My body woke on its own this morning at 7:15 a.m. I decided to head out to Caribou Coffee to get a large dark roast. Kathy Onisick, who sent separate “Thinking of You” cards with lottery tickets, Ben & Jerry’s gift card and a movie gift card, also sent me a Caribou gift card. Caribou is my favorite coffee. Even better? I received half off my coffee. Don’t know why, but I’ll take it! Kathy rocks!

I spent most of the morning thinking about 3 p.m., the time I set out to return to my former employer to drop off some paperwork. I don’t think I was nervous to go back. Maybe “apprehensive” is the right word. But I spent the morning shooting off e-mails, replying to others, writing cover letters, sending off résumés, etc. The morning really flew by.

I arrived at my former employer just after 3 p.m. and bumped into a few former coworkers in the parking lot, then a few more as I waited in the lobby. It was a little awkward, but I made it through. I think the former coworkers were just as “apprehensive” to see me as I was to see them. But it went well. I handed over my paperwork and some personal notes to some members of management and my former team, then headed off to the post office, then back home.

Received a message from my friend Jeff Green while I was in the post office. He just moved to San Francisco with his girlfriend after he was let go from his job. I’ve come to realize I have very good company in this unemployment “boat.”

One of my long-time PRSA colleagues passed along a potential employment lead late this afternoon. I shot the lead a note with my résumé and he replied with a “call me in the morning” e-mail! I’m excited and maybe a bit “apprehensive,” as that, apparently, is the word of the day.

To-Do List for Tuesday:
Get my hands of some samples from my former employer
Send off some samples, cover letter and résumé to a potential employer
Search for more jobs
Clean up my kitchen
Clean up my room
Ponder how my kitchen and room got so messy