On my way

Yay! Off to Seattle! Well Tuckwilla, a suburb of Seattle.

Actually I’m not that excited. But I am trying to psych myself up. I hate traveling alone.

I’m off to Seattle for RMT training. REI sends all new supervisors off to Retail Management Training for a week to give them all the tools they need to be successful supervisors. Apparently, the first two months is just to make you realize how much training you need. I’m kidding. I think it’s actually a pretty good plan in that you get a few months of experience to draw from during training.

Today’s a travel day. My only objective is to make it from Sacramento to Seattle. And buy contact lens solution and toothpaste once I’m there. Somehow, we were completely out of travel size products at home.

I already almost messed up though. Left my phone in car as Jason was dropping me off. And didn’t even realize it until I got through security. So after soliciting a nice girl’s cell phone, I got to leave the secure area to wait for my phone to be delivered. And then go through security again.

Still with plenty of time to spare. Hopefully I can keep my  stuff together for the rest of the trip.

Veg head?

So I’ve been thinking about going vegetarian. It’s been an idea I’ve tossed around for years. But I never took it seriously since my next thought would fall towards all the foods I’d have to stop eating.

Bacon, steak, cheeseburgers, shrimp, clam chowder, sushi…

Those thoughts would squash any intention I had of even considering a change in diet.

But something’s different this time. It’s become a constant whisper in my ear that there are other alternatives to a steak. It’s the realization that I haven’t ordered meat in a restaurant in years. It’s Jason telling me I don’t really cook it that much any more; instead I’m the one pulling out the bag of lentils or soaking beans. It’s in articles bemoaning the energy and resources required to produce the meat we eat. And it’s in the views of crowded feedlots alongside the highway.

It’s not that I don’t enjoy the taste of meat. I do. I think it’s tied more to the realization of what has gone into producing it and that I continue to consume it so casually. If I can nourish myself in other ways, why continue to chose the option that offers less return on investment.

Over the past several years, I’ve become more aware of where my food is coming from. I feel like we’ve made conscious decisions to purchase from local farmers that produce on a smaller scale in a more sustainable manner. But on the flip side, I still hit up In-n-Out for a greasy burger and I think nothing of ordering a turkey sandwich at Subway if I need lunch. How can I be so conscious of what I cook at home but check those principles at the door when eating out? That doesn’t work for me anymore.

This isn’t a decision I’m pondering casually. A status update on Facebook quickly brought out proponents on both sides. And has already made me feel like either way, I would be looked down upon. So while I still don’t have an answer for myself, I do hope that I’ve never made anyone feel like I d0 right now. I’ll keep you posted.

 

Point Reyes Backpacking June 2011

I was beginning to feel like a poser. I sell gear that gets you outdoors. But when was the last time I was truly outdoors? I don’t even think I can figure that out. I know, I run outdoors. I ride my bike occasionally. I even trained for and finished two triathlons back in the 2009. Oh, and there was that camping trip with my parents and Carol in December…nevermind, guess I do manage to sneak out now and again.

But really, what I mean is that it’s been some time since I’ve spent an extended period out in the natural places that soothe my soul. Running around the city streets of Sacramento doesn’t cut it. Neither does riding the paved bike trail 3 miles to work. What I really wanted was dirt and bugs and sleeping under the stars. Last week, I got my wish.

Three days and two nights in Point Reyes right on the coast. It was amazing. I went with seven other women. Our experience ranged from fairly comfortable to rusty to first time ever. As a rusty one, the planned mileage was a little worrisome. 6.5 miles the first day, 8.5 miles the second day, and 5.5 miles the last day. That’s a lot. Especially when carrying weight on your pack.

As a result, I packed light. I think my pack may have been the lightest, coming in at 25ish pounds. It helped that we were sharing a tent. And I didn’t have to bring a stove. But I also nixed extra clothes and somehow didn’t factor in trail snacks. I brought food for meals and a few energy bars and chews. And that’s it. For future reference, nuts and trail mix should be a must.

The mileage ended up being perfect. Challenging enough that I felt accomplished and happily exhausted at the end of the day. But always ready to go by the next morning. Weather was great. Sunny and breezy. And company was friendly. It’s always a toss-up how a group of women are going to get along when they’re stuck together for an extended period of time. Surprisingly, no drama at all. Lots of stories, jokes, and support to get ourselves through some long days.

