Fly 'til I die...

I started the new job yesterday and fell in love immediately. For the first time in my young career I have my own office, not a cube, not just a desk, but an office. I won't be doing much in it for about a week while I train in the clean lab, but I'm stoked that I've got a little bit of property to call my own. I told Melissa we need to go to Target and get a couple of lamps and some pictures to decorate or something. The lady that works across the hall has pimped hers out nicely. I'm a little jealous, but ladies are good at that kind of stuff. The lady training me now told me that she loves working there and that I would, too. Everyone has been great and laid back. It's quite a 180 from the pace I grew accustomed to over the past three years. One perk I'm looking forward to is the massages every other Friday. Melissa's a little envious of that. I think she'll push for that at her work.

We went to the range tonight and I watched Melissa empty clips from a .45 and a 9mm. She was quite the crackshot! I have the target to prove it! You don't want to mess with this little lady! She'll fix your wagon (read in a John Wayne voice).

To trump my previous depressing post, I received an offer from the biotech company in Cordova yesterday afternoon-finally! More money, better benefits...taste and see that the LORD is good! I dropped to my knees in prayer and thanked Him after I received the call. It took 4 weeks for them to get back to me! Leavin' a brother in suspense! I kept telling myself to be patient, but it was hard! Some of my thoughts that I would ultimately get the job: 1) God put me in a house in Cordova for a reason. 2) God knew it was on my heart for a while now that I would really love to work somewhere out here if possible, but I was thinking Bartlett was my best bet at UT Cancer Center. I had no idea this place was out here. I just happened to find out about this place when I was cleaning out my desk and cold-called them to inquire. The rest is history.

To celebrate, I went to the driving range to get my proper swerve on for my annual fraternity golf outing this weekend. The putting game still needs work, but Rob helped me out in that department today while teaching Melissa how to do the same. She bought a starter set of clubs and Rob will begin teaching her soon. I'm looking forward to playing quite a few rounds with my future spouse! I've got to say she looks dang sexy with a club in her hands and a little waggle!

We found a church today, Grace Evan., in Germantown and have settled on the date of Sept. 9. It's slowly starting to come together. My next steps are to call all my groomsmen and find a photographer. She's heading to find a dress.

I'm a little late in posting this, but my appeal to regain my employment was shot down. I got a letter this week saying the "separation" stands. It's peculiar that they're now calling it a "separation", not a termination or resignation. Also interesting is that I am eligible for rehire and they put me in touch with a recruiter I have worked with before. Either they realized that my former boss royally screwed up or their legal team advised them to compromise and save face. Either way, they're at least trying to help me. I've applied for a position only because I was advised to. I could do the job, but will I enjoy it? I've got to get past the interview part if they even call me in for one. The recruiter took the time to coach me about an interview after all that has happened. She basically said I had to be positive and be as honest as possible when the question is asked about why I left. I told her that for me to be honest, I would have to declare that I did not resign. I know saying that won't get me hired so it's going to be tricky. I was also advised to defer reference questions to the VP of HR since I do not want them to contact my former boss.

Then, there is the whole issue of my loss of my vacation and sick time, my three years of consecutive service, my parking space, lost wages, and my name being pulled from the biggest publication of my career. I'm probably going to have to just let that last one go. Today, I devised a plan to recover some of the former if they give me an offer. Ideally, I'd like to get the other job I applied for, but no word yet on that. The good news is that I got approved for unemployment benefits-$275/week, baby, yeah! Hey, it's better than nothing! Bring on week 5 of boredom...