Sigh...the motherfucker rental agent stood me up. Then later I found out that someone else had already put in an application on the house I was looking at, so that's why he didn't bother to show up. Nice. I'm told that this is the way it works in Portland...you're either first or you're screwed.
So I'll keep looking, I guess...there are tons of great little houses out there. Somewhere.
On a happy note, I got an email yesterday from the guy who is running the Sunday Art Mart and he said that my work would fit the marketplace just fine! So if they get enough interest in the Mart, he'll send me a registration packet and I can actually start selling my jewelry this July! Very exciting, but also completely terrifying. I'd better get to work on some new stuff or I won't have anything to sell! I love exclamation points!!!!!!!!
Friday, December 29, 2006
Movin' on up!
I love moving. There's something so great about starting all over...like you're giving yourself another chance to do everything right. T on the other hand, hates moving with a passion. We could be living in a hut made of meat in the lion's cage at the zoo and she would still prefer to stay put. This causes no end of problems, as you can imagine, when I decide I want us to move. Right now is one of those times. We moved to the Pacific Northwest earlier this year but instead of Portland like we planned, we ended up in Vancouver, WA because we found a landlord who didn't mind our animals and who wasn't going to make us pay any deposits. Unfortunately, living in Vancouver is NOT just like living in Portland, as we thought. It's like living in the suburbs of Atlanta, really, and that's one thing we said we didn't want when we came out here. So now of course she has a job at a vet 5 minutes from our house and I have a job downtown that takes me over an hour to get to every day, and of course she doesn't want to move.
I found this awesome house in North Portland yesterday. It's renting for $200 less than we're paying now and it would cut my commute literally in half. It would increase hers to about 20 minutes but that sounds fair, right? The house is so cute, at least from the outside, and the neighborhood seems nice, but not too nice, which is a very good thing. When we lived in Lawrenceville, GA, we always felt like the neighborhood was a little too nice for us..like someday someone would figure out that we didn't belong there and there would be an angry mob outside screaming at us to leave. In this neighborhood it seems like the people care about their houses but they're not going to freak out if you put your trash can in the wrong place or your mailbox isn't white enough. Plus the house is the classic old PDX style with the built in bookshelves and the fireplace and the alley in the back. As if that wasn't enough, there's a park four blocks away and the public library is only five blocks away! On top of that, the bus stop to work is one block away from the house. ONE BLOCK! And the bus I woul dhave to take doesn't leave until 7:36 am. I could sleep almost an extra hour some days! Sweet!
So, I have some obstacles to making this whole dream happen...first of all, like I said earlier, T hates moving. Granted, I somehow convinced her to move entirely across the country but I think I may have used up all my free T moving points on that one. Then there's the problem of all the damn animals. Not many landlords are really crazy about tenants with pets, but I think I can somehow negotiate my way out of that one. The last obstacle is money, but I'm thinking either we can sell the van and use that money for moving expenses or else maybe my parents would be willing to give us a loan.
So not a slam dunk, but nothing insurmountable either. I have a meeting with the rental agent today to take a look at the inside of the house. I sure hope I love the inside as much as the outside or this will all be pretty moot.
I found this awesome house in North Portland yesterday. It's renting for $200 less than we're paying now and it would cut my commute literally in half. It would increase hers to about 20 minutes but that sounds fair, right? The house is so cute, at least from the outside, and the neighborhood seems nice, but not too nice, which is a very good thing. When we lived in Lawrenceville, GA, we always felt like the neighborhood was a little too nice for us..like someday someone would figure out that we didn't belong there and there would be an angry mob outside screaming at us to leave. In this neighborhood it seems like the people care about their houses but they're not going to freak out if you put your trash can in the wrong place or your mailbox isn't white enough. Plus the house is the classic old PDX style with the built in bookshelves and the fireplace and the alley in the back. As if that wasn't enough, there's a park four blocks away and the public library is only five blocks away! On top of that, the bus stop to work is one block away from the house. ONE BLOCK! And the bus I woul dhave to take doesn't leave until 7:36 am. I could sleep almost an extra hour some days! Sweet!
So, I have some obstacles to making this whole dream happen...first of all, like I said earlier, T hates moving. Granted, I somehow convinced her to move entirely across the country but I think I may have used up all my free T moving points on that one. Then there's the problem of all the damn animals. Not many landlords are really crazy about tenants with pets, but I think I can somehow negotiate my way out of that one. The last obstacle is money, but I'm thinking either we can sell the van and use that money for moving expenses or else maybe my parents would be willing to give us a loan.
So not a slam dunk, but nothing insurmountable either. I have a meeting with the rental agent today to take a look at the inside of the house. I sure hope I love the inside as much as the outside or this will all be pretty moot.
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Just another day...
