I think I took the 4 months or so before I moved for granted. I had the "good life" back then. Getting to work at a reasonable hour...you know, just in time to go to lunch with your co-workers. Being super productive for a good 4 hours or so...and then heading home at a reasonable time. Having time to go to the gym and hang out with friends! Oh...those were the days.
I was secretly hoping that schedule would continue with only slight modifications - like maybe getting to work a little earlier and having better weather to enjoy after work. But there have been a lot more than just slight modifications. I'm back into that dreadful busy season of tax accounting. Working all day and all night. And wondering why in the world I ever decided to choose this career. Yes, I'm having serious doubts about the whole career path I'm on.
So - if any of you have ANY good ideas for me....let me know! My only requirements are that I can have my life back for most of the year. No more insane busy season hours. And I'm totally willing to go back to school for another 2-4 years if need be. Anything to get me out of this life-sucking job I'm in right now. IDEAS PLEASE!
I spent the last 4 years living on Dover St. in Norwalk, CT. Since I've moved to CA, I've tried to think back to what life was like when I first got there. And I remember thinking to myself, "what in the world am I doing here!?" Besides Kathy & Dan and the kids, I didn't really know anyone. Almost everything about living in CT was uncomfortable. I didn't know anyone, I was starting a new career, I was trying to take the CPA exam. Life was stressful. And truth be told (not that I haven't been blunt about this before), I just didn't like it. I think I talked about eventually moving ever since I got there.
At some point along the way...that all changed. And although I knew I would likely have to leave at some point to try something different, it wasn't going to be because I didn't like it anymore.
The Francia's - I like to call them my CT family. They always had room for me at the kitchen table every single Sunday. I love these people! They are so generous.
7 Dover St. became my home. There are things about CT that I love. I love the fall there and the trees. I loved driving along the Merritt Parkway (my own little race track). I loved being so close to NYC that I could just hop on a train and go see a broadway show whenever I felt like it.
But of course the thing I loved the most was the incredible friends that I made and the bonds that I established. Thank goodness I decided to stay in CT all that time or I never would have met the people that I did and made the wonderful friends that I will have for life.
Sunday evening at Josh & Colleen's with family & friends.
My last few days there were so emotional for me. I hate having to say goodbye to people. I hated thinking about how I wasn't going to be a part of their every day lives like I had been. It really started getting emotional my last Sunday in CT. They should never ask you to speak and release you from your 2 year calling all on your LAST Sunday. (The bishop and I met before sacrament meeting so he could officially release me and we were both in tears....And sacrament meeting hadn't even begun! sheesh!) Having to say goodbye to the Bishop was not an easy thing for me. He truly became one of my best friends out in Connecticut.
Singstar'ing it up with Mckay on my last night in CT.
Then it was Monday - and I had to go into the office to pack up my office and say goodbye to everyone! That was also very sad. As much as I've complained about work over the past few years, there is one thing about work that I've loved...and that is most of my amazing co-workers. Saying goodbye to many of them was incredibly difficult. And I have missed them more than I thought I would.
Thank goodness for sametime (our internal chat) - I am pinging them every day! The people out here just don't compare. (Ligi - this is for you: "Hhhhheyyyyyyyy").
Wednesday was my last day in Connecticut. I had been busy trying to pack up my apartment and getting rid of pretty much EVERYTHING I own. My parents were serious life savers by coming down and helping me sort everything out and get everything out. They arrived Sunday Evening - and finally by Wednesday afternoon, we were done. They were AWESOME! I can't thank them enough.
They left Wednesday afternoon and so of course I got to spend one more night with some of my most favorite people! Josh, Colleen, Barrett, Mckay, and Jennah got everyone together for a last dinner together and a night of singstar at Josh and Colleen's! It was so great to spend my last few hours in CT with my favorites.
I was so incredibly out of it and SO tired and so drained that I don't think it had really hit me what was going on. Then of course I had to start saying goodbye.
It was hard to say goodbye to Josh and Colleen. They have been so great to me. I've known Josh for a long time. And I'm so glad that we have become such good friends and that he brought Colleen into my life who has got to be one of the sweetest people I know.
And little Barrett - what a fun kid! I think we would have become amazing friends had we had more time together! He only moved in about 2 months before I left...and I felt like we had already bonded. And of course Mckay and Jennah.....My life savers over the past year or 2. I don't know what I would have done without them! I said goodbye to Mckay and probably hugged him million times before I left for Jennah's place to spend the night.
And drove away from 7 Dover St leaving my empty apartment behind. I miss everything about CT right now. My friends, my gym, my favorite sushi place, even the crazy nanny ward, and definitely my apartment. People tell me I'll never move back. But I'm not so sure - I think I'll always be an East Coast girl at heart.
Yeah - I know I owe you about a million posts! They are coming, I promise!! Life has been a little crazy lately! But just so you know.... I am happy to be on this side of the country...
But I'd be lying if I didn't admit to be missing this side of the country....
Change is a good thing. But it definitely always comes at a price.
