a little bit of bad luck and a lot of good

Well... I made it to Buffalo!  My mom and I left Council Bluffs at noon on Sunday.  I was more than ready to get started!  The trip was a breeze (for the most part.)  We stopped in Chesterton, Indiana on Sunday night and left early the next morning.  The drive was absolutely beautiful.  I can't believe all the trees!  THE TREES!  They are everywhere and they are so damn pretty.

We crossed the New York border at about 4:00pm on Monday.  We arrived in Buffalo during rush hour.  While we were stopped on I-90 in heavy traffic, a woman (who was likely texting, as she had her head down) plowed into the back of my car.  The force pushed my car into a Mazda ahead.  My back-end is pretty messed up, but we are lucky no one was injured & my airbags didn't deploy!  The girl who hit us had hardly any damage on her pretty BMW but she got the ticket. (Whoo-hoo!!!)  

Did I mention that we were ONE MILE from our exit?  We drove 1022 miles without any problems.  ONE MILE.  It's kind of laughable now.  (but not at the time... I was very upset. Some guy driving by even yelled, "Stop crying, biotch!" So... New York folks are super nice.  That's a relief.)  

Luckily, we were able to drive my car away after a tow-truck driver used a bungee cord to attach my bumper back in place.  I can't imagine the comments from other drivers when they see my damaged car & Nebraska plates.

After a couple days of dealing with insurance companies, I have an estimate scheduled for tomorrow morning.  I'll have a rental and *hopefully* get my car back in a decent amount of time.  

Obviously, I wasn't expecting to deal with a car accident on top of trying to find an apartment.  I had several viewings scheduled for yesterday.  The first was in a great area but was kind of dumpy.  I actually didn't think it was too bad, but my mom thought it was disgusting. :)  The second was in a not-so-great area with a nicer apartment.  At the third, we waited in the heat for 30 minutes.  I was really excited about that apartment, but I called the owner and he said it had been rented out.  (Note to self: check email more often) 

We viewed my TOP choice last night and it was perfect.  I mean... Really. Exactly what I expected.  The landlord was super cool and his wife held out on approving any other candidates until I was able to view the unit.  She contacted some of my references this morning and they gave great reviews.  I received word this afternoon that I was approved!  I can't express how EXCITED I am about this apartment.  Seriously.  LOOK! 

The built-in shelving!  The wood floors!  The white woodwork!  A garage!  A huge deck!  Plus- TWO bedrooms, so plenty of room for guests. :)  I will have a 25-30 minute commute to work in Lockport but I am so happy with the location.  It's in an adorable area with plenty to do within walking distance!  

It is such a relief to have an address.  I hope to move some stuff in over the weekend.  The movers will be here sometime next week with the rest of my belongings!  I can't wait to unpack and start decorating!  

We went to Niagara Falls today.  It's a very short drive, so I'm looking forward to being so close.  The falls were beautiful, but the touristy shit surrounding them is super disappointing, cheesy, and gross.  

Seriously, America?  You. Are. Embarrassing. 

But... I now live 15-20 minutes from here....!!! 

I dropped my iPhone and shattered the screen at Niagara.  I also found out that Yahoo! will provide me with a brand new phone after I start, so I'm going to hold out on fixing my current. 

After a few stressful days, it seems things are turning around.  Gotta' take the good with the bad, right?  I'm extremely lucky to have my mom with me this week.  I wouldn't know how to handle half this shit without her.  She's a champ and we haven't even had a fight!  It will be hard to see her leave on Saturday.  

I'm excited to start work on Tuesday and even more excited to get settled in my new apartment!  I can already tell I'm going to love it here.  My neighborhood is beautiful.  I'm within minutes from a huge park and the river.  I'm a short drive away from Niagara Falls.  I'm looking forward to exploring my new home and I can't wait to have visitors! (So, start planning!) 

three days.

I leave in three days.  Actually- I leave in about 61 hours.  It still feels surreal.  Should I be worried that the biggest change of my life hasn't quite hit me yet?  I mean... I have cried.  I even sobbed once (until I looked at a blotchy, swollen face in the mirror and told her to "grow some balls.")

The last two days were spent packing, organizing, donating, and trashing my belongings.  I have way more crap than I thought- even after donating eight trash bags of clothing and three boxes of miscellaneous items.

the breakables. 

I set a few larger things at the end of my driveway yesterday- "FREE" signs attached.  Everything disappeared within ten minutes.  Everyone loves a good freebie!

All of my worldly (cheap, thrifted) possessions. 

I still find it hard to believe that I'm leaving this place.  I won't be around for the rodeo or floating on the river.  I won't have to avoid the annoying crowds at the College World Series this summer.  My pasty legs won't be seen floating at the Quarry.  (You're welcome.) 

