The Greatest Adventure, Is What Lies Ahead

Curses! Frustration of frustrations! Our internet is so slow that I have been involuntarily resigned from every single game of Words With Friends because I cannot load it! Outrage! Injustice! I have never resigned from a word game in my life!

Ok, in other news, I start a new job tomorrow! This anticipation, swirled together with the window cracked to a sunny, breezy, 80-degree Sunday afternoon, has created a happy place, right here on the edge of my bed. Also, I can see the floor of my bedroom. This is such a rare occurrence I'd almost forgot what color my carpet was (it's beige, by the way). And I made two frivolous online purchases of Green Bay Packers and St. Louis Cardinals latte mugs, in celebration of my tax refund (I also need new mugs for my new job!). A happy place, indeed.

Yeah, so this new job business: as of tomorrow, I will have put in my first day as a Deputy Auditor for Lincoln County. My last day at the newspaper was Friday. Here's how it came about:

Two Tuesdays ago, I was sitting in on the Lincoln County Commission meeting, as is my usual routine every first, second and fourth Tuesday morning. The commissioners, the county auditor and the Deputy State's Attorney have all come to know me somewhat, and chide me about something or other every meeting, usually involving the Packers. This particular meeting, I was somewhat surprised when the auditor left her perch at the end of the raised commissioners' row and came down to sit next to me.

"Do you know anyone who's exactly like you who's looking for a job?" she asked me. I can't remember if I chuckled out loud or if it was just in my head, but before I could answer, she continued with a description of a job opening in her office, and what a wonderful fit she thought I would be. I didn't have much time to respond, but I thanked her for the heads up and said I'd certainly think about it.

So...I thought about it. I'd known the position was open for the past two weeks, but the thought had never occurred to me to apply. I'm a writer, not an auditor! Apparently, however, it's more about having people skills and an eager young mind than possessing innate, auditor-like qualities.

Two days later, I decided to apply. I sent in the application on a Thursday. The following Monday I received a call from the Auditor's Office. I set up an interview for Tuesday.

I initially was on the fence about this job. The newspaper had its ups and downs, but at least I was writing. If I took this job, I felt as though I might be selling my artistic soul (mainly because the salary was a significant increase from the newspaper, and a highly motivating factor). I convinced myself, however, that maybe I would actually write more if I got this job. More of what I want to write. As it was, having written all day for work put a certain damper on looking at a computer screen once I got home. Maybe, with this job, I would do more writing on my own, and more of what I *wanted* to write.

The more I thought about it, the more the idea grew on me, and the more I realized I was desperately hoping for this job. Especially right after the interview.

The news came while I was standing in line at Subway on my lunch break the day after my interview. I felt my phone buzzing in my pocket, flustering me a bit as I was between the meat and condiments selection. I immediately wondered, "is it them?!" I frantically fished my phone out of my pocket and instantly recognized the number.

"This is Laura," I said, trying to sound cool and collected.

"Hi Laura, this is Paula with the Lincoln County Auditor's Office."

"Hi Paula!"

"Hi! I'm calling to let you know that we would like to offer you the position of Deputy Auditor, if you would like to accept."

Don't act too eager, Laura, I thought.

"I would love to!" I said, very eagerly.

We exchanged pleasantries and arranged for me to call her back once I'd spoken to the newspaper about a start date.

I was beyond excited. I am beyond excited. I start tomorrow. All I know is I'll be doing election-related work and voter registration. I also know I will be working with wonderful people whom I've gotten to know over the past two years, once a week, every Tuesday morning, and the courthouse is a bright, new building full of windows and awesomeness.

So, bring it on! I'm a tad nervous, as is the case when learning the ropes of any new job, but I'm also very excited. Whether or not I skewer my "eager young mind" image with some catastrophe of epic proportions remains to be seen. But until tomorrow, the air is thick with anticipation, excitement, and healthy does of nerves. Wish me luck!