Well folks, through a twisty turny set of recent events I find myself the new owner of a job. Yep, a J.O.B. And even better? I like it! Of course, I may have to change my name to Mavis and grow a shemullet, but that is all in good time. I’ll try to keep my girlish good looks. Ha, ha. Ha.

Jason’s company recently began doing contracted work for a “certain large mortgage company” who is dealing with a lot of foreclosures. A large portion of this work involves cleaning and landscaping services to the properties… a lucrative opportunity but one that my husband and his business partner were not prepared to take on. So, I thought about it. And then I tried it. And then I decided to be like Nike and Just Do It. I found myself an awesome employee (and have several more waiting in the wings if I need them!), Jason set me up with all my supplies and WOOOSHH… I was off. A grand total of 48 houses in just four days. Not too shabby. This week I’ve been cleaning up a home that was covered in dog shit. Literally. Covered. We finished it today and left it looking 120% better than when we arrived.

So, you say… Why on earth would you want to spend your days cleaning? Wouldn’t you rather work in an air conditioned office and not come home smelling like a sweaty gym towel everyday? Good question. One I ponder especially hard when I arrive at a home with no running water and a giant floating dump in the toilet.

But these past few months I’ve felt especially restless. Aimless. Dare I say? Bored. So I decided I should get a job. I am totally qualified for an administrative assistant/secretarial job, but quite frankly that may very well be my version of H-E-Double Hockey Sticks. I really hate the way people expect you to be somewhere for EIGHT HOURS STRAIGHT. Even if your kids are sick. And sit. And tell them when you need to leave for five minutes. And deal with a bunch of office-politics-bullshit. And prick bosses. And boring, repetitive mind numbing paperwork. Um. Yeah. I figured it might take a while for me to find the perfect job… why not do this in the meantime? I’ve worked as a maid several times before and I must admit some obsessive compulsive part of me finds a secret thrill in restoring chaos to order.

I’ve discovered that there is something very cathartic for me in physical labor. I’ve slept better this past week than I have in a long time. I’ve sweat buckets and come home covered in every sort of debris imaginable. I may just be imagining it but I think my pants are fitting better. Plus? I’m the boss. I go in, get it done and get out. I can take a break when I want to. I can listen to my music and sing at the top of my lungs. I can stop if a yard sale catches my eye and chat with the neighborhood people. I can come home in the middle of the day if my kids are not feeling well or have an appointment. I can take them with me if I want! I’m finding it all quite zen, and that suits me just fine.

Its certainly not glamorous. Its hard work. I’m sore. Last week I ended up working over 45 hours. I’m exhausted. But I’m also excited! I can see this turning into a really great opportunity for us and I have no problem putting all my blood sweat and tears into it. But, mostly sweat.

Consider yourself warned: I have a Swiffer and I’m not afraid to use it.

… but, I don’t. And chances are neither do you. It seems to work that way.

I started my business some time ago with the intention of never having to work for “the man” again. And its been great. Fun projects, cool clients. Deadlines I could cope with, the chance to learn and grow and go at my own pace. Awesome. But also? Kinda lonely. Its hard to bitch to your coworkers when you don’t have any. And when you are dealing with the not-so-cool clients? Yeah, that can be tough. Plus? I’m really terrible at networking and marketing and getting my name out there. I try, but that is just so not enjoyable for me and I know its held me back.

And the past few months, its been real real slow. I’ve heard it from everyone, especially other business owners. Everything is slow. Money is tight. People are nervous. I don’t blame em… and I know the kind of services I provide, while very much worth it (IMO), tend to get pushed back if cash flow becomes a problem. That’s business.

(I realize that could just be an excuse and maybe I’m just a terrible writer or I suck as a businessperson. But I really don’t think that is the case. *shrugs* )

So, lately, I’ve been a little… anxious. Restless. Bored. Confused. Worried. Bored. My husband is self employed, and while his company is (THANK YOU BABY JESUS!) doing very well, slow times can come at any moment. We have no health insurance. (And for someone for whom extra seratonin is essential, that can be tricky.) We have a 95 year old house that could really, really use some fixing up, but we just don’t have the money for it.

Don’t get me wrong, we are doing fine. We eat well, we are able to do fun things now and again and spring for treats from time to time. But the strain is there. And as I told my husband last night… I can’t help but want a little more. (And feel super guilty.) I would like to see the frown disappear from his face when bill paying time comes around each month. I would like to be able to buy new pillows without wondering if it might tip the balance too much. I want to take my parents out to dinner. I would like to sign my daughter up for dance and let my son do cub scouts without always worrying if we will be able to make it this month. And to be honest, I would really like to talk to other adults on a daily basis.

So I’m thinking it may be time to suck it up and get a J.O.B. I’m going to take my time and try to find something right (or at least right enough!) for me. Something I can feel comfortable with. There are plenty of people out there who work at jobs they hate and I’m just pretty certain I can’t do that. (In fact, I know I can’t.) But maybe I can find something I can take some pride in? Somewhere that will let me grow a bit? Does that even exist?

It may not happen tomorrow, or next week, or next month. But I’m opening myself up to possibility and I’m eager to see what’s in store!

For a long time now I’ve toyed with starting my own clothing/sewing related business of some kind. I’ve made and sold aprons, bags and purses and am always coming up with some grand new scheme. The thing is, to really make a garment perfect and unique takes a lot of work… which I don’t have a problem with if it is something for my family or loved ones. I do have a problem with it if I have to turn around and sell a piece that took me 8 hours and a few fingertips for a couple bucks. Plus, I’d be competing with stores like Target who can afford to mass produce. And many people still think handmade=bad quality. (Which is silly. But whatever.)

After recently reorganizing my fabric stash and realizing that OHMYGODIHAVESOMUCHFABRIC, I thought it might be fun to make a collection of dress up clothes. My vision is themed kits of some kind… say a dress that can double as a pioneer womans outfit or medieval princess. Some very basic pieces that kids can mix and match with their own stuff.

I don’t know about anyone else’s kids, but for mine their dress up bin ranks only slightly lower than the dollhouse and the pool. Theirs is a collection of things I’ve made, cast offs from me and the Mr., interesting bits of fabric and old Halloween costumes. I don’t think I’ve ever actually bought them dress up clothes… which makes me wonder if anyone else would buy them for their kids. But then I remember that people buy their kids things like these sweet “Lil Lady of the Night” Bratz Dolls and realized that somewhere out there there have got to be other parents who would rather see their kid playing with a reversible wizards cloak or making mud patties in traditional Navajo costume. And by making the clothes out of re-purposed or recycled materials I can keep them affordable (read: less than $50 for a fairy princess outfit!) and keep Grandma’s old mumu’s out of the landfill.

So… what do ya think? Ridiculous frippery or a possibly novel idea? Would you buy a dress up kit for your kid (or someone else’s!)? Leave a comment telling me what you think and you can win your child their very own dress up outfit!