No more pencils, no more books...

I'm free! Well, I will be, as of tomorrow afternoon.

After nearly five years with "the company," I am moving on to what I hope will be greener pastures. About a year ago, I moved from one division of "the company" into another. What a mess - after I gave my two weeks notice, I cried at my desk every single day. Deep in my heart, I knew that it was the wrong decision, but I was pissed off and stubborn and hotheaded. What a mistake.

Fast forward to today - when I gave my two weeks notice this time around, no tears - actually, no emotion whatsoever, which was odd for me. I didn't feel anything. So, I am going into the office tomorrow morning to tie up some loose ends, and then I am done - no work for two whole weeks, then moving into a new position at a new company. Nice.

This is truly the end of an era for me - my job, "the company" has practically been my whole life for so long - my first real post-college gig. For years, I have defined myself not by who I am, but by what I do.

But change is good.

Road Trip!

I just found out that I will be spending the first weekend in August in Virginia with two of my closest friends for a girls' weekend! Hooray!

My best friend moved out to Viriginia back in 2003 with her hubby, and I always love going to see her. We laugh and say that the farther apart we are, the closer our friendship grows - with me in NJ and her in VA, we email, talk and see each other more than when we both lived in NJ. And, now that I am moving to NY, we are already discussing weekend trips to see one another (thanks to Southwest). She also has a gorgeous baby boy who I can't wait to see - as "Auntie Amber," I am allowed - in fact, it is my responsibility - to spoil him silly!

Anyway, this looks like it is turning out to be one of those full-fledged female bonding weekends, complete with time scheduled for shopping, gossiping and watching Lifetime television. Can't wait!

So You Think You Can Dance??

With the impending move and everything else, there is so much going on and so much still to do in our little world. So what did we do last night? Sit on the couch and watch the newest addition to reality television, So You Think You Can Dance?

Good Lord. Many of the dancers were really good, but many were really bad - scary, actually. I could have went on there, done the robot, and had a better chance of making it!

I should be a decent dancer - I was classicly trained in ballet for many years (before boys and a social life got in the way) and the hubby and I have been taking ballroom dancing classes since before our wedding. I have grace and poise - I guess that it is just the thought of having others watch me while I dance that freaks me out.

Right now, I am trying to convince a good friend to try out for the next round of auditions - if the show makes it to a second season. She does musicals, teaches dance - and is very good at it. She would be perfect!

Hooray!

I have a new job!

After a few weeks of interviewing (and thinking long and hard about where I am, and where I want to be), I accepted a role with a small, privately-held company (much different from the ginormous organization that I currently work for).

My last day in my current role is next Friday. :-) (And no, I refrained from doing the "I quit" dance when handing in my resignation letter).

It's odd leaving the company I have been with for almost my entire post-college career, but strangely, I don't feel so bad. After the year I've had, I guess that I have realized that it is time to move on.

And the best part? We are moving out of state. Yikes!

Anyone looking to buy a home in Rockaway, NJ? :-)

Five!

Once again, borrowing from Darren:

10 years ago: I had just graduated from high school, and was getting ready for my freshman year of college at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Was getting over a really rotten relationship at the time. I worked at State Farm in the monthly payment plan department as a summer employee during the day, and partied with friends at night. I remember being so miserable then, but looking back on it, it was actually pretty fun.

5 years ago: I was 23, had been dating Ari for a little over a year and we had just moved in together, living at the Mountain Club. I was working at Reed Elsevier as an editor, but was in my final days at that job (have been with my current company just under five years). I believe that we went to Massachusetts for the 4th of July and spent time with Ari's college friends. The following month, we got our first dog, little Daisy. Life was good.

1 year ago: I was 27, a newlywed. I had recently made a career move that I ended up regretting (but life is a learning process, right)? My best friend just told me that she was pregnant. I threw a 30th birthday party for Ari, and we went to the White Meadow Lake festival day with Leslie, Joe and Dylan. Had one class and my thesis left to complete my master's degree.

