Well, when all was seeming bleak and unpromising...I managed to persevere and keep pushing through and by gum, I HAVE A JOB! I start this coming Wednesday! Designer/Project Manager at a high end office furniture dealership. The team seems great, the pay is great and general traffic issues not too heinous (afterall, this IS L.A.).
The job finally was offered to me in early mid-October after about a month and a half of e-mails, calls and interviews.
About two weeks prior, we added (by accident) a member to our household - a feral tuxedo-colored kitten. The 'accident' was that the little thing had gotten stuck in a pilot's BMW under the hood and above the engine baffle. He apparently spent about 4-5 days in there w/no food no water...!?! We had him checked out by the vet and he's hunky dory! He was about 5 weeks old at that point, and - owing to the airport where he was found - his name is "Vinny" for the code for Van Nuys Airport "VNY".
Vinny runs the gamut from "Adorable" to "Squee" and between and also from "STOP IT!" to "GO TO SLEEP!" and all point in the interim. ;)
Now that I'm finally going back to work - I'll be able to re-enter the land of the financially living! :) Money for spending and even better - money for SAVING! And I'll be able to start back to 'playing' with cakes again. I'm also feeling inspired again, so I'll be plugging away blissfully on my Muses shoes for Mardi Gras 2012. :) And on that note, I'm also GOING to Mardi Gras 2012! I've ordered my Muses beads/throws, I've booked my airfare (as it was only going to get more expensive and more rare the longer I waited. My awesome friends are hosting me, so that saves serious ducats and I know it's a safe place, great access to the parade routes. I WISH my Boo was going to go with me, but he's about to make some career adjustments/improvements so it's better right now that he's not committed to Mardi Gras if he changes positions.
I'm hoping that once I have my first paycheck that I'll be able to get affordable airfare to Houston for the Christmas holiday break. Gifts...? Well, since I'll still be in financial recovery mode - if I can get airfare, my usual gift expenditures will be impacted. I hope my family understands. If not...well, it is what it is.
I'm going tomorrow to apply/test for my California driver's license. I'm making the transition to be an official Californian!
My revised plan of 'just a year' has moved to a more open-ended thing...I'll be performing like a long-termer at work, I want to kick some butt. This is going to be weighing more on my man's career growth. He has a chance at a seriously great placement, that would help get us to NOLA in the future - and still allow him to retire w/full military benefits in about 8 years from that point. :)
If we win the Lottery before that - well, then yet again, plans change and accelerate. :) Granted - it would help if we actually PLAYED...LOL!
Okay, I need to make groceries and practice the driver's license test a few more times.
Cheers all!
W.
Showing posts with label california. Show all posts
Showing posts with label california. Show all posts
Monday, November 14, 2011
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
60 Days (+) Of California Living (thus far)
Wow, I've been here two months already!?
The weather here has been really nice, a tad warm - but NOTHING like what Houston's been dealing with: 23 days STRAIGHT of 100+ degree high-temps!?!?!
My only weather-related negative comment about L.A.: no thunderstorms. Dan swears there will be some this fall. I'm holding him to it.
I really want a full-time job w/a decent salary, which means: back to the furniture world. So last week, I e-mailed a mid-market office furniture dealer that is located in Burbank (about 9 miles away). Just as a tickler, y'know "hey, I'm here, I can do this, any needs?" kind of thing. In a stroke of luck, they are INTERESTED! :) They requested my resume', so I e-mailed it to them - for a project manager/sales support position! Later in the day, I received an e-mail back to schedule an interview! :) It was set up for last Wednesday at 10 a.m..
That meant - I needed to top off my hair color which had grown out from the cruddy way I had done it three weeks earlier. I spent Tuesday hitting the shops for something to spice up my work clothes. I scored a couple of Adrienne Vittadini tops (one a knit long-sleeved in a mid-range olive tone, and the other a black/heather grey rugby stripe tunic w/patch pockets that I can wear over jeans, leggings...whatnot) and a fun, flouncy peasant skirt in colors that will make it through summer and well into fall. I also scored hair color and raided the beauty supply for coloring brushes and a bowl. I spent the afternoon diligently addressing the root of my root problem. The results of my efforts was quite nice.
I went to the interview, arrived a little early. It lasted about 40 minutes, the lady was very nice and it seemed to go well. I'm at present waiting on the decision. I called today and she said they were reviewing other candidates and would let me know. She seemed in a good mood, was pleasant...hoping that's a good sign for me.
If I can get this job and at a decent salary, I'll be in veritable clover. I can save towards a place in New Orleans, as well as go back for a visit...SOON(?).
