Today I discovered that the beach is 5 minutes away. :)
(Photos of the cutie condo coming soon...as soon as remember where I put that digital camera.)
I have a lot of clothes.
No a lot!
Ok, Liz, maybe not quite that much clothes...but I seriousely filled my car with clothes, shoes, toiletries. And I had food on the front seat. Wow. I mean I knew I had a lot but, I filled a huge suitcase, a garment bag and 2 large garbage sacks with clothes. And that did not include shoes.
So, I am officially in LA now.
The condo is cute. All gated, so please do not worry about my safety. :)
And I am officially in a new stage of my life. Yeah that part has not fully hit me yet. I still really want to find my own place. The condo is open to anyone in the Company who needs a place to stay so... I really just have a room and I look forward to having a whole space all to myself. Not that I'm complaining, mind you. I am so very thankful for this amazing opportunity.
No a lot!
Ok, Liz, maybe not quite that much clothes...but I seriousely filled my car with clothes, shoes, toiletries. And I had food on the front seat. Wow. I mean I knew I had a lot but, I filled a huge suitcase, a garment bag and 2 large garbage sacks with clothes. And that did not include shoes.
So, I am officially in LA now.
The condo is cute. All gated, so please do not worry about my safety. :)
And I am officially in a new stage of my life. Yeah that part has not fully hit me yet. I still really want to find my own place. The condo is open to anyone in the Company who needs a place to stay so... I really just have a room and I look forward to having a whole space all to myself. Not that I'm complaining, mind you. I am so very thankful for this amazing opportunity.
It feels like everything is moving really quickly. I didn't think it would feel like this.
I spent the whole week before I left for Las Vegas packing, and I made small notes throughout the net about my upcoming move with very little response or notice. Now that I am back and will soon be gone again, I keep hearing...what? moving? So soon? And I think to myself, soon? Should I have waited until after the New Year?
No.
This move is long over due in so many ways and, in every other, at just the right time. The lesson here, for me, is to pay more attention to myself and to what is right for me. That sounds selfish and self-centered, but Hamlet is right: "this above all: to thine own self be true." I have to start doing that in every area of my life. It may be too soon for many of the people around me, but in my heart I know this is the exact time God set aside for me to go. (I'm working everyday to be more sensitive to God's guiding hand.)
I knew that when the time came there would be no great hoopla, no parties, or celebrations; it would simply be me slipping off into the next phase of my life.
And what a time to go this is! Most of my Christmas gifts have been focused on moving. My parents gave me a great set of cookware and a starter tool kit as well as other cooking essentials that I am overjoyed to have received. I really didn't know what they would be able to afford this year, so I made no specific requests. Still, the savvy sale hunter that mother is, she found so much of what I had on my secret wish list. I am indescribably blessed by that. My sister made up a "basket" (trash can) of cleaning essentials one cannot live without. "All the things you need that are a pain to buy," she said. And my sweet friends gave me fun things, shoes, purse, rings and such that are always delightful. I am so grateful to have such wonderful people around me. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
My brother is also here for christmas, that has been a real blessing as well. It has been nice to get to hang out with him for these few days.
I think that overall, though my Phoenix interum between Vegas and LA is short, it is the perfect length and thus very sweet. The perfect balance of not too short or too long. :)
I spent the whole week before I left for Las Vegas packing, and I made small notes throughout the net about my upcoming move with very little response or notice. Now that I am back and will soon be gone again, I keep hearing...what? moving? So soon? And I think to myself, soon? Should I have waited until after the New Year?
No.
This move is long over due in so many ways and, in every other, at just the right time. The lesson here, for me, is to pay more attention to myself and to what is right for me. That sounds selfish and self-centered, but Hamlet is right: "this above all: to thine own self be true." I have to start doing that in every area of my life. It may be too soon for many of the people around me, but in my heart I know this is the exact time God set aside for me to go. (I'm working everyday to be more sensitive to God's guiding hand.)
I knew that when the time came there would be no great hoopla, no parties, or celebrations; it would simply be me slipping off into the next phase of my life.
