So my first week of working from home is done. So far it’s been good, and I haven’t missed being around other people. I didn’t form any really close attachments to my coworkers, but I guess it was nice to be in their presence.

Anyway, I used to do way too much websurfing because otherwise the tasks were too monotonous and there was always just a steady stream of stuff—never an end in sight.

With this job I definitely need the internet, and it is a necessity that I be connected via email, IM, etc. Despite this connectedness, I have barely looked at all the webpages I used to frequent at my old job. Part of that might be because my boss have been talking to me for a good portion of each day, but so far the majority might be that I have a variety of things that need to be done that are interesting. I definitely won’t be running out of things to do any time soon, but at the same time it’s not all the same task, which keeps it interesting.

Hmm though, it does make me wonder how many posts I’ll be able to think up if I don’t have coworkers to observe or a commute to work. It seriously needs to stop raining long enough so that I think it’s safe to venture outdoors for lunch sometime! Of course, I said that earlier this week, but it rained again today.

Posted at 9:55 PM | (0)

This evening marks the completion of my second day of working from home, and so far it’s gone all right. I spent much of the first day talking to my new boss and going over all the different clients and projects, and I swear I don’t know how he didn’t lose his voice.

I’ve been too busy reading up on stuff to go stir crazy, but even if I did, I couldn’t have gone anywhere. It’s been raining pretty hard all day, which sucks. Good thing I stocked up on food to eat for lunch—though it will be nice once my schedule is more my own and I can walk down to State St. for some lunch.

Posted at 5:25 PM | (2)

Yesterday afternoon, as I was driving home from my last day at work, I got a phone call from my mom asking if I had any plans this weekend. It seems that she and my dad were thinking about coming up to visit me, which is something they have done much more often now that I don’t share a house with a bunch of eccentric people. I said I had no plans, and so, they came up this afternoon to spend the day with me (and, according to my dad, to see my new office. Ha ha!).

While it was beautiful and warm outside yesterday, today my parents arrived to gloomy, overcast skies, and occasional mist/drizzle. We ate lunch and did some shopping, but got stuck in a bit of light drizzle as we walked back to our car. This is of course the downside to an open-air mall—there is nowhere to go to escape the rain whle trying to get to your car in the open-air parking lot.

So after the shopping we just hung out in my apartment and talked, had some popcorn, and watched some TV. At any rate, it was a nice afternoon. Of course, when they decided to leave, the sun was shining, the sky was blue, and all of the clouds had drifted over to the mountains. Figures.

Posted at 6:25 PM | (0)

Today is it. The last day in the corporate rat race. I’ve still got a few hours to go, and I’m certainly not leaving until I get that last paycheck, but so far it’s a pretty mellow day.

My department threw me a little party with some food, a funny little example of our new system signed by everyone, and a gift certificate for Starbucks (in case I need to get out of my apartment when I start the new job.) It seemed like more people than usual came to gather for the event, and one of the editors also offered to buy me a drink from the gourmet coffee truck that comes to the office every day, which I of course accepted. Free stuff!

I then went during what would’ve been my lunch if I hadn’t eaten a bunch of food in the office to CompUSA to buy a USB headset for communicating with my new bosses. Said purchase will of course be reimbursed, but what stands out about this transaction is that I had quite possibly the most unenthusiastic cashier imaginable. She was monotone and really seemed like she hated the fact that she was there, and just going through the motions. Poor girl.

Anyway, it seems like I will be missed (at least for a little while)—everyone made it seem like I contributed a lot and was always fast, professional, and highly competent, so I guess we’ll see what happens once I’m gone. I think they are freaking out at least a little bit, because they’ve already started interviewing for my job, and I’m not even gone yet! So, that makes me feel at least a little important.

But, on to bigger and better things…

Posted at 1:13 PM | (6)

Half-way through my last week and this afternoon is dragging. Here’s a song meme for anyone else feeling the same way. No real running theme, but it seems the iPod was in a bit of a ska mood. Sometimes it seems that the random mode isn’t truly random. Anyway, here is the list. Good luck!!

