Holy SHIT!

Sorry for the title, but that was my comment tonight around 5:15 when I walked past my computer and checked my email. Remember a few weeks ago when I interviewed for that job? The one that I really, REALLY wanted -- partly because it sounded interesting, but mostly because I could work from home 99.9% of the time? Well, a few days afterwards, I emailed the woman who interviewed me (who happens to be the president of the company) and just thanked her for contacting me, having me come in, etc. The truth is, I was just hoping she'd respond and give me some sort of hint of how I did, if I was being considered, when I'd know their decision, etc. But she never responded. I was bummed, but since I hadn't asked any direct questions in that email, I realized she didn't HAVE to respond, and let it go.

A week later, I still hadn't heard either way and it was driving me insane. Normally, I don't get that obsessed over an interview or a shot at a job. But I had felt like I really did well in the interview. Sometimes I leave an interview with a feeling that I didn't do horrible or anything, but that I (or the interviewee) just wasn't "feeling it." But this one was different. I KNEW it was the place I was supposed to work. So I emailed her again. I wasn't insane or anything. It was literally 2 or 3 sentences long and just said that I was still anxious to hear their decision and politely inquired if they had made a decision or not yet and that either way, I'd be good. Once again -- nothing. Not an email. Not a phone call. Nada.

It was a serious blow to my ego. I'm okay with not getting a job. The competition out there is stiff right now and there are a TON of technical writers better than me, so I don't mind if someone else gets a job I want. But no response at all? Damn. I felt like a leper. I was seriously wondering what psychotic thing I had done or said that made the woman afraid to even respond to my email. I convinced myself she had decided I was a prostitute based on the outfit I had to wear that day (since it was the only one that fit). I was a basket case.

I had kind of let it go again, but it still irked me. I mean, as the president of a company, wouldn't common courtesy tell you to respond and at least say, "I'm sorry, but we gave it to someone else." Great. Now I know and I can continue my job search.

But anyway...

At 5:15 or so tonight, I'm walking past the computer and see I have a new email. I glance and see it's from her. The woman who interviewed me and then caused me serious self-esteem issues for the past 2 weeks. I think, "Shit. Do I open it? She wouldn't have ignored me a week ago if I had the job." But I sucked it up and clicked on the sucker. This is what I saw...

"Allison,

I am sooooo sorry not to contact you back.

We have been struggling internally with making a decision on exactly what we wanted to do. But we have decided and want to know if you are still available?"

Oh my god! Now, I made myself not get my hopes up yet. Asking me if I'm available doesn't mean I have the job. It just means they may have narrowed it down to a few people. So I take a deep breath, and respond with something along the lines of "Absolutely I'm still available."

I now sit in front of my computer, obsessively waiting for a response. It was kind of late in the evening, so I didn't know if I caught her before she left for the day, etc. But about 10 minutes later, I got this...

"Wonderful!  Thank you for your patience.

I will put together an offer letter and send it your way.

When do you think you would want to start?"

Glass shattered when I screamed. OK. So not really, but it was close.

I GOT THE FUCKING JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Words cannot describe the joy I felt. The weight that was lifted off my shoulder at the moment I read that email. I can WORK FROM HOME! And for the first time in 2.5 years, we'll once again have full medical benefits and dental insurance and a 401K. And I'll have a steady paycheck. And when Hannah starts kindergarten in September, I can put my babies on the bus every morning and be here every afternoon when they get back off the bus. And I can take them to their after-school stuff and be around when they need me. And if one of them gets sick at school, I can go right down the street and bring them home. Life doesn't get any better than that, my friends.

And I must admit, that beyond being excited about it because of the financial stability thing (which is HUGE right now for me), I'm excited about the job itself. The company as NEVER had a technical writer before, which amazes me since they're a computer software company. I mean, if a client buys your software, shouldn't you have a writer who writes the user guide and stuff? What the hell? So this is an entirely new position for them too. Their existing documentation and website SUCKS, which is where I'll come in. They also want someone who can test their software. I have experience in that too, which is how she came to call me when she saw my resume. They were going to hire 2 part-time people... one to do the writing and one to do the testing. But then they saw my resume online and thought it might be cool to hire one person to do both jobs. (I'm assuming that's what she meant tonight when she mentioned the "internal struggle" within the company.) So I get to go in and start from scratch. I get to revamp and reorganize and do things the way I want to, which totally kicks ass.

So anyway, I know this is totally rambling and probably of no interest to anyone else reading this. But I am ONE happy girl tonight. Of course, now that my stress has been reduced by an astronomical amount, I'll probably gain back all 20 lbs. that I've lost due to not eating, but I don't even care. LOL! Well, I sort of do. Because my friend Heather and I are going to get our belly buttons pierced sometime soon now that we've both lost weight due to not eating because of stress. Right Heather? RIGHT?! ;)