Did you know that I've been a professional expediter?

It's true!

I hadn't thought about that for years, but James texted me this around Thanksgiving: "I wrote this on Nov 9 when I finally got serious about working on our picnic table: 'Mostly because of Laura. She is the driving force in our relationship. And she's going to visit her parents tomorrow to drive forward all their needs, because that's what she does.'"

It's his nice way of saying that I'm bossy, something he has gently suggested multiple times in our relationship. And it's true.

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When I lived in Las Vegas, I worked briefly (maybe a year? maybe less) for a small tech firm that operated out of the back of an accounting office. As such, we didn't really have a "front desk," so I wasn't the receptionist. I did answer phones and did some help desk stuff when clients called in with issues. But my main job was to make sure the three techs we had on staff freaking showed up at appointments. I was really a babysitter, but my official job title was "expediter." I drove things forward.

This is a season of my trying to drive things and feeling pretty good about it.

D needed to get to DPS before going on a trip, and while they usually handle that stuff on their own, I was able to cinch a same-day appointment so they'd get their new license before TSA needed it.

I had James send me his references and just started blanketing the town with job applications (figuratively, online). Since December 11, I've applied for 24 jobs for him, he's had 2 interviews, and he has an interview Monday that will likely lead to a job, as they've already issued a conditional offer. Is it a job making about 10% annually what he made in 2023, the last year he worked full time? Yes, indeed, it is. BUT it's not $0, which is what we're bringing in at the moment.

NOW, if I can just work that magic on myself, I'll be pretty jazzed. There's a job that I've applied for before that I know will be opening up at some point in the new year. It's close enough for me to walk, and it's super part time but, again, it's not nothing. So send me some of that good mojo, and let's have a great 2026!