updates long overdue

I know, I know. It's been AGES since I last posted. Never mind that my being back stopped being true almost immediately...which is why I won't make any promises about sticking around this time.

So what have I been up to for the past year? Well, if you haven't already guessed it, I finally managed to escape from the clutches of Boss and launched myself into...the black abyss of unemployment. Luckily, that state was only temporary, but so was the arrangement that landed me in San Diego for six months. It's okay though, because, although short-lived, it meant I got to be closer to J and had the chance to move towards a career change.

Now I'm back in LA as a full-time student (once again) and in the clutches of another potentially crazy employer (once again), to hear the way my new coworkers tell it. At least that'll guarantee a constant stream of blogging material, eh? And just to keep adding to the parallelism, J is moving to DC for law school in less than two months. Fuck me, right?

But seriously, aside from some hiccups, life's been pretty swell. I've learned so much in the time I spent away from home, and I'm grateful for all the wonderful people I've met and enriching experiences I've had since then. On that note, I leave you with my feel-good song from the past few days:

"The Queen" by Lady Gaga

i'm baaack

I wish I had a compelling reason for the lack of updates, but I don't. A stubborn case of the winter doldrums just had me really down for a while, and no amount of food or holiday cheer could bring me out of it. But now that it's still bright outside by the time I get off work and the second season of Game of Thrones is in full swing and J IS BACK IN THE COUNTRY, I find that there isn't much to be down about these days. However...

I am still as much of a doormat as I was three months ago. Yes, I'm STILL toiling away at the same job, but in my defense, the quality of the work environment has shown a marked improvement since I turned in my resignation. At one point, Boss's behavior was even bordering on saccharine. I remain skeptical about the sincerity behind this treatment, but it seems like Boss may finally be catching on to the fact that people value their eardrums and tend to harbor less resentment when things are asked and not demanded of them.

Though progress is being made on that front, we haven't had much luck in finding a replacement for me. We have interviewed some candidates for my position, but it seems the forces are working against Boss (or me?) as none of them have accepted the job despite it being offered to each and every one of them. They must've sensed that something was amiss. I think most people would when a prospective employer's loquaciousness drags out a first interview for four grueling hours. (For the record, I had the (mis)fortune of interviewing with someone else when I was hired.)

So when will I ever leave this accursed position, you ask? Well, I'm aiming to leave by the end of May. Seriously this time. After all, the velvety beaches of San Diego await me for Memorial Day weekend...

blown away

December started off with a freak windstorm that knocked out power for over 250,000 residences in LA. The night it happened was pretty exhilarating--the wind began as a howl that steadily turned into a roar outside, rattling the windows and distorting the sounds of passing helicopters and sirens that never seemed to be too far away...

I didn't realize just how strong it had been until I went outside the next morning and saw that two trunks had been snapped off the neighbor's tree and flung onto my driveway. Some less fortunate trees around my area even got uprooted. On my way to work, streets were lined with debris.

Going 24+ hours without power was kind of a cool, albeit inconvenient, experience. Not having internet access gave me a reason to do things I had been putting off, and then I actually went to bed early for the first time in years.

It's one of those things that you don't regret happened, but you also wouldn't want to do it again.

back to reality

Even after an amazing two weeks with J, I'm definitely not ready to go back to the hell hole I call the office, where the devil known as Boss reigns supreme. Actually, "not ready" is a gross understatement...

The next few years are such a critical time in my life, and I can't afford to tarry at this job much longer. All the decisions I need to make are bursting with possibilities, an idea that simultaneously scares me and thrills me. My heart keeps alternating between fear and fortitude at the uncertainty that is my future, but I remain hopeful that I will find the direction I need as long as I keep searching.

I absolutely must find a way to visit J in November. I need to leave my current job in favor of a better one by that time. It's good to set goals.

Is it just me, or is 2011 passing rather quickly?

things are happening!

I got offered an interview! But scheduling the damn thing has been difficult since I'm out of town for the next two weeks. Fuuuck.

And then there's the small, somewhat unexpected issue of feeling guilty for potentially leaving the office in figurative shambles since one coworker has already decided to resign (and the other soon to follow). Having a conscience is really inconvenient.

On the bright side, I get to see J soon. Sooo excited!

optimistic

Changes are coming.


It's been too long since I've gone back.

Summer is slowly inching its way back to southern California.

I've taken the first step towards breaking away from the Prison, otherwise known as my office.

Best of all, J will be here to visit soon.


I can't wait to see this view again.

Things are looking bright.

here's the plan

1. Start studying for the GRE from now until however-long-it-takes
2. Quit between March and June, preferably getting hired elsewhere in that time frame
3. Take some practical classes over the summer whilst saving up some monies

If life is dandy and I find a relevant, enjoyable job--stay in the U.S. and proceed to the next step:

4. Apply for grad school
5. Get into grad school and slave away for 2-4 years
6. Make back lost monies doing satisfying work

If things aren't working out my way--fuck it all, I'm flying my ass to the other hemisphere!