Author Archives: Pam

Home for the Holidays

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Well, at least I’m trying to get home for the holidays. I’m currently sitting at SkyHarbor in Phoenix, AZ. And I will continue to sit here for another 5 hours. Jealous? Thought so.

My flight was originally scheduled to land in Indianapolis at 10:05 p.m. and apparently due to mechanical issues, the plane is being delayed.  My current ETA is 1:55 a.m. Again, jealous yet?

I’m trying really hard to find the fun in this. I’m trying really hard to not be angry/bitter/pissed off/full of rage. I’ve trying really hard not to find a flight back to Oakland and forget this ever happened.

I had lunch and a beer. Now I’m eating cookies. I should probably think about water soon but I’m afraid to give up my power supply. The internet connection is super slow so I’m writing all of this is Word. I know you don’t care about how I post my blogs but I need someone to talk to. And Lefty says “you’re it!”

Maybe I’ll get a few new blog posts written since I can’t really nap (which is what I am wanting to do more than anything). Maybe I’ll just sit here full of rage. What I won’t do is drink myself silly because I can’t afford it! I paid $5.75 for a can of Coors Light. Ri-damn-diculous.

I’m not going to lie. I have mixed emotions about this trip. I don’t feel like I’ve been gone all that long. Just on a really long vacation. It’s actually been less than a month. Since moving into the condo, I have had very little time to do anything with it. Due to the company shutdown, I don’t have to be back in the office until January 2. So I would have plenty of time to do things with the new pad, or explore, or adventure or just rest. However, I couldn’t imagine Christmas without the monkeys. My SIL called this morning and is SUPER excited for me to be home. I think she was a bit upset when I didn’t share her excitement.

A month ago when I planned this trip, I figured I could fill my days with friends and family but it’s the holidays – everyone is with their own families. I do have few gatherings planned that I am really looking forward to.  Again, also love knowing I can hang with the monkeys. I hope my bags make it or I’m going to have several pissed off monkeys wondering why Aunt Pammie didn’t bring them anything from San Francisco. Even more, I’ll have one pissed off momma who wants her salt water taffy.

So here I sit. Writing. Periodically raging. Extremely jealous of those people getting on airplanes.  4.5 hours to go.

Rage – there is the cutest little girl, maybe a year old, who has squeakers in her shoes. Think of the sound of a dog chew toy. When I first say here, she was SO CUTE. I totally wanted those shoes. Now that we’ve all been hanging in the terminal for the last 3 hours, it’s not so cute. I must destroy the squeakers. Not the child – just the squeakers.

And I’m still sitting here.

What shall I do to pass the time when delayed?  What is your travel story?

Hello World!

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Life without internet is not fun. It is amazing to me how disconnected I feel by not having the world at my fingertips.

While I have not been completely out of the loop because of my cell phone, I have missed the convenience of the internet during my non-work time.

So, here’s the update.

  • As of tomorrow, I am officially two weeks into California living.
  • Moved into my condo on Saturday. She’s cute. And empty. That will be another post, probably several.
  • I purchased a new bed which was delivered today (YAY!). Thanks Sleep Train and my new friend Ira for getting me such a great deal! And to the three gentlemen who arrived for an on time delivery which took approximately 3.7 seconds. Also, a big thanks to Amber and Greg for allowing me to use their air bed for the last week!
  • I have officially worked two weeks. We have this fun 9/80 schedule where we work 80 hours in 9 days then get a three-day weekend every other week. So far, very nice! 10 hour days are brutal but totally worth it.
  • I have an IKEA about 20 minutes away! I have an IKEA about 20 minutes away! I have only made one visit. The next is coming very soon!!
  • With no internet = no cable. And since I don’t have a television, that’s OK for the moment. Looking forward to setup on the 16th. Until then, I’ve decided to watch Sex And The City from the beginning. I had forgotten how much I love those wacky girls! I figure if I finish all 6 seasons by the time cable arrives, I could start Friends.
  • Laundry – You are probably shaking your head as to why this is important on my update list. I went an entire week without laundry access. It’s amazing to have a washer and dryer at my use at any time!

From this updated I have confirmed I am a blessed girl and these are first-world problems. However, boy am I excited to have my modern conveniences again!

Catch ya later!

Interesting Discoveries

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Hello from beautiful Richmond, California! I’m a currently at a local Extended Stay for about a week then I get my condo!! Except for the fact that I have nothing to go in a two bedroom, two bathroom condo – I’m super excited!

However, I have noticed a few things in my 72 hours as a Californian. And I’m going to make a list because it’s more fun!

1. The temperature has been 50 degrees for a low and 65 for a high since I arrived. There are many people who are in winter coats, scarves, hats, etc. I, however, am in short-sleeved shirts. I even had my pigs out on Sunday while running errands. This may take some getting used to. Apparently 65 is cold.

