Friday, February 05, 2010

So. Where the heck was I?

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aaron :: jillian’s, albany, ny :: january 23 2010

I’ve kind of managed to lose all track of time.

Seriously.

The only way I can figure out what happened in January is to look at my Google calendar.  It shouldn’t be a big surprise to anyone that basically, I spent most of January in my freaking car.

It also didn’t help that my beloved MacBookPro died as soon as we got back from vacation. Spending a week on my old TiBook hurt. It was so slow that doing anything - even basic web stuff - took FOREVER. I can’t remember the last time I was that far off the grid. It was painful. Honestly, if I didn’t have internet access on my iPhone, I’d be writing this from the funny farm. It didn’t help that I was unemployed for the majority of that week and could have really used the distraction.

Yeah, that whole unemployed thing—after a really bad day at work, where I told the owner point blank, “If that’s how it’s going to be, I don’t think I can work here anymore,” I emailed a CPA I used to work with. His client had an opening and after what I’ve started calling a whirlwind romance, I was offered the job. When I let my former employer know, there was some major ugliness, and I decided not to fulfill my two weeks notice. (A conversation with an attorney made me feel good about making that choice. Probably still wouldn’t have gone in, but at least I could take comfort in the fact that the law was on my side.)

The new job is definitely not perfect… I’m kind of walking into a major shitstorm, but it was discussed at the interview, so I knew what I was getting into. The specifics were made clear today during a meeting with the majority owner and the CPA - it’s about 2 years worth of ugly to clean up, but I know we can get through it. My co-workers are great. I even got hug tackled when I went in to do my paperwork on Wednesday. (That threw me for a loop - the hug tackle is MY signature greeting!) All things considered, my gut says I made the right choice. This job plays to a lot of my strengths and the perks are great.

Besides all the job turmoil, I spent a lot of time at instrument shows. (HUGE surprise, right?) I’m trying even harder to push my photography skills. I’m starting to play with black and white, different ways to crop, whatever. I’m not sure what the guys think - due to the dead computer, they haven’t gotten to see them yet - but I’m liking the results. A lot. (This picture of Aaron is one of my more successful experiments, IMHO.)

There was also The Great Snowboarding Experiment… I think it was successful. At least, I think I want to try it again. I don’t know if I’ll get a chance this winter, but it’s on someday/maybe again.  Skiing kills my knees, even after physical therapy and braces, and snowboarding didn’t. However, snowboarding hurt EVERYTHING else, but I suppose it could have been much worse. I do think the next time I go, I will be wearing a helmet. Even though the fall that did me in was an epic face plant (about a 10 on the combined Tam/Richter Scale), I think a helmet would have been awesome for a few of the backwards falls I took.

I am The Cranky tonight, though. I received a rather aggressive phone call last night, from the New England Regional President of Soyuz Ukrainok who was highly annoyed that I don’t speak Ukie. I completely understand that the annual package is due Feb. 15th. BUT, we may not have a branch this year and we can’t really do anything until the vote occurs. It’s not like I took over the presidency with the idea that I was going to kill the branch, but from the outside looking in, the branch can’t survive the way it has been. It. Just. Can’t. Any members who think they’ll change, won’t. I’ve seen it happen before. Letting the branch dissolve isn’t the best solution to the problem, but if no one is willing to step up, it becomes the only option. Instead of cussing at me (yes, I do know some Ukie!), you could have been a cheerleader. This is a difficult time for us and as the Regional President, you need to support us, not rip the co-president a new hole.

Oh well. Two more days before it’s back to the grind… I better unplug so I can get some sleep and fully enjoy the freedom!

Posted by Matty on 02/05 at 11:23 PM
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