1. So go on, forget your O-S-C-A-R. There’s one meat by-product that’s best by far. Spam by Save Ferris guessed by: Cephyn

2. Buy some candy and cigarettes and we’ll get in my car. We’ll blast the stereo and we’ll drive to Madagascar. M&M’s by Blink 182 guessed by: Royal Hunter

3. And I give it all away, just to have somewhere to go to. Give it all away, to have someone to come home to. My December by Linkin Park guessed by: Cephyn

4. Let’s play Twister, let’s play Risk, yeah, yeah, yeah yeah. I’ll see you in heaven if you make the list. Man on the Moon by REM guessed by: Cephyn (and Alicia)

5. Man I know I got to go, it’s the same thing every time. But I don’t think another drink’s gonna make me lose my mind. You and Me and the Bottle Makes Three by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy guessed by: Cephyn

6. Four more exits to my apartment, but I am tempted to keep the car and drive, and leave it all behind.

7. Lie to me, I promise I’ll believe. Lie to me, but please don’t leave. Strong Enough by Sheryl Crow guessed by: Royal Hunter

8. Some say better things will come our way. No matter what they try to say, you were always there for me. Someday by Sugar Ray guessed by: Lisa

9. No more flipping burgers, putting on my silly hat, you know I don’t want that no more. Sell Out by Reel Big Fish guessed by: Alicia

10. Don’t you think I know exactly where I stand? This world is forcing me to hold your hand. Just a Girl by No Doubt guessed by: Alicia

Posted at 3:40 PM | (11)

Hehe, a new Windows-based system was finally implemented Monday here at work, after years and years of development. This system replaces an old DOS-based(!) system. My timing for leaving is great, as it corresponds not only with the chaos that will ensue due to this new system, but also with my supervisor’s planned extended absence. Should be fun for those left behind!

Sometimes I feel a little bad, but other times not so much! There were pros and cons to working for this company, and while it sucks that all of my work will fall on one girl, effectively doubling her load, the powers that be turned down my nice offer to help out temporarily during off-hours. So if they are too cheap to consider the offer (they basically handled it by not telling me no, but by pretending in a way that I didn’t ask and telling me let everyone know that the other girl will be the temporary contact person. Nice and subtle), I guess I can’t feel too bad. And the other girl would leave right now if she could too—though she’ll definitely be gone by the end of the year.

Gotta love the corporate environment (although I don’t as of Friday!) ;)

Posted at 2:30 PM | (0)

B9 D T+ K S+ F I O+ X- E++ L+ C Y4 R- W- P+ M5 N- H

If you’ve got a blog, what’s your code?

Posted at 10:41 AM | (3)

Today being St. Patrick’s Day, I made sure to wear some green—don’t want to get pinched, you know! It’s also a bit rainy today so out of my many green items of clothing I picked my warm green sweater. Unfortunately, I was almost late for work because I wear said sweater with a turtleneck and I COULD NOT find my white turtleneck. I tore apart my room and threw all the clothes out of my dresser to no avail. So now, not only does my room look like a tornado, but still no turtleneck. I did find a crème-colored one, but it’s not the white one for which I was searching. Oh well.

Today is also Friday, which means I’ve only got one more week to go at my current job before I join the ranks of the “work from home”. Talk about time flying, it hardly seems like a full work week has gone by since I gave notice. 10 days till I start the new job…

Posted at 1:11 PM | (0)

Walking toward my car, the sky was bright, though filled with heavy clouds. No rain. As soon as I pulled out of the parking lot, giant drops started hitting my car. Not a downpour, but more just large drops hitting the ground in a staggered pattern.

This provided the perfect scene for a rainbow. I saw a full one stretch across the sky, along with a fainter, partial rainbow to the right of it. A double rainbow, how awesome is that? It’s times like this that make you remember how awesome nature is. I did a report on rainbows for my high school physics class. Rainbows kick ass!

Taken with my camera phone while stopped at a light. In real life the rainbow was prettier and the sky wasn’t actually that dark, but hey what do you want from an on-the-go shot taken with a cell phone? :)

Posted at 6:46 PM | (1)

Ok, it’s Monday, so as promised, I am revealing what my mysterious Friday post was all about.

As you know if you read my entries (unless you’re the type that skims ;)), I do some freelance web work in my spare time. It’s been a nice way to earn some extra money and do something that I find fun.

Anyway, there had been generalized talks for a bit, but recently they came to me in a more serious fashion stating that they wanted me to come work for them full-time. On Friday they presented me with the “official” offer and legal contracts.

Even though I was pretty sure by this point that I was going to take it (it’s more money and more interesting work than what I do currently), I still used the weekend to ponder the particulars and study exactly what parts of my soul I might be signing away in all the legalese. I conferred with a few people, and basically not one single person told me not to take it.

It could be a little risky, as I am the first employee they are bringing on board, bringing the total number of full-time people in the company to 3. However, I don’t make a ton in my current job, so if this doesn’t work out, I suppose I can always find another job of a similar nature. This opportunity is cool in that I didn’t have to seek it out—it basically came to me and they think I’m totally awesome. It’s probably the best way for me to break into web development type stuff—considering that I really don’t have much in the way of resume experience in this area (most of what I’ve done has just been for my own, personal blog).

So, I submitted my resignation to my current job, emailed the new job that I accept, and mailed off the required forms, so I guess you could say it’s a done deal.

