So much to say

I don't know where to begin. I know the rule: Start at the very beginning, it's the very best place to start. But I have 1,000 thoughts that weave together to form the tapestry that is this week. I guess we'll just take it one day at a time.

Following Monday's "Dating in the Dark" detox, I spent six hours looking for a home in Sugarhouse with one of my future roommates, Leslie. My phone was fully charged in the morning and completely dead by the time I went to bed. I'm pretty positive that we encountered every personality type imaginable. A few highlights that come to mind include arriving early to an appointment to see an apartment in a fourplex. I approached the front door because I saw someone inside but then it dawned on me that it could be the current tenant. As I turned around to abort the mission, a man came to the door and told me that he was painting and to come back at the scheduled time. Luckily this glorious fourplex was across the street from a consignment shop. We spent about ten minutes perusing through the vintage jewelry and "Prada" bags. The clerk mentioned that there was more in the back. More was an understatement. The back was filled with an assortment of patent leather platform shoes, showgirl costumes, leather skirts, and mother of the bride dresses. We tried on insanely high healed shoes and took pictures. Unfortunately they are on Leslie's camera. After walking through...no. Upon entering the apartment we knew that we were not interested. At all. But the owner was so nice and we didn't have the heart to tell him that we had no intention of turning the application in. The shared coin-operated washer and dryer in the dark and dank basement along with the huffandpuffandblowitdown garage were not enough to sway us.

To end the day, we saw a four bedroom house just off of 700 East and...I-80. It was basically under the viaduct. A free spirit owns the place and resides there with her two daughters, four dogs, and cat. The piano will be staying. There is an "extra bedroom" that they will be filling. And the storage/water heater closet will be full, but they'll leave a path in case something happens. Oh and there is a garage, but it will be full of stuff. Well, they'll leave a little room in case we have garage stuff to store. In response to this I said, "Like a car." Oh and there is a fire pit in the back yard. I guess it would be alright if you used it. Here is my daughter's room. We call it the Tinkerbell room. Purple bottom third, lime green stripe, pink to the top. Don't forget the dragonflies glued to the walls. Here is my other daughter's room. She lives under the sea. Deep blue with fish everywhere. I guess you could paint these rooms if you really wanted to. They'll probably be over it when we come back in two years. And here's there bathroom. Some people say it is a little bright. Open the door and BAM. The electric orange was blinding. Oh and one more thing. The school bus that is currently parked in the driveway, the one with children holding hands painted around it and the words, "We do kid parties," on the back: that's staying. SERENITY NOW. After all that looking, another future roommate found a perfect house here in Holladay that is bigger and nicer and the same price as our favorite Sugarhouse find. The next two days were spent trying to find a time that we could see the house.

Wednesday:
I went to interview at the U of U for an Academic Program Coordinator position with the Executive MBA program. It was fabulous. As the interview was winding down, the interviewer told me that they would contact me at the first of next week for a second interview. I told her that I was going to be out of town and she arranged for a second interview right then and there. Another good interview and an hour later I was on my way. I was very impressed with the office and the people I met and hopeful that I would get a call next week for the third round with the Assistant Dean. While I was at the lunch with Mother, I received a message from the VP of another company. He wanted to chat when I had a minute.

Thursday:
After a round of phone tag, I had a lovely chat with the VP which turned out to be an interview. I was expecting more of a "when can you come in to interview" chat rather than an actual interview. But at this point, whatever.

Today:
Donelle and I were just getting ready to go out to the pool this morning when my phone rang. It was the U of U calling to see if I could come in to meet with the Assistant Dean and a few other people this afternoon. Holy cow I think they really like me. Just before leaving for the interview, I received an email from another company asking if I could come in next Thursday to interview. The third and fourth interviews at the U were fantastic. As difficult as it is for me to swallow all the harsh words I've uttered against the U, I could not be more impressed with the people I have met and will hopefully be working with. They are going to make their decision by the end of next week. When I left the interview, I had a voice message from yet another HR department asking if I would be available to interview next week. FOUR long months of absolutely nothing (six phone interviews and one ten minute face-to-face) and now all of this. We looked at the house in Holladay tonight and I fell in love. We are turning our application in tomorrow and praying that we get it.

As difficult as these past four months have been, I wouldn't change any of it. I know exactly what I needed to learn from this experience and I have been strengthened in so many ways. I realize that it isn't over yet. The U could decide that someone else is a better fit, and we could very well not get the house. But it feels good to be making progress.

There is something to be said for setting goals and writing them down. But for me, blogging about my goals has taken things to a whole new level. If you recall, in my last post I said that I wanted to have a job and a house by the end of this week. I'm definitely closer than I have been in the past four months to making that happen. I know that it wasn't due to anything special that I did. But I'm pretty sure that I got a few extra prayers sent up in my behalf.

I am a firm believer in timing, now more than ever. Apparently now is the right time for companies to read my resume and express interest. A wise woman named Oprah once said, "God can dream a bigger dream than you can dream for yourself," and I think she is on to something. I try not to get this personal with my bliggity blog, but I'm guessing that most of my three readers have given up by now and I'm documenting this for myself.

This has been a week that I will always remember. Such a range of emotion but at the end of it all I feel peace. Sometimes life is hard. Without challenges, there is no progression. This is the hardest thing that I've ever had to deal with and it is nothing. I'm so grateful to have family and friends who love and support me. I hope you all know that I love you too.

P.S. I saw Julia & Julie...or is it Julie & Julia? Doesn't matter. It blew my mind. I had a smile on my face for 85% of the movie. Ladies, go see it. But call me first because I have to see it again. Meryl Streep was brilliant and Amy Adams was reminiscent of Meg Ryan in the You've Got Mail days. I loved that it was about real people. No huge dilemma or drama, just living life and finding fulfillment. Be warned that there is an unnecessary F-bomb.