I spent most of yesterday feeling pretty worthless. I had one of those days where I alternated between having nothing to do and failing to answer any of the questions that came my way. On top of that, my thigh muscles hurt from my first personal trainer workout (on Monday), so I was walking funny which is always an ego booster. Hey, look at me everybody! I'm walking like a drunk and I don't know a goddamn thing! Yet I'm still somehow gainfully employed. Crazy. The "promotion" from last week turned out to be a whole lotta nothin', which is a relief I suppose, but it's also a total disappointment. I'm ready to start doing more stuff I actually can do, mostly things that don't require in-depth knowledge about discover-e since I don't have that and I probably never will. Frankly, I don't think I'm really cut out to do tech support. Too bad the money's so good.
I don't know if I mentioned it, but I am in the process of finding someone to teach me how to solder and cast and make my own jewelry. Like actual fabrication involving making something out of raw materials, not just twisting some wire and stringing some beads. I'm very very excited! I know I have jewelry-making greatness in me somewhere....I just need to find it and let it out. Honestly, if I could just do that for a living I so totally would! And Portland is absolutely the city to do it in. There are actually places where you can rent workspace so you don't have to set up your own workshop and equipment. You just bring your materials and tools and they have the big scary machines to make it happen. So cool! Also Portland has a great artist's community. There are a million places where you can sell your original art, including jewelry. I know, deep down, this is where I am headed and I am so thrilled about it. yay!
I don't know if I mentioned it, but I am in the process of finding someone to teach me how to solder and cast and make my own jewelry. Like actual fabrication involving making something out of raw materials, not just twisting some wire and stringing some beads. I'm very very excited! I know I have jewelry-making greatness in me somewhere....I just need to find it and let it out. Honestly, if I could just do that for a living I so totally would! And Portland is absolutely the city to do it in. There are actually places where you can rent workspace so you don't have to set up your own workshop and equipment. You just bring your materials and tools and they have the big scary machines to make it happen. So cool! Also Portland has a great artist's community. There are a million places where you can sell your original art, including jewelry. I know, deep down, this is where I am headed and I am so thrilled about it. yay!
Friday, December 8, 2006
Stuff it, lawyers!
There are a whole bunch of new people working here now. It's weird because I've been out for a few days so I've never seen them at all before but they've all got that "I'm starting to figure out what I'm supposed to be doing" swagger about them so they are almost looking at me as if I am out of place. Maybe they know something I don't...
My job actually made me puke this week. Actually, it was the combination of my job and the upcoming terror of my first personal trainer appointment, but either way, I lost my lunch. Several times. I feel like such a wimp...what a damn girl...a little pressure makes me yak. I'm like a Lifetime movie waiting to happen. So anyway, work has been hectic because of this (unnamed web-based document review tool) project (don't ask), which has had me working or on call non-stop since last weekend. The project manager announced today that she's quitting because she can't take the pressure (maybe she's been puking...just a guess) so what do they do? Of course! They tell me they want ME to do it. Not to actually be a project manager because that would mean a title change and more money and respect and shit, but they want me to be the interim jackass who takes shit from everybody and rolls over like a puppy when they hire someone else to fill the spot. Awesome. More pressure, no recognition or money, and just when I start to get good at it, they'll hire someone else to take my place. So guess what I do....that's right! Of course I say yes! Bring it on, pal! I didn't need that sliver of free time on the weekend anyway! Oh, and yay! Vomiting will just make me magically thin! Sweet!
Sigh...to top it off, I KNOW ahead of time that I'm getting royally screwed, and yet I'm EXCITED about the opportunity. Though to be fair, what I'm really excited about is the opportunity to tell some lawyers to stuff it. The old project manager was way too accommodating. Sorry suckers! No more free rides on my dime! Or something equally intimidating.... :)
My job actually made me puke this week. Actually, it was the combination of my job and the upcoming terror of my first personal trainer appointment, but either way, I lost my lunch. Several times. I feel like such a wimp...what a damn girl...a little pressure makes me yak. I'm like a Lifetime movie waiting to happen. So anyway, work has been hectic because of this (unnamed web-based document review tool) project (don't ask), which has had me working or on call non-stop since last weekend. The project manager announced today that she's quitting because she can't take the pressure (maybe she's been puking...just a guess) so what do they do? Of course! They tell me they want ME to do it. Not to actually be a project manager because that would mean a title change and more money and respect and shit, but they want me to be the interim jackass who takes shit from everybody and rolls over like a puppy when they hire someone else to fill the spot. Awesome. More pressure, no recognition or money, and just when I start to get good at it, they'll hire someone else to take my place. So guess what I do....that's right! Of course I say yes! Bring it on, pal! I didn't need that sliver of free time on the weekend anyway! Oh, and yay! Vomiting will just make me magically thin! Sweet!
