I needed a job, partly because my health insurance is terrible because as a private person, the fact that I had breast cancer 7 years ago counts against me so much that I simply HAD to be in a group.  Also, I just needed the money.

I am a nurse; graduated from nursing school in 1969 and worked for 12 years in various emergency rooms.  I was working at George Washington University Hospital and they were starting a Nurse Practitioner program, and they recruited me into one of the early programs.  It was associated with the medical school, which the nursing powers-that-be don't like.  Anyway, I graduated and became a Family Nurse Practitioner, and worked all those years at Student Health, as I mentioned above.

Then, as my children grew up, for 15 years, I volunteered for class trips, community work, and developed some talents in ceramics and writing.  When I tried to get back into nursing, for 14 months,  no one would give me so much as an interview!  The University of Virginia Hospital told me there was no place for me since I had not "worked" for 15 years.  Even Barnes & Noble didn't want me as a "bookseller."

Finally, after months of sending resumes I finally got two interviews.  Much to my satisfaction, I got two job offers.  My new job starts November 30th, and I have great hopes.  These people seem very nice, and I am looking forward to a new career as a fertility nurse.  My three children are adopted, so I know something about what it feels like when you want to be a mother and it isn't working out.

Anyway, I am just writing this to say that I love this site, but I won't be visiting as much as before, and I also just wanted to tell you guys a little about myself.

Wish me luck, because I am a little nervous about this big change.  My boys still need me to drive them to football practice and tutoring, etc. and I don't know how all the laundry will get done!  I hope I can still read as much as ever, but I think my internet time will be the thing that will go.

I'll be back from time to time, but just wanted to say thank you for such an informative, thoughtful, and civil place to visit!

Jan Knaus