It's been absolutely FOREVER since I've blogged, and a great big WHEW!!!!!!! for all my adoring fans. Life has still been DYNAMIC at Chez Montalbano, (read "dynamic" to mean manic, chaotic, never predictable, but never dull) and even more changes are yet to come.

I am at a particularly wide FORK in my road of life. This 'Y' is so wide, it looks more like a peace sign - actually I'm at a 'T' maybe. Here's the dilemma.

Choice A, or #1, or the one I came up with first:
Register and attend Graduate School at UAB (while working one or more part-time jobs), complete the 5th year program and begin a teaching career.
Pros: yes, I love to go to school. job with good benefits, steady pay, vacation time with the children, state retirement plan.
Cons: expensive - $1692 per semester in tuition alone, plus fees, books, supplies, parking; semi-dangerous - downtown school after dark; 1.5 years until I get PAID for this path; do I really want to TEACH?

Choice B, or #2, or the fallback plan (and it still is not a bona fide offer on the table):
Get the job offer at Baptist Health Systems and TAKE it!
Pros: great company, great benefits, nice workplace, flexible dresscode, some people-work, some technical work, some training work, nice people to work with, free parking, 7 miles from my home, boss seems very nice and laid back (could he deal with me?), the money's good and would be exactly what the family needs. With steady income and keeping the business too, I can see debt payoff around the next corner, and some stability moves being made.
Cons: could still go to grad school, probably won't, what if I got laid off? what if he's NOT a great boss, what if managing this area is like guarding a tomb? Will I go insane? Will I sit and miss my babies all day every day?

When? Well, school starts 8/19, and I don't know when the job could materialize, but soon either way. I really want the job. I really REALLY want that job. I'll keep ya'll posted.