And what a time to go this is! Most of my Christmas gifts have been focused on moving. My parents gave me a great set of cookware and a starter tool kit as well as other cooking essentials that I am overjoyed to have received. I really didn't know what they would be able to afford this year, so I made no specific requests. Still, the savvy sale hunter that mother is, she found so much of what I had on my secret wish list. I am indescribably blessed by that. My sister made up a "basket" (trash can) of cleaning essentials one cannot live without. "All the things you need that are a pain to buy," she said. And my sweet friends gave me fun things, shoes, purse, rings and such that are always delightful. I am so grateful to have such wonderful people around me. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
My brother is also here for christmas, that has been a real blessing as well. It has been nice to get to hang out with him for these few days.
I think that overall, though my Phoenix interum between Vegas and LA is short, it is the perfect length and thus very sweet. The perfect balance of not too short or too long. :)
November 28-29: Black Friday weekend in Phoenix
Nov. 30 - Dec. 7: Working int Phoenix, and packing everything.
Dec. 8-22(?): Working in Las Vegas at Nellis Airforce base.
Dec. 23-25: Phoenix for Christmas with the fam.
Dec. 26-30: Moving to California Unit of Jesco
Dec. 30 - Jan 1: new years in Las Vegas with Betty, Daniel, and....
Then back to the company condo in L.A. to work audition and hunt for a guest house to live in.
Summary: I am finally getting out of Arizona!!! ...and back tot he water. :)
Nov. 30 - Dec. 7: Working int Phoenix, and packing everything.
Dec. 8-22(?): Working in Las Vegas at Nellis Airforce base.
Dec. 23-25: Phoenix for Christmas with the fam.
Dec. 26-30: Moving to California Unit of Jesco
Dec. 30 - Jan 1: new years in Las Vegas with Betty, Daniel, and....
Then back to the company condo in L.A. to work audition and hunt for a guest house to live in.
Summary: I am finally getting out of Arizona!!! ...and back tot he water. :)
Yay!!!
So first of all I love Halloween!!!! I love dressing up and costumes and crazy good fun, etc...etc...
This year marks the very first for my dear niece, Caitlyn Attwood. My brother-in-law has nick-named her "bird" so my sister thought it would be apt to dress her up as a bird. And I have to say, this is the cutest, most adorable thing these two hands of mine have ever created!!
Travelling, saving and building a costume for my niece really didn't leave a ton of time for my own costume. I know I was joking around on face book about dressing up as a hobbit or super heroin or villian....but honestly....POison Ivy can go either way: really terrible or really great. And, with the possibility of celebrating the night with co-workers, I decided against running around in tights and a leotard. So I decided to go for Nurse (addicted to drugs/a la Kill Bill - Daryl-hannah-esque).
I think it came out pretty nice. Once I found out I would be working at the AZ State fair all day I got a little bolder with some of the ideas. Muahahahaha.
There are 4 shots: Makers Mark, 99 Apples, 99 Peaches, and 99 Blackberrie.Want a shot? I was going to fill them with candy, the liquor was my mom's idea I swear!! So i went to the fair with my four little shots all prepped and ready to go and after it got a little later in the day I ran around to some of the other vendors and gave them shots. I wasn't slacking on work, I swear...no one was there anyway. At least not to sell to. Anywho...turned out to be a great way to score some chocolate covered strawberries.
Taylor, as Little Red Ridinghood, and I ran around together. It was as if we were celebrities the way everyone wanted to take pictures of us or with us. And I do mean all the vendors and carnies. But hey, I'll trade photos for rides any day. :)
Later in the evening Betty and Tim joined us.
So we goofed off some more until it was late enough to close up shop. Then I dragged them all with me to FEZ. I had to see what monica cooked up this year.
And after that.... well aside from some drama...and a horror movie....the night was over. Seriousely. No parties, no clubs. :( oh well...
I have to say that was the best time I have ever had at the fair!!!! And deffinately a top ranking Haloween.
I am throwing down the flag on this one!
So my Manager is very flirty. I can handle that... I can excuse that. Even though he's Married with Children. Flirty is not something I normally consider a dangerous quality. I'm flirty and I'm not going to get all puffed up and righteous over any silly little thing, like "you're cute as hell".
Anything beyond that however, is a different story.