2. I’m getting ready to experience my first California weather event – “atmospheric river”. What the what? Apparently there will be a ton of rain. I had to purchase an umbrella this evening.

3. Jet lag sucks! Seriously sucks! Sunday I felt OK because I could lounge around, nap, wander the mall, shop, nap – whatever I wanted. Monday, first day at work, first day to work a 10 hour day in months, I thought I needed toothpicks to keep my eyes open. My poor body was begging for PJs and bedtime and I was still working! Totally crazy! Today was definitely better. I might stay awake until 9.

4. People think I am absolutely nuts for moving here by myself. Every place I go where I am forced to explain that I’m from Indiana, moved here for work, blah, blah, blah…….I get a shocked face, followed by a “WOW”! Maybe there is something wrong with me because I don’t feel like this is a huge deal. It’s a big deal, but not shocked face/WOW worthy.

That’s all for now! Hopefully I’ll be able to post some pictures of my new pad this weekend!

xoxo!

This is for Realz Folks!

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Greetings from the Indianapolis International Airport. The first stop of my journey today which includes Las Vegas and Oakland.

I should really have some sort of reflective post about Indianapolis and my feelings but all it would be is “I’m really, really, really excited!”. That makes for a pretty boring post.

So we’ll play a fun game of random thoughts that come into my head. Ready? Should be fun.

1. There is a woman, with a baby literally sitting on the bar in Champs at the airport. Totally distracted me. The child was not in a car seat, but sitting on the bar. I would estimate this child to be around 6 months old.

2. As I sat down in Champs, I realized my shirt was backwards. I’m kind of awesome like that.

3. Thursday night I put my PJ pants on inside out and didn’t realize until about 4 a.m. when my bladder woke me up.

4. My mom described herself as a “leaker” this morning. Definition: Someone who cries a little at a time – shed tears, stop, shed tears, stop. Like a leaky faucet. And yes, she did this all morning. And magically the faucet was fixed once we hit the interstate.

5. I might have been a hot mess this morning if not for my 5 hour Beverly Hills 90210 marathon last night. The best of Kelly and Dylan. I was a hot mess at midnight when Andrea said goodbye to the gang for Yale with Jessie and Hannah. Not quite a mess but somewhat messy when Donna and David got married. I followed that up with 13 Going on 30 with Jennifer Garner. I always cry at that movie. So rather than crying at an appropriate time, I got it all out while watching TV into the wee hours of the morning.

6. The song “Home” by Phillip Phillips is my theme song right now.

7. I made sure to brush the cats this morning before I left. That way they hate me and won’t miss me so much! I am the devil. Plus, I won’t miss them knowing the last thing they did was bite and hiss at me. (I’m sure you all totally believe that!)

8. I’m on beer two and have an hour until my flight. Given #5 on this list, I may sleep like a baby!

9. I’m super excited about my new book on my Kindle – Shit Show Part 2.

10. This shirt is getting really uncomfortable. I have a tank top on underneath. Would it be weird to pull my arms through and turn it around? I was hoping I didn’t get an food on it because explaining why I have food stains on my back would be interesting.

11. I really want to turn this blog into a West Coast/Relocation/Midwest Girl Meets West Coast blog. However, there is so much poor pitiful me and I’m so fat and I’m working out/not working out and I’m a runner/not so much a runner that I’m afraid readers will judge me. So basically I’ll just stick with my randomness.

12. I hate ending numbered lists on odd numbers. So you get #12.

Wheels up in 45 minutes! Next post from California!

xoxo

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Hi friends! Happy Thanksgiving! I hope that everyone had a lovely day, ate too much turkey and celebrated everything they are thankful for! Well, at least that’s what I did today. I have so much to be thankful for today – so blessed! I also have a cross-country move coming up that I’ve been preparing for….but I don’t want to chat about that now.

Now, I want to tell you about my awesome girls night out. A few years ago, my best girlfriends from high school started getting together for brunch/lunch around Thanksgiving. We’ve all gone our separate directions which is why it’s so nice just to be together for a minute.

This year, as we began our annual planning via Facebook messenger, I found out I was moving to California. Before I had officially accepted the offer, one crazy girl had a full agenda, including hotel room, for our girls night!

For the first time, I tried out Wine and Canvas. As a fine arts major for two semesters and a self-proclaimed crafty lady, I was pretty excited! The painting was Van Gogh’s Irises. Here is the original painting:

Van Gogh Irises – The Original

Step 1 – Blank canvas. The 79 is my food order – The most important part of the evening.

Step 2 – Create the ground and the sky.

Step 3 – Add flowers…or seaweed….whatever.

Step 4 – Add the irises or blue ribbons.

The final product! Just call me Pam Van Gogh!

