I survived.....

my first day that is. Today was my first day at BB&T......or as I now know the correct name is BB&T Leasing Center or the BLC as it's more affectionately know. I started the day by getting there entirely too early. I have to say thank you to Julie for loaning me a book. I had it in the car so I had something to pass the time. Today was their sales meeting so I got thrown right into the mix. The first person I met was the president of our division.....I didn't know it at the time. Thank goodness my mom taught me good manners and my dad gave me his business sense, so I didn't say anything stupid. I think I actually added something to the conversation....pat on the back for me. I don't feel like giving those to myself very often.

I wonder who the man/woman was that was sitting at their desk one day and decided that all cubicles should be gray from then until the end of time? Were they really that dull? Were they cheap and that was the easiest color to make? Was it their cruel joke intended to punish all of us worker bees? Did they make their decision like a king makes a proclomation...."From this day forth, all cubicles, big and small, small be gray in color"? Just my little question to the world. The good news about the new office is that it's clean.....a big step up from ole Ford Credit....but the bathroom is dirtier......if that's possible. But they're really tall cublicle walls which is a nice change and much bigger. I feel like I need to have an office warming party.....or would that be a cubicle warming party....I wonder if they make gray invitations. The really good news is that I'm close to Tori who I worked with at Ford and our other Ford employee that is coming there....name to be revealed later......will be right next to me (picture me smiling from ear to ear). Can you tell it's someone I like? Yippee is an understatement.

Now I just pray I know what I've gotten myself into. For those of you that know something about credit, the position I took basically handles everything from start to finish for the dealer except for decisioning the deal. For those of you that don't....basically it means a lot of paperwork, phone calls, deadlines, and you stay until it's done. The good news is that everyone there says the day flies by. They all have different work styles, but tonight at our sales dinner I found out that many of them come in early, work late, and even sometimes go in on weekends. I'm not too worried about it since I usually catch on fast....and at least all that time in means higher commissions :-). I'm sure I'll be able to figure out a heathly balance.

The really bad news is I won't have access to my yahoo mail at work? How can they take my lifeline away from me? I think I'm getting weaker. Just kidding. We can get email on our work accounts, so as soon as I get my email address, I'll let ya'll know what it is....just not on here....I don't need the entire world to have it.

Not much else going on today. Time to go get ready for tomorrow, spend some quality time with the "children", and call Mike to tell him good night. To the rest of you, "Good night and God bless".

And the Employer Is...

I'll be working here...

My Body Hates Me

OK, mi cuerpo, this is tu mente speaking. Why, o why, must you torment me so? I spend all day doing most of the work while you just lay around or - at most - sit slumped in a chair doing as little as possible. Granted, you go where I tell you to and always wait there patiently for me to finish what I'm doing... usually without much protest. So... what'd I do, exactly?

It can't have been just the running, right? You might not exactly enjoy running, but you don't hate it, either. I mean, we do that all the time. Well, ok... you run a lot while I enjoy a nice ride and usually take advantage of the opportunity by focusing on projects I wouldn't otherwise have the time to address: life, love, philosophy, what I'm going to make you type on the next blog post, etc. Heck, sometimes the ride's so smooth I just take a nap. So... I'm inclined to think that running isn't the root of the problem.

But you did decide to exact your revenge during a run, didn't you? The saltwater in the eyes... the inadequate lung capacity... the pain in only one shin... the skin irritation... man, you had me sending impulses along all sorts of neurons! And they were sending back some nasty messages. The little mutineers were about to just shut everything down until I talked them back off the ledge. You're lucky, too, or you might just be lying there in the middle of a street somewhere... all communication between you and me severed because you hate me for some unknown reason.

So... if you're not telling why you're so upset, I'll at least meet you halfway. First of all, I promise to be there for you when it's time to assess whatever you're putting in our mouth. Only useful and beneficial stuff goes in there. And the occassional bad-for-you treat, maybe -- just to keep me sane. Secondly, I'll do a better job of schedule-making for you. But you have to realize that you're not going to just sit or lay there all the time. I like new things... stimuli make me happy... so you will be toting me around. But we'll take turns bearing the heavy workload, m'kay? Lastly, I'll shut you down if you pull another stunt like you did today, understand? Don't think I won't. You may possess some brawn, but I'm the brains of this operation... hear?

Glad we had this talk. Next time, just rumble the stomach a little or yawn or something. I'll be there for you. Have I ever misled you?

Don't answer that.

This post sponsored by Ford Credit........

As many of you already know, I turned in my two week notice at Ford last Thursday.....but, since I am going to a competitor they sent me home with two weeks pay. I don't start my new job until the 22nd, so I am enjoying being a lady of leisure for the week courtesy of FMCC. A week off sounds good at first, but when you really didn't have much planned it gets a little boring. I really don't see how Heidi and Haley do it working from home....I think I'd go crazy. It's kind of like when you're in school.....when you're in school, you can't wait to get out, but by the end of summer you can't wait to go back to school. It has been nice not having a schedule. I went shopping Monday at Concord Mills when NO ONE was there, which was awesome. Anywho, enough of that.

Last week, I was reminded once again of how lucky I am to have the friends I've made in Charlotte. Last Thursday I turned 29 for the first time....I think I'm going to stop now. I also got to quit on my birthday which was nice. About mid-day I got this "flower basket" from Flip. It was huge and delicious. It was completely made out of fruit....the center was like three heads of romaine lettuce.


Earlier that day, I got tulips from Mike that were just budding. They're yellow/red with double petals and are blooming beautifully. I'll have to get a picture of them to share. About an hour later I got these flowers (see picture) from the DeBerry clan. Aren't they gorgeous? ....and yes, they're on the bathroom sink. It's the only room we can keep Lucky out of. Thank you again!!

