How I spent my summer vacation

Hello strangers! Its the middle of August, and I haven't posted since June....so sad. Where have I been? Well, not focusing on fitness, that is for sure! 

I always used to say that odd-numbered years were lucky years for me, but I think I need to change that thinking--odd-numbered years are years of transition for me.  I was born in an odd year, graduated high school and college, moved out of my parents house into my first apartment, had a devastating break-up with my first serious boyfriend (besides my college bf), bought my condo, changed jobs....all in odd-numbered years.  And 2011 did not upset the trend. 

Last December, my younger brother Brian, who was also my roommate and co-owner of my condo, mentioned that he would like to move in with his girlfriend Tyler this summer.   Tyler is a teacher, so summer was the best time for her to move.  Also, it made more sense for her to move into our condo, and for me to move out, then vice versa.  It was more emotional than I thought it would be, I must say.  As much as having a roommate can be irritating, and having a sibling-roommate can be even moreso, since we actually say what we feel (and yell and argue and bicker),  I knew I'd miss having  Brian  (and Tyler) around every day.  I'd grown accustomed to them being there when I got home, and having someone to tell about my day. It was a tough change.

But at the same time, I also saw the move as an opportunity to look for new jobs outside the radius of my condo.  My current job had been stifling for a long while.  I was barely making enough to pay my bills, and the increases in my (rather pathetic) insurance costs and metro fare outweighed any salary increases I'd received.  I did the math, and basically I was losing money every year, with the insurance increases.  Aside from the ridiculously large gobs of vacation and sick time my organization dispersed, the benefits were terrible.  I worked for a non-profit, for a cause I truly care deeply about, so that I suppose should compensate for a lesser salary than average.  Still, I was doing the same exact things I'd done since I started the job in 2007 (odd year). I kept asking to be involved in more projects and to get more responsibility, but ultimately the organization is very bureaucratic, and it was a constant struggle for me to get new projects and then to maintain any sense of responsibility for them.  I rarely got a sense of satisfaction from a job-well-done because I hardly had any responsibility or accountability in my position.  It wasn't a fool-proof job, but it was easy and it wasn't satisfying, and there was no where for me to go if I stayed.  


We had a position open in my department in February that we finally hired for in May (the first mid-level position available since I was hired, and since the economic strife began across the country.) When I was passed over for that, with no real reason, explanation or constructive criticism from my boss, my motivation to do a good job and to try hard really took a hit.  I barely wanted to show up at work, let alone do a good job.  To add insult to injury, my boss approached me about taking on "extra responsibilities" as a "learning experience." (Basically, he told me I would be "allowed" to do the same work as the girl he hired instead of me, except without a title change or a pay increase.  It would be solely for my benefit and for me to gain experience.   Having worked with him and for him for almost four years, I felt like this meager offer was too little, too late.  My brother called it a "pig in a poke," a Brian-ism that made me laugh.)  I wasn't motivated, but at that point, I didn't have another offer on the table, so I agreed, and did my best to take on these duties and find a way to make it work. (After all, if I was stuck there for another 6-8 months, I wanted to say I had the experience, and I actually still wanted to participate in a more hands-on way.)   However, the idea of having to stay there after getting rejected definitely motivated me to find another position--as fast as possible. I had been applying for jobs ever since February, since I knew I'd have to move out of my condo in a few months.  But, the rejection really lit a fire within me.  I applied every day to every job--no matter where--that I was even remotely qualified for.   I came home from work every day and immediately started applying for jobs, or researching places I'd have an interview with, or toiling over hand-written thank-you notes. At a point when I felt miserable going to work, I felt like any moment spent NOT applying for jobs or networking or working towards that goal in some way was a moment wasted.  I didn't take time off work, even though I had about four weeks of vacation hoarded away, unless I was interviewing.


