(This is a continuation of the previous post)

At six o’clock on Monday, after my boss gives me the green light to blow my vacation wad on the rest of the week, I’m walking out of the building and called Husband to tell him the good news. The conversation went something like this:

Me: Hi Honey! I’m on my way home. (Normally I text him this information so he’s already suspicious of the verbal contact. )

Husband: Okaaaaayyy

Me: And I’m not going back to work tomorrow.

Husband: Okaaaaayyy

Me: I’m taking all of my vacation because I’m about 70% sure I’m quitting my job but want to “play jobless” for a few days to be sure (emotional wanting to cry cracking in my voice).

Husband: Okaaaayyy

Me: Okay, so I’ll see you at home.

Husband: Okaaaayyy

Husband knows the kind of mood I’ve been in the previous few days, and being the extremely intelligent and caring husband that he is, he knows exactly how to handle me when I feel I’m coming close to the edge. Fast forward 30 minutes and I’m sitting on the couch getting advice from a friend who’s recently been through a similar situation. I was telling her “I’m 80% sure I’m quitting my job next week,” when Husband comes through the door with a bouquet of my favorite flowers. Damn. He’s good!

Fast forward to nine o’clock, sitting on the couch watching TV (normally I’d be thinking about getting ready for bed at this point), when my friend Amanda calls. The first words out of her mouth are “I broke up with Sam!” I counter with “I’m 85% sure I’m quitting my job next week!”. We sit there in a not-sure-who-gets-to-go-next-silence for a moment. I let her win because, although we both know my leaving the working world is a big deal, her breaking up with her first serious boyfriend since the first Bush was in “power,” trumps by work woes.

After a long conversation rehashing said break up (and making sure that she actually told him she was breaking up with him and didn’t just break up with him in her head like the last few times), I call the only other friend I know who’s done this kind of thing. I tell her I’m 95% sure I’m quitting my job next week, and she immediately hoots and hollers for me. Now, her situation was a little different because she was getting paid severance, but she said it was the best 8 months of her life, and if I’ve got the money I should do it in a heartbeat. She confirms my suspicions of the things I’ll love and the things I’ll hate and leaves me with an enthusiastic “DO IT! DO IT! DO IT!”

Fast forward a couple hours, and I’m in my PJs taking the dog on the balcony of our condo for his puppy pad potty break. I hear voices coming from the pool down below and sure enough it’s my neighbor Mark and his out of town guest.

Mark is on vacation too because he’s going to his bachelor party in Vegas this weekend. It’s midnight at this point so Mark inquires about why I’m not fast asleep. So… at midnight on Monday, standing on the balcony of my downtown condo, I spread my arms and yell into the night “BECAUSE I’M QUITTING MY JOB!”

Fast forward 10 minutes to find me drinking a Gin Pres and doing cannon balls into the pool.

Read the next post “Yeah! I get a new wife!”