I find I'm so excited, I can barely sit still or hold a thought in my head.

I think it's the excitement only a free man can feel, a free man at the start of a long journey whose conclusion is uncertain.

So yeah. I got the job. The first job I have applied for in over 13 years. I was told there were an unusually large number of applicants, and many of them were current university employees. And even though I feel like Red on the beach right now, earlier today I felt like Andy Dufresne crawling through 500 yards of unimaginable foulness.

Last night I had to break the news to my boss that I was being considered for the new position and that the department chair wanted to talk to her about me. I had to tell her on the phone, and she took it...okay. She didn't swear or cry, but she wasn't overly happy for me, either. After that tortuous conversation, I sent her numbers to the chair, let's call her Ann. Ann told me she would contact my boss in the morning.

So this morning, I sat alone at work from 9-1, hoping for a call from Ann. No such luck. At 1:00, my boss came to work and didn't say much to me. She did say, "your people didn't call me."
And that was the beginning of two of the most uncomfortable hours I can remember. Did I just piss off my boss for nothing? Why wasn't Ann calling? Was she interested in someone else?

Longest afternoon ever. Maybe she will call tomorrow. I walked down to the mailbox, and when I got back, the nurse was taking a message from Ann. My boss called her back as soon as she got a chance, and shortly thereafter Ann sent me an email to set up a good time to talk to me.

So tonight at 8, she called and offered me the job. She is going to get some more information from Human Resources about salary, but it's a done deal. One of the amazing benefits of this job is that employees are eligible to take 12 credits per term at 30% of the in-state tuition rate, and that is transferable to their children. So even though I am negotiating a strong starting salary, I would probably work for minimum wage and the tuition discount.

I am so excited to work with people who like people. I felt such a great energy in my interview, and having had a number of conversations with Ann I am convinced that this will be a great move.

I am really grateful for my friends, who texted and emailed and encouraged me over the past two days. We all need friends in here.