WORK!

After being rejected by many major department stores (I've come to the conclusion that they believed I was too smart to work for them), I was hired on yesterday by the school district's childcare program. I get to work at the closest building to my house that is not a residence or a former Knights of Columbus Hall that is now a church or a city Parks and Rec building. I will work in the mornings for two hours at the local elementary school as one of a team that watches elementary age children before school starts.

It's only two hours a day, but I get a very decent hourly wage, which makes it almost as lucrative as babysitting one child in my own home. I will also be on the sub list for the afternoon shifts in the same program around the district.

I'm kind of glad to ease my way back into the workforce: I'm doing something that I've done for many years, and I have a regular schedule that doesn't interfere (yet) with my own children's after school schedule. And I'm not at the school all day long. I've got my foot in the door at the district.

I start on the 7th of September. Next Thursday, I have an orientation meeting and...the best part....I GET A BADGE. Whee! I've always been jealous of Jim because he has a nifty badge that gets him into his office. Other Jim even has a badge for his big-box-store job! And I'm sure Kate has a badge for her job. Now I get one!

(I'm not really that excited about a badge)