The Next Step. June 24, 2008

This blog thing is kinda fun.  I get to write about whatever the heck I want and I could care less who sees it. 

So for those of you keeping up…I had my phone interview with the water sports people yesterday (in Cincinnati).  The guy seems really cool and very easy to work with/get along with. 

It’s called Safe Gard USA and it’s a multi-million dollar company that makes and sells water sport products…ropes, tubes, boat seat cushions, life jackets, etc.  They are looking for a full-time Marketing Director/Graphic Designer to take on all creative responsibilities such as logo work, meeting with clients, traveling to tradeshows, preparing any artwork, updating websites, etc.  I would be the big-wig of marketing for this company. 

My thoughts:

Sounds great!  I know I would be mega-busy and always have things to do.  The traveling would be a plus too!!  But being in charge of marketing AND graphics?!?  I don’t know.  It would be a lot to take on…especially by myself.  Also, I’m not very familiar with the marketing side of things.  I know Graphic Design and Marketing go hand in hand and I should be more knowledgeable on it, but the company I work for now has it’s own Marketing Dpt.  I just do the design side of things.  The salary he is offering falls in the range of what I make now.  So if he can offer me maybe just a little more, then I’ll possibly give it more thought.  But right now, I’m stuck.  I gave him my whole background, told him that I don’t have any marketing experience, ONLY graphics, and he is still interested…which surprised me.  I was trying not to sell myself too much because I don’t want him to think I’m all into marketing when I’m not.  I want him to hire the right person for the job and not be disappointed when he finds out “man, this girl doesn’t know crap about marketing.”  But I also wanted to sound interested and that I’m definitely willing to learn.  Then he tells me it’s not rocket science to do this job.  They are just looking for someone with a great personality who has experience in graphic design.  He said this job is going to be more on the marketing side…meeting with clients, tradeshows, etc.  That was a huge turn-off.  I would rather be designing. 

So…after I tell him I don’t know much about marketing…he still seemed interested and wants to meet with me.  When I come home for the 4th of July weekend, I plan on meeting with him to find out more about the company and more about this position.

I know I’m making this harder than it should be, but I just don’t know if I’m ready to move back home yet.  Even though my job now isn’t really what I want to be doing…I have it made here.  I work on dual flat-screen computers, I have all the software I can possibly handle (some of which I don’t even know how to use), I get updated (hardware and software) almost every time something new comes out, my benefits are amazing, and pay is pretty decent too.  The type of work just isn’t for me.

So…after long drawn out talks with Mom, Brad, and Adam…I have made my decision.  I’ve had so many different opinions, and in the end…I think I just needed to decided what’s best for myself.  Mom wants me to do what I think is right.  She would also like me to start saving more money for a car and possibly a house or a condo when the time comes.  Brad wants me to move home.  He says “It’s gotta be tough living out there with hardly any friends because I know how you are with your friends,” (which is very true), he also says I’ve been missing out on a lot (concerts, sporting events, parties, etc.) and Bengals season is right around the corner.  Don’t get me wrong, he loves coming out to visit and it’s a good excuse for a vacation!  He also pointed out that I shouldn’t let a few hundred dollars in new ski equipment be the reason behind my decision.  I can always take ski trips out west…and even east.  Yes, it would cost a little more, but it’s not like I wouldn’t ever be able to ski anymore.  Then in exact words (as my tears start to swell up)…he says….”Katie, I think it’s time for you to come home.”  That’s when I lost it.  My family and friends are my life.  I thought for sure, after talking with him, that I was 100% wanting to move back home.  Then Adam comes in.  Last night we laid there talking about this new job interview and the company.  He seems to think for a multi-million dollar company…why do they not have or are in need of a Marketing Director…why don’t they have people to do that already?  And he’s right…something seems weird, especially if they are in need of someone to do it all.  They should be offering me a bigger salary than what they told me.  We talked about a few possibilities and I asked him if he was trying to get rid of me…”hell no” he says.  Haha!  I think it’s nice that we have each other, being as neither of us has but a handful of friends out here.  We’ve even started making plans for ski season already!!  So I can’t back out on him now!!  Plus I’m not ready to say goodbye to such a great new friend!!!

