My First Week

This week felt like a month! A good month...but definitely a month!

I don't want to disclose too much about the company or sensitive information ( as I could lose my job ), but I can definitely talk about the last 5 days and what it's been like mentally, physically and emotionally.

Day 1: Nervous! Not quite as nervous as some other things that have taken place in my life, but this one ranks in about the top 20 I would say. New town, new job, new everything. It definitely helped coming in with 10+ years under my belt in a similar retail environment, that's for sure. Monday was orientation filled with 15 of us. We heard a lot of presentations, received a lot of brand information and went over benefits and forms. Lunch from the Comer Center and the day ended with a cookie Happy Hour where all the leaders and teams of the people in orientation came down. We talked and got a tour of our area.

Day 2: Not quite as nervous. It was physically exhausting and I did have a borderline migraine most of the day which was tough. It was a fascinating day...all tours and presentations. Visual merchandising, design, the assembly lines, D.C.. Customer Care (where we got to listen in on calls), the Comer Center (fitness facility) and we even got to use the embroidery machine to put the LE logo on our own polo. There are 6 buildings here and we saw all of them.

Day 3: Nervous again! This was my first day at my desk! It's so surreal to get to your computer and not even know how to login. I met a lot of people and tried to wrap my head around how to use the phone, get onto the servers, find org charts and start conversations with people. I also tried to find the fastest route to the bathroom-success!

Day 4: Tired but more at ease! Actually got to sit in on a meeting and I have a good 10 meetings lined up in the upcoming weeks. Meetings do tend to make me feel important for the time being-haha. I am excited about the work and am loving the culture. Used the gym to lift weights and it was awesome!

Day 5: TGIF! Although I do love my job...I am looking forward to the weekend to relax and recoup. Today was my first European conference call. I got a lot of information out of that meeting. The more questions that spark in my head the more progress I make. I have a hefty list of things to get started on, and am starting to understand what some of the needs are here, all while learning so much! This week has been very humbling and enjoyable all while being out of my comfort zone-which I believe is what helps us grow!

With that, let's get started on the weekend!

Random Facts, WI: Day 5

• There are casinos all over the place on the drive from Dallas to Madison.

• If you go out to eat at a restaurant here and order a Dr. Pepper, the people with you WILL laugh at you, and the waitress will ask you where you're from.

• People say "Yous" (just like in PA).

• People drive much slower and laid back here and I find myself getting impatient with them. Maybe this will teach me to be more relaxed.

• A few times I have turned off the navigation system because I know where I'm going, and I find myself lonely and longing to hear her voice.

• I didn't realize how much I used and relied on DVR until I had to go without it!

• The cheese here REALLY IS GOOD!

• It's a really strange feeling to not even know where a gas station or grocery store is.

• Gambling here is just like gambling anywhere else=GOOD TIMES!

• I never thought I would have a morning commute with the scenery being nothing but dairy farms, fields and cows.

• Names and roads confuse me here: County Route P, M, US18, 151. And they seem to go all directions-not just N, S or E, W.

• I'm scared to use the coin-operated washer and dryer at the hotel. I think I may just continue to buy new clothes.

• I miss my family.

On The Road!

How did I get from Texas to Wisconsin? Safely and successfully!

My grandfather rode with me to help me out and make sure I stayed safe. At first I thought to myself, well I don't need anyone to drive with me, but in hindsight I'm really glad I did because after about 3 hours on the rode driving I got super tired! So we alternated driving in about 3 hour increments.

We left Friday morning at about 10am. My grandmother made a huge pan of homemade macaroni for us to take on the road. We stopped by my Mom's work to say goodbye and then took off. Stopped for a macaroni lunch, to get gas and a few other pit stops and made it all the way to Kansas City, Missouri by about 7:30 Friday night. Not too shabby! We picked up Subway sandwiches and settled in for the night.

