actually, the way you originally worded it , it sounded like you were planning to go back but that you recently decided it was time. Your panicing - is irrational. I was out of work for a year ( about) when we first moved out here. On purpose. I found work when I deciced it was time. The second time - 2 years. admitiedly I was subbing but that's a lot like frelanceing and temping. The concept of having steady employment all you life is odd now. and your hits will be way down. DH used to get 90-95% positive returns. It is something like 20% for him now. and that's about where I was when I was applying for only jobs I thought I'd really want. so you haven't even hit the panic numbers yet.

Kay Howard works for most things that aren't style quandaries...she's not very useful for that. Or staying out of of married people's beds... Other than that, though asking "What would Kay do?" surprisingly effective.

Fourth of July baby is seriously cute

My mom and I have been laughing at ourselves playing "baby dress-up." It's hard not to.

Susan, I've thought about the same thing since I'm about to have a large gap between graduation and finishing a new job. I know everyone has pretty much said the same thing, but I don't think an employer will object to your Annabel-related employment gap. If you were pregnant now they might (not that they should), but the fact that you are looking again means you are ready to get back out there. Plus, I think it's becoming very common for women to stay home for a while and then work for a while or vice versa. I have so many friends around my age who have done that.

My mom and I have been laughing at ourselves playing "baby dress-up." It's hard not to.

My flatmate and I do the same thing with our friend K. He looks adorable in a dress.

I begin to fear where this might end!

I have no such fear.

JZ is alternating bouts of intense reading with bouts of intense art projects.

Stephanie, said elsewhere, but I am DAID from that Ellie shot. OMG. It's hilarious. How'd you do that? I've never been able to capture that face on wee things. I've never seen it done!

Her dad should SO blow that up and post it big somewhere obvious.

With my usual statement about needing to lose 30 lbs. a given, I'm fond of this picture: [link] That's our backyard, the wisteria/blackberry/morning glory section.

Next-door neighbor's kid: [link] Actually, most of their backyard is very nice...

Shit, Susan. It looks like you live in the damn jungle.

Cool.

Hey Raquel! Zito won today, pitching 8 innings.

Also the A's fans gave him a huge chant in the 8th that got louder and louder until he could hear it on the mound (and the cameras caught him smiling at it.) A bit of apprecition for all he's done to hold the team togetheer this year when we were flailing.

Shit, Susan. It looks like you live in the damn jungle.

Blackberries are the kudzu of the Northwest. Only much tastier.