Sigh...to top it off, I KNOW ahead of time that I'm getting royally screwed, and yet I'm EXCITED about the opportunity. Though to be fair, what I'm really excited about is the opportunity to tell some lawyers to stuff it. The old project manager was way too accommodating. Sorry suckers! No more free rides on my dime! Or something equally intimidating.... :)
Monday, November 27, 2006
Sorry I have no balls....I love you!
I absolutely love the Missed Connections section of craigslist. It's so romantic, the notion that you could have had a moment with someone but didn't have the guts to get his/her number and now you are having second thoughts. It is almost exactly how I work...I take the coward's way out in the moment but later I realize I should have just had some balls and taken a chance. So anyway, I love MC because it's a second chance for all of us cowards out there. It's never too late to reach out to that special someone.
There was an ad on there today with a subject line of "Carrie - m4w - 40" that said "I don't think you have a clue as to how I feel. If only." and the location was "a tall building". How awesome is that??? I mean, never mind that my name is Carrie and I work in a tall building, right? The coolest thing about this is that every single girl named Carrie who reads that ad will feel a thrill, if for only a second, that someone out there is secretly pining away for them. What a remarkable feeling! What a kick-ass thing to put out there in the world! At any given time there is so much ugliness and hatred out there...it is just incredible to me that you could submit a tiny 14 word ad to MC and cause so many people to feel good about themselves for a second. Very cool.
There has been some craziness at work lately...people getting fired, positions being shuffled around...it makes me very nervous but my boss insists that we are all safe for the time being, so I guess I won't worry too much. I will, however start thinking about what my next move is. I certainly don't want to be here forever, though part of me almost wants to be fired so I could collect unemployment...that would be pretty cool. Especially if my next move is to be an artist and sell my art. I don't suppose I need to have great references or employment history for that. I shall have to think about this...the best way to be canned. I'd definitely want to go out in a blaze of glory!
In other news, I'm looking for a personal trainer. I've been fat all my life and I am ready for someone to kick my ass into shape. I'm up for doing the work, I just need a taskmaster who will keep me focused and push me to keep going. So far I have heard back from three people in response to my ad on craigslist. Two girls and a guy...I'm not positive but I think I'd rather work with a guy. I'm a little concerned about this becoming a girlie weight loss/fitting in thing and I don't want that...I just want to be strong as hell and hike across Europe someday. Plus I want to run...maybe a marathon someday, but for right now I'd be happy if I was even able to jog a few blocks. I just want to know how it feels to run. I've never really done it, even when I was younger and not so heavy (and I mean heavy in the non-euphemistic sense. I was and am fat, but my point is that it should be easier to run if you're not carrying around so much weight). Anyway, I hope I can find someone who will really kick my butt...in a nice way :)
I'm on call this week. Ugh. Later!
There was an ad on there today with a subject line of "Carrie - m4w - 40" that said "I don't think you have a clue as to how I feel. If only." and the location was "a tall building". How awesome is that??? I mean, never mind that my name is Carrie and I work in a tall building, right? The coolest thing about this is that every single girl named Carrie who reads that ad will feel a thrill, if for only a second, that someone out there is secretly pining away for them. What a remarkable feeling! What a kick-ass thing to put out there in the world! At any given time there is so much ugliness and hatred out there...it is just incredible to me that you could submit a tiny 14 word ad to MC and cause so many people to feel good about themselves for a second. Very cool.
There has been some craziness at work lately...people getting fired, positions being shuffled around...it makes me very nervous but my boss insists that we are all safe for the time being, so I guess I won't worry too much. I will, however start thinking about what my next move is. I certainly don't want to be here forever, though part of me almost wants to be fired so I could collect unemployment...that would be pretty cool. Especially if my next move is to be an artist and sell my art. I don't suppose I need to have great references or employment history for that. I shall have to think about this...the best way to be canned. I'd definitely want to go out in a blaze of glory!
In other news, I'm looking for a personal trainer. I've been fat all my life and I am ready for someone to kick my ass into shape. I'm up for doing the work, I just need a taskmaster who will keep me focused and push me to keep going. So far I have heard back from three people in response to my ad on craigslist. Two girls and a guy...I'm not positive but I think I'd rather work with a guy. I'm a little concerned about this becoming a girlie weight loss/fitting in thing and I don't want that...I just want to be strong as hell and hike across Europe someday. Plus I want to run...maybe a marathon someday, but for right now I'd be happy if I was even able to jog a few blocks. I just want to know how it feels to run. I've never really done it, even when I was younger and not so heavy (and I mean heavy in the non-euphemistic sense. I was and am fat, but my point is that it should be easier to run if you're not carrying around so much weight). Anyway, I hope I can find someone who will really kick my butt...in a nice way :)
I'm on call this week. Ugh. Later!
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