Career Changes and Distractions

I've been spending the last couple of days getting back to my reading and doing some market research.

I'm moving on in the book Sexual Anorexia into the first of the twelve steps. I've been picking up some days subbing so I've had to put it down. It's not something you bring to school to read. Too many uncomfortable questions. When I finish this current chapter I'll go through the questions and process it.

I've also picked up another book on Chakras and Archetypes. It's really interesting. I've read up to the first chakra, the root chakra and the two archetypes involved: the victim and the mother. There are a few questions that I'll blog about when I get some time.

I'll be spending the next few days doing at least 2 hours of wood working each day trying to catch up to my schedule for renovating Bri's room. I want to have it done in time for her birthday. That means the woodwork needs to be nailed up and done by the end of next week. I'll spend this weekend sanding, cutting and poly-staining. Hopefully by Monday the boards will be ready to nail up.  The furniture hasn't arrived yet. I hope it gets here by the 17th at least.   We'll see.

I've been trying to keep this career stuff to myself to avoid other people's negativity. It sucks when you get a great idea and people hurl their skepticism at you so I've only mentioned it to hubbie so far. I'll mention it to Jess when I get to the point I want to start drafting a business plan.

I've noticed, finally!, the constant rage that accompanies teaching for me. Even the good stuff seems to have sharp edges. 13 years ago when I decided to take the path of the teacher I was filled with a rush of hope and a passion for the work. I managed to maintain that for years. I think I really let go of that after the Jamestown job. I was crushed that I had to leave and frustrated at not finding another job for two years. Then the one I got was crap. I just got so fixated on following through that I ignored the toxicity.  I'm stubborn as hell when it comes to not giving up. It fills me with panic to leave it behind me whenever I think about it and I've been thinking about it a lot since 2010.

Getting sick the way I did this December slowed me down. The soul searching I have been doing seems to have opened me up. I had toyed with the idea of making stained glass panel art and selling it. I wasn't meaning to do it really for profit as a business. I just loved it and wanted to make enough to support the habit.  But lately, with the idea of leaving teaching for good flowing around my brain, I've been asking myself what would I do with myself? Managing rental properties just isn't a real stimulating option. It's not even really a job. I'll have to manage the mowing and shoveling, the repairs and payments for taxes and insurance, but that's not going to keep me busy and it certainly won't excite me.

So I have to do something else with myself as a real occupation. I'll probably teach one more year and then let it fall away. In that time I can do the market research I need to do. I've already made a list of equipment and start-up costs. I've been drafting designs and images for panel ideas in a drafting book I've got. I developed a sigil for dragons. It popped into my head a couple of days ago while I was reading a new book on got on the history and types of dragons.

I can feel my creativity start to flow again. I've got colors, texture and shapes again flowing in my head. It's great. My energy has been much lighter and happier lately. I've noticed I don't get out of breath as much now I'm getting sleep and eating much better than I did before. That's without adding exercise to the mix yet.

Brigid is doing phenomenally. They noticed she knows all her letters as daycare. She's being social, helpful, and she's very cuddly with me and hubbie. When we talked on my birthday dinner outing, we both agreed that we are very proud of how affectionate and joyful she is. It's a good sign she's loved.

I'm very excited about the turn my occupation ideas have taken. I"m trying to keep it under control and maintain a level head so I can approach this logically and with good sense. That's why the research and why the business plan. I'll probably look into an LLC as well so keep myself safe as much as I can from litigation and I think even bankruptcy. I think, depending on the type, it can shelter your private assets from the business bankruptcy. Not that that will be much of an issue since, with a small business, if I don't make a profit I won't be able to afford to continue at all.

Really good sites for stained glass:

http://www.atouchofglassand.com/symbols.html

http://www.etsy.com/shop/GothicGlassStudio?ref=l2-shopheader-name

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Suncatchercreations?ref=l2-shop-info-name

http://www.etsy.com/shop/JBsGlassHouse?ref=l2-shopheader-name

http://www.ebay.com/sch/tlink/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=

http://www.ebay.com/sch/samadhilight22/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=


The first artist does what I'd like to do and that is combine Wicca and stained glass. The second artist approaches that niche but doesn't follow through. The studio seems more into Halloween and Gothic art than occult religious stuff.

I'll be watching the first artist closely and any others I can find to gauge pricing and advertising ideas.

Jess has an associate's degree is business so I'll be picking her brain as well.