USA USA USA

Kids, tomorrow I am flying to the US of A.

And I cannot stop smiling. And the smiling is more than I was yesterday because I keep doing more research into LA and Vegas and I squeal with delight.

My face hurts from the smiling.

I saw pictures and lists of things to do in LA... like Rodeo Drive and then there is Universal Studios, and Disneyland and the Hollywood sign and ... OK I'm starting to hyper ventilate from the excitement.

And then there is Las Vegas... where anything can happen if you have money. I saw a helicopter ride where you fly into the Grand Canyon and picnic in the middle of it. THE MIDDLE OF THE GRAND CANYON!!! We are SO doing that. I have never been on a helicopter and I must get on one.

I just cannot wait until I land in LAX. I don't think I will be able sleep a wink tonight as I imagine all the things I will be seeing and tasting. I have watched television shows for years where they show images of LA and Vegas and your imagination runs wild.

I want my holiday to start now!!!

There is one small downside that I will have to get used to... Tipping.

In Australia it is not common to tip because staff own a very good wage and barely provide good service, especially in Canberra. So when the bill arrives, you don't have to provide a tip because you know they are earning $15 an hour, as oppose to the Americans at roughly $5  an hour... which is complete bullshit. How can someone survive on that ... which is why you tip. It will be an odd experience but hey, I'm up for it. I have my US dollars ready and waiting.

That's really the only thing that is a little bit of a concern, however, it is minor and I promise I will let you all know how I go in LA and Vegas, baby!!

WHOOP WHOOP!!!

So long, farewell

Yesterday it finally happened.

I have been waiting for this day for nearly a year and it came. My last day at work.

I no longer have tolerate my boss, ignore my instincts and smile politely as my colleagues who continue to lower the bar that even being mediocre is good enough... in work and in life.

Yesterday, I said my goodbyes and waved my old employer off. No turning back. No regrets.

I was pushed and I happily jumped.

I no longer have pretend I actually give a shit about the goals of what my employer failed to achieve, year after year. They continually fail everything and accept it. I cannot watch and sit idly by. So I jumped.

I will soon be landing in a job I have always wanted and into a place I have always aspired to work at.

My day has finally come.

And old job can shove it. Happily. :-)

Not long now...

I'm excited

Four days from today I will be busting.

I'll have my passport at the ready.

My suitcase packed.

And I'll be trying not to annoy my boyfriend with questions, like 'are we there yet?', 'are you excited?', 'how excited are you?', 'do you want to sleep?', 'are you watching channel 4?', 'do you want me to stop?'... Mmmmm I'm sorry I will be asking those questions.

In four days I am going to America.

Yes the US of A.

Land of Hollywood, Disneyland, Obama, southern fried chicken, Statue of Liberty... Simpsons.

I am very excited.

I am smiling like an idiot right now as I write this blog. Sad, I know but I'm not apologising for it.

The hotels are booked. The planes are fuelling, not literally. And the visa is organised. But I am not looking forward to the next bit.. packing. I can't pack. I over-pack. This time I need to be strategic.

Do I need a pair of high heels? Probably not.

Do I need a coat? Probably not.

Do I need a cheesy  t-shirt that says, French Kissing in the USA? I think I do.

I pulled out my suitcase and attempted to organise myself but I decided a walk around my neighbourhood was a better option.

Maybe something magically will happen and my suitcase will be packed, and all I have to do is get on a plane...

:-)

I did it...

You did it.

Every second person on the planet did it.

I am talking about women fixating on a man who is just not that into her.

It happens to all over us, just that some women, do not know when to walk away. When all is lost and there is no chance of a man showing any long term interest in you or even going on a date with you, that’s when you walk away.

You don’t text. You don’t text the man incessantly. You don’t text the man about random information in the hope he responds. You don’t do anything.

You do one thing… you delete his number from your phone. You delete his name from your Facebook page. You delete any means of contacting him.

Because you are worth more than that. And because he just isn’t interested. Harsh but true.

