Wherein the plot thickens.

There are times—and the past few years have been some of those times for me and mine—when it seems like all of the hard work you do is really just barely keeping your head above water. When I mentally make a list of all that we've been through, I am amazed all over again. Humans are surprisingly sturdy.

It seems, however, that we are coming out of those times, and to be honest: it's a bit of a shock. But it's a luscious feeling, having some hope and happy anticipation. And tremendous relief that, for at least another year, the financial situation is stable and tenable.

Much of the past few days has been spent feeling like I can't quite believe my good fortune and that I truly could not have orchestrated a better situation for myself. Including, paradoxically enough, not getting an interview for The Job. Because now I get to do the job with almost no pressure, and a clean slate.

The big news: Mr. C decided not to take The Job. What this means is that they asked Ms. B if she wanted it, as she was their second--and I suspect the better--choice.

And in case you haven't been paying attention or got lost, this means that Ms. B is no longer competition for the job I want that will likely open next year! There is still plenty of other competition, including whomever they hire to do 40% of this job. So I am dutifully not counting my chickens.

It also means I have my choice of schedule, and don't have to work Saturdays!