My – Oh My

Dear Readership,

I feel as if I should apologize again for the four month hiatus.  If only to simply tell you – I had been blogging – under a sort of anonymous guise called datetiquette.tumblr.com.  Though, having recently quit, I’ll do my best to begin contribute to this poor soul of a site.

What to update with:

In October I was promoted to Marketing Operations Manager.  For those of you who don’t know what I do – well – I work at an education software company – and work in the following departments: HR, Operations, Account Management, Marketing.  I’m also the personal assistant to the CEO.  Did I mention, I also manage no one? Always a bit of a laugh.  But, as the company is starting to beef up for a potential expansion, that may not always be the case.

I’ve become an active member of the Nor Cal Peace Corps Association.  And will likely be running for a board position in January.  Even though my Peace Corps service was interrupted in its own way – I do love the fact that I’ve been welcomed by the RPCV community in the bay area with open arms.  On top of that, I’m running our Newsletter – currently putting together the Annual Paper edition – which will go out to over 500 members.  I’m also writing for online edition – you can read one of my articles here: Self-Defense in Aprons.

So, if that didn’t sound like enough, I’m also prepping to coach a HS girls lacrosse program in Oakland.  This will obviously take up a lot of my time – but as I mentioned to someone recently – I do my best when I’m busy – over my head sort of busy.  Not everyone gets this – but – it worked in the past – I recall my college days fondly – and that I still managed my I’m-not-getting-out-of-bed-days.

On the health front – it seems I’m going back to the Cardiologist in January.  Apparently my desire to exercise and my heart aren’t really getting along right now – so time to see if my PC illness is going to continue to be a party-pooper even a year later.

With that, I promise to at least attempt a monthly update – please nag away if you want.

Happy Holidays!

 

Oh, Neglected Blog

I feel like I should write an ode – to my neglected blog.  Maybe this comes out of a trip to pub trivia – where Ode to a Grecian Urn was involved in one of the questions – Oh Keats, how I flubbed my answer – I should consider you neglected as well.

But I could say – you, dear blog, have been neglected because I have been busy.  Back in June, my immediate boss left the company for something closer to home.  This left me with – a lot more responsibility – longer days – but not directly her job.  I’d built out my own responsibilities like re-designing our corporate website to being involved in the marketing of the company.  Now, I have involvement – across the company – even HR.

Lacrosse coaching starts in the Spring – should be fun.  Need to get certified to coach.  Yay.

I’m at a loss right now for what to say – dear neglected blog.  I promise to update when my thoughts are together – and this ode shall treat you better.

Datetiquette

Anonymous Dating Blog: Datetiquette

For Hilary

After some brief public facebook harassment that I need to update my blog – here goes.

We’re coming up on my third month at my new job. And things are about to get even crazier. With my boss leaving in two weeks – it’s kind of left me in a position to pick up bits and pieces of work – one responsibility which includes HR.

In happier news (since I’m sad to lose my boss – she’s pretty awesome), I bought a bike. I’ll pick it up on Saturday. If someone has any helmet recommendations let me know – cause I’ll need to buy one of those too while I’m out on Saturday.

Dating is insane – per usual. Though, I will admit I disabled my online dating profile – who knows how long that’ll last. A minute, a second, a year? Probably good to back off the dating scene again anyway. Who knows what I was thinking. Hah. I might still start an anonymous dating blog (if anyone thinks this is a good idea – let me know – I apparently have lots of stories).

Other than that… I’ll update more later.

Family = Awkward

Who needs awkward family photos – when your family breathes awkwardness?

After telling my grandma I was on my way to a second date – she told my roommate that I had a boyfriend – which in turn led to the house rules.

Being that I’m 26 – getting the house rules from my 70 year old roommate – was well – awkward.

1. Your “boyfriend” may not be stay in the house – if you leave for work.

2. Your “boyfriend” may not rendezvous at the house – without you there.

3. Preferred that your “boyfriend” does not stay the nights I’m in town.

Well. Ahem. Can I just say again – awkward?

