December 1, 2010 (Catching up)

I got two emails today. One made me wistful and the other was a great surprise!

The first was from our friend who was our duplex neighbor when we were at Canyon de Chelly earlier this year (two different times). We became such good friends, and it was less lonely for me in this isolated spot because she was there. Fortunately for her, she has accepted another position in a different agency. Unfortunately for us, that means we won't see her when (if) we get back there, as today was her last day at Canyon de Chelly. Though we'll stay in touch, it won't be the same without her.

The second brought welcome and unexpected news that the tutoring service I freelance for has promoted me to the next step of the tutor hierarchy, from Tutor 1 to Tutor 2. This month is the first anniversary of my employment with them, so I guess it shouldn't have been a surprise. But I just didn't think about it. It means that I will be among the group that has first choice of the available hours in a three-day process of advanced scheduling each week, I'll be able to schedule more hours in advance, and it comes with a 15% raise--unheard of in this economy. I'm stoked!

I love the flexibility that this gives me for spending time on my other interests, as well as the fact that I can do it anywhere we happen to be as long as I have high-speed internet. The internet access is so expensive here (and we need it for Budd's job applications) that it's lucky I have this extra money to pay for it!