Thursday, September 6, 2012
Fast Forward Button
February 26, 2012. Almost two months to the day before my triumphant exit from what I thought was my dream job. That was the date of my last post.
Needless to say, based on my updated longitude and latitude, things didn't work out as I had planned in NC. In the interest of professionalism, I'll spare the details in a forum like this. But let me just say, the place I was working might as well have been modeled after every case study that a business student reads in an Ethics course. Trust me when I say that this place was like the Twilight Zone. I couldn't even have dreamed some of the terrible things that were taking place when I arrived.
So, on April 25th, 2012, I, for the first time since I was 14 years old was not employed. I spent an entire month of my life doing anything and everything I wanted to do. I made the decision some time in those 30 days that I would follow my dreams and keep going. I had not failed, I stood up for what I believed in and refused to be a part of an organization engaged in things I couldn't be proud to put my name on. I should say, the 99% of the people I was working with/getting to know in NC were fantastic, but lord help the ones who were spoiling the apple cart.
So, after my 30-day sabbatical in rural NC, I had an opportunity to go back to work for an amazing former employer (more on that later) and to follow my dream of opening my own event coordinating business. The second week of May, a moving truck arrived and I packed up my life and moved back west.
Positive things I took away from NC-
1-I did the scariest thing I could ever imagine. I packed up and moved across the country alone.
2-I made one of the greatest friends in the world!! My little Southern Belle from Hell ;)
3-My pride and morals
4-Two really cute puppies
5-I learned to interpret another language.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Ode to the Limo Bus...
Well, it has been about a month since my last update and boy oh boy has a lot happened since then. Time is flying.
I got pretty settled at work and have successfully scoped out the good and bad eggs. Good news is, I really love most of the people I work with. There are only a select few with questionable morals...but if you know anything about me, I'll take care of that one way or the other. I have made two really great girl friends who I happen to work with. They have been so great and we clicked from the beginning (even if they are being paid to be friends with me). Everyday we meet promptly at 11 a.m. for lunch at Sue's Grill where they serve "fresh made yesterday chicken salad" or "left over last week chicken casserole soup." I joke that they are probably getting paid to be friends with me. My theory was developed even more a few weeks ago when, in casual conversation, "Danielle" tells me that her name is actually "Heather." I felt like I was in the twilight zone.."your name is what?"
For those of you who don't know, country clubs are generally closed on Mondays. Our club is a little different in that we are open 7 days a week; everyone works different schedules. Last week I convinced both girls to leave work at 3:30 to celebrate "Margarita Monday" (one of my better ideas, if I do say so myself). We went to a nearby Mexican place and had our first margarita by 3:45...six hours later I got home. I'll let you fill in the blanks but the moral of the story is that I have a great time here.
Danielle may possibly be a carbon copy of me, add red hair, subtract two cup sizes, mix in a dash of southern accent. She loves concerts, which is ironic considering I think in the last five years I've probably seen 30 concerts or more. Last month we went to the Miranda Lambert concert and most recently we saw Corey Smith. Blog coming soon on that experience. I might also add that the girl has immecable taste in clothing...with our powers combined we can probably rule the world!
We joke because we have had to do some pretty ridiculous things the last few weeks and I tell them they have been "hazing" me and that I'm building my HR case against them. Interestingly enough, Danielle laughs about it and Megan (HR Director) thinks it's hilarious, home girl can't catch a break. Hazing ritual number one: Danielle made me ride in the back of a 15 passenger van on my knees holding a huge pile of towels that went EVERYWHERE every time she hit a bump, and I swear she drove through a mine field on the way back. Ritual number two-someone decides that it should be ME that had to drive a HUGE paneled diesel truck clear accross the county. I nearly amputated my arm trying to run the lift on the thing, not to mention the fact that I drove over at least 2 curbs and probably killed a neighborhood cat in the mean time. I won't even mention the "Limo Bus" Danielle made me drive through "BoJangles"...we all know my feelings on BoJangles.
Moral of the story is...I'm having a great time. I laugh everyday, and I'd call that a successful story.
Stay tuned tomorrow for the update on other things going on...including new puppies!
