So, Mer has made a pretty triumphant return to the homeland of Colorado. I want to give a shoutout to my (hopefully) new crop of readers in SF, consisting of my former co-workers and other SF people. Welcome to the blog, I miss you all.
AP and I began our journey the afternoon of the 1st, I won $35 in Vegas (hooray!), I had my first job interview on Tuesday the 4th and was hired that afternoon. So all is great on the job front. I've been there almost a week and I am really liking it so far. However, it is nothing like my UCSF Family. It's private practice Perio, there are 2 docs, and yet amazingly, I am not bored out of my mind! I am still in training (yes, depending on the day, I actually have a trainer that sits with me and teaches me the job). I am enjoying it so far. AP and I are staying with my parents, which means no rent, which equals saving $$ so we can get something near where I work after we have the funds and can also have our stuff sent out here. My parents live in Aurora, I work in Broomfield (9 miles east of Boulder)=45 morning commute, which is not that bad.
TRAFFIC DIFFERENCE ALERT!: Even on the worst traffic day in CO, it still can't hold a candle to a horrific regular traffic day in the city. I forgot how different everything is here. The suburban girl returns home :)
AP is looking for a job. Transplanting a CA girl to CO is no easy task, but we're all adjusting, including the cats. They seem to be doing really well. The no longer have fleas (another good thing about CO, fleas can't survive the altitude), and they like being near us all the time. I make it a point to spend as much time with them as I can, but I have to leave for work at 6:30 AM, and sometimes I don't get home until 7:15 PM, but we try. My office is closed on Wednesdays (mid-week days off are sweet!) and weekends, so I'll have ample time to be with them. AP and I put the dogs outside and let the cats roam around around the house for a few minutes on my off-days. They are usually in the basement, so they like the change of scenery.
Other than that, not much is happening right now. I hope to write more next Wednesday! I look forward to your comments!
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Loose Ends
1. Massages are awesome.
2. Patients are giving me presents.
AP gave me a gift certificate for a 90 minute massage for my birthday last year and something was always happening, so I never got a chance to use it. I called the salon and they happened to have an opening for Tuesday, so I booked the time. It was really awesome. Very, very relaxing.
Also, a patient came in today just to give me a card and a really pretty sterling silver and Tiger's Eye bracelet as a thank you and good bye gift since I wouldn't be here the next time she came in with her mother (the mother is a patient). She does not live anywhere near here so I know she made a special trip. I told AP what happened and she said that I make people's experiences in my office memorable in a good way because I am really good at what I do and I am helpful and friendly. I told her that I am not doing anything out of the ordinary or special, I am just doing what is right for the patients because they deserve a good experience when they come to see us. Apparently, it means a lot to them. It makes me feel good to know that I have impacted their lives. I didn't know I was doing that. :)
I'll miss them all, but it's time to move on.
2. Patients are giving me presents.
AP gave me a gift certificate for a 90 minute massage for my birthday last year and something was always happening, so I never got a chance to use it. I called the salon and they happened to have an opening for Tuesday, so I booked the time. It was really awesome. Very, very relaxing.
Also, a patient came in today just to give me a card and a really pretty sterling silver and Tiger's Eye bracelet as a thank you and good bye gift since I wouldn't be here the next time she came in with her mother (the mother is a patient). She does not live anywhere near here so I know she made a special trip. I told AP what happened and she said that I make people's experiences in my office memorable in a good way because I am really good at what I do and I am helpful and friendly. I told her that I am not doing anything out of the ordinary or special, I am just doing what is right for the patients because they deserve a good experience when they come to see us. Apparently, it means a lot to them. It makes me feel good to know that I have impacted their lives. I didn't know I was doing that. :)
I'll miss them all, but it's time to move on.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Closer and Closer
I can't believe that we're moving NEXT SATURDAY! It feels like it's not really happening, but happening really fast all at the same time. It's all very surreal.
Yes, Mom, I picked up the cat's anti-flea medicine yesterday, and the vet said to give them each one on Friday, then again on Sunday, but usually one dose will get rid of them all. She said that an extra dose won't hurt them, so to supplement Friday with Sunday. The plans are underway for the big trip, my taxes are done, I get my tax refund the day before we leave and my last paycheck the same day.
Yes, Mom, I picked up the cat's anti-flea medicine yesterday, and the vet said to give them each one on Friday, then again on Sunday, but usually one dose will get rid of them all. She said that an extra dose won't hurt them, so to supplement Friday with Sunday. The plans are underway for the big trip, my taxes are done, I get my tax refund the day before we leave and my last paycheck the same day.
