Resignation

It was such a relief to finally get a new job! I have been ready to leave my job from hell for months and I finally can. Once I had the offer in hand, I gave my notice the next day. It was better than I could have expected! I have been dreaming for months about being able to walk into work and say "I quit" and that moment was finally here. It felt so good! I have not been able to wipe the smile off my face. One of my co-workers told me I was absolutely beaming! I am indeed. It's such a relief that I feel 1000 times better to be leaving the stress and dysfunction of my group.

In preparing to quit, I realized that in I haven't done it in awhile. I was laid off from my last two jobs which made resigning rather redundant. I have been transitioning and purging all this week. It's amazing what you accumulate over four years in the same job. The hardest part is definitely leaving the people I have come to know. I sent out my "Farewell" email with my contact information and the responses I have gotten back are so kind and sweet and touching I am trying not to cry when I read them. I wish that my company could have gotten it's act together and I could have transferred to something else. But they treated me so badly that I am glad to be having a clean break. I can't wait to start my new job!

Snow Day

Today was a great day. Actually this has been a great week for a few reasons I'm not ready to post here yet. I went into work for the morning but as the snow totals kept creeping up, I headed home. It was a very fast storm as it took about ten minutes from the first flake to fall for the roads to start to get covered. It was snowing so hard at points that the poor dog was completely snow covered standing in the yard.

We just got back in from brushing off the car and taking a walk around the block. I love everything about snow, but that quiet hush that falls over everything is really something. People were just starting to dig out and pull their kids on their sleds in the road.

Chock Full of Holiday Spirit

It was off to NYC this past weekend to see the sights and wrap up the birthday celebration of my friend. We left on Saturday morning and arrived in Grand Central just in time to see a stream of Santas. One after another they flowed into the station. No one had any idea why. After we got home we found out it was a Santa Bar crawl. I think I am not alone in amazing at how many people have Santa outfits!
Out hotel was conveniently located so we dropped the bags and headed out for lunch.
Barbecue of course! We hit the MOMA and wandered into an exhibit of Latin American art that was nothing like either of us had expected. She's an artist and I love going to museums with arty people. They have such a different perspective on things it's fun to watch.

Heading back to the hotel, we took 5th Avenue to try to get out first glimpse of the tree. The throng of people was impenetrable so we took a shortcut via Banana Republic and viola, there it was. It's a pretty tree this year.

Dinner was in SoHo and we had a great meal. Post dinner was a fun trip to a good smelling store and walk through the village. We hit Rockefeller Center late and the crowd had thinned a bit. Seeing all the lights, the tree, the people, the Saks window and snowflake display put me right in the heart-swelling holiday spirit good will towards men kind of mood. Until my toes were run over by another baby stroller.

We were two tired girls as we sank into bed that night and were up bright and early to hunt down a breakfast place. We wandered around SoHo again and I showed off my favorite store and solved a vexing camisole mystery. It was such a fun trip!

When Life Hands You a Five Pack

That was my life Friday night when I stopped at Trader Joe's to get some pre-party supplies. I got to the register and the clerk and I both realized at the same time my 6-pack of beer was a bottle short. I have no clue where it went, but got a 6-pack with all 6-instead. I was worried this might be a harbinger of how the party was going to go. I did not need to worry.

My Mom arrived and offered up some tremendously needed help, along with a wreath for my door. She and I both foodied out at the new grocery store in my town. It was so bitterly cold on Saturday it was a perfect night to light up the fire place. When my friends arrived, they greatly appreciated the heat!

After cooking and cleaning all day, it was nice to catch up with everyone. It was a great chance for everyone to come together and get to know each other. Plus, I think the birthday girl had fun. The food was great, if I do say so myself. The spiced nuts with sugared bacon were a hit (thanks NY Times Food Section). The baked brie was so good I will make that all the time now. My favorite red lentil dip went over well. For the main course it was lemon and herb risotto with chicken piccata. And the peanut butter cupcakes with chocolate frosting hit the spot. It was such a fun evening I can't wait to do it again. Once I get rid of these dishpan hands that is!