Last Week: Was pretty low-key, but got most of my birthday shopping for Ari and my family done. We got to see my little nephew and some good friends. Work was work.

Yesterday: Worked a half-day in the office, a half-day from home. Got a phone call that changed my life. Went to a friend's house to drop off a baby gift and see the newest member of her family. Went to Wal-Mart for storage bins. Had hamburgers on the grill and fat free ice cream pie from Denville Dairy for dessert.

Today: My mom's birthday! Packed up my stuff for a weekend visit to my parents. Went to work, got some coffee. Will drive up to NY tonight with hubby and the pups, and will probably go to the best Friendly's in the world for dinner (treating my brother, of course!).

Tomorrow: My brother's birthday! Running around with hubby and my mom up in NY. Going to Bugaboo Creek for dinner. Mmmm...

5 snacks I enjoy: Cookies, ice cream, cake, carrots, french fries (of course, I don't eat most of it anymore - no wonder why I had a weight problem!).

5 bands/singers that I know the lyrics of MOST of their songs: The Cure, Our Lady Peace, Toad the Wet Sprocket, The Offspring, Green Day.

5 things I would do with $100,000,000: Take a vacation, pay bills (mine, my family's, and some friends), buy a new house, put aside money for my nephews' college education, quit my job (and do the "I quit!" dance in public).

5 locations I’d like to run away to: Disney World, St. Lucia, upstate NY, Vermont, Virginia (to see my best friend).

5 bad habits I have: Worrying too much about things, biting my fingernails, smoking (only occasionally), procrastinating, taking things too personally.

5 things I like doing: Shopping, reading, working out, spending time with hubby and the dogs, going to amusement parks.

5 things I would never wear: Leather pants, leg warmers, nail art, tube tops, culottes.

5 TV shows I like: Monk, Gilmore Girls, Celebrity Fit Club, Days of our Lives, Cold Case.

5 movies I like: Valley Girl, PCU, Dirty Dancing, Pee Wee's Big Adventure, Jingle All the Way.

5 famous people I’d like to meet: President and Laura Bush, Judge Judy, Wendy the Snapple Lady, and Gilad (from Bodies in Motion on FitTV).

5 favorite toys: My elliptical machine, Sirius satellite radio, Tivo, my pedometer, my cell phone.

5 people to tag: ?????

Clowns scare me.

Especially undercover cops dressed like clowns. No joke.

I am watching an old episode of "Cops" on CourtTV, and there is an undercover cop who is dressed like a clown, picking up hookers. The prostitutes get into the car and get a kick out of the costume and the noisemakers. After they state their price, the clown describes the kind of sex he wants, then sprays them with silly string. They pull into a motel, where the cops are waiting to take the hookers away.

I swear to God, I am not making this up - hubby is watching it too! How odd...

Of course, not all clowns scare me - I kinda want to marry Ronald McDonald, so I can get cheeseburgers, french fries and chicken nuggets anytime I want...

Um... hi.

I'm back, after somewhat of a hiatus - is it possible to have so much going on in your head, that you can't even blog? As for my last post, no news yet - but no news can be good news, right?

Today is my hubby's birthday - happy 31st to him! I know that he is having a great day at work today, and we are going out for dinner tonight with his mother, than home for some Denville Dairy ice cream cake - the best - and presents! Since our favorite restaurant isn't open on Mondays, the two of us will be going out for a nice romantic dinner tomorrow night.

Of course, this weekend wasn't too shabby either. We went out to Long Island on Saturday to see Ari's sister, brother-in-law, and 7-year-old nephew (who was being a little crankypants, but is still a lovable little thing). Saturday night, Ari treated himself to a very expensive birthday present - a Dyson! We took it right home and sucked the dog hair off the couch. Does getting a little too excited about vacuum cleaners mean that we're getting old? And yesterday we spent the day at the lake with one of my closest friends, her boyfriend and his family. Boat rides, waverunners, margaritas - it was nice.

Is it Friday yet? I need another weekend!