I know

I haven't blogged all that much lately.

This job has me so aggravated I have nothing to say that won't sound bratty.

I hope it changes.

Almost...

I am starting to get the hang of this being a manager thing. It was a little trial by fire this week though. It's not a big deal, it's just that I was promoted at, quite possibly, the most inopportune time.

Oh, the dreaded Human Resources Audit! Everyone on staff at this location had at least one missing form or file.

Oh well, it is getting better all the time.

More later.

The first day

Today is the first day of autumn.

I love the fall.

The colors, foods and smells make up for the fact that I usually get horrible allergy attacks.

It's nice.

Happy Fall.

The last day

Today is an important day.

Today, Sunday 21 September 2008 is the last day.

My last day... as a Sales Associate with Rosetta Stone. My promotion to manager is official tomorrow morning.

I should be excited. But I'm not. Don't get me wrong, I am very happy that I will finally be making a living wage. I can finally afford to pay my bills, all of them, and set money aside for the future. It's going to feel pretty good knowing that I can take care of myself and pay back the people who took care of me for so long.

And in just one month from tomorrow I have Health Care. That's right. I can go to the doctor as soon as I feel sick, not after a week of not being able to shake it. I can go to the dentist; get new glasses; even talk to someone about my feeling a little depressed lately and not have to worry about how I'll ever afford it.

I know that time flies when you're having fun. Hopefully that goes for when you're feeling relaxed too. I have noticed that vacations seem to fly by while a week at work can be endless. Regardless, it might work out that feeling financially secure combined with the craziness that is the holiday season (which is upon us) will result in my waking up one morning to find that it's March and I am only a few weeks away from moving to Boston.

One can only hope.

So tomorrow I will show up to work at 9:30 and sift through training tutorials and emails from my boss. I will work on some training and ask a million questions. I will work for six hours and then head home.

I'm a little nervous I won't figure everything out or know how to fix the mistakes of people before me.

But... I suppose that I'll know all of that tomorrow.

Sigh...

This has been weighing on me for a while now.

A few months ago Laura and I were thrilled to learn that Paul wanted to join us in recording a children's album.

"We could be Patti, Laura and Paul." he said.

Well, a duo with Laura was exciting but a TRIO was fantastic.

But now, Paul is out. And I'm disappointed.

It's a very long story so I'll just say that he wasn't comfortable.

I suppose it's for the best. He didn't seem to want to participate as much as he had originally indicated. Again, long story as to why.

Laura and I are still going forward, slowly. Once I move up to Boston we'll be able to work together and create a strong group. We'll probably look for a guy too. It's just better that way. Having a male voice creates a lot more musical opportunities. Besides, there are a lot of duos out there. There aren't many trios. Come to think of it, there are a lot of quartets but not so many quintets.

What's so great about even numbers?

Still, it's a little irritating. I set up email accounts and websites; contacted recording studios, accountants, tax attorneys, IRS Revenue Agents, etc...

It's a lot of work to just throw it away.

An Ordinary Miracle

I have not been loving this month. Not at all.

Bills are just extremely tight right now. My promotion goes through in four days and I'll see that first manager's pay check the first Friday in October. Until then, it's a little difficult.

I have somehow figured out how to pay:

Student loan installment
Credit Card
Gasoline
Emissions
Re-registration of car
Car repair to avoid failing aforementioned emissions test
Cell phone
Property tax
and non-essentials like food.

But I have budgeted out the last nickel. So the next few weeks are going to be uncomfortable and annoying.

At least the month is half over already.

I am so ready for a break.

Ok

You know, I wanted to post more about my trip to Toronto. But... not much happened.

That's Steve, Laura and me. This was taken outside Mother's Dumplings. Sharon recommended it. I wasn't too fond of it but the company was good.

Me and Sharon. Taken after ice cream, conversation and lots of laughs at Hollywood Gelato.

Steve, Me and Laura at the Centre Island Ferry Docks. We're facing south. You can tell because the CN Tower is behind us.

Strike that, Reverse it.

Ladies and gentlemen, I regret to announce that the move to Boston if off. Well, postponed.

I had planned to head up on the 29th and stay with Laura until I got settled. However when my boss offered me a promotion where I am, I realized that it would be stupid and irresponsible to turn it down.

So I am staying in Danbury until March or April of 2009.

That's not that bad.

