Wow! Glad to have heard that! My boss called me this morning (yes - while I was on vacation, no less) and started the conversation by telling me that there has been a large surplus which has affected all levels of management; including ours, and that our team was affected. So after practically not getting a raise this year… and now this… my mind was racing! THEN she tells me “but I wanted to let you know that you’ve been retained”. WTF? Who says that!? She couldn’t say - don’t worry - you didn’t get laid off… or something to that affect. But no, I’ve been equated to a piece of property if felt like. Probably not her choice of words though. In any case, a big relief mostly… also anxiety because we’re already overloaded so now we’ll have more work to do to cover that person’s portfolio. Wonder who was let go… :-\

Wow… I was on a roll with my entries and then I just dropped off the edge of the digital earth… not to fear… I’m back though. After a brief (albeit sooooo not over with) stint of work related stress, I’ve been able to calm down and get back to me. This past week has been absolutely hell at work and I’m doing more and more tasks that are not within the parameters of my job description. I suppose that’s what I get for being “too good” as some of the other Account Managers say - but still. I honestly feel as though I’m being taken advantage of now. In any case… hopefully it won’t continue on much longer. That is… if a new prospect works out; but, not going to dish that opportunity out until it shows some promise. Until then, I took tomorrow off to de-stress and just disconnect myself from work.

In other news, Yoga! Yes, I have started Yoga at LVAC. What a great way to calm the mind and body… all while increasing flexibility and balance. Doesn’t hurt that the instructor is absolutely adorable either. ;-) But I digress… it is, though, a totally fulfilling experience and I’m very glad I started it up. Justin has been raving about it so much that my curiosity just peaked and I had to do it. Speaking of the gym… have you seen my arms lately?! They’re getting huge! :)

Let’s see, what else has been going on… Jake got a speeding ticket… and by Jake, I mean me. LOL. A measly 70 in a 35… no big deal… but what ticked me off was that the cop also gave me a citation for not switching over my MD plates within 30 days. Now… if this were what was told to me by the DMV when I got my license, then I would accept that I was at fault and moved along; however, the DMV paperwork states that I have 60 days to switch over my registration - which I was still well within. In any case, I was planning to do so this past weekend and I did… still just ticks me off that I have to prove that I have it changed over when I shouldn’t have been cited for it in the first place. At least I got a nice fat refund check from my insurance company for overpaying my MD policy. :)

Hmm… what else… mostly just relaxing and taking it one day at a time. It’s so nice out here - sunshine every day; gorgeous weather. Cool quiet nights with no fire trucks and police sirens blaring by every hour. Great friends that I live with and meeting more and more every week. It’s amazing how friendly people are out here. Especially coming from the east coast where everyone is only concerned about the two feet in front of them, the too feet in back of them, and their wallet. I’ve met a lot of great people whom I’m very glad to have been befriended by. :)

Next stop - LA! Planning to head out there next weekend to visit Chris and Justin… perhaps Vartan if he’s around. :) Still have to figure out where I’ll stay, but I have a whole week to figure that out. Maybe Justin will let me crash on his couch. :-P

Why is it when you get a really really good boss - they go in search of better things? Congrats are in order for my boss who took another position within AT&T’s Government segment; but it does make me worry a little bit about my situation. Recently there was an incentive where many teams got rid of their remote employees to save on expenses and all.  Thankfully, my Director approved me to move to Las Vegas and stay on the same team; but now that my boss is leaving… that only leaves the Director who knows about the arrangement.  If something happens and he leaves - I’m going to want this in writing.

Other than that - life is just grand.  :)  I’ve begun packing somethings to send and getting rid of things I don’t need.  It’s starting to look like when I first moved in!  Pretty soon I’ll be off on my way across the country.  Speaking of grand… I just paid off one of my credit cards!!! WOOHOO!!! Go me! :)  Life is great when you’re not fending off the 25.9% interest rates (yes… 25.9% - I know, it was madness!!).

My coworker recommended I pick up this book by David Allen. I’ve only gotten into about 20 pages of it and already it’s laid out a few good points that most people wouldn’t think to do, although after explained, seem like common sense.  So far, I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who has a job.  I get e-mails from colleagues, clients, even friends, at odd hours of the night coming into my BlackBerry and I always wonder why they’re up so late working.  That’s not to say that I haven’t burned the midnight oil to get a few things caught up or perhaps something has been sprung on me suddenly that is due the very next day - but those instances are rare.  I’ve thought about suggesting one of my newly acquired clients read it since I’m constantly getting e-mails at 3 am (midnight her time).  Never hurts to offer someone back their sleep.  :)

It’s June 29th, approximately 1pm PST, only about two hours prior to the East Coast launch of the iPhone. What excitement! What a thrill… until I read this. Suddenly… my iExcitement has turned to iAnger, iRage, and a slight feeling of iBetrayal. I work for AT&T Mobility. I’m not that upset - it’s just like a slight slap in the face. Granted, they did develop the damn thing… but I mean really… sometimes I think we are the cheapest company around. Where’s Oprah when you need her?

Now - I’m not one to get those chills down my spine when someone drags their fingernails across a chalkboard, or to really get irritated by little things - but I’m sorry - this is just down right wrong. At the very least - take it into the bathroom! Don’t sit at your desk in your cubicle where everyone on this side of the building can hear every clip. So wrong… so so wrong.

