Full Circle

So I had the unfortunate task of giving my notice on Friday. I hate those conversations, especially with a boss I have a lot of respect for, and it was certainly difficult. I think she was truly surprised and a little disappointed. Having been at my current job for 2 1/2 years it was time to move on. As much as I appreciate the skills I have acquired the past two years, ultimately the work environment was not for me. I had many discussions with my boss about my frustrations, and I know I am not alone. It has been very difficult cultivating good working relationships, and it is not the type of collaborative work place I tend to thrive in. My direct co-workers are great but I need a more positive and lively work environment. My decision to leave was not an easy one, but I did not really see getting much more from where I am now. Though it is a big organization, when I looked around at other opportunities there just wasn't anything that excited me.
Luckily I have another job lined up. A former employer contacted me and asked me to come back. They made me an offer I could not refuse. I had mixed feelings about going back but in the end the lure of a great work environment, a good supervisor and finishing the work I started years ago before I left the first time was too much to say no to. This new position will also help me build and hone some essential skills I feel that I need.
So things come full circle for me and my work life. I hope heading back the warm fuzzy arms of my old employer will be a good move. I guess with every decision we make we just have to see it through. Hoping this one is a good one.

Before my first day Mel and I are going to out to Western Ma for the long weekend to see....


Carolyn and Jason

and

Amy and Noah

Some of my favorite people from my Western Ma and grad school days. I miss them and I cannot think of a better way to spend my time before starting a new chapter.

Lathario

HC decided to go out tonight without permission. He has been gone all night galavanting around the neighborhood. We have been letting him hang out on the deck when we are at the apt. He has been really good, tonight was no different, both him and Ramona were hanging out on the deck while I was making dinner and getting my stuff ready for tomorrow. He kept coming into the house and checking in and whenever I checked in on him he was lounging around doing nothing. Certainly not planning to escape. Then I took a quick shower and he was gone. Of course he disappeared right when Mel called. She was like, YOU lost the cat? Ummmm, he lost himself. I did not launch him off the deck. I walked the neighborhood twice, kept looking for him on the ground around my deck with a flashlight....yeah, nothing. Not even a rustle. I saw every other friggin cat in my 'hood except for him. Of course when I left to look for him the first time Ramona ate all of his food. It was like they were tag teaming me. Fuckers.
My lovely friends offered to come over and help me look, and I was going to get Mel but what could we do? It is not like a dog, where you go out and call their name.
Finally around 11pm I heard rustling below the deck and flashed my light and there was a possum. Gross. Then alas there HC was looking up at me. Thank god the possums were on the other side of the fence. He was stalking them.


So for the next hour I tried to get him to climb up to the porch with no luck. It seemed like he wanted to. Don't cats get stuck up trees, I thought up was easier then down? Finally I went out my front door and tried to get him to climb up the side of the house using the vines. I see cats in the 'hood jumping up and down there all the time. One of them did figure out how to get on my porch. Not HC, he just looked up at me meowing, with no clue. So I tried to figure out what I could lower to him to get him up, blankets, sheets etc. Then I emptied this basket I have and tied my kayak straps around the handles and put a open can of cat food in the middle. I figured I would just lower it and he would get in and I could heave him up.


I was just about to take the basket outside and guess who sauntered in the front door like nothing happened? What the hell? I want to know how he figured out how to get up the side of the house.
After his nightly adventures he is acting like nothing happened, roaming around on the counters like usual,



and is pretty wiped out. How nice for him. He is on my shit list again. He better sleep through the night.