My decision: 

Depending on the salary this new company offers me, and if it’s much more than what I make now (if any), I have definitely decided to stick it out here for another 10 months or so.  I’ve thought about it long and hard, and I’m happy with my decision.  I think it’s just summer that kills me.  It’s so hot here and I’m bored outta my mind….so all I can think about is how much fun everyone is having back home.  I work, workout, go home, read, eat, and go to bed usually.  Even on the weekends…workout, eat, read, clean, and that’s about it.  But once November/December comes around…I’ll be so happy I stayed.  One of the main reasons I’ve decided to stay is skiing.  I’m young…I deserve to have fun, and since this will probably be my last winter out here…I’m going to take advantage of it.  Who else can say they just packed up and moved clear across the country?!?!  It’s the best feeling in the world that I have actually conquered this and followed my dream of living out west.  So one ski season is DEFINITELY not enough for me.  I’m sticking it out!!  Granted my jobs sucks, I have no friends, it’s hot, and I’m crabby…I can’t freaking wait till the snow starts falling!!!!!!!!!!!!  Bring it on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I know for a fact my mood will change once the white death comes!

 

 

 

 

 

Mixed Emotions. June 23, 2008

I’m taking Kim’s advice on this one…

andkimysaid: sweet blog!

andkimysaid: write more posts!

 

crazy kt number2: Ok, I have a third post for my blog….but I’m scared to post it.

andkimysaid: post it!

crazy kt number2:  I complain A LOT and I don’t wanna seem like a complainer, because I’m not.

andkimysaid: nobody will think that   

This post probably isn’t necessary…but I’m writing anyway because I have so many emotions running thru my brain.  One minute I tell myself “This is great!!  I would never have any of this living in Cincinnati.”  The next minute I think “What the hell am I doing, I have no life outside of work here.”  Maybe I’m just too hard on myself.      

 

 

I recently found out I have an interview over the phone with a water sports company in Cincinnati, yes Cincinnati.  I haven’t told anyone about this yet because, deep down, I’m not sure if I’m ready to move home. 
In my previous posts, I have mentioned the fact that I miss home dearly (I’m getting kinda sick of saying that, actually).  It’s been especially hard to deal with the random phone calls/texts:

…”Katie, I’m at Party at the Park…wish you were here!!”
…”Katie, The Menus are playing tonight!!!!  I like the nightlife baby!!”
…”WHO-DEY!!”
…”It’s Jessica’s birthday, we’re at the pool…you should call!!”
…”Guess who’s down here tailgating at the game?!?”
…”I have one more ticket to the Kenny concert!!  You should come home!”
…”Katie, what the hell, I only got to see you for like 5 minutes when you were home.”
…”Things would totally be different between us if you lived here.”

Yeah, it’s getting really old but I try to deal with it.  Unless you want to buy me numerous plane tickets home for these events…chances are, I’m not coming home for it.

(Man, this blogging thing really helps me get things off my chest)

Anyhoo, I’m interviewing for this water sports company sometime this week (maybe even today).  I guess it will all come down to how much they offer me.  I have a feeling part of this job will be sales/marketing (which I DON’T want).  I’m not even sure what this company does.  The ad for the job listed 3 different websites.  Could this mean they sell to these sites?  They run these sites?  Who knows?  It never hurts to interview and ask questions.  The worst thing that could happen is…they don’t offer me enough and it’s not exactly what I’m looking for.  You don’t know until you ask.  So what the heck!  Even if they do offer me more than expected…do I take it?  I don’t know the first thing about sales and marketing…but I’m willing to learn.  All in all, I’m just sick of sitting here starring at the wall everyday.  Granted I’m trying to come up with things to do on my own…but sometimes it’s just not worth it.

I always say “Katie, go with your gut.  If you have any doubts AT ALL, then don’t do it.”  Well it kinda sucks when I have doubts coming from both ends.