In two weeks I’ll have a new job. I will be working from home, so maybe I will have to scout out all the places with free wi-fi, in case I go stir crazy in my apartment. On the plus side though, who doesn’t wish they could stay home and work in their pajamas? :)

Posted at 1:16 PM | (11)

Another storm rolled through Santa Barbara this weekend, bringing with it….SNOW! This is actually the second time this year our little mountains have gotten snow, and that’s quite something considering this town prides itself on being a mild temperature year-round.

Today, however, the rain has been just a few sprinkles, so Steve and I checked out Sambo’s for breakfast. This restaurant has a reputation as being a good place to go for breakfast, and has a nice view of the ocean/harbor. It’s a good thing the rain had stopped, because we were seated outside. It proved to be a very good idea that I brought my warm jacket, and with it on I was able to enjoy sitting outside without getting cold.

The breakfast was good, although a bit pricier than our usual haunt, Cajun Kitchen. I’m not sure if they charge more because of their long-standing reputation, the fact that they have the whole ocean-view thing going, or both. We’ll go back again, but probably when the temperatures warm up a bit.

Posted at 3:35 PM | (1)

I have a fairly big decision to make this weekend. I’ve known it was coming for awhile now, but now the time has come in no uncertain terms. I will provide more details on Monday, but it’s something potentially pretty cool and that I might not get presented an opportunity to do otherwise. At any other time it might also take more effort on my part to seek out such a thing.

What will I do? Tune in Monday!

Posted at 2:19 PM | (2)

This morning I heard about a website to save the 76 ball. For those of you who don’t know, 76 is a gas station, whose trademark symbol has been a giant orange ball with the number 76 spinning on the top of a pole. These gas stations were bought out by another company, and since that time they have been taking down all the balls and replacing them with flat, rectangular RED signs.

And people are upset!

This comes as no surprise to me. People like traditions and rarely like to see beloved icons changed. For instance, in Whittier there was a bank with a cone-like wire structure on their roof, strung with lights. Every year, starting the day after Thanksgiving, they would light the structure, making it look like a Christmas tree. Then the bank went out of business and a medical place moved in. The day after Thanksgiving came and…NO LIGHTS!! There was much unrest among those who felt that the tree was a tradition, a sacred event that the medical people MUST uphold. Eventually the complaining did get results and now the tree is always lit up at the appropriate times.

Now the time has come for people to complain about giant orange balls. In a way, I kinda agree. I like the orange balls. I like how they get decorated as jack-o-lanterns every Halloween. What will Halloween be without giant orange gas station jack-o-lanterns? The future is not looking good for these pop culture icons.

“To everything (except orange gas station balls) turn, turn, turn…”

Posted at 9:30 AM | (1)

On Monday night, Steve and I went out to dinner for his birthday. While deciding on a place to eat, we were hit with a startling realization—it’s almost impossible to dine out past 9pm.

It was 8:30 when we went about trying to find places, and even those that said they closed at 9 were closing earlier that evening, due to it being a slow night. It didn’t help that it had been a little rainy all day, probably making people reluctant to venture out of doors. We did find a place open late and went there, but it wasn’t his first choice, unfortunately.

But seriously, there need to be more restaurants open until at least 10 or 11pm. We can’t be the only people who wait to eat until later, or who get hungry past 7pm. Unfortunately, this is a sleepy little town during the week, and everything looks dead after dark. Few cars on the road, few people out and about, it’s very strange, especially when you contrast it to the days and weekend nights. Because of this, I fear that there is probably little profit in staying open later when no one will patronize your dining establishment. But still! Those places should stay open later—they should anticipate our desire to eat there that evening and thus not close before we get there. The rest of the time they can close when they please! :)

Posted at 5:43 PM | (3)

Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday, Steve. Hope it’s the best year yet. :)

Posted at 2:14 PM | (0)

Steve’s birthday is coming up, so I had to trek to the stores to get him a gift. Gift-giving used to be so much easier it seems—especially before people my age started working full time. What do you get for people when they all make enough to buy whatever they want/need?

In a fruitless search on Wednesday night, I walked away with nothing for him, but with some new stuff for me. Woops! It seems I can never resist buying myself something when I’m doing “serious” shopping. Possibly because I go so seldomly that it’s usually time for some new items. It’s probably not a good idea to just frivolously spend money like that, but then I rationalize that as long as I’m not digging myself a financial hole, what’s the big deal? What’s the point of working to earn money if you can’t buy what you want with it?

Anyway, today he gave me more specific direction for the gifts so I spent my lunch hunting down something suitable—it’s amazing how quickly an hour flies when that’s all the time you have to shop. Hopefully he’ll like it.

Posted at 8:09 PM | (2)