I got pretty settled at work and have successfully scoped out the good and bad eggs. Good news is, I really love most of the people I work with. There are only a select few with questionable morals...but if you know anything about me, I'll take care of that one way or the other. I have made two really great girl friends who I happen to work with. They have been so great and we clicked from the beginning (even if they are being paid to be friends with me). Everyday we meet promptly at 11 a.m. for lunch at Sue's Grill where they serve "fresh made yesterday chicken salad" or "left over last week chicken casserole soup." I joke that they are probably getting paid to be friends with me. My theory was developed even more a few weeks ago when, in casual conversation, "Danielle" tells me that her name is actually "Heather." I felt like I was in the twilight zone.."your name is what?"
For those of you who don't know, country clubs are generally closed on Mondays. Our club is a little different in that we are open 7 days a week; everyone works different schedules. Last week I convinced both girls to leave work at 3:30 to celebrate "Margarita Monday" (one of my better ideas, if I do say so myself). We went to a nearby Mexican place and had our first margarita by 3:45...six hours later I got home. I'll let you fill in the blanks but the moral of the story is that I have a great time here.
Danielle may possibly be a carbon copy of me, add red hair, subtract two cup sizes, mix in a dash of southern accent. She loves concerts, which is ironic considering I think in the last five years I've probably seen 30 concerts or more. Last month we went to the Miranda Lambert concert and most recently we saw Corey Smith. Blog coming soon on that experience. I might also add that the girl has immecable taste in clothing...with our powers combined we can probably rule the world!
We joke because we have had to do some pretty ridiculous things the last few weeks and I tell them they have been "hazing" me and that I'm building my HR case against them. Interestingly enough, Danielle laughs about it and Megan (HR Director) thinks it's hilarious, home girl can't catch a break. Hazing ritual number one: Danielle made me ride in the back of a 15 passenger van on my knees holding a huge pile of towels that went EVERYWHERE every time she hit a bump, and I swear she drove through a mine field on the way back. Ritual number two-someone decides that it should be ME that had to drive a HUGE paneled diesel truck clear accross the county. I nearly amputated my arm trying to run the lift on the thing, not to mention the fact that I drove over at least 2 curbs and probably killed a neighborhood cat in the mean time. I won't even mention the "Limo Bus" Danielle made me drive through "BoJangles"...we all know my feelings on BoJangles.
Moral of the story is...I'm having a great time. I laugh everyday, and I'd call that a successful story.
Stay tuned tomorrow for the update on other things going on...including new puppies!
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Bo-What?
On the fifth night here I left work around 6 p.m., it was bascially dark and I was thinking about what I should have for dinner. Suddenly, I started crying so hard I could barely see the road. All I could think about was the huge empty house I was going home to. There was no one within, literally, 1000 miles I could call to have dinner with me. Again I was seraching for that panic button with no luck. I stopped at the CVS on my way home from work and bought myself a bag of mini chocolate donuts and some milk. I sat on my couch that night and ate donuts for dinner. I'm an emotional eater, we might as well get that out on the table now. If the light bulb hasn't gone on for you as to why I weighed 3-hundo at one point in my life you should just stop reading now.
I allowed myself one more night to wallow in my little pitty party and forced myself to snap out of it. I talk to Tom every night and even (by some miracle of God) got my mom to learn how to Skype. Since then, everything has been going very well. I'd say I've probably only made about 1,267 wrong turns.
Things that I don't understand about North Carolina:
1- Who in the HAIL is Bo-Jangles, and why does he have his own restaruant?
2- Why do none of the major intersections have street signs? And why do the Traffic Lights hang from what seem to be very, very unstable cords.
3- Who let the guy with the bottle of Jack Daniels plan the neighborhoods? The addresses around here are literally as follows: 765 North 18th Street Place Southest Court. What happened to 1234 Disneyland Lane?
4- Around here the best culinary delight is "shrimp and grits" and I'm still not sure I've worked up the intestinal fortitude to try those. I'll report back.
5-People actually go to nudest camps. Enough said.
Being this far away from home, and by myself so much more of the time really makes me appreciate the things and people I have in my life. Do I miss home? Absolutely, every single day. Do I miss my family? Of course. Do I think this was the wrong decision? Absolutely not. I have lived here less than 30 days and have made a couple of good friends, I've got a really great house, and I'm learing what is important in my life. I am very excited about the job and what it has to offer me over the next few years.
Stay tuned in to the next two blogs about why I moved so far away, and my trip to Charlotte.
I allowed myself one more night to wallow in my little pitty party and forced myself to snap out of it. I talk to Tom every night and even (by some miracle of God) got my mom to learn how to Skype. Since then, everything has been going very well. I'd say I've probably only made about 1,267 wrong turns.