On one hand….staying here in ABQ for at least another 10 months or so would be ideal.  I mainly don’t want to miss out on another ski season here…especially after I spent close to $750 on new skis, poles, bindings, and a ski coat/pants at the beginning of last season.  I have also made an awesome friend out here and I learn so much from him everyday.  I don’t know if I could just walk out on a friendship like that.  He has become one of my best friends and I don’t know if I could go thru that again.  Leaving my friends to move out here was bad enough.  I also don’t miss the drama and gossip that I usually get put in the middle of.  Seems like I’m always the “go-to” person and sometimes I just don’t miss that.
On the other hand….moving back to Cincinnati would be amazing!!  I would have a life again.  Reds games, Bengals games, Party at the Park, The Menus, poolside, family, friends, grill outs, corn hole, etc.  Life would be back to normal.  Not to say I don’t have a normal life out here, it’s just different.  I don’t have money to play with and I don’t have friends to hang out with.  I mainly work, read, sleep, eat, clean, and workout.  So life back in Cincinnati would be great right about now.
Then, on the third hand (if I had 3 hands)…how awesome would it be to move to Denver, or Nashville, or Chicago?!?  I tell myself…maybe it will be easier to meet people living somewhere else.  People here can kiss my ass.  After this experience, I don’t think I would move again unless a friend came with me.  I never thought it would be this difficult to meet people.  But having the experience of traveling and living other places is so worth it.     

 

 

I also think some of the reason behind my emotions is the fact that I don’t do jack crap at work…so I pretty much sit here all day long wondering about the future and what I should be doing with my life. 

The economy is slipping, job offers suck, gas is too high to travel, and prices in general are going up.  It’s hard to do anything anymore.  Saving money is next to impossible because everything has a price tag on it.

Follow your heart…follow your dreams.  I did.  Now I don’t know what to do or where to go.
Why am I having such a hard time with this?  I should just let it go and see what happens.  You can’t plan for the future.

It’s a toss up and I’m at a loss.

 

 

 

 

 

Rollercoaster. June 20, 2008

Over the past year and a half I’ve come to realize there are many good and bad things I like and dislike about living in Albuquerque.  I’ve thrown together a list of the “up’s” and “down’s.”  Here are my thoughts:

UP’S

1.  Almost always sunny & very low humidity. 
Yes, every girl needs her rainy day to lay on the couch and watch movies…but how can you go wrong with all this sun?!?  I was doing my Albuquerque weather research and found that we bask in 310 days of sunshine a year.  The average rainfall is 9 inches, and the average humidity percentage is 44%.  Now compare that with Cinci-NASTY.  People get the wrong impression when you mention New Mexico.  Besides the fact that half the population can’t locate New Mexico on a blank map…they automatically think of it as a hot, nasty, cacti-filled desert.  Wrong.  Ok, Yes, you will have an occasional cactus, tumbleweed, and sand storm/dust tornado…but for the most part we definitely have our fair share of the 4 seasons!  It’s a very beautiful state that most people don’t even know exists.

2.  Mountain views. 
Everyday I have an incredible view of the Sandia Mountain range, which is located in the Cibola National Forest right in the heart of Albuquerque.  This mountain range is home to the Sandia Peak Ski Area, The Sandia Peak Tramway (longest tram ride in the world, 2.7 miles), beautiful hiking, wilderness, rock climbing, and scenic views.  The highest point of this mountain range stands at 10,678.  ‘Sandia’ means ‘watermelon’ in Spanish refers to the reddish/pink color of the mountains at sunset.  This particular mountain rage is the southern most range in the Rockies.

