Hook 'Em Horns!

An Update

Things are more or less the same here these days, with a few new developments.

First and foremost, I'm losing my job. Again. This is the second job from which I've been laid off, and I have yet to find a replacement. I would be more upset if I didn't have some sort of backup plan in the works, but I'm working on something that may allow me to learn a language and gain my .17 bonus points. Russian is futile at this point. Full-time FSOs get 44 weeks of training to get to a 2/2, and since I'm at a 0+/0+ on a good day, this just isn't going to work for me. Since I took four years of French in high school, I'm going to take two months off once I am laid off (January 3 is D-Day for me) and try to learn the language full time. I'm probably a 1/1+ at this point; I read much better than I speak or understand, but reading doesn't even factor in the phone test at all. I've been listening to http://www.rfi.fr/ daily to train my ear in getting used to hearing French spoken at a rapid rate (and in many different accents/dialects; much of the French spoken is from Western African countries). Bonus points will bump me up to the low 20s on the Consular register. That puts me on the cusp of an invite. I'll be retesting in February/March for the FSOT because I expire off the register in October. Le sigh.

On a more positive note, I went to New England for a long weekend from November 12-15. I got to see my dad and quite a few of my friends. We had a pre-Thanksgiving Thanksgiving on that Saturday, where we attempted to make a turkey for the first time ever. It went off with only the most minor of glitches, and seven of us sat down to a beautiful meal at my friend Ralph's apartment in Burlington. It was one of the best nights I've had all year, and it helped a lot to alleviate my homesickness. The crew all want to try to make it down this way at some point in the near future, and we're hoping for a February get-together. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it happens!

My New England trip made me feel like Thanksgiving has already come and gone, but there is still dinner to be had this week. In a first-ever experience for me, I'll be dining with my boyfriend and his family. As all of you are now well aware, I don't even celebrate holidays with my real family, so this is a big change. However, he and his parents/stepparent have done everything in their power to make me feel welcome. They are really wonderful people, and I feel honored to be spending a meaningful holiday with them. I'll be bringing my delicious take on a holiday classic (it's called pumpkin chiffon pie), and spending Thanksgiving evening at the UT v. A&M game. I'm actually starting to like football; who knew?

There isn't much else going on. I'm trying to keep my head down and work these last 6 weeks without too much fuss or complaint. The generous severance package coupled with my school loan excess will be enough to see me through a few months comfortably. For that I'm grateful. Things always seem to work out for me in one way or another, and I'm so thankful that I have my friends and loved ones by my side just in case.

And please enjoy this Billy Joel classic. It's been stuck in my head for days.

Happiness is...

There's nothing quite like overlooking Austin's rolling hills and cliffs bathed in the moonlight with the top down, warm night breeze combing through your hair, and the best of company next to you. Nights like that are bound to stick with you forever.

Homesickness

I'm not wanting to move back home or relocate or anything even remotely close to that, but I miss my dad, my friends, and (yes, every now and again) the familiar surroundings of New England. I left Massachusetts 8 months ago and haven't looked back, but now, I find myself feeling very nostalgic for "home." Not helping the situation is the fact that my funds from school have been delayed, so my trip will likely be pushed back a few weeks, and that makes me sad.

I love Austin so much, and more so with each passing day. I love my new friends and the life I'm leading down here. But man, am I homesick. So very, very homesick.

So What If I Was Only 6 When The 80s Ended?

I love the big 80s hits, and I was recently introduced to Radiostar, an amazing 80s cover band here in Austin. I got to see them last night, and they put on another amazing show. If ever you're here, be sure to check them out!

The Phone Rings in the Middle of the Night...

What happens when a big drug company settles out of court instead of continuing with a trial?

You get a phone call waking you up to tell you that you get to see your sweetheart three weeks earlier than expected. And then you can't go back to sleep, so you choose to blog because you're bursting with excitement. I'm glad I picked up the phone. :D

I Will Marry You

So, I'm now a licensed wedding minister in the great state of Colorado, and I performed my friend's ceremony on Labor Day weekend. By the power vested in me, I pronounced them husband and wife. So, for $50 I'll marry anyone else. I'm totally turning this into my side business.