After 4 really good years, I had to say goodbye to all my co-workers. And quite honestly, I just wasn't really looking forward to that at all. I have made some really fantastic friends over the years in the Stamford, CT office. And I'm going to miss them more than they probably know.
They threw me a little happy hour one of my last days in the office. And it ended up probably being one of the best happy hours we've had in a really long time. Ironic that the Mormon girl gets sent off with a big ol' happy hour!
In fact, I was asked if instead of a happy hour if I just wanted to get some of my closer colleagues together to go out for dinner instead since I don't drink. But I wanted to do something that everyone could go to and that they would have fun at...so I was quite fine with having a happy hour and drinking all the diet coke I wanted. I've always had a great time at happy hour and this night was definitely not an exception to that.
The night began at about 6:30, when a few of us headed over to the bar. More and more people kept coming and we had a great turn out. (Ligi - I'm still disappointed that you never showed up!) After everyone got a few drinks in them and the camera came out....we had even more fun. Yes, we even did the Macarena....
And lucky for us...it was even Karaoke night!!! Woot! And it's probably no surprise to anyone, that the only sober girl was ready and willing to jump out there and sing!
I am seriously going to miss happy hours a lot. And I'm worried that I won't have quite as cool people to hang out with at my new office (I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I do).
People sometimes ask me how a girl from Canada that went to BYU ended up in Stamford, CT. Well, when I was applying for an internship I had to decide on a location. I didn't want to go back to Canada (espescially since I was getting my degree in US taxation) and didn't really have any particular place that I had a connection to or reason to go to. My brother lived in Madison, WI at the time and My sister lived in CT. I figured since there was a lot more going on in NYC which would be close to my sister, that I would apply for there.
I put NYC as my first location and then Stamford, CT as my second option. My interview on campus was interesting to say the least. I actually thought it went really bad because the whole time I was in there, the interviewer was trying to convince me to go Audit (even though I was getting my Masters in Tax) and wanted me to go to Stamford (which I ended up telling him I was fine with). To my surprise, I was asked to go for an office visit to Stamford despite what seemed like a horrible interview.
I still remember interviewing with Hindy, Joe, and Marty....and going to lunch with Al. And I remember getting stuck on the runway on my way back because of some stupid snow storm and trying to cram for an exam I had the next day! Before I even got back to my apartment in Utah (I got stuck overnight in Chicago), I had a message from the head recruiter saying they wanted to extend an offer for an internship.
I ended up accepting the offer and having a great internship. Like most internships, it led to a full-time offer - which I obviously accepted and that's how I ended up back in CT after gradution.
I am so happy that I made my decision to start my career there. I worked with a lot of great people. Granted I didn't always love my job and worked some insane hours, but overall my experience there was good.
I know I'm still not going to love my job in CA and I'll probably work more insane hours, I just really hope I have just as good of people to work with, go to lunch with and hit up happy hour with!!
A lot of us stayed out until the bar closed...and even went to a diner at 1 in the morning. It was such a FUN night! They better control themselves a little better at future happy hours now that their designated driver is gone! :)
oh....I even managed to get my manager Joe to sing a little Karaoke with me.. A little NKOTB! :) Sorry the video is so dark and the sound...well, he was drunk (i'm still sad we missed capturing his fall on video) and I had a few too many Diet Cokes! ;)
Not really anyone from work reads my blog (except you, Carolyn) - but I hope they know how much I'm going to miss them! Thanks for 4 great years!
So Jennah and I bought our favorite birthday boy tickets to the Mets Game! None of us had been to the new stadium...so we were excited to see Citi Field..
The new stadium was really nice. We got there early so we had time to walk around, take pictures and check everything out.
We even got to meet Mr. Met and get our picture taken with him before the game started!!! This was the highlight of Jennah's night.
I was excited to find out that they opened a shake shack at CitiField. They only have (i believe) 3 shake shakes - 2 in Manhattan and this one. So, I definitely waited in line to get myself a shack burger and milk shake! Yum!!
We were very fascinated by the garbage cans! We each took a picture like this.
So, apparently if you try to sneak in your own alcohol, you get a whole bunch of bouncers confiscating your goods and ya just might even get the boot. We were laughing as we watched this kid get in trouble by the..da daaa da da "ALCOHOL COMPLIANCE" people. The best part was that the alcohol compliance people had this huge entourage of guys (not just the 2 pictured here). I mean seriously, how many people does it take to throw out a drunk kid?
We all wore Mets gear...and Jennah and I wore the same shirt so we were twinners! Aren't we just so darn cute?
It was SUCH a fun night! The Mets lost....but it was still a fun game and it was fun to hang out with some of my favorite people! Now who am I going to go to sporting events with!??!!!
It was Mckay's birthday a few weeks ago and he wanted to hit up Koreatown for some sweet food and night of Karaoke!
My little Mckay turned a whoppin' 27 years old. He's growing up oh-so-fast.
Denise and I were already in the city (see post below)...so we met up with the rest of the crew that night in Koreatown and gorged on some way good Korean BBQ! I love Korean food. It always reminds me of my mission.
