Sunday, January 16, 2011

A Shambles.

   You know that old saying, "when it rains, it pours"?  Well dear reader, it is freaking pouring.  I have been hunting for a new job for longer than I care to admit for several reasons.  First, it is simply time that I moved on because although my current job has been amazing and I have learned more than I ever expected to, I have reached the point where it is simply time that I branch out and take on a new challenge.  Second, as many of you know, I am currently living in what I affectionately call "the sticks", and I have been more than ready for a LONG time to get back to civilization (a.k.a. the Twin Cities). 

   So, fast forward to last MONDAY... a mere 6 days ago, when I got the phone call I have been begging for over the past year and a half.  I GOT A NEW JOB.  Is this really happening??  Am I finally getting what I've wanted for so long and have been cruelly denied??  Do I actually get to move back to a place where "going to Target" is not a day long escapade???  YES!!!  That is a huge affirmative!!! WAHOO!!!!!!!!!

   Now that the excitement of "getting back to civilization" has worn off, reality has set in.  And reality is a tad overwhelming.  I will be starting said new job one week from tomorrow.  New job is 3 hours away.  This requires moving.  I have not started packing...I have a lot of stuff...I should go through the stuff..the stuff is EVERYWHERE..do I have time to go through the stuff or do I just shove all the stuff in boxes?  Do I have enough boxes?  I need to find a truck... and helpers... and boxes... and change addresses and forward mail and find a new apartment and pay security deposits and find a subleaser and BOOM!!!!!!!!!!

That was the sound of my head exploding.

   It is indeed pouring.  One big part of my stress was alleviated yesterday when the fiance and I found a great apartment and signed our lease.  Now at least I have an address to start using for changing addresses, etc.  I will, for the first time since I last lived with my Mom and Dad, have my own DISHWASHER (this is cause for celebration), and my own WASHER AND DRYER in our apartment!  No more lugging huge laundry baskets through the snowbank, into my car, to the laundromat, back into the car, and through the snowbank and back into the house.  I can simply toss my clothes in the washer that only WE get to use which is a mere 15 feet away.  SO EXCITED.  And the most important part of all???  I won't feel the need to hoard quarters away every time I find one in my wallet because I need them for laundry.  I can go buy a gumball if I want and I don't have to feel guilty.  Yes.  These are the things I think about.

   I am a very type A person and I am a huge fan of lists, therefore this is quite obviously a time when lists are my best friend.  I get great personal satisfaction from being able to cross something off my list when it is completed (no matter how minuscule).  I'll even consider putting stupid crap on my list just for the joy it brings me to cross it off... for example, I may put something like "clip toenails" on my moving list because it serves two distinct purposes.  First, it is something simple that I can do in minimal time and then I get to cross it off my list... and feel a sense of accomplishment.  Second, it is a relatively unimportant and not necessarily productive thing I can do to procrastinate and distract me from the important and pressing things (read: packing my entire household into boxes) that actually need to get done.  A girl needs priorities.

   That being said, I currently have T-minus 6 days in which to pack my entire house into boxes capable of withstanding a move in the dead of winter.  Clearly, it is time to clip the toenails and cross that off my list.  I am a pure example of productivity.  

Monday, January 3, 2011

New Year's Eve Musings

   I distinctly recall a New Year's Eve (NYE) several years ago where I just HAD to have a certain outfit to wear and HAD to have a perfect party and HAD to go out to the bars afterward and HAD to have a perfect night.  I remember finding an awesome top on line and spending nearly $90 on it (plus expedited shipping) so that I would have my awesome NYE outfit.  Despite the fact that it had a gorgeous beaded peacock on it, even I have to admit that $90 was a tad excessive.  Not to mention the money and time spent in preparing for my party/paying cover charges at bars/drink expenses.  And quite honestly, it was a fun night (I suppose) but honestly not much different than any other night out, other than the higher bill.  I thought that the whole evening was just a prelude to the magical moment at midnight when everyone cheers and drinks champagne and kisses one another.  And when that moment came, your whole night was supposed to be transformed into one of those movie moments where you are having the time of your life and champagne rains from the heavens.  Get real.

   I've had several NYEs along those same lines and all of them seem to end up being a bit of a let down because we put so much pressure on one night to be this magical end all/be all of awesome trophy worthy nights.  I've actually had plenty of nights out that end up being so much better than NYE because they were very unplanned, unchoreographed and impromptu so that you focus on the good time you're actually having, rather than the amazing time you're supposed to be having.  (An evening of speaking Arabic to cab drivers and getting cheese in one's hair comes to mind).  So for the past few years, I've eschewed the pursuit of grandeur and had significantly lower key NYEs and had way more fun in the process.

   Last year, I recall my "prefect outfit" consisting of my ratty UWO sweatshirt, socks and jeans.  I spent the evening with good friends drinking a few beers and playing Nintendo Wii all night.  Who knew that 4 player Super Mario Brothers could be so amusing... I had a great time.  Then this year, I again spent the time with great friends and my new fiancee.  We all went to dinner at a fun new Italian place in St. Paul, then went back home and watched a movie and completely missed midnight because we weren't even paying attention.  And again, I had a great time.  No pressure or expectations, just fun (and an awesome olive selection... seriously, try out Scusi, you won't regret it).

   Maybe I'm just getting old and lame, but these days I'd prefer a good meal and a good movie to a bar and a crowded dance floor.  So happy New Year and Happy 2011 to everyone from this fallen away NYE partier!!!  I'll sit here with my sweatshirt and beer and go to bed early and leave the insane NYE partying to those that are much cooler than I!