Well, the butterflies are gone and I'm breathing a little easier. Still, I can't help but be on pins n' needles because a final resolution hasn't quite been determined.

When he sat down to join us for lunch, Development Funding Contact (DC) apologized for the carrot on a string. He has been swamped lately and hasn't had the opportunity to speak with his lawyers yet, but he wanted to touch base anyway.

DC will meet with his lawyers on July 9th. Then he'll present us with our options. He wants to find a way to fund us so that it won't somehow screw us over tax-wise -- which of course, we both fully appreciate.

Once he presents our options on the 9th, we will have a chance to think things through and then likely meet with the lawyers on July 16th (I think?) to sign papers and get everything set up. What DC is thinking of doing is providing us with a single set amount divided into four quarterly installments.

So all in all, it sounds very positive. The only thing is, if we receive enough funding to get by for a whole year -- which, on one hand, would be totally awesome! -- on the other hand, I can't help but find myself very reluctant to quit my job for only a year's absence. Does that make me crazy?

I can't help it -- I'm a Taurus who takes a lot of assurance in stability. Plus, a year goes by so fast, and as much as I b*tch n' complain about the nonsense that goes on around here, the reality is I do have a good job, and I feel very fortunate to have it.

A less risky solution is to consider applying for a leave of absence... but I seriously doubt they'd ever give me one. I just checked our HR manual and there is nothing about taking a leave of absence in there. DC jokingly suggested that I should take a mental break down. Ha. If I haven't legitimately taken one already, then I doubt I'll take one now.

Anyhow, I know that you can never achieve success without pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone and taking necessary risks... but even so, risks are such scary things, aren't they?

Oh well, we'll see how everything shakes out come mid-July. In the meantime, we'll just keep pluggin' away and trying to keep those butterflies at bay.

...And now ya know!

Comments:

Gosh, Mel... I hope it all falls into place. So much to think about and consider. Scary, yet exciting.

comment by shesaidwhat on June 24, 2008 2:11 PM ()

Definitely! There really is a lot to mull over. But I keep reminding myself that the most successful people in the world took risks. I figure if it's meant to be, things will eventually fall into place as they're supposed to.

reply by mellowdee on June 26, 2008 9:24 AM ()

comment by frogfenatic on June 23, 2008 10:22 PM ()

Yeah, family leave -- I should do that! Ha. I've seen people go on all kinds of "questionable" leaves (but who am I to judge, right?) It's possible that even if they didn't let me take a leave of absence, they still might let me come back when the funding ran out. You're totally right about the practical and security stuff. But the workaholic side...hmm... well, maybe if it was something I LOVED, like writing our script, but as for this job, I put in my 8 hours and then go home and refuse to check my work email after 4. This job is good, but it's not my life.

reply by mellowdee on June 26, 2008 9:22 AM ()

Hmmmm I think it sounds good as well. Can you go part time at your job? I would check that stuff out because if ya don't hate it, ya might want it back if things don't work out exactly as planned!
BUT it sounds good so congrats!!!

comment by kristilyn3 on June 23, 2008 4:56 PM ()

They *might* let me work part-time, but I know how things go around here, and there's no way I'd only be working part-time, if you know what I mean. And I really do need to focus my full attention on reworking this script. I might just see if they'll give me a leave of absence, and if not, then when the funding runs out, if I need my job back, hopefully they'll still take me back. (We're sooo short-staffed around here anyway, I've seen them take many people back after they've tried something new that hasn't worked out.) I figure either way, it's a risk I'd be crazy not to take.

reply by mellowdee on June 26, 2008 9:18 AM ()

Quit your job-have confidence in you and J--you will have work to do on the script and that other job will distract you--I have no doubt you will succeed so go for it with all your heart AND time!!!

comment by greatmartin on June 23, 2008 4:22 PM ()

For sure... I think we'll play it by ear, and I might try for a leave of absence, and if I don't get it, I'll have no choice but to quit. Opportunities such as this are far too rare to pass up.

reply by mellowdee on June 26, 2008 9:14 AM ()

this is very strange to me.Never heard of this sorts.
Can you get some pictures of their doings?would loved to see
this.

comment by fredo on June 23, 2008 4:09 PM ()

A picture of the butterflies?

reply by mellowdee on June 26, 2008 9:13 AM ()

Sounds very promising to me. If DC wasn't almost positive that you were going to get the funding, then he would have told you so point blank.
As far as quitting your job - you're right; it's a risk. You need to sit down and seriously weigh all options with J. (Suddenly, I'm sounding like a Dad here, aren't I? Sorry about that!)
(Is it possible to get this movie done WITHOUT quitting your job?)
If I were in your shoes, I don't think I would give it a second thought. I would JUMP at the chance to my script produced!!!!! (These people are the business of taking educated and informed guesses. They've read your script. They wouldn't be EVEN TALKING to you if they didn't think you had a better than average chance of succeeding!) Have you got any idea how scripts are presented and rejected every year? THOUSANDS!!!!
Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

comment by hayduke on June 23, 2008 3:15 PM ()

Well, I guess the main risk is that this funding is just to help us get our script developed (we still have more rewriting to do, and contacts to call who would like to speak with), so even at the end of the year, there's still no *guarantee* it'll be produced. The idea was the development funding would allow us the luxury of time to focus on the script 110% instead of working 8 hours and then slowly chipping away a couple hours every night... especially since we have a few producers waiting to read the next draft. I think for now I'm gonna have to play it by ear... and then maybe *try* for a leave of absence. There's no guarantee I'll get it, but I like to think that I'm a valuable employee and that even if I quit (on nice terms of course) they might hire me back in a year, if I need to return. Last year there was one woman who went on "stress" leave, trained for the iron man, and then was welcomed back with open arms when she was done. Hmmm... I'm suddenly feeling a little stressed... (Just kidding... I could never do that in good conscience.)

reply by mellowdee on June 26, 2008 9:09 AM ()