Things that I don't understand about North Carolina:
1- Who in the HAIL is Bo-Jangles, and why does he have his own restaruant?
2- Why do none of the major intersections have street signs? And why do the Traffic Lights hang from what seem to be very, very unstable cords.
3- Who let the guy with the bottle of Jack Daniels plan the neighborhoods? The addresses around here are literally as follows: 765 North 18th Street Place Southest Court. What happened to 1234 Disneyland Lane?
4- Around here the best culinary delight is "shrimp and grits" and I'm still not sure I've worked up the intestinal fortitude to try those. I'll report back.
5-People actually go to nudest camps. Enough said.
Being this far away from home, and by myself so much more of the time really makes me appreciate the things and people I have in my life. Do I miss home? Absolutely, every single day. Do I miss my family? Of course. Do I think this was the wrong decision? Absolutely not. I have lived here less than 30 days and have made a couple of good friends, I've got a really great house, and I'm learing what is important in my life. I am very excited about the job and what it has to offer me over the next few years.
Stay tuned in to the next two blogs about why I moved so far away, and my trip to Charlotte.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Heads Carolina, Tails California--Part Two
Everything went fairly quickly getting packed up and half the time I struggled understanding what Albert said. He said "we's country folk"! Albert doesn't speak with an accent, he IS the accent. Through and through.
After a long series of dramatic events with my family, we eventually hit the road around 2 p.m. a 26-Foot U haul and a Honda Accord, ready to rock and roll. The plan was that the two guys would drive the U-haul, following behind me.
We went through Columbia and I appropriately honked my horn and mentally did a little MIZ just for kicks. We stopped just outside of St. Louis for gas and to get a little snack. Inside the gas station the clerk said "are you all from the south??" Albert's response: "WE SHOW-ah IS." Now comes the questions I started asking myself as I'm and about 4.5 hours in to this 17 hour long trip:
-How do you turn a 1 syllable word in to a 5 syllable word?
-How on Earth will I avoid coming home with a southern accent?
-Please don't let us break down in East St. Louis.
The first night we stopped somewhere in a remote city in Illinois for the night. I went in ahead of the guys and told the woman behind the desk that I needed two rooms. She said that they only had two King Suites available. I said that would have to do cause I certainly wasn't driving another 2 hours to the next major town. Fifty-six year old Albert comes in as I begin filling out the paper work and she says to him..."Well, I guess I could offer you the handicapped suite." What a perfect end to a long day. Hilarious.
We hit the road early the next day and drove through Kentucky and pretty much spilled out right in to the outskirts of Nashville. I was secretly hoping to take a wrong turn and end up in Tim McGraw's front yard or breakdown right in front of the Grande Ole Opry but no such luck. Then we kept driving...and driving...and driving. Tennessee is the never-ending state and between the major cities you're driving in 5 lanes of traffic either way you're going. That was a little nerve wracking considering Josh was driving that U haul (with all of my worldly possessions)like Mario Andretti on the last turn of the Daytona 500.
When we finally made it to the east side of Tennessee (I appropriately played "Back Where I Come From") until I had to abruptly turn the music off, turn my phone off and throw it in the floor boards. I had flashback to sophomore year Driver's Ed when my teacher, Ms. Wenzel, would throw her entire body weight on that passenger side break and yell "TOO FAST, TOO FAST." Two hands on the wheel, ten and two people. Suddenly we were in the mountains, with snow, 90 degree curves, and truckers that act like they too are racing in the Daytona 500. This mountain driving went on for at least 45 minutes and I was white-knuckled, eyes on the road the whole time.
Eventually the guys ahead of me signaled to get off and we stopped for dinner. I'm pretty sure I should have just taken a Xanex by that point. I told them I was a little bit nervous on those mountain roads and glad I made it through that; they both laughed at me and said..."You ain't seen nothing yet." Turns out we were just in sort of a mountain town and we still had to go down Black Mountain a 4000 feet drop in about a matter of a quarter of a mile.
They weren't kidding...We had dinner and suddenly I was on an episode of ice road truckers. They weren't kidding, runaway trucks everywhere, it was snowing, and not to mention the road reminded me of the track for the Mamba roller coaster at World's of Fun. We finally got back on flat ground and I slowly peeled my fingers off the steering wheel.
