So Long, Summer. Hello...Paycheck!?

As I write this, the season isn't the only thing that changed - I finally got a job!

After being back in Oklahoma for about three weeks, I got a phone call about the very same job that I didn't get back in May. It turns out that the woman they hired is moving back home to another state, so I was called in for a meeting. We reviewed the position a little, and then they asked if I could start on Monday!

So tomorrow morning at 8:30 I'll be sitting at "my" desk, in front of "my" computer, answering "my" phone and identifying myself with other sorts of things that aren't really mine at all. I've got to admit, I am wondering how this experience of being laid off for nearly 18 months will affect my relationship with the newly minted work-me. I am excited about this new opportunity, and I consider myself very lucky to be now one of the nation's employed. I also know there are still countless others looking for work comparable to what they had when they lost their last jobs, and unfortunately, I know just how easily I could end up back where I was.

I'll tell you this: I feel like I'm going into this situation blind. And I'm not talking about being the new guy and having systems and processes to learn. I've just been out of the game for a while now. So I wonder what has changed more during that while. Me? Or business?

Despite what I've been reading and hearing about companies demanding more and more from employees in exchange for lower pay and benefits packages, I can promise you that I am entering into this new relationship with a clean slate. I think it's only fair to myself, and my new employer. I took this job because I like the company. I like what they do and who they do it for. I took this job because it pays money and I need money. I'm also someone who takes pride in anything I do, but I have absolutely zero plans to jump back into any competitive rat race. The last one, I'm talking about the radio job, almost killed me. I was becoming something I hated, and I was chasing all the wrong things.

So, that's my big news for now. I have a new job and I'm really excited. I'm sad to leave my days of spending lots of time with my animals, friends and family, and going wherever we want with a moment's notice and no vacation request form. But, I promise to continue making time for the things that will keep me being me. That's one important lesson that losing my job has taught me. I can't let anything, or anyone, keep me from being me.

A few other things:
I've also been waitressing at my friend's new restaurant. I'll keep doing that in spite of the new full-time gig. I am really so glad that I decided to ask him for a job there. Waiting tables is a lot of fun, and you can walk out with a paycheck every day that you work. It's also nice to meet some new people, and getting a job in a restaurant is a great way to meet fun people.

And lastly, I may be bringing this blog to a close. When I started, it was all about our dual-unemployment and the adventures we were having in spite that speed bump. Since we both have jobs now, the unemployment part is obviously no more. Also, I've felt more of a desire to keep my adventures somewhat private lately. I was hoping this blog would be a place where I could write and express myself and say how I see things, but I realize now there is no such thing. Anything I put out here on the big ole internet can be read by just about anyone. It can be read, misread, understood and also, misunderstood.

If I do close this blog, I will likely start another one more relevant to what's going on with us. But for now, I think we are headed into a new stage in our lives and our relationship. Hmm...you guys wouldn't follow a Greggles and Berls wedding blog, would ya? :)

I will keep everyone posted, and thank you for reading and being great friends!

Hugs and high fives ;)
Berly

Comparatively Speaking...

Well, I've officially been back in Tulsa for 8 days now. After living more or less outdoors for the past three and a half months, I am still getting used to living in a house with multiple ROOMS. A room for laundry, a room for cooking, a room for watching tv, a room for relaxing and reading a book, a room for painting, a few rooms for guests to stay in, a room for guests to shower and use the bathroom, a room to draw and use the computer, a room to sleep in, a room for my cars and tools, and my very own bathroom!

Wow. All of a sudden, I have a lot of rooms vying for my attention.

I've started making a couple of lists. One, of things here in the house in Tulsa that I didn't realize I'd taken for granted. The other, a list of things that I thought I'd surely miss or be miserable without, but apparently aren't of great importance after all. So which do I prefer - a house in Tulsa or alternative living in Flagstaff? A combination of the two would be lovely, but of course, impossible. Good thing I don't have to make that decision just yet. 

Things in Tulsa that I Didn’t Realize I Had Taken For Granted 

1. The feeling of clean carpet underneath my bare feet
For over 3 months, I had worn my beloved Chaco flip-flops everywhere, even in the shower. The only time I didn’t wear them was when I was wearing my jogging shoes, or when I went to bed at night. So when I got home, I flipped off my flops to walk across my living room. Mom and Dad had cleaned the carpets a few times while we were gone, so it smelled like a new apartment inside (that’s a good thing). I stepped onto the carpet and my feet just melted on top of the air-conditioning cooled, clean carpet. Ahhhhhhh.

