Not So Blonde

I’m here and reporting for duty, sir

Yes, yes… it’s been so long. And it would probably be even longer except people (and by people, I mean Inga. Okay, fine… other people, too) have been bugging me to post something. I neglect the blog. The blog, it is neglected.

I was trying to post a nice sequence of events for you all but R kept interrupting me: “What are you blogging about, blogger?” and I went and lost my mojo. That R! *shake fist* Let’s try a list. When in doubt, list it out!

- I got the job in L.A. but only after a TWO WEEK approval process.

- Apparently, AZ took eons to get them the background check.

- AZ sucks.

- But, being a huge believer in “everything happens for a reason”, I’m just going to roll with that.

- It did suck turning the job down, though, but I felt good that the offer was extended.

- Kinda like being nominated, but not winning the award.

- Actually, it’d be more like WINNING the award, but giving it back.

- Where am I going with this?

- What am I talking about?!

- Let’s move on…

- I got the job here rather quickly.

- Rather quickly after FOUR interviews.

- Two of them, panel.

- *shake in boots*

- Actually, I wore heels.

- Both times.

- But that’s all I’m going to say since we all know the rules re: blogging about work… *zip lip*

- Great company, though… shhh…

- My apartment complex wanted a ridiculous amount to break the lease.

- There’s getting screwed, REALLY getting screwed and then there’s… THAT.

- A few days ago, I got a flyer on my door for a resident referral coupon.

- It made me laugh.

- LIKE I’D TELL ANYONE TO LIVE HERE.

- I’m sick.

- Really sick.

- I think Nic gave me her sickness when I went to her house for Easter.

- Ham, mashed potatoes, fruit kebabs, deviled eggs… and a side of crud.

- It was really fun, though.

- Afterwards, the 3 of us (R, the kid and I) went to see my brother R and sis-in-law B since they were in town.

- By “in town”, I mean “Scottsdale”.

- R has met quite a bit of my family.

- But there’s still a LOT more.

- My brother R, R (lol) and I drank pina coladas by the pool while the kids frolicked in the pool.

- The life.

- That was before I got sick.

- Really sick.

- I don’t get sick that often. Not like this.

- I’m driving R crazy with the whining.

- I can’t help it.

- Honnnneeeeeey, can you make me some teaaaaaaaaa? *sad face*

- I still went out last night.

- I couldn’t help that, either.

- It had been too long.

- I’m paying for it today, though.

- Actually, I’d feel like crap anyway soo - who cares?

- I had fun but…

- Men are weird.

- One guy at the bar asked what I was drinking…

- Ordered said drink from bartender…

- And still had me pay for it.

- Don’t get me wrong, I can buy my own drinks.

- I just think that’s weird.

- Really weird.

- One guy, really nice dresser, DID buy me a drink.

- But, he was married.

- We cancelled each other out, since hello?

- I have R.

- But I find it interesting that married guy has manners…

- Single man doesn’t.

- Must be why Mr. Married IS married.

- Mr. Married said: I don’t want anything from you or anything, I’m just being polite… but would you like a drink?

- Women need more men like him.

- He’s from Kalamazoo.

- Let’s go there.

- Actually, you go. I’ll stay.

- I have R.

- And thank God for that!

A Very Long Tale of Two Cities

I’m a bad blogger. It’s been so long since I posted - for shame! I have been pretty damned busy but before that even happened, I got all weirded out over someone that has been reading my blog. A lot. More than any one person ever really should. I mean, I know the archives are there and all but who actually reads them? Rather, spends THREE HOURS reading them?

Who is this person with way too much time on their hands, you ask? *cups ear* An old boss! How weird is that! Ew! Three or more years later and the dude, like, camps out on my shit.

Not only that, but he was never very nice to me, pretty much made life working for him hellish, but, here he is - all this time later eating up my every typed word. I guess he misses when he used to read every single one of my emails. Freaky!!

I would never shut down my site or move because of my family or anyone related to me - but best believe I will shut it down or move over someone like that. That’s just too creepy and weird that someone I haven’t spoken to or had any contact with for that long is Googling “Dictator, Mary, R, blog” to find me.