That night I stayed in a Villa at my new Club and was set to move in the next morning. I finally fell in to bed around midnight that night.
The best part about this whole move was that instead of looking for the panic button like I thought I might be was that I was anxious and excited to get moved in and get to work.
After a long series of dramatic events with my family, we eventually hit the road around 2 p.m. a 26-Foot U haul and a Honda Accord, ready to rock and roll. The plan was that the two guys would drive the U-haul, following behind me.
We went through Columbia and I appropriately honked my horn and mentally did a little MIZ just for kicks. We stopped just outside of St. Louis for gas and to get a little snack. Inside the gas station the clerk said "are you all from the south??" Albert's response: "WE SHOW-ah IS." Now comes the questions I started asking myself as I'm and about 4.5 hours in to this 17 hour long trip:
-How do you turn a 1 syllable word in to a 5 syllable word?
-How on Earth will I avoid coming home with a southern accent?
-Please don't let us break down in East St. Louis.
The first night we stopped somewhere in a remote city in Illinois for the night. I went in ahead of the guys and told the woman behind the desk that I needed two rooms. She said that they only had two King Suites available. I said that would have to do cause I certainly wasn't driving another 2 hours to the next major town. Fifty-six year old Albert comes in as I begin filling out the paper work and she says to him..."Well, I guess I could offer you the handicapped suite." What a perfect end to a long day. Hilarious.
We hit the road early the next day and drove through Kentucky and pretty much spilled out right in to the outskirts of Nashville. I was secretly hoping to take a wrong turn and end up in Tim McGraw's front yard or breakdown right in front of the Grande Ole Opry but no such luck. Then we kept driving...and driving...and driving. Tennessee is the never-ending state and between the major cities you're driving in 5 lanes of traffic either way you're going. That was a little nerve wracking considering Josh was driving that U haul (with all of my worldly possessions)like Mario Andretti on the last turn of the Daytona 500.
When we finally made it to the east side of Tennessee (I appropriately played "Back Where I Come From") until I had to abruptly turn the music off, turn my phone off and throw it in the floor boards. I had flashback to sophomore year Driver's Ed when my teacher, Ms. Wenzel, would throw her entire body weight on that passenger side break and yell "TOO FAST, TOO FAST." Two hands on the wheel, ten and two people. Suddenly we were in the mountains, with snow, 90 degree curves, and truckers that act like they too are racing in the Daytona 500. This mountain driving went on for at least 45 minutes and I was white-knuckled, eyes on the road the whole time.
Eventually the guys ahead of me signaled to get off and we stopped for dinner. I'm pretty sure I should have just taken a Xanex by that point. I told them I was a little bit nervous on those mountain roads and glad I made it through that; they both laughed at me and said..."You ain't seen nothing yet." Turns out we were just in sort of a mountain town and we still had to go down Black Mountain a 4000 feet drop in about a matter of a quarter of a mile.
They weren't kidding...We had dinner and suddenly I was on an episode of ice road truckers. They weren't kidding, runaway trucks everywhere, it was snowing, and not to mention the road reminded me of the track for the Mamba roller coaster at World's of Fun. We finally got back on flat ground and I slowly peeled my fingers off the steering wheel.
That night I stayed in a Villa at my new Club and was set to move in the next morning. I finally fell in to bed around midnight that night.
The best part about this whole move was that instead of looking for the panic button like I thought I might be was that I was anxious and excited to get moved in and get to work.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Heads Carolina, Tails California--Part One
This whole journey started several months ago, and really even further back than that. I'll cover the whole reason why I started looking for a job so far away from my hometown in later posts. Today's post is really about my trip to NC.
The whole day really came up much more quickly than I imagined. I made my decision to make the big move on November 27, the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Trust me, it was not without careful consideration and even a pretty intense amount of hesitation, espeically from my family. I sent an email that Sunday to my soon to be new boss, letting him know I was formally accepting the job. From day one the company has been treating me so, so well. My new boss let me know that a moving crew would be flying to MO to pick me up and move me and my things all the way to North Carolina. After a number of other conversations about the benefits and opportunities with the company I knew it was a great career move.
To be totally honest with you, looking back, I think I was numb to the whole situation until Christmas Eve rolled around. I looked around at my family and my boyfriend as everyone was screaming over each other, 5 dogs running around causing trouble, and a handfull of little children more concerend with wrapping paper than the gifts within, thinking to myself...I wonder if I'll be here for this next year, I wonder what the next year of my life will bring? Did I make a stupid decision? I have a boyfriend who loves me, I have great family, and a good group of friends that are within an arms reach. At that point, it was really too late.