That night Mike and I went to a little Italian place in town that I like and then I headed home on Friday for Mother's Day/My birthday/Dad's birthday. It was a rushed, but good weekend. We got to meet Andrew's beautiful new neice and visit with the Coates for a little while on Sunday.

The weekend ended with Patches helping Mike install my new toy. I have been begging for a new tv for my bedroom, so Dad and I went shopping on Saturday. Yippee!!!






Not much else going on in Charlotte this week. I think Mike plans to post soon and reveal Acme Co's true identity. He turned in his notice on Monday. Ya'll take care of yourselves. I'll be hanging out around the house and enjoying my "Sex and the city" DVD's Mike got me for my birthday. I started watching them today and was glued to the tv. I'm still trying to decide which one of them I'm more like. I think I'm a hodgepodge of all of them. Which one are you?

All the News That's Fit to Print

Taking a break from the philosophical posts to let all three of you know about what's happening in the lives o' Jess and Mike. Buckle up -- it's a fast ride...

1. I was offered the job with Acme Co. on Tuesday. Most (OK... well... some) of you know the true identity of the future employer... but for those of you who don't know, I'll probably be able to tell on Monday. And that's right -- I said "future employer". I'm 100% certain that I'll accept the position. And if I haven't mentioned it yet, the job title is Forecast Analyst.


2. On Wednesday, Jess was offered a position with BB&T as a Business Leasing Center Sales Representative II. She accepted and gave her resignation to Ford Credit today... so it became her last day there. Everyone wish her luck saying "Business Leasing Center Sales Representative II" every time someone asks her what her new job is.


3. Today is Jessica's birthday. She's still not as old as I am. Anywho... I think it's been a good one so far, and the "most interesting gift" award goes to the "fruit bouquet" that Flip sent Jess at work. It was a totally edible arrangement about the size of a football helmet with pineapple, strawberries, grapes, cantaloupe and chocolate fudge sauce (still in the jar). Oh, and Jess liked her flowers (thanks mom, dad, K, & A!)... we took pictures to show you this weekend.

So that's the big news in a nutshell. We went to dinner tonight and felt like we were celebrating all of the above... so naturally we stuffed ourselves silly. Now it's time to go be miserably full for a while. How to kill the time? Maybe I'll read inspirational quotes from the likes of Vince Lombardi and Thomas Edison... just to psych myself up for the hijinks that are sure to ensue after I hand my boss a letter of resignation next week. Good times. What's the worst that could happen, right?

And if we don't talk to y'all again before Sunday, give each of your mothers a big hug for us and tell them we said hello. All moms are appreciated around here! Love you!

Every Place Is A Special Place

Our friend Heidi recently treated us to a tour of her home, so I decided to give her this in return...

I leave the bedroom . . . I begin walking
through my house. I will traverse it
many times today like a creature
covering her turf. It is a journey
that zigzags and returns upon itself . . .
a circumambulation . . . a re-remembering of "place."

I know this is the way many ancients prayed--
circling a holy site to deepen their devotion . . . .
The floor in this house is wood . . . wide, old boards.
When I walk I am walking on the wood and in the woods.
I am walking on the life of these trees.
They have been cut and planed . . . offered up
for this sheltering.

--Gunilla Norris
in Being Home

Why this quote? It reminds me that most of us pay a hefty price for the places in which we live. And it's tempting to lament the amount of work and money required to maintain the houses, condos, apartments, and other structures we call "home".

But think about what we get in return...

Our houses protect us. They give us shelter. Security. Independence. Freedom. Expression. Comfort. Happiness. We create wonderful memories in, around, and about our homes. Our homes deserve respect, admiration, and love. Heidi has it right when she says that Forsythe (that's the name of her house... Forsythe) "sits comfortably (and permanently...)" in its location... no doubt because she and Jon show Mr. Forsythe lots of love. So, all of you out there, do one thing with me tonight before you drift off to sleep in your comfortable beds:

Thank your home and tell it how much you love and appreciate its place in your life.

We've really got to get better at this

We have good excuses for not posting to the blog recently....I promise....as soon as I think of one I'll let you know. It just seems sometimes like we need more hours in the day. It's sad to say though that as Americans we would just try to cram even more stuff into a day then and not get the r&r that we all need and deserve.

Life has been a little nuts for us both lately. Mike hasn't heard from the "Acme Co" yet, but they said it could be a few weeks. He really wants this job, so I hope that they see what we all already know which is that he is GREAT!!!! My job search has had another wave. It seems to come in spurts. I've had three interviews this week, and only have heard back from one. I had applied for a job with the Ford Credit office that will be left in Charlotte, and did not get the job....one of the supervisors did. At least it will give me the kick in the pants I need to go after a new opportunity.

Let's see.....what else is going on......

Congratulations to Julie and Brad on their new house!! They found out it's all theirs last Thursday. If I don't find a job they've agreed to hire me on as a maid. Free room and board....can't beat that. They'll need all the help they can get for their new manse.

On a sadder note, we found out my Uncle Verlie may have bladder cancer. He's my grandmother's aunt's husband.....I know that sounds distant, but he's really close to our family. They're going to remove the tumor on Monday (?) and then we'll know more. In 75% of cases it's typically cancer. Please keep him in your prayers that he'll get good news.

I don't really think much else has happened lately. Flip is getting settled in at her new job and we're enjoying this gorgeous weather more and more everyday.

I better get back to work (shhh....don't tell anyone). Have a great Thursday!