The Good

Finally getting out

Ramen noodles on a chilly evening

Watching the sun set on the beach

Finding good friends

In-n-Out on the way back to Sac

The Bad
Pit toilets. I much prefer going outdoors.

The Ugly

Trash beneath a tree

Some nasty blisters on my toes

My beans started smelling funky on the third day. Note to self: Finish beans on Day 2.

All in all, a great trip. And I promised myself, it won’t be another 5 years before the next one.

My Story in Retail, Part IV

REI has their own in-house employee development program for those interested in pursuing a management position. As a company, they’re really supportive of promoting from within so people generally work their way up the ranks learning as they go. I like it in that I feel like you get managers that have themselves worked in most positions and have some basis of perspective to understand what their teams are going through.

The development process is typically referred to as “endorsement.” You’re pretty much demonstrating and documenting how you possess or have learned the major skills (as identified by REI) that make for successful managers. In doing so, you’re generating a team of supporters (supervisors, co-workers, etc) that will “endorse” your promotion into management. It’s a fairly self-motivated process. You’ve got to really want it.

Making the decision to pursue management was fairly simple for me. But accepting the lifestyle took a little bit longer. There’s a lot that comes with any management position. More responsibility, more accountability, more ownership. Even the acceptance of a variable schedule. For me, this was the one sticky point. I am a very structured and deliberate person. Give me a schedule and I’ll set a routine. Retail does not work like that. Retail is open much more than your standard 9-5 Monday-Friday hours. It means starting early or staying late. It means weekends and sticking around during major holidays especially for frantic last minute shoppers. And that something I had a hard time getting used to. It seems so minor. But for me, it was something to work through.

All in all, it took me about 6 months to complete the process. From compiling documentation on how I’ve demonstrated I have the skills needed to manage to polishing my interviewing skills so I could think and respond quickly to whatever question was tossed my way. Things were coming together just as an opportunity emerged for Jason to transfer to California.

Whoa! California! That unattainable land, where we’ve been wanting to move for over ten years? The one where we only dream of living? After A LOT of patient waiting, it seems as if it could happen. A transfer opportunity for Jason and transfer potential for me. So we set things in motion and I let my managers know what was going on. By that point, things began to pick up speed. In the bustle of arranging a move, finding a place to live, and figuring out how to break our current lease, I scrambled to jump through the final hoops, interview after interview after interview.

My initial interview with my store manager was a disaster. Almost enough that I thought about putting the brakes on things until after we moved. I didn’t; it became a quest of seeing things through since I had already made it that far along. The benefit of this stumble was the self-reflection that came with it. It really made me that much more confident in my decision. Guess when a roadblock is thrown out there, you realize how much you really do (or don’t) want something.

Miracle of miracles, I did get endorsed. Two days before we started driving out to California. I spent 7 weeks (not including the one in Vegas) at the Sacramento store gaining some needed experience on the sales floor. I thought I’d be in for much much more time there. But life had other plans. Lucky for me, a position opened up at another REI just 15 miles north of Sac. Luckier for me, the managers liked what I had to offer. Luckiest for me, I got myself my first full blown managing job at one of my favorite places in the world.

I started last week. My brain doesn’t know if it can remember any more names. My to-do lists are a mile long. And my feet hurt from doing laps around the store. But so far, I’m loving it.

My Story in Retail, Part III

To read My Story in Retail, Part I, click here. For Part II, click here.

Even after settling into a great position at the store, it wasn’t a given I had decided to make a career change. While I had made peace with the changing hours and frustrating customers, I always harbored hope that I would eventually find my way back into the museum world. I still checked web listings and had emails full of job opportunities sent on a regular basis. I was just waiting for the perfect job to come along begging for me.

And I kept trucking along in my visual position using skills I hadn’t touched in a long time and figuring out new ones I never knew I had. It was an amazing time of being able to manage my own projects, work with others, and provide supervision and feedback. In short, I gained skills in leadership and management that I don’t think I could’ve gotten any other way.

About eight months in, Jason and I came to the realization that we weren’t happy living where we were living. We were in the suburbs far from accessible to anything. For a slew of reasons, we decided to try living in a more urban setting. Boston was cut because it was ridiculously expensive. Worcester, while urban, didn’t quite have the urban characteristics we were looking for. We settled on Providence, it was “close” enough to commute to and seemed to have the variety of restaurants, business, green spaces, and museums we were looking for. Moving 50+ miles away from your place of employment does wonders in getting you to examine whether you enjoy your job and where you would like to yourself going in a few years.

