As part of the assistance from the great state of Illinois, since I am a “dislocated worker” (read: downsized) I have the option of going to school free of charge for any number of certificates or degrees. My choices are somewhat limited.

I can only receive schooling to qualify me for a position making up to 80% of my previous wage. Simply put, if I went into the nursing program at Rend Lake College, my courses would only be covered up to “Licensed Practical Nurse. Since LPN’s make more than 80% of what I was making at First Cellular/Alltel.

My first ambition was to go back and get an IT Specialist degree or perhaps a networking certificate. Unfortunately, the few positions arount here that would call for that expertise are locked-in by guys who know how good they have it. I mean, if I fell in to one of those positions, I sure wouldn’t give it up.

Then came the nursing consideration. It is a growing field that pays very well. However, and LPN (to my knowledge) generally gets stuck with the most horrible of jobs that the RN’s don’t want to do. I do have a bit of experience with IV’s, drawing blood, and injections. Realistically though, RN is a 2 year program, and I don’t know that we could make it on (mostly) just Em’s income for that long. Not to mention that I would have to pay for the final year to complete the RN portion.

I jokingly looked at cosmetology, but I don’t really have an interest in cutting, styling, frosting, perming, dying, or anything-elsing hair. Oh, and then there is even waxing eyebrows, YAY! Seriously, I do have a lot of respect for those who get cosmetology licenses. There is a lot of lab-time (practice) required, they have to learn all about chemicals, how to apply them, and a whole bunch of other stuff I can’t begin to understand.

Then, I came across Massage Therapist. For some reason, it doesn’t sound too bad to me. I don’t mind touching people. I enjoy listening to others. I have a decent knowledge of the human body from Biology I and II and my EMT courses. I could work at a spa or freelance. Emily gets my services for free. The only drawback I have in mind is if there is any demand around here for a masseuse. I know that the massage therapist can also work for rehabilitation, orothopaedic, and sports services, but is the demand really there? That is the only thing holding me back from enrollment.

Maybe tomorrow I’ll set up an appointment with the instructor and see what he/she has to say.

Yeah, I know, what am I thinking?