An unexpected return trip...

So, I've been meaning to post for a while about my new venture, but haven't had a chance to get to it. I'm starting my own business! Wow, eh? Who'da thunk? =)

Colin & Tasha were out here for their snowboarding trip in January and Tasha mentioned that she was hoping to train an employee to work for her in her digital retouching business. She wasn't talking about me at all, but it piqued my interest. I was sort of disappointed because I thought it was the kind of work I would have liked to do, if only I still lived in Selkirk. I love working with pictures, it would have flexible hours working from home, a good employer...=) To make a long story at least a little bit shorter, a few things fell into place over the next month... Tasha was still looking for someone and we figured we could work together even long distance thanks to many wonderful advances in technology! I would need to be with her in person to get some condensed training in Photoshop, but lo and behold, Spring Break was approaching. Dwayne had 2 weeks off, so even though we had a trip to Kelowna planned during the first week, we still had a whole week where Dwayne could stay home with Josiah and I could go to Selkirk to learn the ropes, with Abby in tow. (She's still breastfeeding, so I didn't think I could leave her behind...)

To make another part of this long story shorter, we decided it would be mutally beneficial if I started my own business and Tasha hired me on a contract basis. So, since I won't be making over $30,000/year (this year anyway!...) I don't really have to go through the hoops of licensing a business and such, so I pretty much just say I have my own business...and it comes to pass... I never knew it could be so easy. =)

Then, as the trip to Selkirk was approaching, Abby started weaning herself, against my wishes. =( She had pretty much cut out her 2 daytime feedings and was down to just morning and bedtime. Dwayne bravely made the suggestion that I leave Abby at home too and just go by myself so I could focus on all the new stuff I had to learn instead of worrying about Abby's schedule and who would watch her and what not. So, after 24 hours of internal debate, I decided to take him up on his offer! Oh man, it was almost as good as an all inclusive vacation! Travelling on an airplane, by myself. Sleeping through the night, and past 6:30am. Eating peaceful meals (which were prepared for me, and FANTASTIC, by the way.) =) And, I loved the work I was learning, to boot. I stayed for 3 nights and I think we managed to cram everything in that we needed to in the time we had.

As an added bonus, I got to connect with old friends. Tasha and I met Lorena and Helen for dessert, which was so awesome. It felt like I had just been there last week. Then I got to meet my friend Kelley for breakfast and it was sooo great to see her again in person. (I had my camera in my purse and everything, but forgot to take a picture of Kelley and I...) =( I also had fun just seeing the old, familiar sites of Selkirk again. =)

So, it looks like I'll be working 5-10 hours a week for now all from our newly decked-out office in the basement. We've got our PC, plus new iMac, plus the new 20 inch cinema monitor for the Mac all sitting on our desk. I'll have to post a picture of that on as soon as I get around to actually taking that picture...

I'm a little worried about adding new work to an already full life with my little family. I know I will have to use a couple of my evenings that were once free-time to do work. I may have to use a few hours on a Saturday now and then too. But, Dwayne has a great job which usually gets him home around 4:00. So, once I know what I'm doing, I will probably be able to fit in a bit of work in the hours when he's home from work while he plays with the kids. Plus, Dwayne's mom has graciously offered to come one day, maybe every other week, to watch kids while I work for a bit. So, that will hopefully help protect my down-time a bit, which will in turn protect my sanity, which we all know, is pretty essential to a happy family all around. =)

It is an amazing opportunity though. I'll work for Tasha for as long as she'll have me, and then, should she ever decide to move on to something else, I'll have the equipment, training, and experience to be able to work for any photographer from home doing their retouching work. So, although I wasn't planning on going back to work for a few years, it seems like this might just allow me to work from home for quite a while if I want to, which is what I was hoping to find down the road. I'm really grateful. And, I've already been working a bit (you'll be happy to hear, Tasha) and loving it. It's instantly satisfying to see the "before and after" of pictures I retouch! Maybe it will even improve the quality of the pictures I post here, so you can all see how I'm doing!