While adjusting to the change, I explored the potential of a few options.

First, I applied and interviewed for a job at a museum in Providence. It wasn’t a perfect fit for me but it was a neat museum, a close commute, and I saw it as a way to get my foot in the door. The interview went ok. I could tell my public engagement skills were a bit rusty. And my two hours at the museum brought a flood of questions in my head. Do I want to work in this type of chaotic environment? Can I be surrounded by kids all day? My mind struggled to put myself back into that work environment. And as much as I wanted to say, “yes.” I could kind of tell the real answer was, “no.” I guess the interviewers could sense the mismatch. I didn’t get the job. Not getting that job was probably one of the better things that happened that year. A few months later, it prompted this.

After my ultimate museum rejection, I applied and interviewed for a job at an REI closer to Providence. In hindsight, the job was better fit. But it still wasn’t perfect. I was still enjoying my work at my store. I still felt like I had things to accomplish. And it showed during my interview. I didn’t get that job either. In hindsight, a major factor that drove me to apply was the proximity of the store to our new place. Never a good reason to apply for a job.

After these rejections, I struggled to redefine my career path. Management was the most obvious answer but I never set out to be manager of anything. I had always felt like an impostor as a leader. Even while directing a student organization during college, I felt like a fraud and was convinced others saw it as well. But in REI, especially on the retail end, management is the most obvious way to go. And so, that’s where I went.

Highs and Lows

And just like that, vacation is over. I’m glad I can finally say, “yes, I’ve been to Vegas.” Followed up with, “I don’t know that I’d seek it out again.”

One of my favorite things to do after any trip is to pick out highs and lows. And on this trip, there were definitely plenty of highs and lows.

Some highlights:

Running 2.6 miles from the Mirage (where we stayed) down to the “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign. With Jason. Jason hasn’t run with me in ages. So it was great to have his company. Streets were empty-ish of tourists which made for easy maneuvering. But seemed like the sign would never appear. Finally, way further down than you think it would be, it pops up! Afterwards, we walked back through some casinos we still hadn’t seen yet. Most relaxed morning ever.

Largest steak ever at Carnevino. Jason thinks it’s funny that I was so excited for this steak. I kept trying to convince him that I was simply excited for him. Carnevino is one of Mario Batali’s restaurants and Batali used to be one of Jason’s favorite chefs. And this Batali restaurant offers a ribeye steak that has been dry aged for 2 months. 2 months! That’s a steak that you put in your fridge with the intention of eating it two months later (after doing some prep, of course). Dry aging concentrates the flavors and makes the meat more tender (and that’s about as technical as i get with food). This was probably our best meal in Vegas. Combination of great service and amazing food.

I couldn’t get good shots of our steak as it was being sliced for us(!). But I couldn’t pass up shots of us gnawing on the bone. These were definitely posed as we were both incredibly full by this point. But believe me, the steak was the size of a dinner plate.

Hanging out with friends. Timing worked out perfectly that Steve and Leslie were planning a trip out west at about the same time. We ended up overlapping by a few days and got the chance to explore Vegas together. We also found Eric attending the conference as well. All of a sudden, lots of company! Vegas is definitely better with friends.

Penn and Teller at the Rio. This was kind of a fluke thing in that these guys weren’t our first choice of shows to go see. Our first choice Cirque show was dark that week. The second choice one was showing one of the nights we were planning to meet up with Steve and Leslie. David Copperfield was dark. And Jeff Durham was playing the Saturday we got in (who wants to sit in a show after sitting in a car for 10 hours?). We wanted to see something quintessentially Vegas and ended up with Penn and Teller. It was a lucky accident. Going in, I didn’t know much about them other than that they were magicians and one of them didn’t speak on stage. Coming out, I can tell you, they’re magicians and one of them doesn’t speak on stage. AND they also show you how some tricks are done. Don’t worry, they only give away some basic illusions. They keep the intricate amaze-you ones to themselves. So there’s still plenty of magic in the show.

And since I’ve elaborated on the highlights, it’s only fair to share the lowlights. But first know that I’m not trying to focus on the negative. Merely trying to explain why I am not in love with Vegas. I know plenty of those who are. I am just not one of them.

