A great week...

This week was pretty fantastic for several reasons:

First, I finally received my offer for my relocation to Portland. I had been given an offer a couple of weeks ago which, I felt, was not enough to justify my moving across the country. I'm really proud of myself in that I went back with what I think is an aggressive offer. After over a week of not knowing if they would meet it, or how they would react, I finally got word that my counter had been approved. I'm very excited about what Portland has in store for me but nervous about the new responsibilities this job will bring. 

Second, I took my ESRI Desktop Professional certification exam on Wednesday. I really studied quite a bit for the exam and so I felt prepared. When I got into the exam, however, my confidence was eroded. Essentially, the exam was not based on everyday, practical application of the software. There were many questions that were obscure, with ambiguous answers. I left the exam with little confidence of a passing score. Friday, I received my results and I did indeed pass! Very exciting, and very good to have this on my resume.

Lastly, I received a letter from Wells Fargo, whom I have my automobile financing through, on Friday. Essentially, the letter stated that there had been an error in the way they had computed my interest over the life of my loan, and that they were lowering my APR (by 2% mind you) and crediting the lump sum of the miscalculation to my principle. Essentially, my car payment went down by almost $50 a month and $800 was applied to the principle of my loan. With the lower APR and my raise at work, I should be able to pay my car off in no time. 

So that is a brief summation of the highlights of my week. Here's to hoping the good karma continues!

 

will all the holidays be like this?

This entire weekend has been rather rough. Yesterday marked two months since my dad lost his battle with cancer. I want to blog about his cancer specifically since I did not blog during its course, but will save that for a separate blog. I really am beginning to wonder if I will have the roller coaster of emotions on the 18th of every month going forward. My best friend Jessica, who lost her dad a little over 4 years ago, told me that it never really gets easier - just different. I suppose time will bring me to this feeling of difference.

Mother's and Father's day were never a huge event in my family. Of course, there were cards and crafty school art projects along the way, but as far as celebrations go, we never were ones to focus on celebrations of parenthood. Only in the past few years did I start sending my mother flowers or candy or cookies on mother's day. I always was a "momma's boy". I honestly can't tell you the last time I bought a father's day card and gave/sent it to my dad. I typically didn't even call him on Father's Day, because his birthday always coincided within the week and I would just lump all of my celebratory tidings into one brief phone call. Maybe that is where a lot of these feelings are coming from today. I'd give anything to just be able to pick up the phone and tell him "Happy Father's Day". If only there were an address that would assuredly get him a card I'd gladly go fight the crowded aisle of Father's Day cards at Target. Had I known this time last year that he'd be gone, I would have went to visit - to take him out for dinner - to hand deliver a card selected with love. My daddy was not a sentimental man - but he was a hard working man and deserved the acknowledgement.

Mine and daddy's relationship wasn't perfect. There were angsty years where we barely spoke. I do know, however, that he loved me unconditionally and would have done anything for me. I just hope, from the heavens above, he feels the love I'm pushing his way today and that I continue to make him proud in everything I do.

Just remember... if today was the last day tomorrow would be too late. Say what you need to say.

back to blogging...

I'm growing older. Memories are harder to keep. I must blog for longevity.