I know I am welcome to return at any time, but I hope I fall for Buffalo and find a new comfort zone.  What is that saying? "Once you move to Buffalo, you're done because it's amazing and you would be stupid to leave." ...or is it "Once you move to Buffalo, you're done because you are snowed in forever."  I can never remember.

I may be leaving for an indefinite amount of time but I will be back to visit.  Very soon, actually.  (Jordan and Max's wedding in three weeks!)  My move in three days seems like a little tease.  

This is the type of change I've always wanted.  I'm ready to dive in and explore Buffalo.  I'm looking forward to all of the delicious food and becoming familiar with my new surroundings.  I'm ready to see Niagara Falls and find a few parks so I can start hiking again.  I can't wait to renew the ol' passport and scare my parents when I tell them about a weekend drive to Canada!  ;)

I am scared, super stressed, anxious, but most of all... I'm excited and I am ready! (but first... let me party with friends & family for a couple days.)

It's here.

Today marks my last day at First Data.  Five years, two months, and sixteen days. 

They gambled by hiring me in 2008, but I think I’ve earned my place.  I’m no longer that quiet, shy 20-year-old in the corner cubicle.  I’m a bit louder.  I know a whole lot more than I ever expected.  I’m now 25 and not afraid to stand my ground (most of the time.)

Part of my growth was out of maturity.  The remainder blossomed because I have been surrounded by an incredibly supportive group of teammates & management.  Without them, I wouldn’t have made it this far.  I work with many on a daily basis in Omaha.  The others are in Denver, Atlanta, Wilmington, Houston, and Los Angeles. 

I’m not a hugger.  I don’t even say “Thank You” that well.  I’m not the greatest at expressing emotion without laughing or crying.  So, let me do this the 2013 way by allowing my gratitude and feelings to form words on the screen in front of you and we can avoid my cry-face. 

To my past & present teammates, managers, directors, support teams, and anyone else I’ve worked with in the last five years:  Thank you.  THANK YOU!

Five years might not seem like much, but they supplied an unbelievable amount of knowledge and experience that I will continue to utilize for years to come. 

Feel free to follow along as I document my new journey! 

See you around. 

 

at least I won't have to look at this horrible badge picture again



One Way Ticket

I have had dreams of leaving Iowa for as long as I remember.  As a (tone-deaf) child, I imagined a luxurious life in Hollywood as the next Leann Rimes.  As I grew older, several places topped the list- Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City, San Francisco, and the list went on.  Eventually, I fell in love with Colorado & everywhere else disappeared from the map. 

I have traveled to Colorado six or seven times.  We went on a road trip to California when I was twelve.  I had broken my arm in half just days before our departure date.  (Hey, kids. Don’t try to cross your arms while riding a bike.  Take my word.)  Needless to say, I was a real peach throughout the entire trip, with a cast up to my shoulder and an “I hate everything” attitude.  I recall bawling in the mountains because there were no guardrails.  I was convinced we would plummet to our deaths & wondered how anyone EVER made it out alive.  Once we made it to the ocean, I cried because I couldn’t swim out as far as my brother and friends.  I literally called the Grand Canyon a “BIG HOLE IN THE GROUND” and openly expressed my boredom over the whole experience.  (I’m sorry, GC.  I will return one day and shower you with love and affection.)  My mom’s ability to refrain from strangling my scrawny, ungrateful neck was remarkable.  Kudos to you, Mom.  And thanks.

I viewed Colorado as “eh, whatever” until I stopped being a complete moron.  My mind was set.  Colorado would be my future-home.  My brother moved there a few years ago and that became an additional reason to make the move west.  I had the chance.  I had several.  My boss said he would ship me to Denver as soon as I said “go.”  But I bailed.  During my five years at First Data, I had multiple opportunities to make the move but I wimped out on my dream of living near the mountains.

Why?

1.)  I really am a wimp.  It’s that simple.  I get homesick.  I’m afraid of the dark & hate being home alone.  I’m afraid to leave what’s comfortable.  I rarely break out of the box.  I’m not as spontaneous as I think.  I figured it would happen one day, so I could wait.

2.)  My company reorganized several areas a few years ago.  Omaha became the “primary” 24/7 post and several night-shift operators in Denver lost their jobs (plus some day-shift folks throughout other changes.)  I was convinced that if I moved to CO, I would be hated by all.  (Yes, totally irrational.)  This was just an excuse.

3.)  Bills.  I would tell myself, “When everything is paid off, I’ll move.”  (Newsflash : BILLS NEVER STOP.)

A few months ago, I was asked about my interest in other job opportunities within the company.  I thought, “hell yeah!”  Maybe this was my chance for a change.  A chance I was too scared to take without a push.  I applied.  We went through hiring freezes.  Other candidates were better qualified.  I was discouraged.  I was tired of waiting around.