So, the lowlights:

Ridiculously priced mediocre food. Lucky for me, I had spent weeks beforehand checking out restaurant websites, menus, and reviews. I had some idea of what to expect cost-wise. It came through loud and clear that Vegas was going to be expensive. But I expected so much more in terms of quality. Maybe I chose poorly. Maybe I have unattainable standards. Whatever the case, I was not thrilled paying for food that was just okay. Service at said overpriced restaurants was lacking as well. Please don’t argue with me when I ask for dressing on the side. I really want my dressing on the side. Otherwise, I don’t want it at all. And I really appreciate having my water glass refilled when it’s empty. These things matter. For a city so reliant on its service industry and the expectation of tips (for everything!), I really didn’t feel happy forking over my cash.

The smell of smoke everywhere. I guess smoking promotes drinking promotes gambling. So let people smoke, you get to take their money. It was toxic walking through all the casinos. I realize it’s part of the “atmosphere” of Vegas. And I’m not demanding they change their rules. I just didn’t love hanging out in casinos. Which is a shame because watching people gamble their money is quite fun.

I dunno who Javier is.

Quarter slots that only take bills. WTF. Read previous post here.

Having to prep for an interview and then have said interview. This wasn’t Vegas’ fault. By chance, I applied for a job and ended up interviewing for that job while sitting in my Vegas hotel room in the middle of our trip. Luckily, I brought all my stuff with me so I could prepare. It wasn’t the worst thing that could’ve happened (hey, i got an interview!) but it did occupy a few days of the trip. And no one likes thinking work stuff during vacation.

So, that’s vacation at a glance. I’m already dreaming about the next one. I’m hoping it won’t be another year before we take another. And I’m also hoping we can have a vacation that isn’t tied to work in some way. Now that we’re in the proper part of the country, we’re hoping to spend some long weekends exploring all there is to do around us. Stay tuned.

Vegas impressions

I’m sort of at a loss for words but I definitely feel like I should make some observations about my 16 hours in Las Vegas thus far. First, I have to preface and proclaim that Vegas was never top on my list of places to visit. Sure, it sounds like fun on the surface. But when I truly thought about it, there wasn’t much here that I would like. Gambling, nope. I like keeping my money, thank you. Plus, I have awful, awful luck. Drinking, nope. I’ve become a lightweight in recent years. The heat, nope. Having grown up in Florida, heat is not my friend.

But there was an opportunity to visit and I knew I should visit at least once. Maybe just once. So, Jason and I made the 10 hour drive over to Vegas on a bright sunny May morning. We drove because Jason’s anti-flying. I don’t blame him. It sucks. Especially if you can’t get a direct flight. And as much as we want to believe Sacramento is a major city. It isn’t. Flights generally go to SFO and connect from there. Plus, all the rules and regulations give me a headache.  I realize I brought my 3.75 ounce bottle of shampoo and inevitably make some sort of inappropriate comment about what I could have packed that would give someone the wrong idea. Gum, anyone?

Ten hours hanging out in a car actually went pretty quickly with the exception of searching for gas stations that would accept credit cards. C’mon, join the plastic age. Oh, and a side trip to REI Fresno. I am the ultimate tourist. Pass by an REI, hey, let’s stop!

By 6:30pm, as my stomach was starting to grumble and I was on a slightly distracting phone call, we entered into Vegas. It was disarming. One minute, desert. The next, signs, buildings, people, cars! Everywhere. Every everywhere. Your eyes didn’t know where to stop and yet, they couldn’t move on from that woman’s teeny, tiny skirt or that man’s bizarre hairdo or that couple performing the world’s first joint tonsillectomy (note: Jason actually witnessed that one, I didn’t have the pleasure). Lucky for me, Jason deftly handled the crowds and traffic. We made it to the hotel in one piece.

Amusing Tidbit #1

We took our own bags up to the room. They offered to bring them up but we declined. It just seemed strange. I can carry my own luggage. I mean, my own duffel, from REI. The one that folds up inside itself. And my reusable shopping bag of shoes. I got this. I didn’t need a bellhop to throw it on that rolling cart there like it weighs 200 pounds through the crowds so all can see. And, how can I guarantee you’ll be treating my computer with the respect if deserves. No thanks. I’ll schlep my own stuff.

We made it through check-in, scored an amazing view of the Strip, and settled in on the comfy bed. I admit to actually considering not leaving the room for the rest of the night. I mean, I had a view. I can see Vegas from here. And it’s blinding.