3.  Skiing in the Rockies. 
The Rocky Mountains…my favorite thing about this entire beautiful country of ours.  What an amazing creation.  Even though I’m not in the “heart of the Rockies,” where I’d like to be one day, I still enjoy traveling the 2 or 3 hours to get there.  Sometimes, it’s just the drive that I enjoy most.  The scenery is always changing.  Between the months of December and April…I’m never home.  I’m either working or skiing…and if I’m not doing either one of those…I’m most likely SLEEPING.  December starts off slow.  I try to stay local to warm up and get back into the swing of things.  Mid season, I start to work my way north, and as the season comes to an end…I like to go out with a bang up in Colorado and do as many double black diamonds as possible.  This past year I’ve been to…Santa Fe (twice), Sipapu, Red River (twice), Taos, Angel Fire (twice), Wolf Creek (twice), and Durango.  As you can see, I’ve had my fair share of skiing and it really took a toll on my bank account (I’m still suffering because of it).  Brad came out twice and dad once.  They both had a great time and they are definitely coming back next season (I’m making them)!!  Can’t wait.  I’ve also managed to save up for a pair of new twin tip skis…which was probably the best investment I’ve made since I’ve been here.  I love my skis…except in powder.  They are a little hard to maneuver.  Is it December yet?!?

4.  Fresh air and no allergies.
Sudafed and I were BFF’s in Cincinnati.  Not here!  I’ve had to lay my poor Sudafed to rest in the back on the medicine cabinet.  The air is so unbelievably clean and clear here, you can see for miles.  My allergies are pretty much non-existent except for the occasional sneeze and stuffy nose.  It’s pretty much amazing.  I was miserable in DC when I went to visit Whit, and I was miserable at home a few weeks ago.  I always enjoy coming back to the clean air!!

 

 5.  The sky at night.
I’ve never seen so many stars in my life.  I could lie outside every night and just stare up into the sky.  The sky out here is unlike any nighttime sky I’ve ever seen.  Although sometimes I wish I were more into astronomy so knew what I was looking at.  The stars are so bright, and on full moon nights, it’s almost as if the sun doesn’t go down…the sky is SO bright.  It’s absolutely beautiful.  My next mission is to go camping so I can experience the mountainous outdoors and sleep under the stars.  Who wants to join?

 

 

 

6.  Being on my own.
Yes, being this far away from family and friends had definitely put a damper on things.  But this is the ‘positive’ list, so I’m going to stay positive about this.  I’ve learned so much being on my own out here.  Lots of people call me crazy for just packing up and moving…but there’s hasn’t been one thing I regret about this move.  Yes, I’ve had to learn to do things on my own, face some of my fears, and altogether start a new life.  But it’s been great.  Sometimes I wonder how I actually ever got here…but a good friend of mine always tells me “never settle.”  Granted he talks about farting a lot, but his advice is probably the best advice I’ve ever received and I keep it with me everyday.

 

DOWN’S

1.  Far from home.
Yes, I have had my share of breakdowns about wanting to move back home.  But I’ve kept my head up and told myself that this is what I have wanted to do for a while.  Not a day goes by where I don’t miss my family and friends, I know that everyone is just a phone call or a plane ride away.  But the thing that’s bothering me most about living out here is the fact that it’s so hard to meet people.  I’m very much a “people-person” so not having many friends and especially not having MY friends around has been the worst part about this experience. 

 

 

 

 

 

2.  People are unreliable.
Even with the few friends that I have made out here…I’ve come to realize that people don’t follow thru with ANYTHING.  I’ve had numerous offers to “hang out,” “go grab a beer,” “go shopping,” etc.  I’ve even made plans with a friend to go to happy hour one night and he called right as I was pulling in the parking lot to say he had other plans.  I will never forget that night and I just don’t understand how people can be so shady.  Ever since then, I’ve become more cautious and aware of the people I hang out with. 

 

 

 

 

 

3.  No grass and no backyards.
Coming from a family who loves the outdoors, yard work, camping, etc. (especially my dad), it’s been hard to adjust living on a beach.  No, not that kind of beach.  I’m talking…sand all over, mixed with pieces of tumbleweed, mixed with rocks, and a few weeds.  You can’t do anything in our backyard except for maybe have a sand volleyball game (just hope you don’t cut your foot on a rock or a random nail).  The only time we spend on the back porch is to sweep the sand off and to hang out for a minute or until we get sand blown into our eyes.  Yuck!  Not my kind of summer evening hangout.  I miss the BBQ’s on the deck, corn hole on the fresh cut grass, bon fires, and playing around with Taylor and Madison. 

