Highlights of The Past Month

The past month = 8 Christmas dinners and parties (not including Christmas Eve or Day), 1 huge wedding, 1 job promotion followed by 1 job resignation, nearly 1 month of train and subway rides to 1 new job on the 18th floor of 1 big tower. Deep breath...

Here are the highlights (though the wedding deserves its own big post, later)!



End of November - Some old coworkers/friends from UCR and I reunited over an overpriced Italian dinner. Gabi (center) came all the way from London to visit, and we re-hashed old memories and talked about our new lives. Gabi and her British boyfriend have promised to introduce me to all of their single British guy friends when I visit next year - by then I'm sure I'll be ready to let someone sweep me off my feet!



End of November - Over the past year, I've shared with you my joys and my trials when it came to my job. I shared with you my desires to move on, branch out into new forums, and possibly a new company. After a lot of interviews and prayer, I now share with you my deepest gratitude for State Farm, and all of the opportunities that the company has afforded me, as I close the year with a permanent goodbye. The photo above was 1 of 5 farewell lunches I had with my favorite coworkers. My emotions during the last week on the job were indescribable. Resigning from the company was one of the hardest and most thought-out decisions I've ever had to make; but also the smartest and best decision I could've made for my career (and my sanity). It felt as though I was breaking up with a long-time boyfriend: it felt awkward, I felt unsure, but the decision was right. I was sad to go, but so ready to move forward.



Early December - I started my new job just in time for all of their holiday festivities! Our company Christmas party was a black and white masquerade ball at The Biltmore Hotel. People were pickled by 5:30pm (drinks were free), the food was okay, old people were getting jiggy on the dance floor, and the guitarist in the band was smokin' hot! Yay, proof that I work with corporate big-wigs now!



Jackie (above) is one of the ladies in my department (and also the lady training me for my new gig). Unfortch, I wasn't able to take any pictures of our department Christmas lunch at The Crustacean, where they make killer 1.5 lb crab dishes! I had to sip my wine slowly, as every time it hit a certain point in my glass, the waiter would refill it as though it were water. Man, these people live to wine and dine! The entire first week on the job, it was one expensive restaurant after another - and I didn't have to pay once!



December - My good friend Lamar had a Christmas dinner at his home, where my team kicked his team's ass at Catch Phrase - 4 times! Just like how the Lakers kick Denver's ass every time they play too. Mwahaha!



Late December - This was my 2nd to last pre-Christmas dinner celebration. I (again) reunited with my good friends from State Farm... See Eva, I told you there would be no such thing as a goodbye between us.

So... that sort of lets me catch up on my story telling. I have so many blanks to fill in - with tales of crazy people on the subway, the ex-love of my middle-school life who rides the same train to work, and the bills I drop while shopping on my lunch break (Express and Macy's are downstairs, crap). Stay tuned!

SKYDIVING

Jump out of a plane? Check! There really are no words. No words. Great friends, no fear, lots of eye candy, and another dream lived. Seriously, one of the best/smartest things I've ever done in my entire life.

Click the pics to enlarge. And if I ever figure out how to get the DVD of my jump onto the mac, I promise to share! My videographer was amazing.


Photo: The gang (less Lucas)


Photo: Ricardo and I during training!


Photo: Lisa and the new guy Mike.


Photo: Seriously, Ricardo takes the best pictures.


Photo: Christian (left) was so adorable. Hot. Spicy. Australian.


Photo: Ready to board the plane!


Photo: This is my "are you taking a picture?" face.


Photo: Bye Lisa!


Photo: Weee! Meee!


Photo: Dug and I free falling!


Photo: Yeah, my face says it all.


Photo: I don't care that I'm fug in this pic, it's my favorite!


Photo: The harness did weird things to Albert.


Photo: Corny high five.


Photo: All of us! Thanks for taking pics Allison!

Work/Life Update

Home from another Saturday worked. But not before I did the unthinkable.

I called my boss into his office yesterday afternoon and shut the door behind me. I explained that by the year's end, I would no longer be there. That I was ready for a new adventure - somewhere far from here. Somewhere where my skill sets could grow, outside of this department, but still within the company. His response? Completely supportive. He started with, "That makes me sad, but I won't hold you back from a job that will make you happy." I became increasingly overwhelmed and sad at the thought of leaving my team, and explained that "my plans are all tentative" and that I needed his referral in order to support a transfer request. He stated he'd help in any way he could, that I was too valuable to let walk away, and that he'll start networking for open positions this Monday. Great guy, my boss.