Don’t get me wrong- I actually like what I do.  I have worked with some great people who have shared immeasurable amounts of knowledge that I’ve tried to cram into this brain of mine.  I started here with no technical experience.  I learned quickly & I continue to learn each day (thanks to the people who put up with me.)  I’ve been a top performer & I’ve received praise for my work.  I hit my five-year mark in February.  I’m comfortable. 

I’m comfortable at my job.  I’m comfortable living in Omaha, near my family & friends.  Comfort put my Colorado move on hold and it would keep me from pursuing other opportunities if I didn’t change my attitude. 

First, let me say that I love it here.  I love being from Carson, Iowa.  405 Washington Street.  51525.  I love that I could pack my Barbie suitcase at the age of five and “run away” to my best friend’s house a block away. I love that it only took a ten minute walk to make it across town when she moved.  I love the Dreamland Theater and the Carson Rodeo.  I loved Sparky’s.  I love the 92 Club and I still can’t believe it’s standing after all these years.  I loved growing up within walking distance to the Todd’s, Patrick’s, Graves’s, Stephens’s, and Lorenz’s.  I love that Carson-Macedonia merged with Oakland when I was in 2^nd grade and I gained more irreplaceable friends.

I love that we refer to Council Bluffs as “town” and Omaha as “the city”.  I love that I was raised to show respect, be polite, take a couple seconds to hold the door open for someone, and to always say “please” and “thank you”.  I love spending a night at The Back Forty or Riverside Lanes, drinking Busch Light, and catching up with old friends.  I love curing (or prolonging) hangovers with breakfast at The Wander Inn.  

I love Omaha.  Hell, I even love Council Bluffs.  I love the friends I’ve gained through living in both.  I love shows at The Waiting Room and The Slowdown.  I love Brothers, $5 pitchers of PBR, the intimidating jukebox, and feeling totally awkward if the place suddenly becomes packed with the too-cool hipsters.  I loved Mondays at The Sydney before my friends snagged grown-up jobs with regular hours.  I love champagne on tap at Homy Inn (except for the time Kelly & I each drank a pitcher.) 

I love Hitchcock Nature Center, Narrows River Park, and the Lewis & Clark monument.  I love that each site offers a breathtaking view of the sunset and I couldn’t choose a favorite if I tried.  I love The Old Market, Dundee, and Benson.  I love backyard hangs, Sunday Funday, and flying kites at Memorial Park on a warm, windy day.  I love that The Underground is now closed and I will never again consume those Long Islands.  I love living in sketchy neighborhoods (that aren’t so sketchy) just to hear my parents ask, “Do we need to get you a gun?” 

I really do love this place.  This is home.  These are my roots.  They will twist and bend but never break.

But, I’m leaving.

I recently started looking around and noticed others whose original goals had shifted or disappeared.  Was I going to fall into the cycle & settle here, too?

(Not that staying here would be a bad thing.  After all, I wouldn’t exist if Rod and Shelly hadn’t stuck around & met while working at the Oakland beef plant. And I’m their favorite child.)

I found myself putting Colorado on the backburner but couldn’t continue to explain why.  I was itching for a change.  I needed to take a leap into the murky waters of the unknown.  I imagined myself, twenty years from now, with an overwhelming feeling of regret for not pursuing my goals- or at least a modified version.  Around the time of my “AH-HA!” moment, I found out about an open position at Yahoo!  Although slightly similar to my job duties at FD, this would be less technical and more focused on communication and documentation in another fast-paced environment.  Long story short (because this is already a novel,) I applied.  I had a great interview.  I waited.  I received an offer.  I accepted!

The kicker?  The position I accepted is at Yahoo!’s facility in Lockport, New York- a small town about 40 minutes northeast of Buffalo. 

YES, I AM AWARE OF THE SNOW IN BUFFALO!  Please, stop asking. 

I finally took that leap.  My roots will be extending a thousand miles to the East.  It’s not Colorado, but it is somewhere outside of my comfort zone.  So far out, actually, that I will have no choice but to suck it up and embrace this awesome opportunity.

Do I know anyone in the Buffalo area?  Not a soul.

Do I have a place to live?  Nope.

Have I ever been to Buffalo, Lockport, Toronto, or Niagara Falls?  Never.

Have I been checking the crime statistics for every potential neighborhood?  Yes. (Mom and Dad)

Will this be a temporary or permanent move?  I have no idea. 

Am I excited?  You bet your ass! 

It’s time to grab Buffalo by the balls.  Life is all about the journey, right?  I’m scared out of my mind but eager.  I’m not sure where this new road leads or which additional paths I’ll take, but I’ve never liked using maps anyway.