I turned 39 this morning. Friday night my friends in Seattle threw a party. It was nice to have a party... I think it was the first party I've had since I was a teenager. Too much alcohol ingested... a very late night... but fun all the same. I'd do it again but I need another month or so of recovery. This morning I was met with Happy Birthdays from my kids, a phone call from my mom, a few emails and Facebook postings and voice mail... but, all in all, a really mellow day. I took a nap, I went with the kids to a birthday party for a 10 year old... I watched some TV.

I feel like I'm in the lull right before the next big wave pounds on the shore and my back is turned... I can feel the power but I haven't turned around to see just how big the wave is yet.

I was given a call by the hiring manager for the software company interview. He told me they are prepared to offer me the job should I be interested. I have no idea what the compensation model is so I told him that I was interested and now I wait for the package to be offered. In this case, though my motto is no negotiations, I'll have to negotiate, play the game...

I have many thoughts going on about this role. It's highly visible. It's a huge honor to be told they will be sending me an offer. It requires international travel which would be amazing. It is a huge commitment though. It requires me, for the foreseeable future, to continue splitting my time between cities. Relocation is not an available option for my family. It's also a huge stepping stone. I've been told by 3 people this role is a career maker, that I would be silly if I didn't jump the chance and that after doing this role, I can take my pick for the future.

It also would require me to actually fit into my work clothes again. Clothes I purchased just 5 months ago no longer fit me. I must do something to change this.

I also cannot put on shoes at the moment. The blisters are that bad.

Jury duty tomorrow. It sounds like the single most horrible thing I could do tomorrow but my civic duty can no longer be postponed and so I go at 7am, with a new book I hope is good... and a whole lot of time to kill.