I'm back...

Stay posted for a Homecoming & Renovation...

Job? What Job? I'll explain..

I realized after I posted last night that some of you, actually, most of you, have no idea what job I am referring to. Well, let me explain. My post last night was the result of an overflow of emotions and today, a bit more levelheaded, I can explain what it all means.

Well four weeks ago I received a phone call from my old boss at Ben and Jerry's, Pete. He knew I was on the search for something full time and had an opportunity for me. I interviewed with the Editor-in-Chief of INsite and Welcome magazine, Kevin, and was offered the job on the spot. It helps to have connections in Gainesville, let me just say that. I started that next Monday, shadowing the man I was replacing. Odd situation for me, being that he was asked to leave (aka canned). It was very odd following him around for a week and trying to get a grasp for the position. He was unmotivated and very unproductive; wouldn't you be if you were just fired and expected to train the newbie. Anyway... my official title is Distribution Manager/House Sales Executive/Special Projects. What does that all mean? Well, I hire/fire delivery drivers to distribute our 5 different magazines. I sometimes have to do crappy work and deliver myself but it's a nice break from the office and gets me out and about. In the office I constantly have to revise routes as businesses come and go around town. I have to check up on silly things, like making sure our boxes around town are in good condition and recently had to file a police report because one box was stolen. How weird! I have to visit our house clients monthly to collect any ad copy they want to be in the magazine. The fun part for me is designing those ads for them and shadowing our graphic designer, Cheryl. That's when I get to use my creativity and marketing. I also have the opportunity to make my own sales, the part of the job I'm emotionally struggling with. Thanks to Dad and some others I am talking myself through it. The Special Projects part is actually kinda fun. Right now I am working on a contest our magazine is running. Anyone who enters can win a number of prizes and I am the one to collect the prizes from our sponsors, notify the winner, and see their reaction when I hand them $2,000 worth of great prizes. So needless to say, I keep busy. I have my own office, phone line, e-mail, and computer. It's pretty nice and I feel very independent. It's all going to be a great experience if nothing else and I am excited to see what is next for me.

Now I'm going to lay down and read. With no school work or studying to do it's nice to have time to myself when I come home from work.

Bad Day Turned Good

So my day today started out pretty shitty. Felt useless and unproductive until lunch time, then came home for a lunch that wasn't very good only to go back to work and do things I didn't want to do. At some point during the day I kinda gave myself a pep talk and it's amazing how much better I felt afterwards. I had to give my boss a presentation and I was soooo nervous about it. I shouldn't have been, I knew the information like the back of my hand, but I was scared shitless. He helped me through it and told me just to talk, to tell a story instead of reading a script and my whole mood suddenly shifted and I felt such a sense of relief. I guess the fact that he acknowledged my feeling of anxiety and accepted that I was only human helped me calm down. Anyway, I am now in a great mood and now I can't shake my smile :-D I have also decided to go ahead full force with my desire to learn graphic design and I am overly excited about it!!! I am going to start taking seminars at this local computer resource center. It's a big investment for me, my first big investment, but it's pretty exciting that I know it will have a positive, long lasting effect on my life. I got the O.K. from my boss to have a few days off when I need them to take these classes and I can't wait to get started. The next step is finding a way to get the very expensive programs that I will need to develop my skills and practice at home. All very exciting!!

That's Amorè!

Hello family and friends!

