I don't want to be a grownup anymore...

I have rats. Well, my backyard has rats anyway. I've known there were a few running around the back fence and that didn't really bother me until they decided my laundry room was cool digs. The idea that I could go in with a basket of laundry and hear scuttling behind my dryer was revolting. I had to do something. My options are somewhat limited. I was afraid of using poison since my dog might get hold of a sick or dead rat. Then I discovered my dog is the polar opposite of a ratter. I once tried to get her to 'finish off' an injured rat caught in a trap and instead she ever-so-gently picked up the rat from the concrete and put it on the soft grass in the yard, obviously showing pity for its plight. Great. So I had to whack the mortally wounded rat to finish the job. Ick.

So I decided to go with a trap. I've caught 3 so far and times like this really make me appreciate the woman my grandmother was. When I lived with her in college we discerned there was a rat living on the back porch. MY room was the closest to the back porch so I was freaked. At one point said rat got into the house proper and my grandmother chased it with the handle of a plunger. She managed to chase the rat into the bathroom where she proceeded to whack at it mercilessly until said terrified rat pounced from surfaced to surface, finally jumping into the toilet and swimming down the drain to a merciful drowning, which was much preferred to the manic granny with a stick. I- at the time this unfolded- was curled up in a fetal position on my bed with the doors closed, whimpering like a little girl.

Well dammit, I may never have the nerves of steel of my grandmother but I have been forced to be a grownup and lure rats to their demise. I bait my medieval contraption with peanut butter, gently set the mechanism of death and retire for the evening. The next morning I peek out the back door and more often than not, am greeted by another victim. I haven't found a good disposal option so I am burying them in various spots around the front yard.

At this moment I am far from hungry for breakfast and feel like Tony Soprano with various graves and body locations stored in my head. I send out a psychic message to rats in my perimeter. Stay away. Don't make me kill again. Your deaths erode my soul.

Payoff

Ye-ha and all good things! I got a job offer yesterday! I got a call from a placement company for a job as a Tech Writer/ Project Manager for the Texas Department of Health. It's not a perm gig, just a few months most likely, but good enough for government work- literally.

A few more details-

I think the pay is $26 an hour. Less than Dell but since I won't be having a lot of withholdings I will probably have an even bigger take-home pay.

It is rediculously close to my house. At 45th and Lamar. I can easily bike to work and that is my plan. I've gotten addicted to the changes in my body from my work with Beth so I want to keep the good stuff going.

I was starting to worry I would have to go back to tech support. This job does draw on my background in that. They wanted someone to document training for Citrix and other applications so the geeky side is helping the nerdy one.

Thanks to everyone who bought me dinners, drinks, had me over, etc. when I had no money (or at least thought I didn't). I owe many folks a night on the town so I'll be making that happen soon.

First things first though. Saturday night I have a date with a time traveler. We'll see where I end up. At the moment I'm really liking the here and now.

Now

Every day I grow stronger.
I'm pushing myself because it is currently how I survive.
I've adapted well.
I see the space transform from 1970s retro to clean and modern.
I get compliments and approval from one who thickened my skin years ago and taught me never to expect it.
It's been years since my work has been physical.
My first jobs were always the hardest on my body.
Peach picking, scrubbing floors, pulling machinery out of an oven and testing for leaks...
I miss my body from those days.
It is welcome to see it returning.
To see the definition in my arms and shoulders.
The rope-like muscle popping out at my neck.
It is nice to go to bed tired from the day. I even like the pain a bit...

Emotionally this has been a lifesaver. A couple more weeks and depression would have set in. Depression I can't treat because of my chemical imbalance.
The exercise and distraction are doing wonders.

Now if someone would meet me at the door and lick off all this salty sweat...

1 Down, 1 To Go

Yeah, better.

I met a girl.

She zeroed in on me at speed dating and I although didn't initially think it was the best idea (she's young), I went ahead and asked her out.

She's pretty rockin. I think our biggest challenge will be trying not to out-nice each other. We both tend to be caretakers and enablers in relationships so I don't know the outcome when two of those types start to date.

Anyway, she's pretty awesome from what I can tell so far. She's well read, smart, big vocabulary... Oh, were you asking about her or me? Yeah, same applies. She seems to really care about me- like my comfort and happiness. Cooks for me, brings me tea, gives me backrubs... yeah, good stuff. Oh, and did I happen to mention- Hottie McHotterson? Yeah, body that won't quit. Cutest butt ever! Looks drop dead gee-orgious in evening wear. A model and a cook. Who did I bribe upstairs for that?

I have no ideas on the future but things are going well so far and I try to remind myself to live in the moment and stop trying to kill off the good feelings with worry about what will happen down the line. At this point I can tell you I've got a steady. Hopefully it will stay steady as she goes.

Oh, as for the job stuff. Bleah. I've pretty much decided there are a LOT of unemployed tech writers out there. They must also be more experienced than me since I'm applying for lots of jobs and getting next to 0 interviews. I finally gave up and sent in my rez for a couple tech support jobs. Now THAT makes the phone ring. Damn, with the way this is going I'll end up back in PC and network support at half my old salary. Double-bleah. Think good thoughts. I really don't want to go backward.