Yesterday kind of rocked.

And it didn't.

It started off badly - I got into yet another email bust-up with one of the people on my projects. I lost my temper in my living room and spent an inordinate amount of time shouting at my laptop screen, which wasn't as rewarding as you'd think it might be.

And then I got a fabulous book pushed through my front door from Ms. S in MD (Hi Ms. S! I love it, thank you!) And I read a chapter and laughed.

Then I spent my entire lunch break writing, and wrote 5 pages in half an hour.

And then a box arrived from Suzie - she'd sent over clothes her gorgeous daughter Josie's outgrown. This is huge for us - Nick gets all the hand-me-downs his cousin (born ten months before the twins) has, and their cousin was an unexpected boy with a wardrobe bigger than mine. We don't have any family that passes things down to Nora, and so the two boxes of clothes Suzie sent over are waiting for her. We're big fans of hand-me downs. Donna had sent over a huge chunk of the very adorable Bridget's clothes when she outgrew them, and the great part is Angus' sister-in-law and I pass clothes back and forth as when Nick and Nora outgrow things, they get passed on to three other women who all have limited incomes and much younger babies. I love that we're keeping so many kids in great clothes and helping each other out.

Man am I a hippie.

I logged off of work at 3:45. I'd had enough for the day, and couldn't take any more.

Finally, I went to the nursery to pick up the babies. While loading them into the car, my phone rang. It was the recruiter from the first company I'd gotten through the final interviews with. I have two more interviews for next week with two other companies, where I'm also in the finals (in fact with one company I am now the only finalist). No decisions will be made until all the interviews are done, and I feel like I'm on pins and needles here.

Ironically yesterday one of my former project managers from rocket riding gerbil called to see if I was interested in a job with his firm. And - unbelievably - this morning the fourth company I applied for a position for several weeks ago called me and want to interview me on Monday. In my dream I ace all of the interviews and there's a bidding war for me and I have to resort to a pros and cons list to decide on which company to go to, but that's just my ego talking. Real life - and my life in particular - doesn't play ball that way. All I need is just one offer and I can escape the hell I'm in.

"Hi Helen," said the recruiter casually over the phone line. "How do you think you did in your interview?"

"Well I don't know now," I said, biting my lip. This is a bad habit of mine, and goes a long way to explaining why my lips are always chapped. "I had thought I did well, but I haven't heard a word from the company in over a week, so maybe I didn't do so well after all."

"Right, well, I've gotten some feedback from them now, which I'd like to go over with you."

"Excellent," I reply.

The news, it wasn't good. The company apparently like me. They want to hire me and came up with a job offer. They're offering me a very appreciated and very much needed pay rise, a company car allowance, and an increased benefits band that's a step up from my job level as an enticement for me to join them.

I spent the evening spinning around the house shouting "I got a job offer!" and making the dog and the babies laugh at my behavior. Even if no one else comes in with an offer, I'm still free of where I am now. These problems will go. And yes, I will get new problems, I haven't become delusional in the space of a phone call. But hopefully I can face down going to work and not feel dread and despair at opening the laptop.

The news wasn't good.

The news was fucking amazing.

-H.

Posted by: Everydaystranger at 08:21 AM | Comments (52) | Add Comment
Post contains 745 words, total size 4 kb.

1 Fantastic news Helen! Well done...and I fully expect you to get the other two job offers as well. Knew you could do it...and rock!

Posted by: Suzie at October 14, 2008 08:24 AM (zJPh8)

2 AWESOME! Good on you!

Posted by: Lee at October 14, 2008 08:37 AM (cP0Yl)

3 HOORAY for Helen! So pleased for you petal. I always think you deserve good things, i am glad the cosmos is agreeing with me (OK, it might have a little to do with your ability!) abs x

Posted by: abs at October 14, 2008 08:42 AM (iZPKK)

4 Utterly thrilled to hear it. Congratulations!

Posted by: deeleea at October 14, 2008 09:47 AM (IphB3)

5 Hooray and congratulations!!! And good luck on the book, too.

Posted by: Donna at October 14, 2008 09:51 AM (pyud2)

6 Now THAT's the kind of "bad news" I like to hear.

Posted by: diamond dave at October 14, 2008 09:54 AM (iwNwv)

7 yay for you xx and if you're the only finalist, doesn't that mean that job's pretty much yours too?

