down the rabbit hole

I went back to SLC over the weekend for a friend’s wedding. I was able to go to lunch some some former coworkers at our favorite mexican place (I have yet to find decent mexican food up here. I am sorely disappointed in you, Seattle). I feel incredibly fortunate that I was able to find a job in this economy when so many incredibly talented individuals are stuck at a horrible company because there’s nowhere to go. 

While driving back down the canyon I realized two things: a) I cannot believe how long it took me every damn day to drive up and down i-80 and b) how much better I am now.

It shocked me, to realize I feel like myself again. Maybe it’s the better job with financial stability (finally!!), maybe it’s living with C again, maybe it’s being out from under a bad corporate thumb, but either way, I’m way better mentally than I have been in years.

It’s a weird feeling - feeling like things will be okay.

On that note, I was afraid that C and I had grown apart over the last year. Our relationship is strong, and I’ve never felt more confident in each other. When he lived in SLC with me, he was teaching and working part time at a retail store, so our schedules weren’t the same and it seemed like we never had time to do things together. Now, we’re both on a standard Monday - Friday schedule (save for my travels), and the simple acts of going grocery shopping on Saturday morning or having a weekend date night are bringing us closer together. I’m glad we’ve been able to have time together to hang out. I missed that when we were in SLC and when we were apart.

I have been in Seattle for 13 days.

I have some ghosts of boyfriends past that messed with my head, and because of that, I was initially hesitant to move. Being up here with C has solidified not only my relationship and future with him, but that this is the place for me.

I could not love my new coworkers and the atmosphere of this company more.

After almost five years with the same company that had an awful attitude toward its employees it’s nice to work in a department that not only values my opinion from day one, but appreciates my work and my work ethic. I took a risk switching to a career in academic management, and it’s paid off.

Every day I see something new students have worked on or meet a new faculty member who is passionate and engaging about what they do and I’m blown away. The caliber of students and the work they are releasing is impressive and amazing, to say the least. I cannot wait to get on the road and start to share these stories about what we do here and why we’re the best.

Oh, and the fact my commute is only 10 miles round trip instead of 52 certainly doesn’t hurt.