I'm almost excited, but don't want to get my hopes up for anything. I browse our job postings every week, and there has yet to be a position in a city I'd be willing to live in. Fingers crossed. Hopefully I'll find a new position by December.

Update: Here I am feeling all sentimental about my coworkers. Here are some pics from June - we all decided to wear red, white, and blue for flag day (Katie's Birthday). Man, these guys are awesome.


Photo: 1/3 or so of my department (Fire Company)


Photo: I switched cubicles in January to sit closer to these two.


Photo: Chinese/Jewish Daniel, my mentee. Look at my plant!


Photo: Damion. Inside joke.

Carrie in Italy

Working at the campus International Services Center was a huge blessing for me in 2005. Not only did I love my job, but I was blessed with an amazing (and very small) network of colleagues. Every now and then, I'll receive periodical e-mails from a former coworker, Carrie, who is 4 years my senior, and quite possibly one of the kindest persons I've ever come to know. She studied abroad in Sienna, Italy during her undergrad studies at UCSB, and after graduating university in 2001, she found herself stuck in slump of substitute teaching and counseling gigs. She knew she wanted to return to Italy through a grad school program; and just a few short months later, she was boarding a plane to Syracuse, NY to begin her MA degree. She went on to school and work in Italy, and after being there for over one year, she sent out her much looked-forward to e-mail update. The way she writes is quite poetic, novelistic almost - and just reading about her adventures makes my eyes tear in longing.

I encourage you to read my favorite parts of her e-mail below. Especially for those of you who need some sort of encouragement. It's rather long... so use your imagination.

One day, I'll be back in Europe. Just you wait and see. *Deep breath*

[...] I feel that I should continue where I left off last time. I had just returned to Florence to begin work as a TA at Syracuse University. I began teaching two sections of an art history class on "Masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance" and sat in on an upper-level course on Michelangelo that I hoped to TA for in the fall. Being a TA was really an incredible experience, because each week I (along with fellow TA Anne) lectured on-site...meaning that we never lectured in a classroom. We met students at different locations around the city in front of the paintings, sculptures, and buildings that they were learning about. This was absolutely amazing. We also took students on a few overnight trips to other Italian cities (Rome, Mantua, Padua, Urbino, San Sepolcro, Monterchi, Arezzo, and Rimini) during which I lectured. It was wonderful getting to know our students and working with them was such a rewarding experience. We connected much more personally, because they were learning and navigating their way through a foreign country. I felt like TA/tour guide/translator/surrogate family to many of them. At the end of the semester when academic and volunteer awards were given at a ceremony, I was there in the audience cheering and waving like a proud parent.

[...]

Before I knew it, spring had sprung. Paola and I thought it was best to flee the mainland and head to Sardegna, an island just to the west of the mainland. It is actually commonly called "Barcelonetta" or "Little Barcelona," indicating the strong Spanish influence on this Italian island. As the photos will corroborate, we enjoyed tapas and sangria, saw Spanish-style buildings, and tried to cope with the unique local dialect. We spent five nights in the city of Alghero and traveled by bus to Sassari and Bosa. From Alghero we took a guided boat tour to Le Grotte di Nettuno (60 million year-old) caves. The hosts of our B&B also took us to a beautiful nature reserve that culminated at the edge of a spectacular cliff. The weather in Sardegna was thankfully warmer than on the mainland, but of course our final day on the island was the nicest. We returned to Florence relaxed and tan, ready to brave the second half of the semester. The semester progressed as normal and then we fled Florence again in early April...only this time to France and for work. The professor that I TA for takes students in his Leonardo da Vinci course to Paris for four days with day trips to Versailles and Chartres. Two TA's come along for the ride - the TA for the Leonardo course (Paola) and another TA (Anne) who organizes the trip and brings another 30 students. I got the best end of the deal by having no responsibilities whatsoever, because I was job shadowing Anne. I will be the organizer of the trip for fall semester. Unbelievably, I will lecture at the Louvre, the Palace of Versailles, and Chartres Cathedral. Me? At the Louvre? Seriously? We even had some free time to ourselves, especially in the evenings, to explore and get a taste of Parisian life. I had visited Paris nearly seven years ago when I first studied abroad. Thus, I did not climb the Eiffel Tower or visit other main attractions. Instead, I visited less-frequented museums, climbed up to Sacre Coeur at midnight, and wandered quaint streets. I am truly in awe of the opportunities that Syracuse University has afforded me. The work and stress is tremendous, but I love it.