Posted by: Mei at October 14, 2008 10:28 AM (Tv2ya)

8 Fantastic news! You have your escape pod. here is to having a choice of pods.

Posted by: Betty M at October 14, 2008 10:37 AM (cc52M)

9 Huzzah!

Posted by: Julie at October 14, 2008 11:26 AM (fTisq)

10 There will be a bidding war yet. Go Helen!

Posted by: Opal at October 14, 2008 11:30 AM (Ei/d7)

11 Yay! Congratulations!

Posted by: Erin at October 14, 2008 11:45 AM (IPMSz)

12 Woo Hoo! LOl, I got half way through the paragraph and had to ask, what does she mean its not good news? And I was afraid to keep reading, I walked away took a breath and came back to read the rest. Yay!

Posted by: Justme at October 14, 2008 11:56 AM (fZV9W)

13 Congrats!!! Getting a job offer is one of the best feelings! :0)

Posted by: deborah at October 14, 2008 12:09 PM (rKKNH)

14 I'm sending champagne and fireworks, (together of course, so if one explodes both will and there will be no evidence I shipped explosive materials. I can't see the baby photos and read about your new adventure if I'm in jail now can I?) No really, it's great news and you deserve it!

Posted by: Angela at October 14, 2008 12:15 PM (DGWM7)

15 Yay!! Oh, Helen, I am so happy for you. How relieved and excited you must be!

Posted by: Kath at October 14, 2008 12:27 PM (Jurj8)

16 Congrats!!! New jobs are an exciting time.

Posted by: Solomon at October 14, 2008 12:37 PM (al5Ou)

17 Hooray! Good for you! I knew you could ace all those interviews. Now let the bidding war begin!

Posted by: Jen at October 14, 2008 12:49 PM (XiTwS)

18 Wonderful! You should write some interview tips for the rest of us! Glad you liked the book!

Posted by: Sylvia at October 14, 2008 12:50 PM (gN4Fj)

19 Hand-me-downs are awesome - I never had my own school uniform till junior year of high school, and a good chunk of my play clothes till I was in middle school were hand-me-downs. Go you with the job offers! That's so awesome!

Posted by: Kelly Anne at October 14, 2008 01:10 PM (lfUmz)

20 Congrats Helen! Sounds like you're getting some well deserved kharmic payback, finally

Posted by: geeky at October 14, 2008 01:14 PM (FBNua)

21 Knew that pre-chilling the champagne was a good call! Congratulations.

Posted by: Marian at October 14, 2008 01:19 PM (OxdDo)

22 We're second hand central over here... makes a HUGE difference in the old budget. And many congratulations on the great job offer. Well done!

Posted by: ewe_are_here at October 14, 2008 01:31 PM (yftiB)

23 Congrats Helen. There is something about a new job offer that just warms the spirit no matter the current situation. Enjoy it, you deserve it.

Posted by: Matt at October 14, 2008 01:32 PM (/n9kT)

24 Congratulations! What awesome news!

Posted by: Rachel at October 14, 2008 02:29 PM (dhdS7)

25 I'm betting there will be a bidding war. Meantime, congratulations on the wonderful news that you are out of your career rut one way or another! Hooray! :-D

Posted by: Lisa at October 14, 2008 02:38 PM (hkgEp)

26 The news wasn't good. The news was fucking amazing. It makes me happy to see such good things happening to you. You deserve it, though. All of it and more.

Posted by: physics geek at October 14, 2008 02:39 PM (MT22W)

27 Congratulations, Helen! What a lovely bit of peace of mind to have stowed in your back pocket!

Posted by: Jennifer at October 14, 2008 02:47 PM (1aLkV)

28 congratulations! i'm rooting for you!

Posted by: 3e at October 14, 2008 02:56 PM (fpDiA)

29 Awesome with the job! And I LOVE me some hand-me-downs. Gareth has a complete adorable wardrobe because of his cousin Teddy, and we've only had to buy a crib for furniture (because the hand-me-down was 60 years old and the rattly latches went kaput. I'm going to recycle the pieces 'cause they're gorgeous.)