Second only to finding a new job was the slight panic brewing in my brain over finding a new place to live should I be forced to stay at my current job.  Whether or not I got a new job, I would still need to move, and by May the clock was a-tickin'.  When I first started looking, I was a little sticker-shocked by the cost of 1-Bedroom apartments in and around DC.  I probably shouldn't have been, but my mortgage payment (including HOA

One day, in late May, I took off work to look at apartments and have a phone interview (for a position in very-rural-Wisconsin). After my phone interview in the morning, I spent the day with my mom trolling about DC tracking down apartments.  The very last apartment I found that day was The Fleetwood, a beautiful building in a great location in DC for a reasonable price.  It was historic (which I adore!) and cheap and--best of all--would not be available until the end of July, buying me some time to make a decision.  The only catch was that I had to put down a $1000 security deposit to hold the place for me until August.  After much deliberation, I decided to do it.  It was an expensive security blanket, but a security blanket nonetheless. I would at least be able to check one "transition to-do" off my list, and knowing it was on hold for me would keep me from worrying about being homeless.  As my brother pointed out, if I didn't get the position I'd interviewed for in Wisconsin, this would be something to ease that rejection-feeling a bit and to be excited about.  Also, he noted that if I was able to quit, I'd get paid out for vacation time, and that would cover the loss on the security deposit. With those thoughts in mind, i signed the check. 


As fate would have it, Wisconsin did call.  They flew me out for an all-day interview.  While I had some reservations about the weather (snow, snow & more snow), the cost of living was fantastic--especially compared to the ridiculousness of DC!  And I could easily live within walking distance of my office and the very-small downtown area, thus eliminating any need to drive in the snow.  Also, flights in & out of Milwaukee from Baltimore and DC were amazingly cheap! So, I wasn't worried about getting home, it would be easy and inexpensive.  In fact, by my flight home after the interview, I had talked myself into a complete change of lifestyle: Leaving a major metropolitan area in favor of a small, rural, cold-weather midwestern college town.


However, I did not end up making that change.  You know how when you're single you never seem to be able to find fun, handsome single men, and then, the minute you start dating someone, all of these fun handsome single men seem to appear out of thin air?? Well, that's exactly how my job search went.  The day before I left for Wisconsin for my interview, I got a call for an interview in Reston, VA (a town about 10min from where I was currently living.) The week after my Wisconsin-in-person interview took place, as I was carefully handwriting thank you notes, and continuing to apply for other positions, I got calls for five different interviews, mostly in the mid-atlantic, midwest and northeast.  So, I was waiting for a response from Wisconsin, but at the same time I was hoping for a NO, only because I wanted to see what the other opportunities had to offer.   Fortunately  (at least in hindsight)  Wisconsin  turned me down, in one of the nicest and  most self-esteem boosting rejections I've ever had.  


I had mixed emotions, because I was anxious to go on the other interviews, but I was also anxious to have the whole tiring process be over.  I hadn't been working out--At all!  I had been stressed and tired (interviewing is not physically strenuous, but it's emotionally and mentally draining, and after an all-day interview, it's hard to be motivated to do anything except vegetate on the couch....and emotionally overeat.)  Also, I had to  keep applying for jobs, and following up with thank-you notes and research for the next interview, etc. It was a strange and stressful July. In one week, I went on four different interviews in four different states (well, fortunately one was in DC, so not technically a state.) I had two rental cars, visited four airports, slept in three hotels and hand wrote 27 thank-you notes. (This was the same week I also ate two big macs in one day.  I felt gross afterwards, but it was strangely satisfying. UGH)

I also had to explain to my boss, without lying TOO terribly about why I needed to take off a week all of the sudden.  I hate lying, and I'm not exceptionally good at it.  I felt like a medical excuse was a bad idea.  I wouldn't be knowledgeable about any sort of medical procedure to even attempt to lie about it. I mean, let's face it, if someone has something medical done that requires a week off from work very suddenly, they generally know a lot of details about the problem and the procedure.  I ended up saying I had to move out of my apartment, and my sister was moving out of her college apartment, and my dad was moving and I was the only family member with the vacation time to accommodate all the moves. (All of that, in some way, was/is partially true, and is somewhat understandable....at least, it was to me.) 