I was there at one point but the difference with me is that I deleted his number from my phone immediately after dumping his arse, I deleted him from Facebook just as fast, and stopped all communication with him. Even after he kept communicating with me, and keeping tabs on my with my now ex friends.

One of my closest, and most treasured friends, is currently going through this whole experience and its disheartening. This guy was a tool. One of those men who prefer the image of himself in a mirror than try to have a conversation with a woman.

The one thing going for him is that he was up front to say he wasn’t interested in dating. Whether my friend agrees or not, the man never implied a relationship was at hand. He enjoyed her company and that’s always nice but women can get that confused with a relationship. I did it. The only problem was that the man in question was telling me it was a relationship but lying the whole time. And he admitted it.

You learn to pick out the stripes from the polka dots.

You learn that you are worth more than the jerks that play you. Because karma will get them.

And by then you will be smiling from ear to ear, happy and content with the life you have built for yourself, knowing that you are priceless.  

31 candles blown out ...

I turned 31 years old yesterday.

I tick a different box now.

Food tastes different...

I walk differently... just kidding.

Nothing changed. I didn't expect anything to change.

I did wake up yesterday morning with a smile on my face. A calm and relax feeling too.

Like I said, nothing has changed but then everything is changing.

I am finishing with my current job in three weeks, I am going to the US for eight days and I start my new job on 10th December. Everything is starting to change.

I have started ticking things off my list, get my study fixed, get my car repaired, getting fitter and healthier, relaxing more, and trying new things, exploring more and most importantly, I am trying not to over think everything. I said try. Its not something I can change but I'm trying.

For someone who hated change and actually threw up from it... I have adapted pretty well in the past six months. I've changed jobs twice and tried new things, and no run for the bathroom. I'm growing up.

Today, my birthday present to myself, is all about pampering myself at my beauty salon and getting a massage afterwards... all after I went for a long hard run just to work off some of that cake from the weekend.

:-)

How much should I say? Or should I just walk away?

Today at work, my HR people sent me an exit survey.

This is my shot. I have finally been given the chance to have my final say. And now I think I am about to choke.

I did fill it out in full. It is not based on my fantastic interim job I have now but on the old job… the old crappy, suffocating and demoralising job that made me physically sick and mentally exhausted.

And I actually hesitated to submit it because I am happy again. All the pain and frustration I was feeling a mere six months ago has disappeared. That’s great. I know that’s great to feel that way but part of me really, really wants pay back.

I want my manager and his manager to understand that bullying staff and making work three people’s job, is unfair and bullshit.

Yet today I sat there and answered all the questions about what I liked, what I didn’t like, what should be improved, why I am leaving and then … any more comments to be made? Oh yeah there were comments! Lots of them.

So tomorrow I am going re-read what I wrote and maybe find a more logical way to stick to the man than an emotional one. One where I still feel a little raw about what happened and very excited that I get to tell them all to sod off and walk happily away from that part of my life.

I enjoyed every minute of working with my colleagues and staff, and former team mates, but my manager can shove his arrogant ego up his arse.

Still, I need to pace my enthusiasm; I have three weeks to go until I say au revoir!   

One small step for womankind

It might not sound like a big deal to you and boo but it's a big deal to me.

Today I put on a sleeveless singlet and went for a run.

Arms exposed.

Nowhere for them to hid.

I don't like my arms. They remind of old ladies at the tuckshop. You know the ones. Those dear old ladies who served eucalyptus lollies at five cents a bag while the arms giggle in the wind.

I know my arms don't look like that BUT i don't like them, and I don't like out and about.

But this afternoon I had enough and put on that sleeveless top.

I actually had to pump myself to make myself go outside for a run ... silly but I had to.

I didn't do too badly for my first go. I started running around the suburbs (ie no people or cars about) and then grew a pair, and stopped being a big baby, and went for a run around the busy oval nearby.

One just one little step but it's a big thing for me.

So WHOOP WHOOP!