Free

Now that the dust has settled, I can share a bit of what my life has looked like over the past month.

First of all, I left my job which was a huge deal for me. I had been thinking about it for a long time and for a number of reasons but fear of financial destitution kept me firmly in place. It wasn't a bad gig as far as working for a company goes but over the last three years, I found myself dreading Mondays more often than not. Since the bulk of time in any given week is spent trying to earn a living, I figured that I owed it to myself and to my family to try to make it on my own.

So, I formed a company with one of my closest friends.

It's been both terrifying and thrilling. I'm pretty good at what I do which has enabled my clients to make the transition without so much as a hiccup. Those close relationships have also meant that I've heard what my former employer has had to say, most of which is ugly and unpleasant. It doesn't upset me because frankly, it was entirely expected but it reflects poorly on him and that makes me sad.

Second, we watched our eldest son, Dallas's boy, head off to boot camp and let me tell you, THAT was hard. I am a raging liberal. The idea of one of my children in the services was something unfathomable to me until I realized that without the military, the chances of eldest learning a trade, being able to support himself and having access to things like health care and favourable mortgage rates, were next to none. Eldest was one of the many kids who slip through the high school system like ghosts and who graduate without a meaningful plan for the future.

Like a lot of his peers, eldest left school with the ability to play video games, an acceptance of mediocrity and just about nothing else. Thank God for the navy. They will pick up where we failed him. I'm very grateful.

Third, teenage daughter recently experienced a bump in the road but rather than tuck her head in the sand, she has stunned us all by taking the steps necessary to move to the next level in her life. I feel hopeful for the first time in nearly two years. We've extended an invitation to her to come and live with us for the remaining six months that we have in this country. I know that there are some of you shaking your head in disbelief right now but when your kids will allow you to help them help themselves, it is a gift. I am officially holding my breath.

Fourth, I am homeschooling Dylan and loving it. Liv will finish third grade in the public school but she will be coming home too, at least for a year. My head is aflame, I know.

Finally, I've given up gluten. I'm not a celiac but after heaps of research, I've come to the personal conclusion that our bodies were not mean to consume most grains. For nearly a month, Dallas, the kids and I went Paleo (no grains, dairy or legumes). I felt better, lost weight and the nagging ache in my right arse cheek went away. Then last week, we went to Florida and everything went to hell on Saturday night. We had a fabulous meal at Emeril's and I ate the bread. I ate the flash fried oysters. I had CAKE for dessert. It was gastronomical nirvana.

And then for the next three days, I blew up like a balloon. I looked like something that belonged in a Johnny Depp movie. My toes, cankles and knees were so swollen that I looked pregnant. I had wicked cramps, made unpleasant trips to the potty and Sunday night, the sciatic pain in my ass came back. Let me reiterate: I am not a celiac but sadly, my days as a grain eater are over. From now on, I will try to stick to a mostly Paleo diet. Surprisingly, gluten free beer is pretty good and apparently, Whole Foods stocks some gluten free flour so date scones are in back in play. I think we'll manage. If you are interested in checking out the basics, mosey on over to this Paleo website. He also wrote a great book. It might not be your thing but it could cure what ails you. I should probably mention that my most excellent cousin, Rosie, turned me on to this; she of great wit and unflagging research skills.

Okay, so that's it for now. I'm off to China next month, which I said I'd never do again, but now that my name is on the letterhead....

Never say never, right?