I'm glad you were able to get everything shipped and taken care of, awesome! And, that's just so weird that your boss ended up being so laid back... I guess it's a good lesson, I just wouldn't have pegged him that way from what you said, although now that you know the whole story, it makes sense. Interesting.

And, hmm... that's really interesting (and cool!) that having your company up and running and making money improves your sense of self! Did the board meeting go better (I'm assuming it's the same one that you went to previously, where you didn't feel like you clicked or fit in?) It sounds almost like... (and I'm going way out on a limb here, so it might be wrong)... like there's something in your brain that associates owning your own business with success (as opposed to be an employee in someone else's business)? Not that I blame you, it's definitely something to be proud of!

You're probably right about the job, and about the retirement stuff. It's really hard... I have a good friend that's been with the company forever, and is a really smart, practical guy (and has been a huge help to me, I worked for him practically out of school). He's the one that's telling me that with all the time I have in at this place, I'm getting to the point where it just doesn't make sense to leave. But, I don't think I can do 12 more years with my current boss. Did I tell you about my recent review? It was basically all "average" type scores. I very politely and appropriately asked how else I could support him and what I needed to be doing to get better scores and he said, "You're doing great, this is a great review, don't worry about it!". Sigh. So not helpful.

I got to talk to my friend today, briefly before her baby woke up. She's still not thrilled about the move, and she's definitely quitting the telecommuting job (the other group really wanted her to stay on, in fact, when she called her boss to tell him that she needed to quit, he really tried everything to get her to stay, including part time hours, and as it is, she was having to get in touch with HR b/c she's about to start getting paychecks again - and she's not sure they're going to actually put through her resignation!!!)

Anyway, she hasn't talked to her friend (the woman she introduced me to) but encouraged me to just go ahead and email her. She couldn't think of any reason that they wouldn't have gotten back to me, she said they were all excited about bringing me over (including her boss), and she knows my work and doesn't think I could have scared them away. And, they really need someone now that she's not coming back, and her friend is preparing to leave for maternity leave (!). Ha - it's a little scary - I'm not sure I can really take over things for the both of them! But, good to know. I had to go in to the office for meetings this afternoon, so I'll drop her a note on Monday. I still don't 100% know that it's going to be a great wonderful fit for me, but at least the group sounds better, so I'm hoping. It's hard, I feel so out of practice with everything - it's really hard to feel competent when you're not actually doing a lot. Yikes.

And yeah on the eating! It's hard. I find that the chocolate is so much of a comfort food for me (but also really disrupts my sleep, which I don't need!) - plus it's comfort I can indulge in *while* working, as opposed to say... curling up in bed and watching TV!

The foot and toes are still feeling wrong. It's not a high level of pain, just general discomfort (with occasional high pain if I bend it wrong). It's just starting to really wear on me, and freak me out a bit. Do you think it's weird to go to an urgent care place like... two and a half weeks after an injury? I've only seen my primary doc once, ever, and I think urgent care probably has more experience with this type of thing. I don't know... my experience with sprained ankles is they just seem to wrap them up and tell you to put ice on them and rest them... I just hate to pay for that, if it's something that will hopefully heal on its own!

Stay warm, and good luck with all the snow! Shoveling a roof? Wow... I can't even imagine... be careful up there! Oh, and enjoy your Valentines Day!