2. Steam from opening a dishwasher that has just finished the dry cycle.
Edwina was lovely and accomodating, but dishes were washed by hand and dried by AIR! No lemon-scented steam baths :( Mmmmmm.

Things That I Don’t Really Miss that I Thought I Would

1. Hot showers
I haven’t turned the gas back on in the house yet. Why? Because ONG wanted to charge us $40 a month while we were out of town. The only option, other than bending over to pay it, was to shut it off for 6 months, and then they would only charge me a one-time $35 to turn it back on. Why must it be 6 months? Because that is the ONG way. And probably because they noticed that there are people who move away temporarily for the summer, and that is usually a maximum of 4 months that they don’t get their little payday from you. So why wouldn’t they want to just let you turn it off for 4 months, then they’d be making more money because you’d be turning it back on sooner, right?!?! Hmmm. Actually, they’d make more money if you just decided to bend over and pay it for the 4 months that you’re gone. So, for that reason, and not because I can’t afford it, I refuse to turn the gas on until November. By the way, if I turn it on before 6 months, they charge me $40 a month for every month that it was turned off. And if I turn it off at 6 months, they only charge me $35 one time. I’m 4 months in, and I'm not backing down now! (ONG appreciates your business. And by "appreciates" I mean "date rapes".)
 
Plus, right now the water just isn’t that cold so it’s kind of a non-issue to me. I don’t know if the occasional cold shower that I took this summer had anything to do with the evolution of this superhero ability to tolerate cold water running down my back everyday, but I don’t mind my showers at all. And bonus: I actually look better when I get out of a cold shower. Yes, but that's not why. My skin is tighter and not as red and splotchy. With hot showers, I’m always red and splotchy until I put lotion on and cool down. So there. Enjoy those mental images, like pouring bleach in your mind's eye. I don’t miss hot showers.

2. Television
As much as I wanted to not miss television, I was positive that I would. Turns out, my wish was granted. I came home almost completely NUMB to my $10.99/month Dish Network programming that I decided to leave on in our absence. I decided to leave it on because my only other option was to “suspend” service while we were gone. But I’m under contract with these guys, so I decided that I’d rather be that much closer to ending said contract, which the suspension wouldn’t do. (There is a special place for the CEOs of ONG and Dish Network, and I hear it's hot there...so enjoy your showers, gentlemen! Mua-haha!!)

I digress. So the programming stayed, albeit in the form of cheapest programming package available on Earth. In truth, I have watched my fair share of television since getting back to Tulsa, but not more than an hour or so each day. In fact, the only thing I really try to catch is the 3 back-to-back episodes of The Golden Girls each night on the Hallmark Channel. Side note: I have thus far been unsuccessful in recruiting any fans for this wonderful show, which is more comforting to me than the biggest bowl of macaroni and cheese in the world, but that’s okay by me. I am proud of my GG obsession regardless of my lack of peer supports. (But seriously people, are you just lying to me? How can you not love those crazy old ladies?! Sex, cheesecake and St. Olaf jokes?!?! Vintage Betty White?! Gah!)

So there you have it, further evidence of my weirdness: I don't watch tv*, I prefer cold showers, and going barefoot on carpet and opening the dishwasher are special treats. Let me know when you want to hang out. I know how to party.

*Watching GG doesn't count, I have it on DVD. No, you may not borrow.

Old Posters: Awkwardly Entertaining or Totally Creepy?

I was looking through Google images for some examples of old timey movie posters, preferably romantic westerns (don't ask, yes I am working on a project). I didn't really find exactly what I had in mind, but that's beside the point. I found these images of old posters. But I can't tell these days what is really old and what's just designed to look old. Does anyone know if these really exist(ed)?

Interesting.

Bike Shop Party Dancing Man

About a month ago, we were walking around downtown Flagstaff and came upon a party at a local bike shop. There was a band playing and there were snacks, so I'm sure it was a party. I had just gotten my video camera, and I was filming everything. This video is actually pretty terrible, so I apologize for that. But it gets pretty awesome toward the end, so in my personal biased opinion it's worth three and a half minutes of your life.

I don't remember this guy's name, and I wouldn't publish it if I did, but he is epically cool.