On the homefront - GrisGris is now comfy sleeping in the bedroom w/us and Dan's cats! Progress! It just 'happened'...though I suspect it dovetailed nicely w/the fact the cats realizing, when she's in close proximity to them...they all get treats! LOL!
I have slightly reworked the kitchen set-up, getting a glitter-dome set up - time to start working on Muses Shoes!
Goodnight, here's to good news on the jobfront tomorrow.
W.
The weather here has been really nice, a tad warm - but NOTHING like what Houston's been dealing with: 23 days STRAIGHT of 100+ degree high-temps!?!?!
My only weather-related negative comment about L.A.: no thunderstorms. Dan swears there will be some this fall. I'm holding him to it.
I really want a full-time job w/a decent salary, which means: back to the furniture world. So last week, I e-mailed a mid-market office furniture dealer that is located in Burbank (about 9 miles away). Just as a tickler, y'know "hey, I'm here, I can do this, any needs?" kind of thing. In a stroke of luck, they are INTERESTED! :) They requested my resume', so I e-mailed it to them - for a project manager/sales support position! Later in the day, I received an e-mail back to schedule an interview! :) It was set up for last Wednesday at 10 a.m..
That meant - I needed to top off my hair color which had grown out from the cruddy way I had done it three weeks earlier. I spent Tuesday hitting the shops for something to spice up my work clothes. I scored a couple of Adrienne Vittadini tops (one a knit long-sleeved in a mid-range olive tone, and the other a black/heather grey rugby stripe tunic w/patch pockets that I can wear over jeans, leggings...whatnot) and a fun, flouncy peasant skirt in colors that will make it through summer and well into fall. I also scored hair color and raided the beauty supply for coloring brushes and a bowl. I spent the afternoon diligently addressing the root of my root problem. The results of my efforts was quite nice.
I went to the interview, arrived a little early. It lasted about 40 minutes, the lady was very nice and it seemed to go well. I'm at present waiting on the decision. I called today and she said they were reviewing other candidates and would let me know. She seemed in a good mood, was pleasant...hoping that's a good sign for me.
If I can get this job and at a decent salary, I'll be in veritable clover. I can save towards a place in New Orleans, as well as go back for a visit...SOON(?).
On the homefront - GrisGris is now comfy sleeping in the bedroom w/us and Dan's cats! Progress! It just 'happened'...though I suspect it dovetailed nicely w/the fact the cats realizing, when she's in close proximity to them...they all get treats! LOL!
I have slightly reworked the kitchen set-up, getting a glitter-dome set up - time to start working on Muses Shoes!
Goodnight, here's to good news on the jobfront tomorrow.
W.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
The Looooong and Winding Road...
After putting myself, my dearest friend and my dad through HELL to finish the move (and I am in their eternal debt), I finally got the show on the road a little after 11 a.m. on Friday. Over the previous week, I had kitted out the car w/new tires and a slew of fluid replacements/fuel injector cleaning/fuel filter replacement...oh, NOW I remember why my bank balance is so damn low.
And before you ask, "Yes, I had the cats in the car" 'ere I left the old digs. After the first hour, both of them actually settled down! I was amazed.
Stopped just outside of San Antonio to top up my fuel. Drove through San Antonio that seemed (at the time) to take FOREVER. Stopped in Sonora for more fuel. Then drove on through to Fort Stockton for the night, arriving about 6:30.
The motel was a little dinky, but it served its purpose. I dined in my room w/some Dairy Queen-collected nommins. The cats were glad to be out of their carriers, and I was glad to be out of the car, too!
For what it's worth - my car was jammed pretty damned full - I nicknamed her for the trip: Fibber McGee's Closet on Wheels!
Saturday morning, I loaded up the stuff I had brought in and then wedged the cats back into their carriers. GrisGris wasn't so bad, but Amelie...oh heck...
Stopped at the Donut Palace for b'fast and much needed coffee (which I must add: The "Palace" did not live up to the hype...but then maybe I'm jaded by being a Shipley's addict?). The coffee was not quite 'right'...meh. I topped up w/more fuel and headed on at just shy of 9 a.m. to Sierra Blanca, TX.
A couple of hours later, hit Sierra Blanca, got out at the gas station and was literally struck by the pong of aged pee smell...GAG! Fueled up as fast as I could and bolted. Stopped quickly in El Paso for drink, quick nommin, Lotto ticket and pit stop.
Drove on through to Deming, NM, after having my nose assaulted just outside of Las Cruces by the dairy pens...damn...PEEEEYEEEEUUUUW! Motored on towards Tuscon, and had to deal with a traffic re-direct that saw me being asked if I was a U.S. Citizen...???
