What's Happening Here, Near Philadelphia

Apparently I have been so Missing In Action that my absence is cause for concern.

You don't know how good that makes me feel.

With the unwelcome news that my job is coming to an end, my blogging mojo seems to have gone the way Marsha's sewing mojo went a while back. Fortunately, Marsha's has returned, so I have hope mine will, too.

Here's what is going on:

• As you may recall, my job will end on June 30 (actually June 28) unless I leave before that. As we move closer to the end of the school year and all of the celebratory events that come with that, it is harder and harder to be present.
• Hunting for a new job is a demoralizing experience. The process is so different from the last time I applied for a job (and let us not talk about how many years ago that was, actually). Everything is done on line in the most impersonal way possible. Monster.com is well named. It is "virtually" impossible to present oneself in person. I feel discouraged and close-to-hopeless much of the time.
• However, here's what's good on this front: I have two excellent letters of recommendation and a third in the works. I have had a first-of-three-sessions with an outsourcing professional that the school is paying for, and the woman is phenomenal. I told her I wanted to work for her. I have a Stephen Minister (lay person trained in active listening) who I meet with weekly and she is superb at helping me deal with the vegetable soup of feelings that I experience. I have scheduled an actual interview with an employment agency for later this week.

Here is other stuff that is going on:

• I'm not going to buy a new sewing machine, but was very appreciative of all of the input that y'all readers provided! I believe that I was just looking for something to make me feel better. My Bernina 1031 is still going strong, and if I end up unemployed, I'll have plenty of time to practice with the walking foot.
• Our regular group (well, most of our regular group with one delightful ringer) spent last weekend at White Oak. I traveled out with Helen rather than Honna and since she and I are both in similar circumstances, we had good conversation and understanding. It was an excellent weekend and it is hard to think that there is a seven-month wait for the next one.
• My family has been so supportive. My sister, niece, and daughter-in-law in particular have expressed interest and concern without being smothery.
• I agreed to make a quilt for pay for someone. The fabric and design are not what I would have chosen, but I am doing a good job and it could turn out that I do more of this. I can't post any photos. I don't believe that the intended recipient reads this blog any more, but I don't know that for certain.
• I'm reading more. I'm doing some hand-sewing/binding/applique. I have another little baby quilt, Pink Lemonade, finished and will share that soon.
• I'm evoking another comment amnesty for the most part on past posts and will try valiantly, yet again, to be prompt with comment acknowledgment and response.

Thank you for sticking with me. As the proprietor of the Last Exotic Marigold Hotel reminds me, "Everything will be all right in the end. If it's not all right, then it isn't the end."