New job

What a difference three weeks makes.

For the record, I wasn't even looking for a job.  I want that to be perfectly clear.  Several months ago, a representative of HealthCare Connection, Inc. called the Indian Path Medical Center lab.  I answered the call.  He asked if I was interested in a travel position.  At the time, I was still attempting to get into ETSU and LMU, so I said no, I was happy where I was.

Fast forward to the 21FEB2013 (that's the official record date format for my new employer).  An email shows up marked "Blood Bank opportunities!"  If I had a dollar for every email marked "opportunity" that I have deleted since becoming a MLS, I could afford something besides Kroger coffee.  If there's one thing I like, though, it's blood bank.  I could be making $50 an hour and I'd still open emails labeled "Blood Bank."

I was initially turned off by the "greater Atlanta area" part.  I hate Atlanta.  It's friggin' hot in the summer, and traffic sucks year-round.  The last time I was in Atlanta was the 2003 Simon & Garfunkel tour.

Then I noticed "6+ month contract."  I thought, Hey, if I take it, maybe I can get a shortened up contract, make a bunch of money, and have a decent surplus going into medical school.

So I replied.  After getting details, I discussed it with the beloved.  The conclusion we reached was that I would take the job if I received an outright acceptance from DCOM.  The next day, I started thinking about last year and the crunch trying to arrange funding if I had been accepted on short notice.  After some more consideration, I decided that even if I was waitlisted, I'd take the job.

Finally, I decided that given that I'd been waitlisted at DCOM last year, they were sure to at least put me in limbo, so I went ahead and turned in my notice.  That evening, before I got up to go to work, the beloved had a letter to go with my tea.  I had been flatly rejected.

Still, I've decided to press ahead with this position.  It sounded like fun.  More important to a husband and father, it sounded like well-paying fun.

Unfortunately, the job requires a wee bit of travel.  The lab is located in Norcross, GA, a suburb of Atlanta.  The plan is for me to stay there alone, and drive up every other weekend to Etowah, where the Beloved, the Quart, and the Pint will be moving.