Showing posts with label work friends. Show all posts
Showing posts with label work friends. Show all posts

Sunday, May 1, 2016

Celebrating a very special mama-to-be

Sometimes magic happens at work. 

You meet someone you feel like you've known for years. Someone you can't believe has been missing from your life up until your first conversation...the one in which you're basically finishing each other's sentences by the time you're finished. 

That's how I've always felt about my friend Kali. 

And now Kali's a mom! But before her baby said hello, we honored her with gathering her favorite ladies for stories, suggestions, lots of laughter, mimosas, and plenty of coffee cake (mom's choice!).

 Photo backdrop for a book I still haven't finished for the mama.
 Bevs, and Kal's Hot Tamales.
 "Kali's favorites" raffle.
 The spread.
 Terrible photo proof of all the lovely ladies in attendance.
 Blurry shot of the mom-to-be and her mom.
The sisters-in-law and ma-in-law.

New year, New York

Another work trip for the books, but many NYC firsts.

Everything was a "first" for me, though, because I'd never been to the Big Apple. You can bet I had my fingers crossed that the Rockettes were still kicking and the ice cream at Serendipity we'd be licking, but sadly, neither of those dreams were realized.

After flipping through the photos I took, I realized although many were for work purposes, the others just kind of sucked. I think I should take a class or something. Or if anyone wants to volunteer to help a sister out. Please.

 Of course we checked out all the hottest NYC workouts.
Court and I braved the -2 degree temp and ran in Central Park. For the love of all my favorite movies set in NYC, I had to see this place!


 Who wouldn't want a bench that looks like a giant ice cream sando?



 September 11 memorial. Completely moving.


Here we are again at the arch. Overly bundled was not a thing.

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Leap of faith on the job front

There's not a whole lot to write about here. I was cruising in my last job, loving almost every minute of it. I really felt like I was in my element.

Opportunity came knocking, and I could not pass up the chance for a promotion and the ability to spread my wings are really try something new and different. I didn't have to leave my team, just switch roles, so what did I have to lose?

The comfort of my old job.

That's what I had to lose.

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone, though, right?

So, I interviewed. I gave it all I had, even though I thought I was under-qualified and over-challenged (not a word, I know) for this new role. I was completely honest in my perceived lack of skills, but I gave that interview my all. I prepared, had great examples, and honed my inner creative type, making a foam display board to help with my mini-presentation. I felt pretty confident, though my nerves were through the roof the moment the interview began. Taylor and I were leaving immediately after my interview for our road trip, so I had plenty on my mind.

And as luck would have it, after about fifteen minutes, the fire alarms began sounding. I am not making this up. We figured it was a drill, but usually drills are announced and posted on the building entrances.

We exited the building, and since the room in which I was interviewing was near a fire escape, I didn't even think to go back to my desk to get my wallet or phone. Once we got down the stairs, we realized there was, in fact, an actual fire. We weren't sure if it was in our building, but the plumes of smoke were visible, and my coworkers were running back in the building to get their personal belongings.

Yes, you read that correctly. (Well, I guess I mentioned it in the post about our road trip, huh? Sorry to blow the lead!)

What's the first thing you're not supposed to do? Run back into a burning building.

Back to the interview.

Since filling this position was pretty time-sensitive, and there were other interviews following mine, we had to keep going. Yes, I kept interviewing while walking through crowds of people standing and watching said fire. It was a bit abbreviated, and I had to leave my foam board behind, but I finished the interview and basically said, "See you later" for a week as I was heading out on vacation.

When I was walking to my car, I saw the charred food services truck, the culprit behind the fire. I thought it was an omen...I figured I didn't get the job. I mean, when there's a fire drill, and an actual FIRE in the middle of an interview, when is that a GOOD sign?

On the last day of our vacation, after mountain biking in Park City, I got a call from my new boss, offering me the job. I was shocked to say the least. I didn't know what I was getting myself into, but I took a leap and said yes.

It hasn't been three months yet, but the learning curve is STEEP. It's a challenge, but I am sure once the newness wears off, I'm really going to like it. I get to keep some of the comforts of my old job--same team, same group, and I literally moved just two desks away--and I get to embark on a new journey that includes a lot of presentations and mental math. I'm just kidding about that second part, but I do have to speak about numbers, something that's super challenging for me!

I knew a new adventure was on the horizon after my birthday, and this new job has definitely been quite a ride the last few months. Looking forward to settling in and feeling comfortable again soon.

...

Below are some old photos from previous work trips...I've been to L.A. three times this year for work so far, and I'm sure I'll be back again soon!

Nice perk getting to see the sisters and littles!


And getting to see the beach? Only on our way to the airport! 

Previous work trip to L.A.







Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Another tax season in the books

Here I am...recapping April in July. Pretty standard. 

We made it through another tax season over at the Bethell Bungalow, and of course it presented its own challenges--namely a puppy by the name of Bowen. Bowen and I got to be good buds, running together four of five weekday mornings, going to the dog park in the evenings, cooking dinner together, and catching up on recorded Food Network and/or the occasional trashy TV shows before Taylor made it home each night.

We immediately headed over to our favorite oasis, Sunriver, with two other couples. Taylor went a day early, and I got a call on my way over that he wrecked on his mountain bike. This was not the first time I'd received a call like this, but this was the first time in which he was standing outside of urgent care. Poor guy basically got impaled by the handlebar, leaving a gruesome mark on the center of his chest...earning him the nickname "Ironman" forevermore from this group of friends.   

We still managed to take a couple great hikes, cheers with celebratory drinks, feast (of course), check off the obligatory brewery dinner, bike ride, relax, and rejuvenate. Taylor and I stayed an extra day and basked in the beauty and freedom reaching April 15 brings every year.