It's better this way, really. I can pay my bills down so they don't follow me when I move and I must admit that I was afraid of that happening. This way, when I move, I can be more prepared and ready for the undertaking. Who knows, I might even score a better apartment as a result.

So that's that. I am actually relieved despite my disappointment. And I am a little nervous about what managing the kiosk will involve. But I honestly feel that I'll do well. Besides, even if I hate it... it's only 8 months.

The first little bit...

Toronto with Laura consisted of a lot of walking. We walked everywhere.

It's not because we didn't understand, or could not afford the mass transit system. On the contrary, we used it often. But we both enjoyed walking, getting to know neighborhoods and seeing little cafes and shops that we would otherwise miss if we took the streetcar. Of course, some places we saw from the streetcar. For example illy is a cute, modern cafe that has really delicious and actually reasonably prices crepes. I got the strawberry cheese one. It was so good. I will admit I was a little scared about a crepe with strawberry jam and mozzarella cheese. But I was pleasantly surprised by how delicious it was.

Anyway. We walked. A lot. Now, it's not that I didn't bring sneakers, I did. But I never wore them. They simply were not comfortable. So I wore flip flops for the majority of my stay. It was Wednesday by the time I had managed to find a pair that were better suited to long walks. It's a harder rubber with arch supports. I was quite pleased. I got some blisters breaking them in but that's okay. My main complaint was that the only available pair were bright rain-slicker yellow. Again, whatever. At least wearing them I didn't come home looking like a homeless ragamuffin.

This is what will happen to your feet if you walk around Toronto all day in flip flops.


Ew. So now you know about that. I hope you're happy.

More to come. I promise.

Why did this take me so long?

When Laura and I were in Toronto, we met up for ice cream with Sharon. It was a lovely time. But Sharon mentioned that Bram's wife, Ruth Morrison, was ill. I asked for clarification.

"Like head-cold sick or really sick?"

"She's pretty sick."

I am not sure how many readers I have. I only know of a few. But I hope that posting this prayer request will help. Who knows? My few readers could tell their friends, and they could tell their friends...

You see where I'm going with this, right?

I don't know what kind of sick Ruth is. Frankly, I don't think it matters.

Please pray for her and Bram.

Thank you.

this is really happening...

isn't it?

Well. It is September 1.

Wow.

I know what you're thinking: "Wow? Really? What's so WOW about September 1?"

Okay, I'll tell you.

This is it. I am no longer able to say that I will be heading up to Boston "Next month". Now it is this month. Frankly, that's a little scary. I'm nervous just talking about it.

I will be driving up on the 29th. That's 28 days. 4 weeks.

Wow.

Laura and her roommates have offered me a couch for a few weeks (hopefully no more than 2) while I finalize an apartment, a job and a move that will hopefully include my father driving the u-haul up instead of me. We'll see. I'll bet he'll do it if I ask nicely and pay for it.

But it's really freaky. And, while I know it'll be fine, there is part me that is not so sure.

I know that this is good for me. I have needed a change of scene for a long time. Boston seems the most logical place to go. I have some friends there. There are more jobs there. It's bigger, so I am allowed more anonymity. I know that I will do a lot of that growing up I've heard so much about. Maybe that's why I'm scared. Maybe that and something else.

I had called my District Manager and asked for a transfer. I figured I would work at one or all of the three locations we have in the Boston Area. However, she mentioned that there was a new location going into Logan International Airport and she wanted me to manage it. I wasn't thrilled, mind you, by the thought of a full-time retail job, but I did like the idea of making enough money to pay my bills every month.

But when I didn't hear back from her, I got a little worried. Was I being promoted or not? So I called and asked.

"Well, Patti, we're not sure now."

The location was supposed to open in September, but by the time I had heard about it they had already pushed it to October. Now, we don't know when it is going in. If it doesn't open by late November, it won't go in until March. So I have some more job hunting to do.

Granted, I was planning on coming into Boston with a part-time retail job in the beginning. But I always knew that it wouldn't be enough. I have a very short amount of time in which to find gainful employment or I will have to go back to Danbury. The money isn't better there by a long shot, but the rent is lower.

I have sent out emails, resumes, cover letters... Tomorrow I can call around to people I've already contacted and ask for interviews. I figure that way, even if there aren't jobs available now, if one opens up for which I am qualified, I will be one step closer to it. There is always the possibility of simply asking for a job that doesn't exist yet just to see if it works.

But for now, I wait and I wonder.

What am I getting myself into?