Posted by: B. Durbin at October 14, 2008 03:30 PM (9NgqI)

30 Congratulations, hon! What wonderful news!!

Posted by: Lisa at October 14, 2008 03:58 PM (Zr7Yp)

31 WOW, that is so awesome! I bet the babies thought you'd lost your mind, but it's good to keep em on their toes! Again, congrats!!!!!

Posted by: Donna at October 14, 2008 04:08 PM (jJ77o)

32 You Rock! Congratulations!

Posted by: trainy at October 14, 2008 04:16 PM (PuKHq)

33 Im so glad!

Posted by: That Girl at October 14, 2008 04:40 PM (hzryQ)

34 Whoot!!!

Posted by: sue at October 14, 2008 04:53 PM (0K+AI)

35 Fantastic news! And GREAT for the ego!

Posted by: hopefulmother at October 14, 2008 05:41 PM (3E5+8)

36 Congrats! I am sure that it is just the first of several and you will get to choose the one that works best for you and leave that horrific project behind.

Posted by: Melissia at October 14, 2008 06:01 PM (IBnue)

37 My heart dropped at "The news, it wasn't good." You tease! I hope it gives you a little twinkle to know you are in demand. Or at least the feeling of relief that there is another, much better opportunity available, away from the current job suckage. Brava!

Posted by: amishpromqueen at October 14, 2008 06:36 PM (OUTBp)

38 OMG ... that is so great. Well done and it's obviously so deserved!

Posted by: moira at October 14, 2008 07:21 PM (UGBIN)

39 How'd you find the recruiters? I always feel like my internet searches are giving me bogus recruiters.

Posted by: steff at October 14, 2008 07:26 PM (NnAdw)

40 That is the best news I've heard all day! Congrats!

Posted by: Theresa at October 14, 2008 07:57 PM (g2WoN)

41 I am fairly certain it will not be your only offer!! Congratulations on the FIRST one!

Posted by: kenju at October 14, 2008 08:38 PM (MvNh+)

42 Wonderful and fabulous! I hope you get the job you deserve--and that deserves you.

Posted by: sophie at October 14, 2008 11:02 PM (XxDnO)

43 h... I am thrilled for you. you need to teach me how to do this now

Posted by: stinkerbell at October 14, 2008 11:03 PM (O3iDX)

44 Oh, congratulations! So good to hear you have some other options.

Posted by: Julia at October 14, 2008 11:48 PM (FNm/r)

45 Yea!!! That is fucking amazing news! Good things come to good (and talented) people--this is the proof. I am so very, very happy for you! Can't wait to hear about the other offers pouring in... :-)

Posted by: Stacie at October 15, 2008 01:05 AM (p6L8W)

46 Awesome! I will light One up tomorrow morning, on my way to work, and puff the smoke out in your general direction, as I pass the view of Mt.St.Helen on I-5. In your honor!! Now go out there and bust some big balls! the biggest you come across.. because you know that is how women are measured and they expect it anyway. At the risk of sounding trite.. YOu go Girl!!

Posted by: j.m at October 15, 2008 01:46 AM (cogKH)

47 YAY! Have a glass of champagne for me. SO happy for you!

Posted by: Tracy at October 15, 2008 04:16 AM (eiiGE)

48 Hell yeah!!!!

Posted by: Lauren at October 15, 2008 04:18 AM (Pt1kf)

49 Woohoo! This calls for some cake. Sorry 'bout it only being two inches and made of clay and all...I'm allergic to making normal-sized, edible cakes.

Posted by: D at October 15, 2008 07:29 AM (bRx8a)

50 Congratulations!

Posted by: Jen (aaron-n-jen.com) at October 15, 2008 07:28 PM (tDesp)

51 I'm so happy for you!!!

Posted by: Meg at October 15, 2008 08:02 PM (1OdWO)

52 Well done you! And hopfully it will be a smooth transition!

Posted by: Heidi at October 16, 2008 02:52 AM (u0To0)

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