We were up bright and early Saturday morning (thanks to my grandfather)! Got going at about 8am after getting ready and enjoying our complimentary breakfast. Made similar stops and alternated driving and landed in Madison at about 4:00! Great timing!

Saturday night was a blast! Julie and Jamie (family friends) drove over from Milwaukee and we went to dinner near the hotel. They brought snack foods from the bakery and Wisconsin tees for Keith and I! Then we went to the Dejope Casino! My grandfather won $160 and I won about $75!

On Sunday my grandfather and I did a little sight-seeing before I took him to the airport. We went to Lands' End (even though we didn't go inside). I thought it would be neat for him to see where I would be. We took pictures. Then we drove to the House on the Rock, the Capitol Building and stopped at the lake. Had a great lunch in the square downtown at an Irish Pub, then it was time for me to take him to the airport. The airport is really close-only about 15 minutes from temporary housing. I have to say it was hard leaving him at the airport. For those couple of days it didn't really feel too different because he was with me-just like at home. But then when I had to turn around and leave and drive off in a city that was so unfamiliar it kind of hit home that I was alone.

I spent the evening getting ready for the next day, picked up some dinner and relaxed. The temporary housing is nice. There's no way I could have my family in there as it's just a 1-bedroom extended stay hotel room. The amenities are just what I need for now though. Free breakfast every morning, free dinner Mon-Wed, pool, gym and housekeeping. It's great!

So thanks everyone for the well wishes and thoughts as we drove cross country to my new world. It is very surreal and exciting!

Kid-Free for Too Long on the Horizon

This is a common scenario in any given day when a random child decides to get up off my lap. It could be anything from food, liquid, snot, candy...you name it...I've felt it....

Beginning tomorrow I will not see my boys for 20 nights. I am heading out at 10am to go pick up my grandfather, stop by my Mom's and then drive up to Wisconsin! We will make a stop at the halfway point Friday night and then get in Saturday afternoon to corporate housing. I'm hoping I can spend Saturday evening and all Sunday showing my grandfather LE, the town and enjoying and few good meals and possibly a little...GAMBLING!

First day of work is in 3 days! I'm SO excited!!

In the meantime, I will be thinking of my little guys every second, and longing for the next time something sticks to me.

Love you Keith, Kolbe, Nickolas and Baby Erik!

It's a Sad Day

I bought this cap way back when I was an intern at Fossil. Those were the days...lazy (in hindsight) weekends in jeans, t-shirts and a ballcap running all over the place with lots of energy!

Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months and months turned into years. Next thing you know-I've probably worn this cap at least 1,000 times, not kidding. As my intern days turned into comfort and routine this ballcap made it's way into my everyday work attire in a "corporate" office. Hey, it does say FOSSIL on it.

1,000+ times to collect makeup, dirt, spit up, food and who knows what else. I mean, I'd wash it-but after that many times wearing it who knows what stays and what goes.

Needless to say...it was time...

So let's all take a moment of silence to say goodbye to a piece of my life. It was the perfect fit and match, and I don't think I'll ever find another cap quite like it...

At least not one that dirty!

Tomorrow is My Last Day

Tomorrow is my last day. I have to say the last 2 weeks went by unbelievably fast.

I've spent most of my time organizing, packing up my desk and distributing files. The rest of the time was spent eating every second possible with close friends at work and at places I know I won't get to go to up north.

This week the team created "gorgefest" and brought in some of my favs every day. Monday-salsa day, Tuesday-dip day, Wednesday- Mom's buns, Thursday- biscuits, and tomorrow-cakeballs!!

Today was a little tougher than prior days. I guess as my cube gets empty, and as I'm no longer working on anything and as I deplete every file and bit of information from the laptop that I have to give back it has quickly gotten "real". There were also a handful of people I said goodbye to today due to Good Friday tomorrow. I'm sure a lot of people will be out.

Tomorrow after work there will be a small get together for drinks and good times, and I can't wait!

I can't believe in 24 hours I will not be working anymore! Well, even if for only 2 weeks!
Let's do this!