An update, sans witty title

 

I know what you’re thinking - “What, you usually have a witty title? Did I miss it?” Well ha-HA.

Just a quick update on the happenings in California. Here’s what’s up in the OC …

Matthew and I have our new apartment ready to move into in 11 days. We will be living in Costa Mesa, spitting distance from South Coast Plaza, and much closer to work. The apartment is cute, and more “grown up” than the last one (we might even take a stab at actually decorating it, rather than just living there … but we’ll see!) and well located so we’re really excited.

I am taking Spinning training in early December, so I will add another class on to my instructing “belt”. I have already received and read the instructors manual and written my first profile so I’m definitely excited!

Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching (I can’t believe it’s November already!) We are doing early Thanksgiving in Bakersfield next Saturday (Matthew’s family always celebrates Thanksgiving early) so that will be fun.

Also, Matthew and I are off to Palm Springs for a week at the end of this month for our third anniversary. Still debating whether to keep him around for a fourth … hehe!

Had a good weekend, pretty low key, went to the Creperie on Saturday night with Matthew and Michael Jung (thanks Mike!) and just ran errands etc.

Pat Walsh is doing well, but is suffering from some post-traumatic amnesia … does not remember the accident and needs to be re-told it, and is having trouble forming new memories so he gets confused about where he is, etc. I suppose an accident without any such problems would be next to impossible, so keep up your prayers that his recovery goes great.

Anyone else want to give their own update?

 

28 Responses to “An update, sans witty title”

  1.  

    Congrats on the new apartment. Less time on the 405 will be sweet.
    it’s been crazy busy these last few weeks in boston-James’s aunt passed away unexpectedly, poor Jackson got attacked by bugs at the park (apparently there are ticks out here at parks-ewww 1st and last trip to the park lol), been trying to track down the sectional we bought 2 months ago that has yet to be delivered, and school is insane. Tell Matt a happy belated b-day. When you guys go to palm springs stop at cabazon(great shopping outlets!). I am coming home for x-mas break on dec. 17 and James comes out west for New Yrs till I leave. we should hang.

  2.  

    The 405 is the bane of my existence so yup it will be nice to cut that time down!

    So sorry to hear about James’ aunt and Jackson’s vicious attack - lol. And yes their are ticks - you are on the East Coast!

    You ordered a couch TWO MONTHS ago and it hasn’t been delivered?! It’s not like they can lose it in the mail!

    A trip to Cabazon is totally on the agenda … oh wait that requires money! Ah, I’ll find some. Lol.

    How long you in Cali for?

  3.  

    I thought there were ticks just in CT, not in Mass. I will no longer look at the grass the same. :(
    Yeah we ordered the couch from Jordan’s Furniture which is like a huge furniture store out here-think two levels of all kinds of furniture that entices family with a jelly belly store and Imax movies. Apparently, we picked a popular model that everyone wants, so it keeps getting delayed. So every few days we put in our call to get a new date. lol. They did take some money off though.

    True cabazon costs money, but if you look on the bright side, it is cheaper than full price, so you are actually saving money. lol

    In cali for 3 weeks, save two days in vegas for ny’s. you guys are welcome to come if you want. should be interesting, but majorly crowded.

    are you guys headed out east this year?

  4.  

    You thought ticks knew state borders?! haha!

    Would love to come to Vegas, but we have Palm Springs, plus Hawaii for a wedding in March, so money is very tight and the budget won’t allow it. (Seriously, there’s a budget. In Excel and everything. With formulas. Lol!)

    And hence, not heading East this year either. We’re doing Xmas up in Sanger with Matthew’s family this year (last year was CT so it only seems fair!)

  5.  

    I need to rant…

    My boss is a jerk. More than that, she is a fat jerk! Why does she think ignoring my requests (for a letter AND a grade review) will make me stop asking? Does she not know that ignoring me only makes me more vocal?? Why does she delight in making my life miserable?

    I have come to realise that people within this organisation are cowards. They will not set a precedent or put their names on anything that will slightly rock the boat. Accoutability, maintaining the bottm line, and not relinquishing the status quo is all they are about. All of this from an organisation that promotes itself as a forerunner in removing social stigmas from disability.

    I have got to get out of this job…

  6.  

    Well I saw them in CT. I hadnt seen one here. Plus it is quite suburban here. I had thought of thema as scary evil woodsy creatures. Although now i have done way to much research on them, and now know the extent of their evil wrath.

    bummer you guys cant go to vegas. totally understand the lack of fundage. we dont have a spreadsheet but james did limit me to two vacations per yr. lol.

    Sorry nat that your boss sucks. can you go to HR and talk to them about it? Why is it that incompetent people always seem to be the boss of others? have you heard anything about your appeal to come out here?

  7.  

    Aw, I’m sorry Natty. You will just have to open a can of whoop-ass on her. Does SHE have a boss you can go to???

