Business WomanIt’s been a long time coming, but I’m *back at work* – and by that I mean an old-fashioned 9 to 5 J-O-B.  I actually got the job by accident, or just by being in the right place at the right time.  My new gig is working for big pharma in the state (no shock there, NJ has the most of them) helping out a training department with their deployment and administration work.  This is the first time I’ve been in a corporate setting where the client isn’t a tech project – or I’m not leading the project.  Saving grace is that I’m working for my aunt, and she and I get along great, so the stress of wondering if my new boss is a bitch is not an issue.  Bad news is that I was suppose to be part time two days a week for this month and it quickly morphed into unofficial full time – but I don’t exactly have childcare for the entire week yet.  I honestly don’t understand how anyone can afford childcare and still have money left over from their paycheck.  We are very lucky that my mom is with us during the week and can watch the kids, but this coming week is a logistic nightmare for me.  Daughter is off for Spring Break & my grandmother needs a ‘sitter’ this week at my aunt’s house – so I loose my mom as our sitter.  Not very good when I’ve got meetings at work that I need to be in for and a husband that starts a new assignment on Monday.  I’m only on assignment until the end of the year and then I’ll take stock and see if I want to find another consulting gig or go back to my sweatpants and ponytails at home.  I’ll figure it out, I always do!

WHY did I want to go from being a stay/work at home mamma to a pantyhose-wearing 9-to-5’er? MONEY. And to get out of the house. More specifically, *extra* money so that we can do things that are normally outside of the budget like a new tile kitchen floor, summer camp for our daughter… and… here’s the BIGGIE… A RICK SPRINGFIELD CRUISE FOR **ME**ME**ME**.  You don’t honestly think I’d squeeze into pantyhose for a new kitchen floor do ya?  I didn’t go on the first cruise because the baby had just turned one and when the booking opened up I was in the hospital.  Priorities.  I have never done something as selfish just for myself and spent this much money on myself.  The clincher was that I had gone to a RS concert last week and gotten the *worst* seats I have ever gotten. Although the concert was great, I had a miserable time.

I’m going on this cruise solo, the travel agency will match me up with a roommate (hopefully as insane as me).  Totally indulgent, totally selfish, and for the first time in my entire life, I will not feel guilty about doing this for myself.  I would not go if it were “my husband’s money” paying for the trip.  So the new job of mine is giving me a paycheck, some independence, added self-worth and an identity separate from my children.  And a once in a lifetime chance for me to go see Rick Springfield – a childhood music idol and a big, fat check mark on the ‘things to do before I die’ list.

[tags]rick springfield, cruise, rick springfield cruise[/tags]