wooden ceiling A few months ago, I found out that I would be losing my job. It came as no surprise: my company had moved from the New York City area over a year ago, and company policy was that I should either follow to Texas – to which my husband (and I) had said an emphatic “Never!” – or be terminated. In fact, I was fantastically lucky to have very kind managers who allowed to work remotely for over a year… Until a new reorganization also pushed them out. By that point, I was tiring of my job, and tiring of all the travel. A layoff was probably the best solution… And yet, despite the support of my beautiful husband, I couldn’t help but feel terrified that my days were going to be endless deserts of boredom and soul-crunching job seeking.

Not so much, it turns out.

Oh, finding a job in this market is not easy, especially for someone with my type of experience. In fact, I’ve been unemployed for 3 months and still don’t have a new job. But boredom? Ah! I have written a (decent) short story and (terrible) half-novel, on which I’m still writing; decided to go back to school for Comparative Literature in the fall of ’10; researched the schools and their requirements, and started preparing for the GRE; decided to move to Indianapolis with my husband (he has a business partner there, it’s cheap and more conducive to studying that the NYC whirlwind for me); scouted the place and found a fairy tale house with wooden ceilings in one week-end; started organizing a move in two weeks; and of course, I have started this blog to monitor my progress in English and Literature on top of the French blog I keep for my European friends and family.

On the horizon: keep writing, keep reading (and making notes here), finish preparing for the GRE and get ready for the TOEFL, learn how to use Photoshop, learn how to take better pictures, learn how to drive (yes, I’m 32 and I can’t drive…), keep in touch with my loved ones in France and… Find a job in Indy, of course. That’s all in the immediate… Oh, except for planting an herb garden in the new house, discovering the city, loosing ten pounds (I’m not kidding) and making new friends in Indiana!

Meanwhile, the cats hide in the carboard boxes scattered all over our Park Slope apartment, and call to me to relax, calm down, relax…

Time for a cup of tea, I suppose. With a good book!

Currently reading: Beowulf (Seamus Haney translation)
Soundtrack: Tori Amos, Abnormally Attracted to Sin (the entire album!)