 

 

 

 

 

4.  Bad drivers.
You would think living in such a wide-open area where everything is so spread out people would be A+ drivers.  Not.  Give them all a driving test again, and I guarantee 85% of Albuquerque would fail.  People hate using turn signals out here; no one looks in mirrors when switching lanes, and when the weather changes…you might as well forget it.  A few months ago it was sunny and bright on the way home from work and all the sudden rain came out of nowhere and so did the traffic.  When it rains or snows even a drop, people automatically freak out and forget how to drive.  I’m sure you’re saying it’s the same everywhere…but it’s not.  I thought Cincinnati had bad drivers until I came here.  Wow!  The traffic here is the main reason behind my daily mood.

 

 

 

 

 

5.  Responsibilities.
I knew coming out here I would learn a lot and have to take on so many different responsibilities…that was a given.  I guess I just never realized that everything takes time.  I have really been able to develop my patience skills while in the midst of all this.  For example – When I got my license plates switched over, I sat in line at the DMV for, no lie, 2 hours.  Who would have thought that Rio Rancho only has 1 DMV and all the hillbillies decide to go on Fridays.  I’ve also had to purchase car insurance, get Internet and cable hooked up, rent my first apartment, etc.  All that came with patience and time.  It has also taught me to be picky about services I go with and prices to look for.  I’ve really grown up a lot over the past year and a half.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Feet in the sand.

 

My blog.
I don’t even know where to begin.  I’m mainly starting this because I’m extremely bored at work and am totally sick of sitting here starring at the grey cubicle wall.  There’s only so much you can look at/play/do online, I’m sick of the Internet and all the garbage that comes along with it.  So here I am.  4:32pm and sitting in my cubicle with nothing to do.  You’re probably right…I should be brushing up on my Photoshop skills, learning 3D Max Studio, or watching helpful tutorials, but I’m sick of that.  I’ve been doing that all week.  I’ve even started to take an interest on Harry Potter.  I found all 7 books online and I’ve gotten thru the entire first book and I’m now on chapter 7 of the second book.  But enough gibber-gabber of my days at work…onto the good stuff and why I’m actually writing this.

Living so far away, it’s hard to keep up with everyone back home.  So I thought I would start writing a blog in case anyone back home is mildly interested in my life out here.  I’ve been calling Albuquerque my new home now for 1 year and 4 months so I’ve written a shortened version of my life over the past year.  I’ll spare you all the details and just give you an update.               

The Beginning.
I moved out here on Valentines Day of 07 in the middle of what seemed to be the worst snowstorm EVER.  Turns out dad and I drove thru record-breaking snow for Albuquerque.  On our way into town we had to pull off the highway because we couldn’t see 1 foot in front of the truck.  We got some sleep and continued our journey to Broadstone Apartments in Rio Rancho, NM. (A suburb right outside of Albuquerque).  There, I lived with a great friend of mine, Jeff Maxwell (or to some people “Tall Jeff”).  We met in college and have been really good friends to this day.  He worked as the Equipment Manager for the CHL hockey team The New Mexico Scorpions.  With that being said…I ended up becoming friends with the entire hockey team that season.  Talk about a wild bunch of guys.  Jeff was great to live with…considering he was only there half the time.  The other half he was traveling with the team.  Since the team paid for the apartments, I lived there for free for 4 months.  It was a nice way to save a little cash. 

The Middle.
Hockey season soon came to an end, Jeff went home, I had to move into a place of my own.  I met a girl (Stephanie) at some of the hockey games who was looking for an apartment and a roommate.  Perfect, or so I thought.  We moved in together (right next door to my old place), and became instant friends.  We had a lot in common, did so much together, and had a great friendship.  Well my mom always said “you don’t know someone until you live with them.”  She was right on every account.  Steph was great…until she started not paying the electric bill, being weeks late with rent, having her boyfriend (who has kids) stay the night every weekend, leaving candles burning when no one was home, and leaving the door unlocked.  At first one or two of things didn’t bother me.  She’s human, everyone makes mistakes.  Then things started happening repeatedly which soon began to piss me off.  The boyfriend and his kids would stay every weekend, we got a notice about going to court because she was 3 weeks late with rent, and the electric had been turned off for the second time.  I’ve had enough.  By the time my parents ALMOST got involved…along came my dear friend Adam.

