lives, my husband and I would be making enough money to make ends meet at the end of the month.)

The only downside was a hour long commute at the beginning and end of each day. Adding longer hours due to going from 3/4 time to full time, this meant that for the past 18 months I have barely had time to breathe, much less cook or blog about food.

During that 18 months I loved my work, I did it well, my office-mates were delightful people and, despite not actually having much of a life outside of work, things were good.

Sadly, because of the downturn of the economy as well as other economic factors, the organization has had to make structural changes again. It was decided that an on-staff curriculum and online development person was a luxury, not a neccessity. My job was eliminated, and I have joined the 4.4 million people who are unemployed in this dark and stormy time. Little did I know when I voted for change on November 4, the change I got would be so immediate and so personal!

But here's the upside- For a little while, I will have the time to do the stuff that fell to the side when I was pouring all of my creative energy into my job. I will get to take leisurely walks with my dogs, and chat at the dog park with all of the other dog parents. I will be able to eat meals with my husband.
Best of all? I get to cook, and blog about it!