Now What...

My feet are securely back on the ground now, after my initial excitement and elation over my new job. The reality has started to sink in and with it comes the anxiety of "Oh my God, what have I got myself into?".

No one quits a job of seven years without a little trepidation. Last night all that I could think of is"What will happen now?", "Will I be successful at this job?" and "Will I be able to meet the challenges of the new position?"

And then, this morning when I woke up I realized that the reason I was looking for a new job is because life was just too damn predictable. My current position is very comfortable. Every day you come to work and you know just what to expect. When I look at a calendar I can tell you what I will be working on next week or after the second quarter of the fiscal and next March at the year end.

So the reality is that I'm not really sure what I will be doing next week or next month or next year... and isn't that amazing! Life just got a whole lot more interesting.

I Got the Job!

There will be many sacrificial martinis offered at the alter of the gods.

I am overjoyed!

Now, I just need to write my resignation letter.

::smile from ear to ear::

Tomorrow...

The countdown continues.

Tomorrow at 5:00 PM I will find out if I do indeed have a new job.

If I am offered a new position I can guarantee you that first thing Wednesday morning I will be submitting my resignation. I've tried hard not to go there yet. I don't want to jinx anything and I don't want to count my chickens before they've hatched but it's hard. I haven't been entirely happy here for some time and the prospect of a new challenge is like cat nip. Completely irresistible.

::sigh::

Till tomorrow then.

The Never Ending Interview...

I have been a VERY patient person of late. Do I get a gold star or what?

I recently interviewed for a new job. The first interview was cancelled due to bad weather and rescheduled for two weeks later. When I finally went to the interview it consisted of a one hour interview followed by one hour of testing and then half an hour to write a spur of the moment essay. There were 10-12 candidates

Two weeks later I was invited back for a second interview. This one was only 45 min or so and then I was given a "take home project" to complete and email in a couple of days later. I also had to fill out a consent form for them to check all of my references, do a police check and verify my education. There were only 2 candidates left.

Two weeks later I get a call "inviting me for coffee" with the CEO. I'm told this is a good thing and I am the only candidate that he is meeting with but they still have not confirmed that they are going to offer me employment. I have been reassured that it is not an interview.

I set up the appointment for coffee at our local Starbucks for, you guessed it, two weeks later. So I will meet with the CEO on April 24th and we will see if this long, very involved process is actually going to pan out for me.

The entire process has taken about two months. I have been alternating between excitement strong enough to make me vibrate and angst that I have failed to land this job, that I really, really want.

So the count down begins...only four days to my answer. Cross your fingers for me and GOD help the person who makes me jump through one more hoop before they decide if I'm the person they want for this job.

After all, there is definitely a limit to my patience...as everyone who really knows me, is very well aware of. ::evil smile::

Quotes...

Saw these quotes and just had to share:

“One only needs two tools in life: WD-40 to make things go, and duct tape to make them stop.” -G. Weilacher

“I'm tough, ambitious, and I know exactly what I want. If that makes me a bitch, okay.” - Madonna

“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe.” - Albert Einstein

“I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.” - Robert McCloskey

The Big Four Ohhh...

In celebration of my 40th Birthday I have decided to take a page from Kat's book and compile a list of 40 useless things about me. Enjoy!

1. I hate yellow flowers, both cut and the garden variety. One of the first things I did when I move into my house was to eradicate them from my garden.
2. I procrastinate about just about everything until I can't look at myself in the mirror. Then I tackle the issues with too much enthusiasm and scare the living begeezes out of just about everyone around me.
3. You are guaranteed to hurt my feelings by telling me that you find me to be intimidating.
4. When I close my eyes while listening to music I actually see colours and shapes. I thought that everyone experienced music this way and only recently discovered that it wasn't "normal".
5. I love all music with two exceptions; Rap and Country.
6. When I watch TV or listen to the radio the volume control MUST be on an even number. ( I howled when I discovered that Kat shares this odd quirk.)
7. I met my husband at the bus stop on the first day of high school the year I was in grade 11.
8. I then dated a guy that turned out to be his best friend for several years.
9. I did not start dating my husband until years later after I had graduated from college.
10. I have been happily married to my hubby for 17 years and we have been together for 20 years. (half my life)
11. When I married my husband my parents took him aside and asked him if he was sure he was doing the right thing and did he realize what he was getting himself in to. They also informed him that once he married me I had officially become his problem. (No joking.)
12. I love my family. Warts and all.
13. I was a model child, an honour student and, until I was 16, thought that I would become a nun.
14. I was a difficult teenager. I guess I made up for lost time.
15. I am opinionated and direct. I appreciate people who "say what they mean and mean what they say".
16. I hate ignorant, bigoted people. I also hate people who refuse to take responsibility for their own actions or decisions. Everything, somehow, is always the fault of someone else or is a complicated conspiracy to screw them over.
17. My favourite colour is red.
18. I have two favourite numbers; 4 and 6.
19. I will turn forty on the fourth month of the fourth day.
20. I hate mornings and need to be well caffeinated before having the ability to be civil.
21. I was naive enough when I got married that I mistakenly thought that I had to fill out paperwork to "change my name". The result is a new birth certificate in my married name. I know... I really do have blond moments.
22. I love camping. As long as we are NOT sleeping on the ground. My husband affectionately refers to me as "Tent Trailer Trash". I wear the label proudly.
23. I read. A lot. It's an addiction of sorts.
24. I LOVE raspberry cosmopolitans. In fact all things martini just flat out do it for me.
25. I am a cat person. A house is not a home until a cat is in residence.
26. I am not a dog person and I tolerate them with less grace since the passing of our 18 year old Pomeranian dog, Ducky.
27. I am an army brat.
28. I have moved 17 times in 40 years.
29. I always feel better when my toenails are painted. Preferably some bright colour that I wouldn't normally have on my fingers.
30. I plan to get my first tattoo in commemoration of my 40th birthday...a martini glass of sorts.
31. I LOVE dark chocolate, especially Leonida's.
32. White chocolate is an oxymoron and as far as I'm concerned is the crappy byproduct you are left with, and should chuck out, once you extract all of the cocoa solids. (or real chocolate)
33. My role in my family is to actually vocalize what everyone else is thinking but is too afraid to say. This does not always make me very popular...but at least I'm fulfilling my role.
34. My mom is one of my most favourite people on the planet. We had a few years when I was a teenager, and thought I knew everything, when we barely spoke but have had a wonderful relationship both before and after the period that I temporarily lost my mind.
35. I have been blessed with some very special and unique friends. You know who you are and I'm not sure I could have arrived at this point in my life, this well adjusted, without all of you supporting me every step of the way.
36. I was raised Roman Catholic and after my disillusionment with them...long story...I don't have any affiliation with any organized religion. I believe in a Higher Power but I don't think anyone has Her figured out just yet.
37. I love to cook, entertain and throw parties.
38. I hate parties thrown in my honour. So, there will be no 40th birthday bash for me. Thank you very much.
39. I never thought I would be a mother but I have a wonderful 14 year old son that I am eternally grateful for each and every day.
40. My son still thinks I'm cool. How cool is that?

Happy Birthday to Me!