Greetings from Italia!I am in Florence (Firenze) right now. We took a break from shopping along the river to check our e-mail. It has been an abosultely incredible trip and it's only been 5 days! We started in Rome, staying at the Youth Hostel Station (www.youthstation.it) for two nights. Our rooms were incredibly small, the width of a laundry room but the length of a long hallway. There were 4 bunkbeds along one wall and just barely enough room to walk by between the beds and the wall. Kitty, Lisa, Gabby, Ali, and I stayed there with 3 other randoms. None of them were friendly or spoke English. In Florence, our hotel is muuuuuch better. It's crazy because Gabby and I stayed in the same exact hotel when we were in Florence 5 years ago with high school. What are the chances of that!?!? In Rome we were a good distance from most of the "attractions" so we took the metro or cab most everywhere. In Florence the city is about 2 miles long and wide so we've done only walking so far. We've been drinking great wine, eating incerdible pizza and pastas and done some shopping :-) Kitty's luggage didn't make the trip and the airline said they haven't found it yet. She's been incredibly calm about the whole thing, only one moment of weakness... and today we went shopping for clothes so that put a smile on her face. The airline is going to pay her back and reimburse her for everything lost in the suitcase...poor Kitty! The weather has been incredible!!! Clear skies, 70's during the day and 50's at night. BEAUTIFUL! We spent our two days in Rome pretty rushed... making sure to see all the important sites. We have the most fun just sitting in a restaurant with eachother, laughing and drinking wine. I couldn't have asked to travel with a better group of girls. We have a blast together! The street venders/hasslers are such a pain!!! Ugh! We wanted to kill some of them. We have been very cautious of our belongings...paying close attention to our bags at all times, so no worries there! We took the train to Florence, the view through the country side was incredible! I really love Florence, it is everything I remembered and more. So far we have just been enjoying the city, walking around and taking everything in. Off to shower and get ready for our night... looking forward to another great dinner and maybe a pub crawl! Tata for now!

THANK YOU!!!

I would also like to add THANK YOU to all of you who sent encouraging words. It was so nice to read your comments, really put a smile on my face. One made me laugh out loud (Ben) and one put a tear in my eye (Dad). Love you all so much!!!!

Mixed Emotions

Yesterday was the last day of classes. Now I have a few 'reading' days, followed by two finals,and a major website project due by next week. After that? Well, after that is "the day." You know what day I'm talking about. It involves black gowns, funny square shaped hats, some tears, lots of congratulatory messages, and of course celebration!!! That day is really soon, 9 days to be exact. How do I feel about it? Well that's a great question. I was scared sh*tless, but now.... now I'm just going through the motions. I picked up my cap and gown on Monday, I've been collecting my letters of recommendation and studying for finals. Having incredibly understanding parents has made the process a lot more bearable. THANK YOU MOM AND DAD! You have no idea how nice it is to not be hassled and pushed and probed by parents while going through this transition. You have always been understanding, knowing when to stand by and watch and knowing when to interfere. I appreciate it so much.

So other than becoming an Alumni.... life is GREAT!
I've been happier then normal lately and really enjoying life. I've had Roxie since Easter weekend, and get to be her adopted Mommy until summer. Having her around has been a blessing. It started as a favor for Mom and Dad, but it has ended benefiting me more then I ever expected. She gives me something to come home for and is comforting on the lonely nights at home. We have been going to the dog park, going on great long walks around campus, and even going swimming in a pool down the block. Of course, the early morning wake up calls to go for a walk are not pleasant, but it's all worth it.

I have more to say, but gotta run. It's dinner time and my stomach is groooowling at me.

It's Coming To An End...

I can't believe it's almost over. I've been in school for 17 years of my life, what am I supposed to do without the set structure and schedule of academia? There is no path mapped out for me, where do I go? The new plan, stay in Gainesville and slowly adjust to this huge 'next step.' More like a leap.... this isn't a step... my legs don't stretch that far. I'll make sure to stretch first, keep my head forward and hopefully I won't sprain a muscle along the way. For now? I'm off to focus and work hard this last month at school. I've got a very important test, less than a week away and much to do to prepare. Going to camp this weekend, which as excited as I am, is adding more stress than necessary. Staying in Gainesville this weekend would have been best for school reasons, but I made a commitment and I'm adjusting to it. I just start studying earlier and plan around it and I will get by, I always do. That's it for now... off to learn Managerial Economics... don't be jealous! :-)