I'm working in Sierra Vista for the next week. Starting tomorrow. We are driving out super early in the morning. So I asked my Manager when he was expecting to be there. And he told me tonight that he is leaving at 5am. So I text "Do you want me to meet you at your house? Or Can I leave from mine?" He replied: "Well if you climb into bed with me, mine"
So then I didn't know what to do.
I mean it is a little funny, in a sad way. I'm not threatend, although it does make me feel awkward. I did just learn that he has had an affair with one other girl in the company and really came-on to someone else I work with.
So what should I say?
"That's inappropriate."
"You're bed is too crowded."
"You're married."
"I'll see you at the base."
All these seem good options but I didn't take any of them. I just turned my phone off. That way I can claim tomorrow that the battery died and I didn't see the text. ...And perhaps say that I never recieved it...
This is dissapointing. I want to do well in the company and earn recognition...but not because my boss thinks I'm cute/f***able, (which I am not!!!)
So my Manager is very flirty. I can handle that... I can excuse that. Even though he's Married with Children. Flirty is not something I normally consider a dangerous quality. I'm flirty and I'm not going to get all puffed up and righteous over any silly little thing, like "you're cute as hell".
Anything beyond that however, is a different story.
I'm working in Sierra Vista for the next week. Starting tomorrow. We are driving out super early in the morning. So I asked my Manager when he was expecting to be there. And he told me tonight that he is leaving at 5am. So I text "Do you want me to meet you at your house? Or Can I leave from mine?" He replied: "Well if you climb into bed with me, mine"
So then I didn't know what to do.
I mean it is a little funny, in a sad way. I'm not threatend, although it does make me feel awkward. I did just learn that he has had an affair with one other girl in the company and really came-on to someone else I work with.
So what should I say?
"That's inappropriate."
"You're bed is too crowded."
"You're married."
"I'll see you at the base."
All these seem good options but I didn't take any of them. I just turned my phone off. That way I can claim tomorrow that the battery died and I didn't see the text. ...And perhaps say that I never recieved it...
This is dissapointing. I want to do well in the company and earn recognition...but not because my boss thinks I'm cute/f***able, (which I am not!!!)
Television is a wonderful thing.
Sometimes I just need to turn my brain off, check out. TV can be a lovely escape.
....Unless there is nothing on....
Which is why TVo and DVR are also wonderful things. My recorded shows are always there when I need them to whisk me away to escapism.
Sometimes I just need to turn my brain off, check out. TV can be a lovely escape.
....Unless there is nothing on....
Which is why TVo and DVR are also wonderful things. My recorded shows are always there when I need them to whisk me away to escapism.
Busy busy busy busy....and it's no excuse for anything...
I have missed 3 birthdays in the past 2 months, my Dad's, my Sister's and Liz's. So uncool. It really makes me want to cry when I think about it. But it's really my fault in the end. I should have asked for time off... I have to learn how to say stop/no.
Other diwnside: There are no sick days. I mean you can work whenever you want. So if you need to take a sick day someone can cover your shift....but that means not making money. And the longer it takes you to recover the more money you're not making. And if you work while sick you might not have the energy needed to turn high sales.... So basically getting sick and sales just don't mix.
End.
I have missed 3 birthdays in the past 2 months, my Dad's, my Sister's and Liz's. So uncool. It really makes me want to cry when I think about it. But it's really my fault in the end. I should have asked for time off... I have to learn how to say stop/no.
Other diwnside: There are no sick days. I mean you can work whenever you want. So if you need to take a sick day someone can cover your shift....but that means not making money. And the longer it takes you to recover the more money you're not making. And if you work while sick you might not have the energy needed to turn high sales.... So basically getting sick and sales just don't mix.
End.
It's October which means Halloween. I love Halloween!
I'm making a bird costume for my niece. I'll have to an editorial blog on that.
Usually I have a ton of ideas to choose from to decide what or who I'll be for All Hallows Eve, but this year...not so much.
Wonder Woman has been suggested and that is a good suggestion. After all I have never done it before... certainly never dressed up as anything that recognizable and specific. I guess I always thought costumes like that are for comicon.
On the other hand making a good costume, (and I won't be caught dead in a bad one,) tends to be costly. I'm on super saver mode over here. My October has been redefined as the month to pay off debt. Growing up can really suck sometimes. So I guess the point of my reasoning here is: for the first time in my life I'm really second guessing Halloween. Bottom line: Unless I can find a cost-effective costume that looks good and is well photographed, besides making a costume for my niece, I might not participate this year.
