2009: Time for a new adventure

Ah, December 31st. Here we are again. This has been QUITE a year. To sum up:

I graduated from McGill University with great distinction.

 I spent 2 weeks vacationing in Hawaii with my Dad and step-mom. 

I worked and traveled in Italy for 3 amazing months. (My dermatologist would scold me, but I miss that tan!)

 And to top it all off, I found a job and a sweet apartment in Boston where I will be welcoming 2009. 

So here's to fondly cherishing memories of the past year and embracing those that will be made in the year to come. Cheers!

Simple gifts

I am an only child with four parents. So, basically that means, I love Christmas.

This is the time of year to get sappy, so I'm going to do it up right. If you don't have the stomach for gushy, I suggest you stop reading now. 

Yes, I get showered with presents, and I'm not gonna lie, that's pretty sweet. But so much more importantly than that, because I have four families, I am surrounded by a lot of love, and it makes me feel little-girl-special (I just made that overly-hyphenated word up, but I trust you get the picture). Yes, there's a lot of stress, a ton of craziness, even a short temper or two, but, also a lot of love. 

I would like to say that I am grateful. I am so grateful for so many things. You know that trick of counting your blessings as you fall asleep? Yeah, I actually do that, and I've never run out. I won't enumerate them here, cause that might get tedious for you, but I just want to point out that I am acutely aware of how fortunate I am, and it inspires me to work harder to be a better person. 

I am poised on the brink of a new chapter in my life - a big one, some might even say THE one. I am excited, and nervous, apprehensive, curious and a hundred other adjectives, but I am also ready. I am prepared for this; I know I'll be able to handle it. And the reason that I am now in this tremendous position is due in very large part to my incredible support network. 

Yes I have worked hard to get here, but where did that work-ethic come from I wonder? That's right, by the positive and thoughtfully crafted examples of my families and friends. I owe so much to you all, and you make me smile! I know some of you are far away, some of you don't even know I have a blog, but I feel the need to just put this out there, to know that it's bouncing around cyberspace. Articulating my gratitude this way makes it that much more tangible and sincere. So, in the simplest of words, thank you, merci beaucoup and grazie mille.

Mission. Accomplished.

Well. As you've probably guessed from my absence here, I've been busy. Yes, that's right - this unemployed girl is unemployed no more! I start my first real world job January 5th. How about that? Pretty crazy huh? The past couple weeks have been a whirlwind. I actually had, not 1 but 2 job offers; one with a brokerage firm in downtown Boston and one in a youth staff position with Royal Caribbean. Now as some of you know, I've been talking about working on a cruise ship for a couple years now. And yet, without hesitation I found myself gravitating towards the more responsible, grown-up job. What gives? Well, in the words of Inigo Montoya, lemme esplain. 

The cruise ship position is a 7 day a week, 10 hour a day position with a five month contract. Those are loooong hours working with little bratty kids on vacation. I would be living in a 10x10 room with another person. I'm an only child - I'm used to having my space, thank you. Yes room and board are accounted for, but the wages are still piddly. But the biggest downer, I realized, was that after that 5 mo contract, unless I signed up for a second contract (fat chance), I'd be back where I started - living at home and looking for a job in a horrendous employment market. 

The brokerage firm, though not where I initially envisioned myself, is a small company that employs mostly young people. I was surprised to find that it had a fun, youthful vibe. They go out together after work for drinks, baseball games, you name it. And they bring their friends. In terms of relocating, what better network could you ask for? And being part of such a small firm, I would be learning a ton about the business. So if it turns out this stuff does interest me, it's a terrific foundation.

I got a call the day after the interview with the offer. Holy crap - things happened fast! So then I had to find an apartment. I spent last Sunday in the city with a friend of mine who came as my moral support and sounding board. We went all over, spent hours on the T, but the last place we looked at was just beautiful. The girl who would be my roommate was friendly, and more importantly - she seemed pretty normal. She travels a lot for work, so I'd have the place to myself a lot of the time. Let me tell you about this place to myself: soaring ceilings, exposed brick, structural beams, open floor plan with an island in the kitchen (with dishwasher - hallelujah!), a and a freakin' baby grand piano. No joke. Got a call the next day to say that I got the apartment. I'm getting used to this instant gratification business. 

But honestly, things have just spun around since Thanksgiving. I now have a job and an apartment in the big city. And the nice bonus about starting after the holidays is that I still get to go on my Florida vacation with my family. Leaving this afternoon. Gotta go pack! Check ya later! 

PS: yeah... I know this post isn't as finely crafted and witty as some of my better work, but I had a lot to catch you up on! So get over it :)