[...]

The semester finished a few weeks later, but before I could pack up and head for California I had one more trip. Every semester my professor invites a few chosen TA's on a three-day trip to Le Marche, a gorgeous region southeast of Tuscany. Anne, Paola, and I went along for the ride. This was really the first time that we had been able to see Italy by car and it was breathtaking. To be honest, I cannot remember the number of or names of the cities we visited. It was a marathon of tiny town stops. What was most refreshing about the trip was the fact that none of the stops were crowded with tourists. We could enjoy the towns for what they were without any major plans or destinations. It was a welcomed change of pace. We stayed at a lovely countryside agritourismo (sort of a country villa where they grow and serve their own food). I was fortunate to spend my birthday while on this trip and delighted in a fabulous birthday dinner at the villa's restaurant.

We returned to Florence on a Tuesday night and I still had to say some goodbyes and pack before my flight home on Thursday morning. Some of my closest friends would not be in Florence when I came back, so there were a few tearful farewells.

[...]

I will be back in California for all of August for anyone and anything I missed. I am only going to Florence for work purposes. I am ecstatic to return to the company that I worked for last summer, this time as the Associate Director. I will spend five weeks and 24-hours a day with American high school students studying abroad in Florence. First, my company is flying me to New York to visit the headquarters. I will then fly with other staff members to Florence. When the program ends, it is back to California for August, then back to Florence for fall semester in early September. I will TA for Masterpieces again, Michelangelo, and coordinate and lecture for the Paris trip.

If you could not tell, I am torn between two continents. Or, rather, I am enjoying the most of two continents and hoping that by spending concentrated time in each that I will make the right decision of where to live once fall semester ends. I wish you all a fantastic summer and hope that you know that I carry you with me on all of my journeys.

With love,
Carrie

Burlington, WA

For everyone who has been wondering where the heck I've been hiding... I've been working. A lot. I'm one of five "lucky" adjusters (from California) partaking in a company wide pilot... translation: new unit, more training, more work, less Ro. So my new unit and I met up with our Texas counterparts in Washington for one long week. Got all that?

The added training just stuffed my brain with all this amazing knowledge. Plus, it was good break from the daily grind, pant suits, and high heels.


Photo: Chuckanut Manor


Photo: See, told you it was called Chuckanut.


Photo: Lisa on the extracting machine.


Photo: Dry down races!


Photo: Me, sitting and doing nothing.


Photo: My buddy Steve! Or, as I call him, evetS!


Photo: My boss stole my camera out of my purse. That's why I have this.


Photo: Speaking of my boss...


Photo: Margaritas! Who'd of thought I'd be drinking with the boss.


Photo: My first geo cache!


Photo: Our team name was "Sham-Eaz" - we were dope.


Photo: Thom! Not Tom.


Photo: Puget Sound is emerald green.


Photo: Le gang at Deception Pass.


Photo: I was henceforth named the Flower Killer. I prefer Tulip Trimmer.


Photo: Can you find me?


Photo: Take my foot up the butt! Haha, so mature.


Photo: Management in the mock-house.


Photo: At one point, EVERYONE started dotting one another.


Photo: In a bed of my faaaavorite flowers!


Photo: Tulip Festival

January 2007 Highlights Part II

Some friends/coworkers and I decided to ski & snowboard this past Saturday. Big-ups to all my friends who board... it's a lot harder than I thought it was going to be. Way back in the day (and I mean waaaay back) I used to ski frequently... and very good might I add. But snowboarding is a whole new ball game; and it sure as hell took the best of me.

My coworker Dan moonlights as a snowboarding instructor - so I had the privy to have a full days worth of private (and free) lessons. The first half of the day involved me holding fiercly onto his hands the whole way down the intermediate slope (yes, we basically skipped bunny). It took about 1 hour to get down. Shut up.

The second run went by smoothly. I finally got the hang of things - and could actually turn that board on my own. Needless to say, I loved it! We're already planning on heading up to summit/bear/mtn high a couple more times before the season's end. That way I can get good enough for Mammoth next Christmas.

Kudos to Dan - and his barrel of patience. Poor guy. He had to wait for me to mozey on down the mountain the entire day. I promise I'll get better buddy!

Sidenote: The loveliest Portuguese (or so says his accent) man works at the rental shop at Snow Summit. I honestly believe he's the most attractive person I've ever seen in person. That's all.. it just needed to be said.