  8.  

    Lisa HR are part of the problem! They have given me 12 months unpaid leave so I can prove ongoing employment in Aus when I interview with the consulate again, however, getting them to put that in writing seems to be difficult. It appears no one wants to be held accountable if they were ever questioned about it.

    Michele, as far as my bosses boss goes she is a) as spineless as the rest of the organisation and b) on leave till Monday.

    I tell you, I may have been given leave but I sure as hell ain’t taking it. I am resigning as soon as I get a visa. It’s a pitty too, I would have come back to this place had they treated me better.

  9.  

    Well if it makes you feel any better, my old work’s HR was retarded too. Apparently, last week, 3 months after I worked there this summer, they decided to put random money in my acct, and then instead of just reversing it the cheap bastards didnt want to pay the charge and tried to get me to send a check in. After I threatened to go to the labor board, since they shouldnt have access to my account, they finally rectified things.

    that sucks though. does the letter have to be on their letterhead? can you type it up and have them sign it to try and push them along, although they probably want it on company letterhead. sometimes if you make it as easy as possble for them, as most people are extremely lazy, they are more inclined to do it. when is your interview?

  10.  

    So, update from Marklandia… Just sat through 6hrs of mock exams and am absolutely shattered! And… I have to go out drinking with boys tonight!

    Other than that, things are going apace this way. Not much else to note which hasn’t been noted elsewhere.

    Hope things get a bit better natty, am keeping the fingers crossed re visa for you. :-)

  11.  

    Lisa, pity they realized they’d put the money in there by mistake! Lol.

    Oh, poor Markey. I think you need a beer or twelve!

  12.  

    12 beers Michele? Everyone knows there are 24 in a slab! Speaking of which, VB are bringing back the Boony doll (and adding the Botham doll for good measure) for the Ashes series. I sooooo want one but will need to off load 24 stubbies….think that will be hard?!

    Sorry to hear about the exams Mark….bottoms up hey!

  13.  

    Matthew would happily help you! Except the shipping is kind of pricey …

  14.  

    I did think of shipping them over to Matthew. Might still do it too as a house warming gift for your new apartment….

  15.  

    Okay now you’re talking crazy talk. Do you know how much that would cost?!

  16.  

    I have no idea…hence it is still only a thought!

  17.  

    Ok, so upon further thought - and a quick browse on auspost.com.au - one cannot send a slab of beer to the USA due to customs restrictions. I could, if I was so inclined, post 2 stubies a month for a year though…..

  18.  

    Natty i don’t like VB, but so want the botham doll to go with my boony one from last year. though sadly they wouldn’t work here. As there was nothing as bizarre as watching the cricket last year and soundly hearing boony tell you it’s time for a beer

  19.  

    Ahh, feeling ok today, completely passed out last night at about 8.30pm!! :-p So much for the stupidly large one (though i was drinking from 4.30 that day)… through to Liverpool tomorrow night though, so that one will be a late one!

    Oooh, and on a seperate note, Will and I are going to see Australia play in the Rugby World Cup next year! Booked tickets last night! Woooo! :-D

  20.  

    Forget my earlier comment about ranting. Now I REALLY need to vent…

    Just got home from a few drinks with a friend from work (yes, I am making new friends) and thought I’d give HR one last chance to rectify the leave letter situation. 5.15pm Friday….we cannot provide a letter untill we have a departure date confirmed by you.

    Now, I am seeking this letter to secure a visa. I have explained this to them. Wouldn’t it then make sense that I cannot confirm a date for said leave without having the letter to prove to the consulate that I have ongoing employment to secure my visa to actually require the leave in the first place?

    Why are these people trying to make me cry????

  21.  

    Ok they are complete idiots. Do they not realize how circular they are being? Can you just pick a date-like a hypothetical one just to get them to give you a letter?

  22.  

    OH MY GOD!!!!!!!

    Here’s a crazy idea … they are giving you a leave of absence, correct. Meaning you can come back to your job.

    Tell them, FINE, THEN I LEAVE AS OF TWO WEEKS! You get to relax and NOT work! Lol. And if the visa doesn’t work out, you just go back to work.

    GRRR! I’m sorry Natty.

    PS. Markey you’re not as pathetic as me - I went to bed at 8pm without having been drinking! (Tired, hard brain day.)

  23.  

    That is so smart Michele! Two weeks off and then back to work if leave plan does not work out, and if they need proof of departure all Natalie has to do is buy a refundable ticket to the US that has a departure date. Then she can show it to HR and then cancel the ticket for a small fee. Sounds like a plan.

    Also I would love you forever if you were my beer connection.

  24.  

    so it’s true then hey, the way to mans heart is through his stomach!

  25.  

    Actually, it’s through his liver …

  26.  

    Nope you are all wrong, it is through his wang.

  27.  

    gutter….

  28.  

    yet oh so true… :-p

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