I'm making a bird costume for my niece. I'll have to an editorial blog on that.
Usually I have a ton of ideas to choose from to decide what or who I'll be for All Hallows Eve, but this year...not so much.
Wonder Woman has been suggested and that is a good suggestion. After all I have never done it before... certainly never dressed up as anything that recognizable and specific. I guess I always thought costumes like that are for comicon.
On the other hand making a good costume, (and I won't be caught dead in a bad one,) tends to be costly. I'm on super saver mode over here. My October has been redefined as the month to pay off debt. Growing up can really suck sometimes. So I guess the point of my reasoning here is: for the first time in my life I'm really second guessing Halloween. Bottom line: Unless I can find a cost-effective costume that looks good and is well photographed, besides making a costume for my niece, I might not participate this year.
So I'm really country sometimes... I mean I catch myself offguard with the odd things that flow out of my mouth...or through my fingers.
I mean who says: "Maybe next time we can chat it up like two crazy chickens at a feed bag"? Apparently, I do.
Who knew?
I mean who says: "Maybe next time we can chat it up like two crazy chickens at a feed bag"? Apparently, I do.
Who knew?
Working as a contracted sales agent has really spoiled me. I could never work a regular nine to five again. Now, many people wonder why I take such very odd jobs, and it's true I've had a few. But they all have one thing in common...well recently anyway: sales.
Now, I never actually wanted to get into sales. I had many terrible experiences, as we all have had, with pushy sales people. They're always super greasy, oily windbags who try to force you to buy products which I, at least, am always sure are not all their cracked up to be. I wanted to never have anyone dread talking to me the way I dreaded talking to them.
But then I started working for Cibola Vista a resort company. I justified that I wasn't really in sales because I wasn't getting anybody to buy anything. But I was working on commission...
Anyway... fast forward a few years and I am still in sales. Call it Promotions, market demonstration, retailtainment... let's face it; it's sales.
So why, Nat, why?
I'll tell you:
1. I set my own schedule. I have with some sales jobs, been able to set even my own hours. (that alone is a spoiler)
2. Commission: the smarter I work the more money I make. That is quite an exciting challenge. It means that I can actually make a goal of how much I want to make for a month or a week, and how much time I want to put in, and without working extra hours, actually make that goal. In my current sales job, trainers will start hovering over me if I only make $300 or less for one week. I'll get in trouble and they will work steadilly with me to get me back up to $500.
3. Tax wright-offs: now this is the real sweet spot. Wright-off mileage (and/or gas), food during shift, any out of town expenses, and anything related to work. For me that includes a manicure. Now I'm not super excited about getting a manicure, I'd rather have real nails, but the new product I am demonstrating forces me to soak my hands in a lot of water and a lot of Diet Coke. So my nails go soft and turn an unsightly brown...which all means I need to have manicured nails for work, which means: tax wright-off. Clothes for work, tailoring for work clothes...etcetera.
There are a few downsides to being independantly contacted as well, but the perks more than make up for it.
Now, I never actually wanted to get into sales. I had many terrible experiences, as we all have had, with pushy sales people. They're always super greasy, oily windbags who try to force you to buy products which I, at least, am always sure are not all their cracked up to be. I wanted to never have anyone dread talking to me the way I dreaded talking to them.
But then I started working for Cibola Vista a resort company. I justified that I wasn't really in sales because I wasn't getting anybody to buy anything. But I was working on commission...
Anyway... fast forward a few years and I am still in sales. Call it Promotions, market demonstration, retailtainment... let's face it; it's sales.
So why, Nat, why?
I'll tell you:
1. I set my own schedule. I have with some sales jobs, been able to set even my own hours. (that alone is a spoiler)
2. Commission: the smarter I work the more money I make. That is quite an exciting challenge. It means that I can actually make a goal of how much I want to make for a month or a week, and how much time I want to put in, and without working extra hours, actually make that goal. In my current sales job, trainers will start hovering over me if I only make $300 or less for one week. I'll get in trouble and they will work steadilly with me to get me back up to $500.
