Hello again! My primary job has gotten crazy over the past few weeks, leaving me little time to think about anything else. So my blog and my self-training for an information broker career have been pushed to the side. At least, physically they've been pushed to the side. I've still been thinking about the "secondary career" idea incessantly. I'm just trying to figure out how to fit it into my schedule without sacrificing quality at the primary job. That's yet to be worked out. It will involve a meeting with my boss in the hopes that she will be a little lenient with my schedule. I plan to propose that I work from 7am until 5pm, but with a two-hour lunch break in the middle of the day to allow me access to records offices and courthouses that are only open 9-5.

And I think I may have settled on a specialty. More or less, anyway. I want to do geneaological research. Which is slightly different from being an information broker, but not significantly. The main difference, as far as I can tell, is that instead of working for companies, a genealogist works for individuals and families. I like that idea. I'm also fascinated with public history, so this would be a great way to earn a living doing something I love.

My first step is going to be familiarizing myself with local resources. I'm going to talk to my best friend's mom who grew up in Huntsville and see if she'll let me research her family. I've been going through all the free online classes I can find, and I want to take some of the pay classes too, like the ones from the National Genealogical Society, but that'll have to wait until the budget is under control. And someday - after I've been earning a living as a genealogist long enough to make it my primary job - I want to get my PhD in Public History. Though, I reserve the right to change my mind on that last point. I want a PhD in a lot of things.

So wish me luck, dear readers (if there are any of you out there), as I try to fit training for a second career into my schedule.