After dinner we headed upstairs for some Karaoke. It was SO much fun. You rent the room by the hour and get your private room with a big screen and a book full of songs. It was such a good time once everyone started getting into it!
I managed to convince Denise to do at least one song with me. We rocked out to some TLC.
And then I decided it might be fun to get up on the table....and sing a little BoYz II MeN - "I'll Make Love To You". I was right - it was fun.
One of the highlights of the night though....had to be when Jennah and I performed a little Celine Dion. I've been trying to download the video of it....but it's not working so well. We totally need to change our carreers. I mean...just think of the success we could have! Celine has nothing on us!
If you are ever in NYC with a group....and it's raining and you're not sure what to do. You should definitely hit up a place like this! It was SO much fun! I really wanted to go back before I left town...but it didn't happen so I guess I'll have to make a trip out there sometime! :)
My good friend and ex-roommate from Ricks College came through town a couple of weeks ago...and I got to show her around NYC for the day! Denise and I were roommates our Sophomore year of college...so we go way back. She is from Chicago - so the fact that I served my mission there (and have been back several times) made it so we have kept in touch and seen each other every so often over the years! It was great to have her come out!
I asked Denise what she wanted to do while she was here...and the only 2 things she really wanted was to 1 - see the statue of liberty and 2 - Eat a hot dog in NY! ha.. I haven't even eaten a hot dog in NY...but I made sure she got her wish! And in Central Park even.
Unfortunately the weather was not the best! I don't know what it is about this summer...but it is sucking! It's the end of June and it's been rainy and cold! This day was no exception. It rained, and rained, and rained! But we embraced it!
We walked everywhere - we started up by the temple and worked our way down. And stopped to take some pics along the way.
We walked from the temple...down to columbus circle and down broadway..then crossed over to head towards Rockfellar Center, then we walked up 5th Ave for a while and then towards Grand Central. That's kind of a lot of walking. Espescially in the rain!. We took the train down to little italy to go to one of my favorite pizza joints in the city - Lombardi's.
Then we headed downtown to catch the Staten Island Ferry to grant Denise's other wish of seeing Lady Liberty!
And our last stop before we met up with my friends for dinner...was of course Time Square! We had fun taking tons of pictures in the rain... We were so freaking soaked! But it was well worth it! I've done the touristy NYC things...a lot! But it was fun to do it one last time before I hit the road outta here. It was such a fun day!
Somehow, someway...I managed to drag myself 26.2 miles and finish the San Diego Rock & Roll Marathon last week! Jaime and I weren't quite as prepared as we originally thought we would be, but we made the decision to do it anyway.
We woke up at 4:30 in the morning and made our way over to the start line and off we went! Everything was going great until about mile 6 or 7 when Jaime's knee started to bother her. It eventually worked its way up to her hip and by the time we got to the half way point she was starting to walk. I walked with her for a while and then decided to go ahead.
I made it to about mile 18 and then hit that stupid wall you all hear about! Most of the last 8 miles consisted of switching off between running and walking. I didn't care though...I was going to finish it. No matter what. Once I got into the 20 miles, pretty much every bone and muscle in my legs hurt every time I ran and at that point it is just the thought of finishing that is getting you through the pain.
Finally...after 6 painful hours...I ran across the finish line. Not exactly the time I hoped for when I originally signed up, but considering my lack of training...I was happy just to finish the thing! Jaime also finished!
So...will I do it again? Yes. Of course. I definitely want to do it again. But my main goal right now is to get into better shape so that I can do it with a little less pain. I am still signed up to do Antarctica and hopefully I won't have to drop down to the half by the time that rolls around!
The pain that follows a marathon is.....well.....it just freakin' sucks! My longest run before the marathon was somewhere around 17 or 18 miles and I was sore the day of that run...but NOTHING like I was the day of the marathon. And lucky for us, Jaime lives on the 3rd floor! I can't even tell you how much that sucked.
Our bad A marathon tattoos
Jaime is an athletic trainer at the Olympic Training Center in San Diego...so we took full advantage of that and went to her work right after the marathon to hop into the cold tub they have. The water was 52 degrees. And it once you were in and your legs went numb, it was the best feeling ever.
We of course ordered a TON of food from cheesecake factory, rented a movie and then plopped ourselves down on her couch for the rest of the day and avoided moving whenever possible. I wasn't feeling so well that night...I don't know if I was dehydrated or just a little shook up from all the running, but i felt super nauseous by the end of the night that I crashed pretty early.
Monday the pain almost felt worse. I was so stiff. But as the day went on and I moved around a bit, I was starting to feel better.
We all went to a Padres game Monday night and got free tickets courtesy of one of the Olympic Athletes Jaime works with! Jaime and I were limping all the way to our seats...we were like 2 old crippled ladies. :)
I flew back Tuesday...and finally by Wednesday i was starting to feel almost back to normal. It's incredible how long it takes your body to recover from something like a marathon. I've been having some issues with my foot that I'm going to get checked out next week - hopefully it's no big deal and I'll be back out running again soon.