So, thank you Grandma, for jumping the gun, and letting me know, “the house rules”.

Settling into the City

On Friday Night, I attended the Wizard of Oz Sing-along in the Castro.  One word: Amazing.  I went with Lety and Yesi – none of us having ever been to a “Sing-along”.  We weren’t really sure what to expect.  But, at the time thought the tickets were a bit overpriced.  However, having attended – we completely changed our minds.  When we arrived we were greeted by Glinda the Good Witch who handed us each a goodie bag.  Inside was a crown, bubbles, medal, glow stick, lollipop, diploma, heart sticker, and wand (if I’m forgetting anything – please forgive me).  After we took our seats, we began to dawn our goodies – from crown to medal, glow sticks snapped, lollipops unsleeved.  The energy in the theater was electric.  Glow sticks and bubbles amist a sea of giggling oversized children, and a few runts as well.

Soon after we took our seats, Glinda and Uncle Henry led a Children’s Costume Parade.  Dorothys and Glindas paraded across the stage – and a notable standout was a kid dressed as a flying monkey.  Afterwards was the adult costume portion – where a cardboard house – with the wearer’s legs/feet dawned as the Wicked Witch of the East – and a tornado, dawning the house as a hat, were the standouts. It was then we were given our directions – when to blow bubbles, sing songs, ooooh and ahhhh.   Before long we settled into the film – and had an great time.

Afterward, we headed a few doors down to Sliders and I had a delicious grilled cheese before Lety and I adventured downtown to Foley’s and the piano bar in the basement.  All in all, this evening was a great remind of why I moved to the city.

Saturday was Yesi’s birthday.  We went to Old Al’s Diner in the Outer Mission, where I again had grilled cheese.  Hah, for the record, I’ve never had a hamburger – and thus – grilled cheese is my go-to sandwich at a burger-oriented joint.  Then, once Yesi was safe out of the picture, Lety and I were off trying to find a soccer jersey for Yesi’s present.  While we weren’t able to find the right size in a Spain jersey, we did find a Barcelona jersey and Lety had Yesi’s favorite player’s name, David Villa, and number, 7, put on the jersey.  And even though it took a lot of running around, I think Lety felt is was the right decision when she saw the look on Yesi’s face the next day.

 

Analyzing Friendship

What is the point of friendship?  Why do we engage in making friends?  What do we look for in a friend?  Is this universal?

In light of the really shitty day, I had today [$700 tow/2 parking tickets on top of it for "rear bumper in cut portion of curb hazard to exit" - which if it was - it was an inch] I realized that when it comes to comfort – not all my friends have the same universal – “man, that makes me feel better” abilities.  In some instances, “that made me feel worse” or “why am I even friends with this person?”

This overall realization made me realize I don’t do well with people who minimalize my emotional state.  I don’t do well with the “well you could be starving in Africa” line of reasoning, because you’ve now made me feel like even more of an asshole for being emotionally upset.  Not that – wow – I do have it lucky.  No, instead, I feel like an even bigger dick and end up even more emotionally distraught due to this response.

I also don’t do well with the “tough shit” or “life happens” response.  And under any circumstance you probably shouldn’t tell me, “well, money is just money”.  As someone with too much credit card debt at twenty-six, money isn’t just money.  In light of all the financial woe I’m in – I’d like to think I live everyday pretty well adjusted, mostly emotionally void of feeling towards the situation, as I’ve come to accept that maybe someday – I’ll have paid this debt off, but sadly, it won’t be this year – and most likely not the next.  So, when $700 potential credit card paying dollars roll out of my wallet – yes – I’m upset.  When I just started working – this week – and hadn’t worked since November – and just moved to a new, very expensive city, I’m not exactly rolling in the dough.

To be honest, if the same situation had happened even a month down the road, I don’t think it’d be as gutting.  But instead, that was the equivalent of paying rent.  A roof over my head just went to 48 hours of bullshit.  So, no, I’m not keen on friendships that see that as “no big deal.”