3. Tax wright-offs: now this is the real sweet spot. Wright-off mileage (and/or gas), food during shift, any out of town expenses, and anything related to work. For me that includes a manicure. Now I'm not super excited about getting a manicure, I'd rather have real nails, but the new product I am demonstrating forces me to soak my hands in a lot of water and a lot of Diet Coke. So my nails go soft and turn an unsightly brown...which all means I need to have manicured nails for work, which means: tax wright-off. Clothes for work, tailoring for work clothes...etcetera.
There are a few downsides to being independantly contacted as well, but the perks more than make up for it.
...because you are probably the only person reading it. :)
So I started this blog because...well lets face it...everyone else was doing it. And I thought well I write in Journals with the hope that someday someone else will read them (hopefully after I am dead and gone), so why not write something that someone can read today.
Well I never thought anyone actually would. I thought maybe eventually I'd write something interesting enough to share and say, "hey go look at my blog..." But I didn't think anyone would be reading it now.
So, today when I got a text from Liz about how silly I am because no wants to spend time in Tucson (see post below) I really had no idea what she was talking about...until I remembered the post...
Really Liz? You're reading this? I better watch what I say... ;)
So I started this blog because...well lets face it...everyone else was doing it. And I thought well I write in Journals with the hope that someday someone else will read them (hopefully after I am dead and gone), so why not write something that someone can read today.
Well I never thought anyone actually would. I thought maybe eventually I'd write something interesting enough to share and say, "hey go look at my blog..." But I didn't think anyone would be reading it now.
So, today when I got a text from Liz about how silly I am because no wants to spend time in Tucson (see post below) I really had no idea what she was talking about...until I remembered the post...
Really Liz? You're reading this? I better watch what I say... ;)
Isn't it funny how a picture can change with different perspectives?
When I started working in Tucson I was excited. It meant being away from my house, working with Betty and at a really awesome location!! It also meant that we were going to be able make our own scheduals; split the shifts between the two of us. And that meant I would finally get to go California for the visit I was trying to make happen. And that visit did happen, (though not at all my doing...it just happend...)
And that's where all the trouble started.
Tucson looked golden after driving all over Phoenix to sell in Different KMarts to poeple who were freequently rude and/or could not afford the product. ...But after going to LA and visiting the beach and Dave and seeing all the pretty green things I've been missing and all the excitement of a buzzing city...well, then Tucson, AZ looked burnt, dried up, desolate and lonely. As is stated in Hamlet II, "...no matter where you go, it will always be better than Tucson, AZ."
So when I got back I e-mailed my manager about transfering. January, baby! I've got the counter counting down the days.
Now, after spending 5 days all by myself in Tucson, I am glad to be back in Phoenix. But I'm still anxious to move to California. Patience is a what?
When I started working in Tucson I was excited. It meant being away from my house, working with Betty and at a really awesome location!! It also meant that we were going to be able make our own scheduals; split the shifts between the two of us. And that meant I would finally get to go California for the visit I was trying to make happen. And that visit did happen, (though not at all my doing...it just happend...)
And that's where all the trouble started.
Tucson looked golden after driving all over Phoenix to sell in Different KMarts to poeple who were freequently rude and/or could not afford the product. ...But after going to LA and visiting the beach and Dave and seeing all the pretty green things I've been missing and all the excitement of a buzzing city...well, then Tucson, AZ looked burnt, dried up, desolate and lonely. As is stated in Hamlet II, "...no matter where you go, it will always be better than Tucson, AZ."
So when I got back I e-mailed my manager about transfering. January, baby! I've got the counter counting down the days.
Now, after spending 5 days all by myself in Tucson, I am glad to be back in Phoenix. But I'm still anxious to move to California. Patience is a what?
I love to love.
I love having someone to love; I mean to really love.
Right now I'm missing that.
Though I am dissapointed at this change, I am at peace knowing I really did give love. Actually I'm happy that my love was received for so long.
It's nice to feel this way. Not sad. Not depressed. Peaceful. I gave all that I have to give and that is a blessing.
I love having someone to love; I mean to really love.
Right now I'm missing that.
Though I am dissapointed at this change, I am at peace knowing I really did give love. Actually I'm happy that my love was received for so long.
It's nice to feel this way. Not sad. Not depressed. Peaceful. I gave all that I have to give and that is a blessing.