My first day back in the office and I spent over 11 hours there. Only two main reasons though: 1) lots of work to catch up on and, 2) more time outside of the apartment. These past two weeks have been so taxing on my emotional state. The other day I sporadically bursted into tears three times. No provocation or reason… just BAM - tears. I thought it could be the stress of everything… the surgery, financials, being cooped up in the apartment for a week with little company. Not to mention coming off all the Percocet I’d recently stopped taking. Who knows. Things are getting back to normal. Recovery is slow but steady, I’m almost back to 100%. :)

Naw… I don’t think I really could change my look all that much… although that would be fun :) So, it’s a new year and I’m back from Vegas and back at work. Fun times! I spent most of Friday, Monday, & today catching up from vacation and continuing the damage control that is my job. Speaking of job - I may be getting a new position - I was recommended for it by my manager, my director, and also an executive director… it’s too soon to tell if it’ll happen, but it seemingly could reduce my stress level and the amount of alcohol intake which has ever so eternally damaged my liver. In addition, I’ve been nominated twice this quarter for our company’s highest award and they announce the winners on January 31st. Not really putting too much weight on it, but if it happens, that’d be awesome and a great step towards opening more opportunities for advancement. Raises are coming soon too and that should help alleviate some of the financial stress that I’ve already been working hard to eliminate. 2007 is startin’ off with a lot of great strides. I’m actually pretty excited to see what’s to come this year. :)

Good Evening my Blogography. How’ve you been? I know I know; it’s been quite a while since we’ve chatted. So much has been going on and I just haven’t had the time to collect my thoughts. Lately though, things have slowed down and I’ve been able to relax. Yes, I said it - RELAX! Work is going well. In fact, better than “well”… excellent… ‘fan-fuckin-tabulous’ even! I don’t think I ever communicated that to you. I received a promotion back in April. I now manage corporate wireless accounts for Cingular. I have a cube, a corporate credit card, even this new laptop! And the best part is - I can do the job from anywhere - even California! :) Just another step in that direction… but more about that later. I am thoroughly happy and grateful for the new position. It’s been nice to be on salary now… something I can count on. With that said - I finally seem to have a grasp on my finances, which is a big relief! It’ll still take a great deal of effort to keep it that way - but I hope these “hard times” have shown me that I can live without spending a fortune on shit I don’t need. Well… that and I withdrew from my 401(k) to pay off some of the shit that was in collections… but I’m caught up. And that’s what matters. :)

So now that I have cleared up my $ situation, what else will I write/complain/bitch about? Hmm… I’ll get back to you on that! :)

Since re-entering the world of clothing retail, I’ve been thinking a lot about how men differ from women with their shopping habits. When men shop, heterosexual men mainly, they tend to go only where they need something and that is all… side trips and detours are rare, if at all. Women, however, tend to shop everywhere they can, store or street. If it can be bought, there are there… credit cards paving the way. Even when rushed, men are reserved and don’t often ask for help, even if they need it. When asked if they need help though, they will say yes and vocalize their needs. Women are the complete opposite; they will ask you for help, usually at the most inopportune time, and run you ’til you cannot breathe anymore. But when you ask them if they need help, most of the time they will decline assistance.

As for tactical practices, men for the most part (again, only speaking of straight) will not bother a particular pile to find their size if they do not see it; and if they happen to find it, they at least attempt at fixing any mess they may have made. Women attempt to find their size in a variety of ways… the afore mentioned bark for help, or they seem to, most when no one is looking, but also surprisingly at times when you’ve just folded something, pick up a pile of clothing, throw it halfway across the room, and which ever hangs in mid air is their size. And if that doesn’t work for that color, they repeat the process with another. I’ve learned there is no winning against this force and it is better to submit to its will. It will be less painful for all… the homosexual male is excluded since their habits seem to align quite closely with the women. There is always exceptions to the rules but few when there are.

As for the fitting rooms: women will try on everything in the store, while men only try on what they are looking for, and even then they sometimes take it home w/o trying it on. Women will also leave the entire Spring collection that they decided to try on in the fitting room… mostly on the floor, hangers strewn about, and everything inside out stuffed in corners. Men, at the very least will bring it out to you to admit they do not know how it was folded or hung and would ask if it would be ok to leave it with you. A pet peeve of mine is when you are working in the fitting room and are processing the mounds of clothing which you found stuffed under the bench in one of the rooms, and a customer will begin to shop the rack of clothing to be taken back to the floor. Now I’ve read some tips that tell consumers that one of the best places to find the good stuff is in the returns from the fitting room. Apparently this ‘tip giver’ has never worked retail because that is one of the rudest things amongst shopping a rack which I am clearly trying to straighten for you to mess up again. And let’s discuss the sale sections… Lord… it only takes 1 woman 5 minutes (if that) to destroy 30 minutes of straightening. I think they have extraordinary powers which enables them to go through so much clothing so quickly, where I’ve also noticed that everything is cute… “ooooh that’s cute!” everything… even the ugly hemp-like “dress” in the sale dept that no one tries on, but somehow ends up being moved every 15 minutes. if only we could harness this power to serve mankind in a positive way which doesn’t entertain our selfish vain perceptions of ourselves… just a thought.