I just knew when I saw that in my stats that it was more than likely someone I DIDN’T want to find me. I told everyone I wanted to know about the move and if I missed someone, they would have emailed me and asked. Ugh. *heebee jeebee*

Enough about that. Shake it off, shake it off. Deep breath… Heh…

I truly have much more to talk about only I’m not sure where to begin.

Well, most of you already know that I am thinking of moving to another city and that other city is - drumroll, please - Los Angeles. I know, right? I see that look of wonderment on your face and I get it, trust me. I never would have thought in a million years I’d move to L.A. San Diego, maybe, but L.A.? Not so much.

Not there is anything wrong with the place but it’s never seemed like an option. An attainable option, anyway. Funnily enough, it’s the best option now. I’m not going to get into the who/how/why/whats because, frankly, it’s been decided and the only question that remains is the “when”.

Last week, I drove out for a job interview and stayed with Mia. Bless Mia’s heart! She and I have never “officially” met but we’ve become great friends through our BLOGS (heh), which lead to emailing, which lead to talking on the phone.

A lot of talking on the phone. Mia and I are identical in our overanalyzing and we’ve spent many a night contemplating, for hours, why so-and-so did this, what was so-and-so thinking, what should I wear to x-y-z? And so on, and so forth. And repeat.

Considering the many hours of phone conversations we’ve logged, it didn’t feel strange meeting Mia in the least. She’s much more adorable in person than any picture and her new place is fantastic. You know when you tour an apartment complex and they show you the model and you think: shit… I can never make my place look like this! Damn them for showing it to me and teasing me anyway!!

Mia’s place is like that. Thank you, Mia, for not only your hospitality but for being a great friend. I promise that my basket-casedness (new word!) will be much more toned down once I’m settled in California. Promise!

The interview went well, the position is something I’m used to doing and have a lot of experience doing. The pay is probably about 10k more than what I was making in Phoenix - which, hello, I would need to live in L.A.

Post-interview, I went back to Mia’s and pretty much decided that I would make the move immediately. I didn’t want to, in fact, I’m really scared to. Mia will tell you. Ha! Ideally, moving to another state you’d like to have a little financial nest egg going on, right? But, I really need to get money coming in and I kept telling myself I have to move where the money IS.

There I was, psyching myself up and telling myself I could do it. That I have to do it, there’s just no other way. I’d pay to break my lease, say bye to the kid, friends, life in Phoenix quicker than I really wanted to when - AZ Job called.

I interviewed with a company here several weeks ago - a panel interview, no less. We’re talking 8 people, people. Heh. It was pretty nerve wracking but, then again, any interview after THAT interview will feel like a damn breeze.

I had gone back to fill out some personality test (like, 600 questions!!) and hadn’t heard much after that. I figured I must have bombed the hell out of that personality quiz. I am pretty much crazy, after all, and I thought they must not want to tell me that’s why they wouldn’t be hiring me. The HR guy seemed like - an HR guy. Hard to read, harder to get straight answers.

Turns out, HR guy gave my resume to another department and that department was now calling me. A better position than what I had originally applied for, and more money. Do I even have to tell you it’s a better position than even the L.A. job and nearly identical pay? In Phoenix? Cost of living, hello! What the f*ck do I do now?

Not that either place has made an offer yet. But, L.A. job called to schedule the 2nd interview already. The 2nd interview that I was told would pretty much secure the position. And AZ Job has already put me through almost the entire hiring process so… one could assume I may just be put in the position to decide between two different jobs, in two different cities. Only me, I swear.

I WILL still be moving, trust me. But living out my lease, paying off some bills, sharing some QT time with the kid (we’ll see about that one), taking the time to find a place I like and obtaining an even better position in L.A. (more money - chaching!) after the experience I’ll gain from AZ Job - hmm… Yeah.

Here’s the pics from the trip. Not very exciting, I must say. Enjoy all the same, kiddies!

P.S. Amy Winehouse is great roadtrip music- who knew? Here’s my favorite song from the drive. Meaning, I played it over and over and over again. And when it was done playing, I played it again:

I’m off to Bookman’s with the man. Toodles!