Hi everybody!
Brief update....
Took trip with #2 son in May. Before I went I had sent a message to the owner('s wife) of a place I have temped at a few times over the past 4 years. I was asking her if someone there could write me a letter of reference, or if I could list them as a reference when I started job hunting. I haven't really worked since I had been doing dialysis, other than my time with them (those were 2 8 week stints of maternity leave and 2 other week long times when the family took a vacation). Instead of offering to write me a letter, she asked me to come in when I got back from Florida - that they were interested in hiring me themselves.

I got home on a Tuesday, sent to see her on Wednesday and started on Monday. This was a whole new position which involved them purchasing a new computer, a new phone added to the system, a whole desk full of "stuff" (adding machine, stapler, tape dispenser.....). So I am pretty confident that if they are investing that much into it, it is intended to be a permanent thing. So as bad as I was at keeping up with the boards before, now I am even worse.
I will try to pop in now and then and try to catch up (I read Glennbo's today)
But I am back to work at a place that I truly enjoy being at with people that are great to work for and with. It is a plumbing company. In the office is:
the owner. He is usually only actually in the office a total of a couple hours a day. He visits sites for submitting bids, checks the guys out in the field, and goes and gets his hands dirty when things are particulary busy.
his wife. She maybe comes in a portion of 3 days out of the week. She pays the bills, writes the paychecks, and visits.
the son-in-law. Although actually he is in the process of getting a divorce from the daughter. But it appears as though he will be keeping the family in the divorce. She was a mini-couger when they got married (she was in her 30's divorced with 3 small boys; he was finishing college) He adopted her boys, they had 2 girls together; then she found someone even younger and now he has custody of all 5 kids. The oldest boy is in college and the other 2 are a Jr and 8th grade. He dispatches the plumbers and keeps the ever changing schedule prioritized.
Then there is Amy. She is the office manager and has 2 small children (which is why I was there in the first place). I will be getting most of my work from her, but then she will take over some of Mike's. Usually there is plenty to go around.
In addition there are 3 licensed plumbers; 2 apprentice plumbers (although Mike & Amy are also going through their apprenticeship too); 1 shop boy and another guy that doesnt actually work for them, but who has been kept pretty busy doing digs the past couple months.
Small group, mostly family - and a muuuuuuuch better environment than I worked at from 1992 - 2003.
Take care and I will pop in and out when I can!!