A Little Awkward

So I have officially been offered, and accepted, a new job. I will begin around the first of October, per an arrangement between my current and new employers. While my old boss is pretty cool about me leaving, especially since I am willing and able to stay until after the conference, and my new boss is flexible about me easing into things, it still feels a little weird. I am somewhat busy with the conference, and am working on wrapping up/handing off tasks, but the truth is I am really only staying because no one else could have done the conference on short notice. So while the same old drama and gossip goes on around me, now it doesn't even affect me indirectly, except for having to listen to it. It's a rather strange dynamic indeed.

I spent yesterday afternoon at the new place, which was also a little strange. We mostly sat around visiting, asking and answering questions about the revisions to the job description, meeting people, getting a parking spot and keys, that sort of thing. My two colleagues are nice enough, although I am much younger than either of them, and have no idea how compatible we are in terms of personalities, work habits, etc.

There are two pretty cool things about the job though - first, I will be taking a modest pay cut, but only working 9-4, three days a week. That is the part that will be good for me and the kids, I think. Second, they actually rewrote the job description after my interview, to fit the skills I can bring to the position. They also, without me asking, upped the salary a bit because they thought it was appropriate, considering my skills. Several times, they have asked about my preferences or recommendations for software, vendors, etc. and said that whatever I think I need to do the job, they can get it for me.

That is certainly a big change from my current job, where I have been frustrated for a couple of years. I will admit that it feels pretty great to interview for a job, have the job description revised specifically for me, get a salary bump without no negotiation, be told that I can have the resources I need, and that they can be in place when I am ready to start, at a later date. I am sure that feeling of being valued is part of why I accepted the job, even with the pay cut. And I know that the honeymoon will end eventually, and I will be just another employee, griping about my boring job. For now, I am just keeping my head down, getting through the awkward phase, and waiting for the honeymoon to begin, for however long it lasts.

Speaking of awkward phases, please tell me that this is just a phase with B, and that he will someday grow up to be not a complete asshole.

Seasonal News

Summer is officially over. Saturday was probably the last trip to the lake for this year, and yesterday was the first day of school. (It did not go well, BTW. We'll get in a routine eventually. I promise.)

Yesterday I also talked with SJ about my new job offer. She was very cool about it, which is a relief. Now to see if the new place is willing to delay my official start for a month until after the conference. I hope it works out, as the new gig will be good for our family, I think.

Weather is definitely fall weather. Would be nice to have a bit more time off while it lasts, as I am definitely on a home improvement roll! Got the possum belly cabinet stripped and refinished. Still need to reassemble it, but was waiting for the finish to cure. It looks great with the new top even if it is just sitting on there. Also got lots of pictures and décor hung up, light fixture (1 of 2, but still...) and ceiling fan installed (very cool) and stuff just generally arranged and organized. Still have several half-finished projects and the big cabinet to tackle, but I am finally making some noticeable progress.

In other random news, B got bands added to braces, is NOT playing football (lo-ong but familiar story) and I picked up my new glasses today. I may drive your grandma's Buick, but my eyewear is stylin'!

Happy Birthday to Me, 2013

Actually, my birthday was not much to speak of, but that's OK. I am old enough now that birthdays are not the big deal they were when I was younger. Overall a good weekend though.

Friday night both boys were sleeping over at a friend's house, so L and I had "girls' night", which consisted of taking her to McDonald's and then the store to pick out a new outfit for school.

Saturday was drizzling rain all day, so mostly we stayed inside and didn't do much. I did get the last of the carpet pulled up, but it's still inside because I didn't want it to get water-logged before trash pick up. Also put away some of the stuff out of the boxes that were in the big cabinet and found homes for more junk. Next week I am taking some time off. While I probably won't be starting any new projects, I am hoping to wrap up a few before school starts the following week.

Yesterday we went to a pool party for the daughter of a friend. This makes two years in a row that I spent my birthday at her party :) But it was fun. The kids swam and played while the adults hung out and drank beer. We left about the time it started raining again, and everyone was tired, so the drive home seemed much longer than the drive there. Then we stopped to pick up pizza. We ended up getting it free because it took forever. Apparently one of the delivery drivers was robbed and the staff was behind, but instead of just telling us that, they tried to fit our order in between giving statements to the police. I don't think we live in the kind of place were the pizza guy gets robbed, so that IS a little weird.

Today is back to work. And I just got a call from the people interviewed with last week, so I need to quit with the self-indulgent blogging and send references :)

Week in Review

Monday -drama
Tuesday - drama
Wednesday - drama plus a sudden downpour resulting in downed trees and ruined shoes
Thursday - job interview, football parents' meeting
Friday - OMG, there's no drama!! where the hell is all the drama? I want my draaa ma!!!
Saturday - no drama in the forecast, but you know how drama works, so...
Sunday - birthday party

In between the whining, weather and craziness, I did manage to get conference brochures mailed, prep my stuff and drop it off for the consignment sale, go grocery shopping, have several good conversations with B and finally put away laundry.

Also managed to avoid the grand opening of our new (first) Wal-Mart, which is considered the most exciting thing to happen in our town since the last tornado. At some point this weekend, I will probably end up there to do some sales tax-free school shopping, but I will not be nearly as excited as the multitudes there this morning and subsequently posting on FB about it.

Also need to get the twins signed up for soccer, but that should be easy enough. The party on Sunday will be very laid back, so maybe I can have a relaxing weekend. Then Monday will be the first day of 6:30 a.m. football practice. They can't do two-a-days, so they will be practicing for 4 hours. Fun!

And a final note of drama - according to my oldest son (who nev-ver engages in drama, oh no), our neighbors are "preppers", who have made it possible to flip their concrete slab driveway up onto their (POS) car port (without crushing it or the "only" four people it takes to pull this feat off), and latch it (using magic latches that attach to concrete) in case of, "you know, a zombie apocalypse or something". Tell me that kid is not smoking something!

OK, back to work. Gotta finish up so I can leave early to get a new driver's license. Crossing my fingers this one doesn't look like a mug shot.