Friday, February 15, 2008
41
As of yesterday, 41 people have applied for my job. Holy crap, that is completely amazing to me. And that is just one day after it was posted to the website.
On the plus side, this weekend is a three day-er, so I'll be going to the Valley after work today, like always. Again on the plus side, we get to stay with Jenny and Todd at their nice, clean giant house (that is free of screaming, bratty kids).
Also, I am no longer sick. The "unpleasantness" lasted only about a day and a half. That's pretty much it so far, however, I have started telling my patients that I am moving away. The response has been really sweet. They all say that they love me, they are sorry to see me go, and thet they will miss me terribly. It's really nice to hear. I will miss them all, even the crazy ones. But it's nice to know that I have helped so many people over the last 2.5 years. Knowing that I made some sort of impact is nice. I will probably cry when I leave. I love them too. I will miss Beth most of all. But my desire to be near my own family is stronger than my desire to stay at my awesome job that I love and will miss.
Ooohh, I also now know 3 words in Portugese, thanks to my Brazillian frind Pricilla: Hello "Oi", Goodbye "Ciao", and Thank you "Abrigado". She says my accent is pretty good, considering I didn't know any words before. My new friends are super-nice. It just kind of sucks that I didn't meet them until 2 weeks ago. Oh well, now we have people to visit us in Colorado.
On the plus side, this weekend is a three day-er, so I'll be going to the Valley after work today, like always. Again on the plus side, we get to stay with Jenny and Todd at their nice, clean giant house (that is free of screaming, bratty kids).
Also, I am no longer sick. The "unpleasantness" lasted only about a day and a half. That's pretty much it so far, however, I have started telling my patients that I am moving away. The response has been really sweet. They all say that they love me, they are sorry to see me go, and thet they will miss me terribly. It's really nice to hear. I will miss them all, even the crazy ones. But it's nice to know that I have helped so many people over the last 2.5 years. Knowing that I made some sort of impact is nice. I will probably cry when I leave. I love them too. I will miss Beth most of all. But my desire to be near my own family is stronger than my desire to stay at my awesome job that I love and will miss.
Ooohh, I also now know 3 words in Portugese, thanks to my Brazillian frind Pricilla: Hello "Oi", Goodbye "Ciao", and Thank you "Abrigado". She says my accent is pretty good, considering I didn't know any words before. My new friends are super-nice. It just kind of sucks that I didn't meet them until 2 weeks ago. Oh well, now we have people to visit us in Colorado.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Poop!
I feel like poop. Last week, AP got a stomach bug, and now I have it. This means I was awake literally all night last night, deciding whether to vomit or "use the bathroom" next. In about 30 minute increments. Literally all night long. It was only after I threw up at 5 AM did I feel better. I slept for 45 minutes.
However, I can't take any sick time because I used all of that time when I was sick a few months ago and then I used the rest of it to go to Colorado. (Funeral time counts as sick leave.) I'm in the sick time deficit, but Shirley (the practice manager) said it was okay to be in the negative because of my extenuating circumstances. I have super nice bosses. But that means I can't go early today. It's my last month, I won't acquire any more sick or vacation hours. Sad Mer!
However, I can't take any sick time because I used all of that time when I was sick a few months ago and then I used the rest of it to go to Colorado. (Funeral time counts as sick leave.) I'm in the sick time deficit, but Shirley (the practice manager) said it was okay to be in the negative because of my extenuating circumstances. I have super nice bosses. But that means I can't go early today. It's my last month, I won't acquire any more sick or vacation hours. Sad Mer!
Thursday, February 7, 2008
The Countdown...
The Countdown to moving day continues. AP and I are very excited. So is Mom. Katie doesn't care, and Big Sis is moderately excited. Dad is excited because we will be getting there in time to house sit for them when they go on their vacation. The get back on my birthday.
I already have a job interview for the day after we get there, and I had to turn down a job interview because they want someone to start right away. I also have to call a woman back and schedule a 20-minute pre-interview phone call at a dental temp agency. I like going through the temp agencies because there is always work, and then the employers like you so much they want to keep you. At least, that has been my experience the last couple of times I have needed a job. So, I have prospects. That's a good sign.