I’ve totally missed my calling in life. Actually, I quit fine arts because my professor said that my work always seemed “unfinished”. I decided that I would open a gallery of unfinished art – just because she ticked me off.

After our amazing art session, we hit up Howl at the Moon, added a few others to the entourage and ended the night with the most delicious bread sticks at Kilroy’s Bar and passed out. I haven’t been to Howl at the Moon since my 30th birthday party (a few years ago) and let me tell you, the talent was amazing! I don’t know how some of these guys haven’t been picked up by The Voice yet – especially the dude that did Gangnam Style – Awesome!

Now, I must get back to my entertainment tonight – my monkeys. Last sleep over with Aunt Pammie for a while.

Seriously, I know you’re jealous!

Happy Thanksgiving!

What is Up!?

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What isn’t up – that is more accurate! Since we last spoke, I have done the following:

1. Resigned from my job (effective November 15th).
2. Accepted a new position in California (effective November 26th).
3. Packed a box.
4. Tossed a billion things out. Remember when I said I downsized – obviously I needed to do more! Seriously, where does this stuff come from?!
5. Book a one-way ticket to California. (Holy crap, I’m really doing this.)
6. Found a condo, had Cali friends look at condo and applied for condo tonight!
7. Booked a room at an extended stay hotel for the foreseeable future.
8. Found a company that will relocate my cats for me. I just don’t think I can handle that much stress.
9. Cursed at the snow and the weather and the rain and the cold in Indianapolis.
10. Work-wise: Let’s just say, I’ve completed about 2 months worth of work in two weeks, plus hired and trained my replacement, plus kept my boss calm and sane (if possible), plus held a successful board meeting.
10. I survived the paternal parental going away dinner.
11. Slept very little because I am constantly thinking of things I should be doing.

What’s left to do:

1. GNO with my favorite ladies – Nicole, Carrie and Laura.
2. Turkey Day reunion with my besties from high school.
3. My drunken going away party where I invited all of facebook.
4. Thanksgiving.
5. Packing. Shipping. Cleaning.
6. Finding someone to take my car across country.
7. Secure a rental vehicle in Cali.

I had really big plans of making this a relocation blog for a while. And it still may become that. But right now, I’m just too plain tired to document my journey. Lame excuse, maybe. But I’m moving to Cali friends! Freakin’ Finally!

Stay Tuned…..

 

Never Waiting for Anything Again…..

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Have I ever mentioned that I am the most impatient person ever? Probably.

So, while I was waiting, I got antsy. I started looking for other positions in the bay area. I kept growing more increasing frustrated. I kept growing more increasingly impatient.

On October 22, I sent Amber an email basically asking if I could crash at her house for a while because I was moving out there in December – with or without a job. I was ready. I was confident that this was where I wanted to live for the immediate future. I needed a change and a challenge. I had no idea how it was going to actually happen, but I was going.

Late that night I receive a reply:
“Hold that thought, chickadee!  I should have some good news for you this week! :)”

After 8 weeks of impatiently waiting, I wasn’t holding my breath.

Then one week ago today, on Tuesday, October 23, I get a text from Amber, “Got a minute to chat?”. And of course, I did.

And then it happened – I received a verbal offer for employment – IN SAN FRANCISCO! Well, actually Richmond, CA but it’s seriously 20 minutes from San Francisco.

Let the adventure begin!

Spilling the Beans – Part 4

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I promise this is the end of the saga…..

Amber and Greg were headed to Paris for two weeks. And something in my gut told me I wouldn’t hear anything until her return. And I was right.

And I waited.

Then I waited some more.

The last week in September, I finally got some news. They needed me to return to San Francisco to meet with the Amber’s boss and another gentleman, both out of Wilmington. So the first week of October, I flew out again.

This trip was a whirlwind! I worked all day on Wednesday, caught a 6 p.m. flight to Oakland, started interviews at 9 a.m. on Thursday and returned to Indy on Friday morning.

It was very similar to the last day of interviews. Now, there was a slight difference as they had been a reorganization. Not a huge shake up but enough that I’m glad it was explained to me in person.

Again, ended my day with dinner with Amber and Greg. Groundhog’s Day anyone?

And now, I wait.

Spilling the Beans – Part 3

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When I left you last, Mom and I had made it to the hotel in Emeryville and fell asleep quickly!

Sunday was a day of fun! I’ve posted about most of it here. After a day of sightseeing, it was a quick pizza and to bed. I had a big day on Monday. A day full of interviews that I was totally prepared to rock!

I met with four different people on this day: HR, Acting General Manager, Acting Business Manager (this is the position I was interviewing for) and the friend Amber (who would be my boss, again, and brought this little adventure to my attention.)