Made it to Tuscon a little before 5 p.m. if memory serves. Checked in at the Red Roof Inn South...just in view of the AFB my sweetie was stationed at briefly during his USMC stint. :) After settling the cats in the room, I went and drove around to find dinner. To my chagrin - Arizona health code won't let one order a hamburger to arrive medium rare...!??!? It was meh, but discovered I like "Kiltlifter Ale." :)
Sunday morning finally arrived! :) I loaded up my ever-so-trusty NOLA Rouge and found some nommins and decent coffee at the very polite yet friendly Quik Trip gas station. Getting through Phoenix to Avondale was fairly painless. Stopped for gas in Avondale and went ahead and got the car washed. Headed on to Blythe, CA, but stopped quickly in Quartzsite, AZ for bag of chips & a soda. Topped off w/gas in Blythe and grabbed a real Burger King 'meal' so to speak...
Trudged on through to Banning, CA and got more gas...and then the fun started. Negotiated the curves of the CA-60, started experiencing L.A. area traffic in all of its expletive-laden glory. Drove on and on and on...and on...and FINALLY got to the 101. From there it was naught but 17 miles to my exit...of course peppered w/traffic the whole way. It was about 4:45 when I arrived at my new home and was wrapped in my Boo's arms! :)
The cats are settling in, slowly but surely - I'm all feshmeckled with the time zone change. But being w/my sweetie is TOTALLY rocking my world. :)
I've put in my resume' for a doggy daycare's receptionist position and also resubmitted w/the candy company. :) Here's hoping I hear something positive, soon! :)
More later. Hugs, I'm off to bed...zonked....
And before you ask, "Yes, I had the cats in the car" 'ere I left the old digs. After the first hour, both of them actually settled down! I was amazed.
Stopped just outside of San Antonio to top up my fuel. Drove through San Antonio that seemed (at the time) to take FOREVER. Stopped in Sonora for more fuel. Then drove on through to Fort Stockton for the night, arriving about 6:30.
The motel was a little dinky, but it served its purpose. I dined in my room w/some Dairy Queen-collected nommins. The cats were glad to be out of their carriers, and I was glad to be out of the car, too!
For what it's worth - my car was jammed pretty damned full - I nicknamed her for the trip: Fibber McGee's Closet on Wheels!
Saturday morning, I loaded up the stuff I had brought in and then wedged the cats back into their carriers. GrisGris wasn't so bad, but Amelie...oh heck...
Stopped at the Donut Palace for b'fast and much needed coffee (which I must add: The "Palace" did not live up to the hype...but then maybe I'm jaded by being a Shipley's addict?). The coffee was not quite 'right'...meh. I topped up w/more fuel and headed on at just shy of 9 a.m. to Sierra Blanca, TX.
A couple of hours later, hit Sierra Blanca, got out at the gas station and was literally struck by the pong of aged pee smell...GAG! Fueled up as fast as I could and bolted. Stopped quickly in El Paso for drink, quick nommin, Lotto ticket and pit stop.
Drove on through to Deming, NM, after having my nose assaulted just outside of Las Cruces by the dairy pens...damn...PEEEEYEEEEUUUUW! Motored on towards Tuscon, and had to deal with a traffic re-direct that saw me being asked if I was a U.S. Citizen...???
Made it to Tuscon a little before 5 p.m. if memory serves. Checked in at the Red Roof Inn South...just in view of the AFB my sweetie was stationed at briefly during his USMC stint. :) After settling the cats in the room, I went and drove around to find dinner. To my chagrin - Arizona health code won't let one order a hamburger to arrive medium rare...!??!? It was meh, but discovered I like "Kiltlifter Ale." :)
Sunday morning finally arrived! :) I loaded up my ever-so-trusty NOLA Rouge and found some nommins and decent coffee at the very polite yet friendly Quik Trip gas station. Getting through Phoenix to Avondale was fairly painless. Stopped for gas in Avondale and went ahead and got the car washed. Headed on to Blythe, CA, but stopped quickly in Quartzsite, AZ for bag of chips & a soda. Topped off w/gas in Blythe and grabbed a real Burger King 'meal' so to speak...
Trudged on through to Banning, CA and got more gas...and then the fun started. Negotiated the curves of the CA-60, started experiencing L.A. area traffic in all of its expletive-laden glory. Drove on and on and on...and on...and FINALLY got to the 101. From there it was naught but 17 miles to my exit...of course peppered w/traffic the whole way. It was about 4:45 when I arrived at my new home and was wrapped in my Boo's arms! :)
The cats are settling in, slowly but surely - I'm all feshmeckled with the time zone change. But being w/my sweetie is TOTALLY rocking my world. :)
I've put in my resume' for a doggy daycare's receptionist position and also resubmitted w/the candy company. :) Here's hoping I hear something positive, soon! :)
More later. Hugs, I'm off to bed...zonked....
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