Devota.org

Rick and Sarah

Saba and I headed out for an adventure yesterday morning; we hit the road early and headed to Cyprus Texas, just North East of Houston. It was a quick two and a half hour drive to go support Rick Perry and to see Sarah Palin. We stopped for an early breakfast at a café I like along the way. We detoured to a park to run Saba down and then headed to the rally.

I read about the event a few weeks ago and I thought it would be something I would enjoy. It was held at a small indoor stadium, it held about five thousand supporters, but could have accommodated a couple of thousand more.

Ted Nugent played a rocking Star Spangled Banner, Rick and Sarah got the crowd charged up for early voting and sending a message to Washington: we are tired of the wasteful spending. Rick had the crowd on there feet continuing his message, fiscal responsibility, conservative values and Texas is the best state in the country. I liked Sarah’s comment: Texas and Alaska have a lot in common; both cling to religion and guns.

We headed straight home after the event with two detours on the way: one for a Dairy Queen Blizzard and then in Elgin TX for some barbeque to take home. It was a long day in the car, but it sure was a nice adventure day. I got to support Rick Perry and see Sarah Palin.

I got the computer up and running late in the day, I will work on getting the telephone straightened out next. I need a bit more memory added to the computer, but that will happen later in the week. I was feeling quite a bit better about my situation as the day progressed. I do feel like I am fitting in, that some people are glad I am there. I hope to get some direction today on projects and responsibilities. I was able to sort out some of the material I brought with me: Some of it is just accumulated junk. It will take a while to sort through it, but there should be plenty of time for that. I am not sure what to keep and what to toss just yet.

I ended up staying a little late. I got distracted by one of my new friends: a four pawed guy that hangs around the office. He is cute as a button. We made friends earlier in the day and I got to give him a treat before I left for the day. The drive home was a bit easier last night: I am slowly figuring out a routes and where traffic backs up and routs to avoid it.

I headed to the new office a bit early Friday, it was raining and with the drive I didn’t know how bad the traffic would be. I got a hand moving my stuff in, it was nice that a few people offered and helped me out. I started to unpack files, folders and critical stuff. I did get my desk toys unpacked and my special coffee cup was found stashed in a box. I did get a mirror hung, put up a few photos and some of the comfort items put up in a drawer. It was a quiet day, lots of emails and a few little projects. I felt a bit more settled once I got unpacked.

I found myself quite tired by Friday evening. I was thinking I would head out for a bit, but once I landed at the house after the drive home, I just wanted to stay put. It was a bit cold, it had been a long emotional week and I was ready to pamper myself a bit more. I made some dinner and settled in early with Saba.

I headed downtown to a home and garden show on Saturday afternoon. I got a couple of ideas for the house: I am going to add them to the wish list. I found a landscape designer, a new fangled awning and some other hard construction options. I had called a coworker and was going to stop and drop off some money I owe him since I was around the corner. He was going to be busy so I will have to do that next week.

I did manage to get to the discount store and I have to admit I am embarrassed about being excited with my purchase. I got a steam mop. It’s something I have been looking for and I saw them last week. It will be good to use at the house: no chemicals needed. I had seen them in Europe a number of years ago, but they didn’t catch on in the states until recently. There is a hand held version I will still be seeking out but the one I found will work nicely for now on the floors.

I headed back to the house and put the mop together. Luckily I had some distilled water in the cabinet and got started with my new tool. I got the first round of the floors done and I have to say it looks very nice this morning and the steam picked up a whole lot of crud on the mop head. I think if I spend a bit of time on each room, I will be able to get some of the paint drip up.

I am heading out to yoga this morning: a stop at the grocery on the way back and then it’s off for a park run with Saba. I plan on watching the Grammy awards tonight. Usually by this time of year I have my part time roommate here. That’s not going to happen this year: I will only have a guest during the SXSW music festival. I got calls this week from my usual guests and the roommate might be headed here for just a week instead of a working here for couple of months. TR will be heading down for the week and staying here for a few days.

It is nice to have a few visitors to look forward to.

I got word yesterday that I will be staying at the new location for a while. I got the OK to bring my stuff. We spent the day getting a spot cleared, getting the usual gear: a desk, a phone and a computer. I should be up and running by Monday.

I did manage to get to the old location last night and packed up the rest of my belongings. I had to pull some of the stuff off the desk, a few things off the wall and find another box for the extra junk. I am excited to get moved and settled in today at the new place. I find it hard when I don’t have all the tools I need and some of those comfort items I like at hand.

It was bitter sweet packing up. I did manage to see a few of my former co-workers. I was asked by one to put some files up for him. I said to him, “darling I can’t do that for you. I am no longer your administrative assistant; you will have to check with the new person”. I could tell he didn’t quite grasp what I was saying. I had to stop him and get his full attention: “I wasn’t selected for the job, I got moved already”. I could see the information process in his expression when he then realized I wasn’t going to be working there any longer.

I headed to the house after packing up the car: I didn’t head to yoga last night: I didn’t want my car full of paperwork to be sitting in a parking lot. There is some sensitive paperwork in my files and I just didn’t want to take a chance of having it broken into by anyone. I settled in with Saba and we got a few phone calls made and then settled in for a night of television. I was feeling a bit tired, I think its just the emotional leftover of all the stress of the last few days.

I got word on Tuesday morning that I wasn’t selected for the job I had been dong for 3.5 years. I was shocked, but not all that surprised. I met with my new supervisor a bit later in the afternoon to come up with a plan. I was moved immediately out of the old slot and started yesterday at a new location for a few days to finish out the week.

It felt odd to be driving traffic: I haven’t done that in years, I was trying to figure out how long it has been. I realized it has been at least 12 years. I worked basically next door for 5 years and another 6 years downtown taking the bus. Before that I had a commute that took me to the other side of the neighborhood: I often rode my bicycle there so it might just be 15 years not driving in traffic. I don’t think the new commute will last long, just finishing out the week. It looks like I will be back downtown starting next week training for a new spot.

If yesterday was a marker of things to come, change will be very good for me.

I did find a lot of friendly faces at the temporary location: there are folks I have worked with on different projects over the years housed there. I kept trying to come up with some spunky way of describing my situation: I am an admin on the move, I am a homeless admin or I got lost on the way to work. I got some quizzical looks a few inquires about what happened. I tried to stay positive when describing my current situation.