I'm back in Texas, still enjoying my life. Personally, things have been going well for me. Professionally, not so much. This is interfering with my ability to pay bills at the moment, and is generally trying to ruin my buzz. I am itching to get my student loan excess (did I mention that school started up again this week? Ugh.) so that I can pay a month or two of rent and try to settle up with everyone else I owe. I've been applying to jobs like crazy over the last couple of days, after a perfect storm of backbreaking straws at work befell me. Something has to work out for me soon. It just has to.

The only real sad part of my day-to-day life at the moment is that I'm very much missing my friend. It stinks that he's in Irvine for a full month for work, but I came home to a surprise yesterday. He bought a webcam so we could at least keep in touch face-to-face while he's gone. I guess when you know that the distance is temporary, Skype becomes an attractive vehicle for conversation!

There haven't been any positive changes in the Foreign Service front. I haven't even bothered to check my rank in the last 5 months. I'm thinking about removing myself from all the boards for a while. Unless I retest or successfully learn a language between now and next October (not impossible, but just really hard when you don't have the resources or time), it's lights out for me for the time being. I try not to think about it, especially right now because I have such mixed feelings now that I'm living in Austin, but it inevitably comes up. I'm actually meeting up with someone new tomorrow who wants to ask me some questions about the process.

On a completely different note, I am going back "home" in a month. By home, I don't mean Cape Cod. Just the Northeast in general. I'll get to see my dad, who is turning 70 next month (when did he get so old?!), and the rest of my really good friends who still live up there. I've been very homesick for them lately. A long weekend in Burlington during the fall foliage season will be just what I need. It won't hurt that I'll likely bring a pretty great traveling companion. :)

Overall, there isn't too much out of the ordinary going on. I'm scraping by, trying to remember to be thankful for all of the great things I'm experiencing. I'll get through the rough stuff eventually, and I know I'm always that much better for it.

My Face Hurts

My days have been so filled with activity that it's hard to write a coherent post about what's been going on the last month. First off, it's August! When/how did this happen?! It's not that I'm not excited to be moving closer to joining the Foreign Service, I'm just stunned at how quickly time is flying by. I am just starting to really settle into Austin, and the people I've met are simply fantastic. Knowing that I'm going to be leaving them in a year or so (more? less?), well, that just makes me sad. I suppose it's good practice and all that, but, seriously, I LOVE it here.

I have a job interview of sorts tomorrow. I'm not sure how much the position pays, but hopefully it's quite a bit more than what I'm making. That would allow me to work normal people hours (instead of 7-6 everyday), and ease the burden of planning out my paychecks weeks in advance. It would also be closer to my house. This would give me more time to spend with my friends and my dogs. And maybe go for a jog every now and again!

I have to say, I have been generally happier the last two months than I have been in a very long time. And to add to the already wonderful feelings of vitality and happiness that have been coursing through my veins, I've managed to meet someone who makes me smile so much that I think my face might get stuck this way. This generally goes for the rest of my friends, but perhaps with this one I can't help but grin just a teensy bit more. It's refreshing, to say the least! :D

I've found that trying to do what makes me happy just helps the rest of the pieces fall into place. And, boy, am I one happy girl.

Staying Put (And Loving It!)

So, yeah, my job is still soul-sucking and terrible, but in the last week or two, I have been trying really hard to have fun outside of work. It's a strange, yet freeing, feeling resigning myself to knowing I won't be joining the Foreign Service in the next 6 months, likely longer. My feeling about being here suddenly switched from biding my time and waiting to waiting, but living here as well. And in this short time, I've been having a blast! It's great what a little outward adjustment of your attitude can do to your inner thoughts and feelings. I genuinely hope this is an indicator of my time left in Austin. I love this place!

My Reputation Precedes Me

You know what makes me feel amazing? Being recruited for something because someone has heard that I'm good.

I know I'm betraying my inner feminist by saying and feeling this way, but I much prefer playing sports on mostly or all male teams. In my experience, the level of competition is much higher, and the thrill that much bigger, when you perform well against people who are automatically assumed to be better than you because of gender. I have played ice hockey on all-male teams since I was 8. I now play floorball. If we can get past the gender divisions in IFF's rules, I will be playing for the Austin men's team for the national championship in California in 6 weeks. And now, I'm going to be playing for the local A-level men's roller hockey league because the owner of the sports arena heard I was a good ice hockey goalie.

My dad used to tell me, "If you're really that good, other people will do your bragging for you." There's no bigger compliment or self-esteem booster than when that sentiment rings true.