That same week, the week of a four interviews, I got three job offers....THREE JOB OFFERS!! THREE!!!!!!!!!!!!! When I got the call from the first employer, I went bananas.  That one, which was actually the one I ended up taking, called me when I was still at work the Friday before.  I could barely contain myself. I ran around my building, telling the select few people who knew I was applying/interviewing. I jump up and down, I went to the Starbucks across the street so I could call my mom. I was ecstatic! I was so relieved to have an exit plan for my job.  I felt like a million bucks!  It made the week of interviewing less stressful, because I already had at least one option--and one I was really excited about.  It also made every interview have a stronger sense of urgency, because I needed to let the first place know my final decision.  I needed every potential employer to make a decision immediately, if not sooner!

Thankfully, two of them got back to me within the week.  I called the third place, after my interview and explained my predicament, and they were very understanding and told me their hiring process has been delayed because of various summer vacations, so I have to withdrawal my name from the running for that one.  The last place, I did not hear from in time, but they ended up not hiring anyone and deciding to revamp the position. (So, I was very glad I didn't hold out for that.)

The best moment ever (probably one of my top eleven of 2011) was being able to resign from my job, and tell my boss--who didn't promote me--that I had not only one opportunity, but THREE.  He was very kind, and actually offered me some much needed and wanted advice on what he thought the pros and cons of each position would be.  It was probably the best time I've had resigning from a job ever. Immensely satisfying is a terrible understatement. 

I ended up taking the position in Reston, VA, which if the traffic is good, is still an hour away from the Fleetwood and my beautiful downtown apartment.  Although a few people, my old boss included, thought I should consider keeping the apartment and commuting in and out of the city everyday,  I was very keen on living close to my new job.  I hate commuting with a passion, and in Reston, you get a lot more bang for your buck in the housing.  I was able to get a 1000 sq. ft. 2BR apartment for the same price as my one bedroom downtown.  I lost my $1K on the security deposit on the beautiful Fleetwood, and my complex now doesn't have nearly as much pizazz, but it's seven minutes from my office, and I have so much space and extra time now that I really don't know what to do with myself! 

I started my brand-new job last Monday, and so far it's fantastic!  I have responsibility and my boss does not seem to hesitate to give me more, or put me in charge of projects.  I've been enjoying it, and I'm excited to see where it takes me.  I'm waiting for the other shoes to drop, but hopefully it won't and things will stay fantastic.  (Fingers crossed!) 

I also started my new workout routine.  Throughout the very busy and  almost surreal  month of July, I did nothing physical aside from lugging a suitcase from interview to interview. Last week, I woke up and made it to the gym at 6 am on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. (Victory!) I hit a few spinning classes and I tried to run in the park by my new apartment, but I quickly found out that the park has no jogging paths....just hiking trails--fun, but not so good for training.  Another bit of excitement: I got my treadmill back in apartment!  My former roommate-brother, vetoed the treadmill-in-the-living-room decorative scheme at my old place, but now that I live by myself, I've reincorporated it, and I think it's definitely a great addition.  I've only run on it twice so far to test it.  It doesn't feel (to me) like I'm going to fall through the floor, so I hope it won't bother my downstairs neighbors too much/at all. Should I give a knock before I work out and ask them if it's a terrible racket?

Anyway, all of this is a very long way to explain what's been happening in the past month and a half since I last posted.  Tomorrow, August 15, is the start of the two month countdown to my first marathon of the fall.  I'm nervous because I feel further behind in training than I would have liked to be.  But, at the same time, I had a lot of change going on--accompanied by a lot of emotions. (Both with job changing and with moving--I was surprised how difficult it was for both me and my brother, who usually isn't too emotional, to move apart.  It was nice to know we had grown close as roommates, but it was hard to leave, and it still is hard  to watch "our house" become "their house.")  I'm hoping now, that my commute has been reduced by 45 minutes each way and my gym is in between my home and my office, I'll be able to supercharge my workout, and get back into fighting shape by October 15, and in time for marathon season.

If the rain (and hail?!) holds off, I have a new 6.5 miles run I'd like to try in my new neighborhood....I'll let you know how it goes!! Glad to be back on the blog-o-sphere!