By now, my stomach was starting to get a little angry. We contemplated staying at the resort but decided we needed to face our my fears. We went on the Strip. I had read about a restaurant at Caesar’s Palace with hand-pulled noodles. Restaurant was good. The decor was pretty out there. Jason got to see some noodle pulling action (yes, I realize that sounds dirty. but hey, I’m in Vegas). Food was awesome. We could’ve probably ordered one less dish. But it would’ve been hard to choose which we would’ve willingly not had. And somehow we managed to pack most of it away. In my belly. And Jason’s.

After dinner, we decided we needed to walk. So we were engulfed in the crowd and shuffled our way amongst the crowds to the Bellagio, right in front of the fountains. We found a good viewing location and hung out for a fountain show. It was pretty impressive. I will most definitely be stopping back again and again and maybe, again.

Afterwards, we meandered around some casinos to try and catch the fever. We didn’t. Maybe as the week progresses, we’ll figure more out.

Amusing Tidbit #2

We bought a roll of quarters. Really, the only gambling I wanted to do was pull a slot machine lever. One quarter. That’s all it would take. But we had no quarters and the machines were clearly marked with 25¢. So, we went to one of the cashier windows, handed her a $20 and asked for some quarters. In hindsight, she gave us a funny look. That one raised eyebrow look. But she did it. We got our quarters, found a machine, and sat down. And couldn’t find anywhere to deposit said quarters! What the heck?! For quarter slots, I have to play four times? I can’t just play once. So, after we realized our mistake, we decided we’d try again later. With a dollar bill. That roll of quarters is still unopened. It’s for the vending machines. That’s our story. I’m sticking to it.

I didn’t want to tell anyone, lest I openly confrm my naivete. But Jason thought it was hilarious. And so, I’ll embrace it. We’re hilariously naive.

And so in 16 hours, that’s about all I’ve come up. Hopefully the next 6 days can add greatly to my worldly expertise. Or I’ll just go camping next time.

Here is my peace offering.

So I’m a bad blogger. I don’t blog when things are settled and normal cause I think there’s nothing to share. I don’t blog when things are changing because I think it’s crazy and takes too long to combine pictures and narrative. Either way, no one wins! Things have been crazy. they’re settling down but clearly, I need more focus. I’ll start looking for it. In the meantime, check out some pictures from the move.

Moving pictures

More soon. Promise.

 

PA -> IL -> NE

Well, we’ve hit the halfway point. 1500 miles in put us somewhere in the middle of Nebraska. Only 1500 more miles. That’s it, piece of cake.

The drive itself hasn’t been too bad. Not much traffic. Randy, our GPS (what? You don’t name your things?) has proved invaluable in finding the nearest gas station or supermarket. He only sometimes takes us out of our way.

Yesterday we drove from PA all the way through Joilet, IL. It felt like we were making such a small dent in our long journey. I was worried a bit about Colby because he wasn’t really eating or drinking. We let him out of his crate to see how he’d do. Of all of our cats, I’d say Colby is the best traveler. He’s not bad in the crate. And once out, he basically finds a spot and sleeps. It was Gulliver’s bed for a bit but he’s since discovered the space under the passenger seat. I don’t see how that can be comfortable but whatever. He’s the cat. I’m the human.

Today has been a plain vanilla day of rolling fields, brown, and cow smells. I think it’s most redeeming quality is that the speed limit is 75. Means we get through it faster. Our plan is to get through most of Nebraska tonight and pass through WY tomorrow. Jury’s out on whether we’ll drive through to UT or stop for the night then. Depends on time, mood, and weather, I guess.

Good-bye New England

So we’re finally on our way. I never thought we would ever finish trash runs or cleaning. It’s been a series of late nights and early mornings. We parted ways with our bed last night and spent our final night in Providence on an air mattress. Way too early this morning (5am!), alarms went off urging us to finish up final packing.

A last minute decision to ship out 2 cases of wine meant some improvising to get packaging materials and figure out how to get it shipped. Technically, it’s not allowed.

And I had to get the tires rotated on Gladys. Nothing like waiting until the last minute, huh?

Luckily, Jason got out early which meant I charged him with shipping the wine and answering the hard questions. Lucky bastard, they didn’t even ask. We should’ve just shipped it all.

By 3:30, we finally rolled out of town. Just as the rain was rolling in. Nothing too bad yet. And I’m fine as long as it’s not snow.

Anticipated stop tonight, Wilkes Barre, PA, by way of Scranton. Think we can track down Michael Scott?