The week between Christmas and New Year's Eve is a bit of a blurr, I was finishing up at work, trying to ensure my staff was prepared to take over and desperately searching for a panic button. Was I ready? Holy Shit! What have I done? I do have to say, that Tom (my boyfriend) was instrumental in supporting me through this entire process. He knew what a great career move it was for me and how this had always been a dream of mine. Every girl should wish for someone so supportive.
I spent my last few days in MO packing and trying to enjoy my time. Monday morning January 2, after a long night of packing, I got myself out of bed at 5 a.m. in preparation for moving day. I had to pick up the moving crew from the airport at 9 a.m. and I still had several loose ends I needed to finish up. Tom had to work at his new job that day so in the back of my mind I knew the minutes with him were numbered. I was packing and he was getting ready for work...total silence. Finally the time came for him to leave and I started crying...blubbering...gasping for air. I pressed my face in his chest and just cried. Somehow I got the out the words "I don't know why I'm crying, I did this to myself." He looked down and said--this is the right thing and the right thing is not always the easy thing.
I composed myself and by 8 a.m. was headed towards the airport. All I had was a flight number and a snapshot of the people I was looking for. The first passengers off the plane are the older gentleman with white hair and a younger boyish looking guy with his boots untied pracitcally dressed head to toe is Mossy Oak who I had seen in the picture. (From here on out...please insert a very very thick souther accent when I refer to any dialogue with folks in NC). Ablert smiles a big toothy smile and says "HIIII I'm Albert." I shake the other man's hand and we are on our way. We pile in my little tiny car and Albert says "From here on out, we gone take care a you."
To Be Continued....
The whole day really came up much more quickly than I imagined. I made my decision to make the big move on November 27, the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Trust me, it was not without careful consideration and even a pretty intense amount of hesitation, espeically from my family. I sent an email that Sunday to my soon to be new boss, letting him know I was formally accepting the job. From day one the company has been treating me so, so well. My new boss let me know that a moving crew would be flying to MO to pick me up and move me and my things all the way to North Carolina. After a number of other conversations about the benefits and opportunities with the company I knew it was a great career move.
To be totally honest with you, looking back, I think I was numb to the whole situation until Christmas Eve rolled around. I looked around at my family and my boyfriend as everyone was screaming over each other, 5 dogs running around causing trouble, and a handfull of little children more concerend with wrapping paper than the gifts within, thinking to myself...I wonder if I'll be here for this next year, I wonder what the next year of my life will bring? Did I make a stupid decision? I have a boyfriend who loves me, I have great family, and a good group of friends that are within an arms reach. At that point, it was really too late.
The week between Christmas and New Year's Eve is a bit of a blurr, I was finishing up at work, trying to ensure my staff was prepared to take over and desperately searching for a panic button. Was I ready? Holy Shit! What have I done? I do have to say, that Tom (my boyfriend) was instrumental in supporting me through this entire process. He knew what a great career move it was for me and how this had always been a dream of mine. Every girl should wish for someone so supportive.
I spent my last few days in MO packing and trying to enjoy my time. Monday morning January 2, after a long night of packing, I got myself out of bed at 5 a.m. in preparation for moving day. I had to pick up the moving crew from the airport at 9 a.m. and I still had several loose ends I needed to finish up. Tom had to work at his new job that day so in the back of my mind I knew the minutes with him were numbered. I was packing and he was getting ready for work...total silence. Finally the time came for him to leave and I started crying...blubbering...gasping for air. I pressed my face in his chest and just cried. Somehow I got the out the words "I don't know why I'm crying, I did this to myself." He looked down and said--this is the right thing and the right thing is not always the easy thing.
I composed myself and by 8 a.m. was headed towards the airport. All I had was a flight number and a snapshot of the people I was looking for. The first passengers off the plane are the older gentleman with white hair and a younger boyish looking guy with his boots untied pracitcally dressed head to toe is Mossy Oak who I had seen in the picture. (From here on out...please insert a very very thick souther accent when I refer to any dialogue with folks in NC). Ablert smiles a big toothy smile and says "HIIII I'm Albert." I shake the other man's hand and we are on our way. We pile in my little tiny car and Albert says "From here on out, we gone take care a you."
To Be Continued....
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