"Wait a minute," you might be thinking to yourself. "What new job? I remember the flange plan. I remember you stressing out about work and being broke and yadda yadda. But I don't remember anything about a new job. Did I miss an entry? What's going on? Wha' happened?"

No, you didn't miss it-- this is the big announcement. I got a new job!

A couple of things before we all go getting carried away with excitement. Firstly, it's not a permanent job-- it is a temporary, freelance job. Through the end of January, I will be covering for someone who is going on maternity leave. And secondly, it's not a full time job. I'll be there between 20 and 40 hours per week, depending on work flow. (On the other hand, the money is pretty good. Even on a part-time basis, I am going to be financially viable!)

Where is "there," you wonder? What is "it," you ask? Well, I'll tell you. I am working as a proofreader at an advertising agency in San Francisco. And I love it. Today I proofread car brochures, a dot com thingy, and a credit card ad-- and I even read some translations of Catullus. The people are fabulous, the atmosphere is relaxed and fun, and the work is something I really like to do.

Also, there is a lot of "downtime" where I will be encouraged to "amuse myself" on the "internet." Score!

You want to hear something serendipitous? When I was in London last month, we walked past the National Gallery, where there was a big wall showcasing the color yellow and the work of van Gogh. I looked at it of course, and read it, and it was pretty cool. It was talking about color, and what it means, and painting restoration, and all this cool stuff.

Today, I proofread and fact checked a bunch of stuff about Titian and the color blue-- in other words, the next thing that is going up outside the National Gallery. The company I am working for is the one that did that very wall! Isn't that the craziest coincidence?

Here are some other cool things about my job:

It is located right where Chinatown and the Financial District collide. There are so many places to eat, shop, and explore right around there! And it is so fun to walk among all the people in their business suits (and past about seventeen Starbuckses) on the way to the office.

This company has done some very cool ad campaigns for some very interesting clients. She said, vaguely.

When I exit the BART station, I have to go up a hill to get to my office. I can either walk, take the bus, or take a cable car. That's right-- I can actually commute to work on a cable car! How San Franciscan!

No dress code. No time clock. No cubicles.

An excuse to buy new clothes for work. (I need things that fit me, right? Right!)

The fifth floor, my floor, has a pool table. The fourth floor has foosball. I haven't been to the other floors yet.

The security guard introduced himself to me, shook my hand, and winked. He said "welcome to the team." The guy who makes the coffee and does the dishes (yes, there is one) also shook my hand and said "welcome aboard." One of the producers (I work with the producers pretty closely) asked if she could call me Vandy.

We have a kitchen serving Peet's Coffee. Don't tell The Man I said this, but Peet's Coffee is damn fine stuff.

I was sitting at my desk today, working away, and suddenly a plastic ball rolled past me, containing a hamster.

As you may surmise, this job business came up rather suddenly. It pretty much fell into my lap, this dream opportunity, and I thought about it and closed my eyes and listened to my Zen Instincts, and then I said yes to it.

My boss at Starbucks was really great about it. I think we're both really bummed by the idea of my leaving Starbucks, and we want to work something out where I maybe work one shift a week or something. I want to do that-- for fun, to keep seeing my customers and my co-workers, to get my discounts, all that stuff.

And more practically, to keep my bridges intact-- I will need work, come February.

I am going to do something similar with my tutoring job. I will finish up with my current students (which will make the next two weeks hellish, by the way) and then not take on any more new students until this job is over. I think that's the job that sucks up most of my time and makes me most stressed, and I will be making enough money that I won't need to do it anymore.

I was in Starbucks yesterday and my friend Ry was so sweet and supportive. He was making fun of me because a different proofreading project fell into my lap two days ago-- I am getting a thousand dollars to proofread a very cool historical book about San Francisco. I felt like I won the lottery when I got that assignment!

To some of my friends, that's not much money, but Ry is as broke as I am, and knows exactly how much a thousand dollars is in my world. I walked into the room and he said, "Well, don't you look like a thousand bucks!"

Then I told him about the other job and he was very supportive, and talked me through all my Starbucks guilt, since this is the worst possible timing in terms of leaving Starbucks. Then a customer walked up and asked him how fresh the milk was, and he said, "It's not expired, sir, we use fresh milk." "But how fresh is it?" "Well, we don't have a cow back there, if that's what you're looking for."

I love that guy.

Speaking of Starbucks, a few days ago, another friend of mine and I had a big war. We were writing on each other's backs in chalk, having tickle fights, and tackling each other behind the counter. (I say, as if tripping and falling on top of him was on purpose, instead of a tremendously embarrassing and klutzy accident.) I held my own in the battles, but he totally won the war-- on my way out the door after work, a friend pulled the note off my back that read, "I'm a slacker. Kick me please."

Anyway, I am looking forward to my new schedule. Even with the occasional tutoring job and Starbucks shift, I will probably have a lot more free time and a much more stable income. At least for the next four months.

After I get through the next two weeks. Because boy, I have a lot of rescheduling to do.

Lordy.