Keep Austin. . . sneaky

I recently left my mega full-time, 60+ hour a week, every other Saturday job. If that sentence is not reason enough, then stay tuned for another blog at another time. I am sure I will find a funny, flattering way to write about that experience. . . when the last bolt has rusted on that proverbial sinking ship. But, the good thing is. . .I left that position. It was one of the most liberating things I've ever done (I guess that is kind of redundant). Maybe powerful is a better word. Regardless, I quit and it was wonderful.

Not so wonderful was the exorbitant salary that I walked away from. To appease my worry-wart husband, and well yes, maybe to make ends meet more nicely, I signed up for temp work. Much to the credit of those same barely meeting ends, we (I) chose not tell my worry-wart in-laws about any of this.

In short order, the first temping assignment rolled in. Reception at a CPA firm in downtown Austin. 10 to 5 p.m. Not a bad gig. To make sure that I was not late, I left my house in the suburbs extra early. And then, of course, arrived extra early. By about two hours.

Still enjoying my new found freedom, I sat in the car for a while leisurely putting on my makeup and listening to the morning radio programs. But, like any good Southern girl, I started to "glisten" a bit and decided I needed some air (and some wifi). What to do, what to do? Duh! You are in downtown Austin (in flats). . .get out and stroll around. So, I took off up Congress Ave. looking for a place to sit and surf the net. After only a short block I found a cute little local coffee shop in the lobby of the Frost building. I purchased a latte and sat down to watch people. As I pondered the hustle and bustle of the folks coming to work, I thought about my mother-in-law who works in the building when she is visiting Austin. "Hmm...I wonder if she ever comes. . . .(slow realization setting in). . . .in here for coffee. OH CRAP! She doesn't know I quit my other job. What will I do if she sees me in here just hanging out in downtown Austin on a random Wednesday!!!" Quick as you can say disinherited I scooped up my bag and boogied my butt out of that coffee shop!


Since then, I've temped at the same place two more times. Instead of enjoying downtown Austin during lunch, I have to duck in and out of the CVS buying chips for lunch! But, that's what I get for fibbing I guess!


I spent the rest of the week trying to work up the nerve to tell them that I quit. But, that has yet to happen. I've got some nice lucrative options in the works though. I think I will just wait until those options are accompanied by at least a little check. Until then, no one in Austin blinks an eye if you are wearing a wig, and glasses, and a sombrero, while you "glisten", in flats downtown.  Keep Austin Weird!