Yesterday, after a few hours of running last-minute camping errands, I got a phone call from a friend who wanted to know if I wanted a job. Hesitantly, I said yes...and she said, call this guy right now, he needs a secretary/receptionist person.

So I called, and went as I was in lime-green cargo shorts, black tee shirt, and ball cap - to Studio City (on a Friday afternoon - ugh) for a job interview, resume clutched in my hot little hand.

It's a nifty job. Working for five geologists who look for groundwater, and tell the drillers where to drill. Five people (plus me if I get the job) in the entire company. Good pay, full benefits for me without me paying a dime, a Keogh plan that is 100 % invested each year - again, without me putting in a dime. I'd be working on reports, geological maps, send out invoices once a month to maybe 15 clients, so I'd have to learn Quick Books but that's no hardship. Plus, they grind their own beans fresh for coffee...

If I get this job, it will be an answer to a prayer. No more slogging through sales. No more heaving up heavy boxes of clothes. No more standing 8 hours a day. Just working at a computer from 8-5, almost no overtime required, salaried, the phone rarely rings and they get no visitors.

If the cosmic forces will now just keep their fingers crossed, I'll have a job when I come home from vacation and can start saving some money again. That would be a huge plus. Oh, and the job? It's pretty recession/depression proof. Companies need water.

So now it's time to put all this aside and get ready for the trip up north. One of my best friends will be living here in the house while we're gone, so the kitty is secure and so is everything else.

I just need to: change sheets do one last load of laundry pack clothes pack books make our lunches pay bills clean off bathroom sink take out all the trash put dishes away clean up kitchen and finish packing the car.

THEN our vacation can begin.