Now.
Adam.  I don’t even know where to start with this kid.  We met back in September of 07 and didn’t really know too much about each other…besides a few random messages on Facebook.  It made for some awkward moments but he was still fun to hang out with.  We eventually stopped hanging out for a while then re-connected in January of 08.  He found me on MySpace and wanted to start hanging out again.  I was a little unsure at first, but I’m really glad we have actually taken the time to get to know each other now.  As soon as we started hanging out again, it was almost as if I was living at his house already.  We instantly bonded.  We would hang out almost every single day…whether it was skiing, dinner, shopping, hanging out, or relaxing on the couch…we would always be together.  If I didn’t come over after work he would call wondering what I was up to or where I was.  It’s actually pretty funny to tell people that we aren’t dating.  No one ever believes me.  We’ve been like this for the past 5 months, and still to this day some people think we are dating.  But we aren’t and I wouldn’t have it any other way.  I guess we just enjoy each other’s company a lot!!  Over the winter we would pack up and go somewhere random to ski and snowboard.  We usually wouldn’t decide where to go or what time to leave until about an hour before we left.  We had some awesome weekends up in the mountains from staying in hostiles, to drinking Sunny D and vodka for breakfast, to seeing people ski in dresses, and even meeting some of the nicest people.  I can’t wait to get back into it again.  Now, I am currently living with Adam at his house in Rio Rancho.  It’s a brand new house 4 bedrooms, and 2.5 baths.   It’s just the two of us, and we have an absolute blast.  I don’t think I would have it any other way. We have so much in common, it’s almost scary sometimes.  I always tell Adam that if it weren’t for him, I’d probably already be back in Cincinnati.  After a few beers we always tend to get into very intellectual conversations about life and the future.  He always gives me the best advice and I can go to him for anything.  He’s such an awesome guy and I really admire him.  He’s taught me so much about life, sports, the future, jobs, etc.  He’s the type of person who knows the most random facts about the dumbest stuff.  Even though he sits on top of me and farts, he’s still a great guy and I love him like an older brother.

 

The Future.
Who knows what the future brings.  I try not to plan that far ahead.  I thought I would be here for a while, but I just don’t know anymore.  My job isn’t really what I want to be doing in the long run and with Adam moving to Boston to get his MBA, I’m thinking about coming back home in a year or so.  I totally miss my friends and family like you wouldn’t believe.  I generally just miss the social life that I don’t have here.  It’s been so hard to meet people out here.  It’s almost as if no one wants to accept an outsider.  I’ve been here a year and a half and I’m still not quite sure how to make friends.  I’ve almost given up.  But I’m just glad I’m not the only one.  Adam has had the same problem too.  I at least want to stick it out thru the upcoming ski season.  I can’t pass up that experience again.  I just hope my bank account lets me enjoy it.  So come March of 09, maybe I’ll know when and where I want to go next.  In the meantime…I’m going to stick it out and see if things get any better, and wait for the snow to fall.

 

 

ADAM.
Male. 29 years old.
Grew up in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
Went into the Army after high school.  Stationed in Hawaii as a Morse code interceptor.
Went to Santa Fe Community College in Gainesville, FL.
Then went to college at University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.  Got his degree in Computer engineering and was also a member of Pi Kappa Alpha.
Moved to Albuquerque in November of 2006 to take a job at Honeywell in the Aerospace division as a Software Engineer.
He now works as a Project engineer…still at Honeywell.
Adam is in the process of looking at top ten colleges (specifically Harvard) to get his MBA and hopefully become a CEO one day. 
He has been spending almost every night cooped up in his office studying for the GMAT and trying to get letters of recommendation.
I’m really excited about how serious he is taking this and how much he wants it.  You can definitely tell he has dedicated himself and taken a lot of time to figure out what he really wants in life.