& that's the way life goes

My new job is completely, 100% the exact opposite of my previous position.  I’m busy 8 hours of the day and I don’t just leave “work at work”. It is very possible that I could be out of a job in a year or two, maybe less. Guess I didn’t look before I leapt.

That said, I enjoy the challenge and professionalism of my job. I feel important and the things I’m doing are making a difference.  I think it was a good leap, if not terrifying.

I can’t believe is mid-july already. I hope you are having a kick ass summer. I’m enjoying my weekends up north with my lil family.

I’ve been scarce around here but I’ve still been reading blogs on my slow ass phone. I can’t wait until August when I can get a new one. I found out that my new job will reimburse my phone bill but I have to basically give up my contract and join the company contract. I have a hard time with commitment ultimatums…if you haven’t noticed…so this whole concept makes me cringe. I can’t help but think ahead. I mean what if this job doesn’t work out? What if I God forbid get fired or move on? I’ve been with my current cell phone provider so long I’m locked in a pretty good plan. I definitely can’t complain. For me to be able to sync my work email I have to up my data plan to the corporate one which is $13 more a month. Seriously?

So this my dear readers is my question for you. Should I A) suck up the $13 a month or B) get a second phone to serve as my work phone with the other cell phone service provider my company provides (I’d be getting an Iphone to accompany my personal Droid)? Keep in mind I have to pay the bill every month and then get reimbursement in my next check.

What would you do? Decisions, decisions. Help!

PS…I miss being able to post on my blog during the day but I’m loving the opportunities my new job is providing me. I’m so excited for all the things I’m working on and I can’t remember the last time I’ve felt like that. I’ve already designed a new header for a conference website and am in the process of designing poll graphics

I may have some social media questions soon and I know a lot of you are way more experienced at using them professionally. When I get used to my new routine I’m hoping to post more often.

xoxo
Ria

Today is my birthday!!!!!!!!!

Last year I made a list of 28 things I wanted to do before my 29th birthday.  Let’s see how much I accomplished.

1. Go horseback riding
2. Finish setting up my office: hanging the picture collage that’s sitting on the desk and the tape markers are up
3. Participate in a fundraiser
4. Organize the cupboards (boring yes, but it NEEDS to get done)
5. Go through my closet and get rid of the things I don’t wear
6. Sell something on eBay
7. Stain the man shack
8. Wakeboard
9. Something special for LP’s 30th & C’s 35th birthdays
10. Take a class

Not too shabby about 1/3 of the things on it. Here are some that I didn’t do that I’m rolling over to this year…

• Send out cards
• Create a fun tradition in January so the month doesn’t seem so long
• Take time to meditate weekly
• Perform in the aerial yoga student showcase
• Make Pink Champagne Cupcakes

I’m also adding…

• decorate my new little cubicle, something I never did at my current job
• keep up running 5 miles a week
• plan my 30th birthday
• lose the last pesky 10lbs

Tomorrow is the last day I will drive to Ann Arbor for work. It’s the last time I will make the 32.9 miles one way trip to a parking lot that is just shy of 1/2 mile from my building. A 1/2 mile I have to walk if it’s sunny, pouring or snowing. Tomorrow evening is the last time I have to deal with the backup at M-14 and I-275. In honor of this, here are the things I’ll miss most about Ann Arbor and my job.

• Every other Friday off
• Working from home
• Not being stressed if I’m running late or the weather is awful
• Having all kinds of restaurants and stores within walking distance
  No Thai
  Totoro
  Pizza Bob’s
• Working on campus
• My double monitors (though I’m going to ask my new job if I can order a second one)
• Casual attire
• Awesome health and retirement benefits
• My coworker(s) and the ability to rant in someone’s office when I’m stressed out or about to “cut a bitch”

I’m thrilled for my new opportunity.  It is a position that will allow me to grow and give me a sense of satisfaction in my work.  If I’m going to have to sit at a desk for 40 hours a week I would rather be achieving something than just wasting time.  These are a few of the things I’m looking forward to.

• Driving 20 miles less a day
• Opportunities to carpool with C, depending on our schedules after work
• Filling my closet with new clothes (Thanks to Mae for going to the mall and helping me pick up great mix and match pieces!)
• Working back in the city where I went to college
• Being able to sign up for aerial yoga classes again because  it will be right down the street and I can go after work
• Happy hour with my favorite girls in the city and Friday lunches with LP
• My own cubicle
• Not having to answer the general phone line
• Making the move to have a career and not just a job
• More $$

The next couple of days are going to be filled with sadness and change.  Tomorrow is not only my last day at my job but my 29th birthday.  It’s going to be a great year, I know it.  Wednesday C and I are heading up north for a long weekend at the cottage.  After all the running around and excitement I’m looking forward to relaxing and working on the cottage for a few days before I jump into my new adventure.

In case I’m sparse around here don’t forget what we look like

taken at C's sisters wedding this past weekend

I need to get back into shape.  After going to the doctor’s last week I realized I hadn’t gained as much weight over the winter as I thought.  Woohoo!  So I set a goal for myself, I’m running 5 miles a week people,  5 miles.  It’s doable and relatively easy.  It doesn’t matter how I run them, as long as I get in a total of 5 miles from Monday-Sunday.  Stella is a great partner, though I’ve left her home a couple times this week because I think it’s too hot for her.  My neighborhood routes are between 1.3-1.6 miles.  I have others that are longer but for now these are the ones I’ve been running.  I did run a 2 mile route on Wednesday at lunch and it wasn’t so bad.  It was the last time I’ll be running at lunchtime.  *sad face*

I was chatting with Mandy and I asked her if taking the dogs for a walk counted and she said it would be cheating.  I have to agree I was thinking the same thing.  So in my words, not hers, “Get running Chubby!”.

Guess what!  The very awesome Michelle from Desultory Diversions gave me the sunshine award!  Sunshine is probably my most favorite thing.  Thanks so much!

here are the rules:
1. thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them
2. tell us something about yourself
3. nominate 10 other bloggers and
4. let them know that you awarded them!

I almost always wear the same pair of earrings + I like patterned socks better than plain white + I <3 that my bloggy friends call me Ri or Ria

Passing the sunshine onto:

Pretty Little Reckless

Claire Suzanne

Alexis Explains it All

Rebecca – Thru Thin and thick

Insert my blog name

E B Inspired

From a Whisper to a Scream

Miss Smidge

Down the Rabbit Hole

Katie Blogs