Also, today is Chinese New Year. This is a really big deal in San Francisco, and some schools give their students the next two days off because of it. Unfortunately, UCSF is not one of them. I did receive two Red Envelopes today, though. I am not allowed to open them until tonight. They have money inside. When we lived in Maryland when I was little, we had the Jewish holidays off, so I always really liked that. It was awesome. But then again, who doesn't like time off from school? I still do. Hee hee! More to come....
I already have a job interview for the day after we get there, and I had to turn down a job interview because they want someone to start right away. I also have to call a woman back and schedule a 20-minute pre-interview phone call at a dental temp agency. I like going through the temp agencies because there is always work, and then the employers like you so much they want to keep you. At least, that has been my experience the last couple of times I have needed a job. So, I have prospects. That's a good sign.
Also, today is Chinese New Year. This is a really big deal in San Francisco, and some schools give their students the next two days off because of it. Unfortunately, UCSF is not one of them. I did receive two Red Envelopes today, though. I am not allowed to open them until tonight. They have money inside. When we lived in Maryland when I was little, we had the Jewish holidays off, so I always really liked that. It was awesome. But then again, who doesn't like time off from school? I still do. Hee hee! More to come....
Monday, February 4, 2008
I Have Returned
No, I haven't gone anywhere, I've just been both busy at work and lazy with my blog, which makes for very little blog time. Lot's of things have happened since November, so I'll give a brief overview:
-Went on 3 job interviews (and wasted my vacation time) in the Valley trying to get a job so AP and I could be closer to her family (not I said WASTED)
-Christmas
-New Years
-Moved out of Devil House (stuff in storage)
-Nephew passed away (went to Colorado)
-AP's nephew passed away (went to Merced)
[The above incidents happened 2 weeks apart]
-AP and I decided to move to Colorado March 1st!
March 1st you say?!?! Yes, since getting a job in the Valley didn't work out because apparently there are no jobs down there, AP and I have decided to move to Colorado! She calls it Cold Mountain, but I know she is secretly excited. It was pretty much her idea. So we forged a deal: Since the only thing keeping us in San Francisco is my job and neither of us like anything else about the city, we are moving to CO! Our deal is thus: Give it three years (the same length of time I have lived in CA), and if she is absolutely miserable, we'll talk about moving back to California, pending the ability to find work and a decent place to live.
I am so excited, but I know that AP is going on a mixture of fear and excitement. She loves me so much (probably the only reason she has agreed to this), but she is worried about leaving her family (there are a lot of them and I know she'll miss every single person terribly). Then again, there is more opportunity for work, great housing and a chance to be with my family. I miss my people too, so we are giving this a go.
We leave Saturday, March 1st. We are going to live with my parents until we can afford to ship our stuff from our storage to Colorado. I have to find out how much that will cost. Probably a lot, but we will make it work. I miss my stuff and I feel bad for the cats. Another great thing about Colorado: No fleas. They cannot survive in the dry climate!! I seriously think we should move there for that reason alone. More to come....
-Went on 3 job interviews (and wasted my vacation time) in the Valley trying to get a job so AP and I could be closer to her family (not I said WASTED)
-Christmas
-New Years
-Moved out of Devil House (stuff in storage)
-Nephew passed away (went to Colorado)
-AP's nephew passed away (went to Merced)
[The above incidents happened 2 weeks apart]
-AP and I decided to move to Colorado March 1st!
March 1st you say?!?! Yes, since getting a job in the Valley didn't work out because apparently there are no jobs down there, AP and I have decided to move to Colorado! She calls it Cold Mountain, but I know she is secretly excited. It was pretty much her idea. So we forged a deal: Since the only thing keeping us in San Francisco is my job and neither of us like anything else about the city, we are moving to CO! Our deal is thus: Give it three years (the same length of time I have lived in CA), and if she is absolutely miserable, we'll talk about moving back to California, pending the ability to find work and a decent place to live.
I am so excited, but I know that AP is going on a mixture of fear and excitement. She loves me so much (probably the only reason she has agreed to this), but she is worried about leaving her family (there are a lot of them and I know she'll miss every single person terribly). Then again, there is more opportunity for work, great housing and a chance to be with my family. I miss my people too, so we are giving this a go.
We leave Saturday, March 1st. We are going to live with my parents until we can afford to ship our stuff from our storage to Colorado. I have to find out how much that will cost. Probably a lot, but we will make it work. I miss my stuff and I feel bad for the cats. Another great thing about Colorado: No fleas. They cannot survive in the dry climate!! I seriously think we should move there for that reason alone. More to come....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)