But at some point – a conversation can lead to, “well, what do you want me to say?”  This is an albatross when I’m upset.  Never, ever, ever default to this response.  If I wanted to put words in your mouth, there’d be no point in talking.  Which is exactly it, I don’t.  But, I do want to feel like you empathize, that you go, well, shit, things were going so well, I’m sorry to hear that happened.  Or, wow, sorry I couldn’t give you a hug.  I don’t want some magically unattainable answer.  I don’t need a solution.  I want to be comforted and honestly, that statement is the furthest thing from comfort.  I think that’s just it – I want comfort and what all of these “don’ts” have in common is that they lack that – comfort.

So, why is it that I feel I need to define my friendships by this element.  Why is comfort so important to me?  Why is it so important in my friendships?  For me, part of my independence has come at the price that it’s hard to find that idea of comfort in yourself.  Sure, you can be comfortable in your own skin.  But when something shitty happens – all you have is yourself.  I mean, why else would the song, “Lean on Me,” exist if it didn’t explain what friendship has the potential to be.

West Coast Tsunami

An hour after I arrived at my parents’ place on the Oregon border and the California Coast, the 8.9 earthquake hit Japan.  As soon as there was talk of a Tsunami, I knew it would be headed right for us.  Eventually I discovered they expected 8′ foot waves to hit just 20 minutes south of my parents’ place in Crescent City.

It was funny to tell friends and have them just chime in, “you’ll be fine.”  And it’s not that I questioned that, but it was funny how much they were trying to pacify my fear of an 8′ tsunami, like it was going to be a few inches or something.  It wasn’t until later, until the waves hit and Crescent City was the center of the news.  It felt like every other word out of a news anchor’s mouth would be that city’s name.  And then the mentioned Brookings, just on the other side of the border from here.  Footage of the harbor being destroyed.  Two harbors destroyed and finally my friends admitted that maybe, I had been in an “dangerous” area.

We watched the waves roll in from the safety of our view.  Other than watching the waves pull out far, far from the shore, it seemed like your typical day.  That and the brief notice that instead of two visible rocks – suddenly there were eight or nine visible in the water.

All in all, it put things into a different kind of perspective.  How globally a natural disaster can travel.  That something thousands of miles away can come crashing into you.

Job – Check

So, in a stroke of good news – I finally have a job.  It’s with an education-based startup.  Think it will be a great foundation to my future.  It puts me in San Francisco – which I’m really excited about.  I move into my new apartment in April which I’m equally excited about.  Oh and I start work on Wednesday.

I’d say all in all – success.

My Ukrainian belongings are back.  My Christmas present my parents sent to Ukraine – also came back.  So I feel like the scales are finally tipping in my favor.

It feels needed.  And I’m grateful.

I Got Chills

So, after much pestering, I was told I hadn’t been updating enough – at all.

I apologize.  Here’s why – I’ve been in San Francisco since Feb 27th.  What’s happened:

Monday 28th: Admin Test with G**gle.  They have you sign a nondisclosure form – so that’s my little secret.  But, I thought it went really well.  Today (March 8th) I was informed  my recruiter there is now shopping me around to some different departments as an Admin Assistant and see if any of them bite and want to interview me.

Tuesday 1st: Interview with an Education-based Company.  I did a youtube video for that application – like they had asked and it seems like they were super impressed.  Interview turned out to be two hours – one hour talking, one hour “games” or what I would say – a test.  But, this went really well – to where a few days later they asked for my references and those are being checked now.

Some arbitrary day – maybe Thursday: Invited to group interview with a college for the Student Services Advisor position.  But, a little worried since it’s a group interview.  That’ll be tomorrow.

Yesterday, while on the BART I get a phone call – turns out it’s the job my friend referred me for – they want to interview me on the 16th.  Apparently when it rains, it pours.

In other potentially great news – as long as I get a job in the next month – I also have an apartment!  I’d be sharing with my great uncle – but he’s hardly ever there.  I’m super excited about it and the location is amazing.  My work commute would be like 20-30 minutes.  Lots to do and eat and experience nearby.

So keep your fingers crossed everything falls into place.

xo