Having HR experience myself, this was definitely an interesting way of interviewing – very time conscious, not conversational but strictly question and answer. I’m not sure why it felt different, it just did.

The Acting GM was short and sweet. As I learned later, he’s just trying to keep his head above water until an actual GM is hired.

The Acting Business Manager was actually a temporary transplant from the Wilmington, MA office who was tasked with introducing the Business Manager position to this branch. His 90 day stay turned into 4+ months and you could tell he was homesick. I was able to ask position specific questions and he gave pretty honest answers. I felt pretty confident that I could be successful.

I had lunch with Amber. We dished about my interviews, my thoughts, and she gave me insight into my first opinion. Have I mentioned that I am totally awesome at reading people? I love it! I’m typically pretty spot on.

After lunch, I was scheduled to have a conference call with another gentleman out of the Wilmington office. However, that didn’t happen due to some scheduling conflicts, so I was excused.

Exhausted, I headed back to the hotel to see what the Moms had been up to while I was being grilled. Really, it wasn’t that bad but I really do hate interviewing.

Because it was 2 p.m. and we were in California, we headed up to spend an afternoon driving through Napa. Have I mentioned my love of Napa? We didn’t do any tastings but we drove all the way north to Helena stopping whenever we wanted along the way. It was a very lovely afternoon.

While we were cruising through Napa, Amber asked if Mom and I would join her and Greg for dinner. We wrapped up our day in Napa and headed to Hercules for dinner. Again, we dished about the day and what I thought about the company, people, etc. We had a couple beverages, some sliders and just enjoyed a lovely evening by the bay.

The next morning we got up bright and early and headed back to Indiana.

And the waiting begins……

Spilling the Beans – Part 2

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So, where did I leave off? Oh, I was ready.

Bright and early on Saturday morning, my mom and I said goodbye to the kittens and headed toward the airport. I promised my mom I’d leave this part out but it’s just too cute to pass by. So, there were tears when we left. Not because she was going to get on a plane, or because of what this trip could potentially mean. Nope, she was very upset to leave the kittens. We had very good cat care lined up. My friend (and neighbor) and her two sons were properly trained on the cat care guidelines. All three loved the cats. They were in good hands. But, as mom said several times, “it’s not the same as I would take care of them.” I would say we were parking at the airport about the time she got herself under control. Maybe it was because she had come to terms. Or maybe it was because I was giving her instructions – should she ever have to do this in the future – by herself.

Parking.
Airport shuttle.
Baggage check.
Security.
Finding the gate.

To most travelers, this is standard. I explained every. single. detail. of what we were doing, why we were doing it, how I knew to do it. I tried as much as possible to be patient with her. I really did. I know she hasn’t flown much. Actually the only time she’s ever flown is with me – one time to Ft. Myers, one time to D.C. And it has been at least 5 years since we were in D.C. Some times she looks like a deer caught in headlights. Some times just really confused. Other times, I don’t think she was paying attention to me at all!

I think the most frustrating part, for both of us, was my pitiful explanation of the Southwest cattle call system. It wasn’t until my second trip out in October when I checked in and found out I was A1 did I actually realize that she understood what I we had been doing.

One thing mom had been worried about was changing planes. So the first flight, we didn’t actually change planes. We had two stops but never left the plane. We stopped once in Las Vegas, once in Burbank and then our final stop in Oakland. We will never, ever, EVER do that again. Absolutely exhausting. I just wanted to jump out of the plane and run around so badly. I just needed fresh air! And the ability to move freely!

While in flight, mom did pretty darn good. She loves looking out the window. We brought a little lunch and snacks. Besides going stir crazy, it was an enjoyable journey.

By the time we land in Oakland, we are hungry and tired. Glad to be off the plane but tired. So we wait………wait……..still waiting……for our luggage at OAK. Slowest baggage claim ever. Then headed off to the shuttle to the rental car station. Waited some more. Got the car – very nice, I might add. Although for the life of me I cannot remember the make or model.

And as I’m sitting in the car, adjusting the mirrors, air, radio, it dawned on me……I have never driven in California. And my mom’s with me. Crap – I hope I can do this. So, I confidently set my GPS to the hotel address. Say a prayer and move forward.

Now, you may not know this about me but when I’m hungry – I get extremely grumpy. When I’m tired, watch out. When I’m hungry and tired, look up the definition of the word bitch in the urban dictionary and you’ll find my picture.

Needless to say, it was a tense trip to the hotel with a few missed turns along the way.

Find the hotel. We stayed in Emeryville – perfect!
Find hotel room.
Find food.
Find sleep.

Seriously, we  were in bed by 8 p.m. PST or 11 EST.

Best. Sleep. Ever.

And due to the hurt the San Fransisco Giants are putting on the Cardinals (especially in the 3rd inning), this post has taken entirely too long. More later….GO GIANTS!!