L A B M I S T R E S S

Sorry it has been so long for contact, but it’s been very busy around here. We did finally get moved into the house. The good news is that everything fit within the structure. The bad news is that it barely fit, so locating things has been difficult. We marked many boxes as “Priority,” so that the movers would put them where we would unpack first. The thing about that is that the “non-priority” stuff at packing time can easily revert to “priority” after you’ve landed in a new place. Lots of repurchases made in the last few weeks, just because we can’t remember which box has the needed item. It’s going to be an amazing garage sale this summer.

We’re also spoiled. Yes, I know it is hard to believe, but true story. After the great flood of 2009, we completely gutted and remodeled our house in Vegas. Everything was brand new and had all the modern touches. This house, while settled in the most amazing location and views, is older. Plus, we have had tenants in it for many years, so there wasn’t an incentive to do major work on the property. The interior stuff you have to do whenever you switch tenants, and it was no different for us moving in. All new appliances, painting, carpets, etc. Now we have moved to the outside. Exterior painting, yard work, fencing, and some woodwork due to the coastal effect on wood. It has been an endless stream of contractors. Once all that is done, which won’t be for another month or so, then the electricians come in. There’s no immediate safety hazard, but the wiring needs to be updated. We could piece-mill this stuff, but are leaning toward having the entire house rewired and a new panel put in. We have so many sensitive electronic devices, that I’m just not willing to run the risk. This is the messiest and most expensive option, and will guarantee another month of living in complete chaos, however, it’s just got to be done. More good news, we rented out the house in Vegas. Yay! More money to pay these contractors.

The job is going very well. I really like it and all the people I work with—clients included. I am traveling a bit more than I expected to be, as they required me to be based in the Bay Area, but it’s not unreasonable. While the clients are located here, their NOCs and data centers are spread all over the country. Every time one needs a visit, I’m on a plane. I am also picking up some other clients in the southwestern region, so short trips to go and visit them. My family is still adjusting to me working from home. It’s not like it is a new concept to them, but before I would often head to the university and just use the library for my office 6-8 hours a day, now I am just here. So sometimes, they get confused about bothering me, and I have resorted to a “Do Not Disturb” sign on my office door. It’s kinda working.

In the last bit of good news, Bri is nearing graduation. Yay! I got her to adulthood with only minimal psychological damage. She is looking forward to starting college, but we are planning a trip for the fall overseas. She wants to go to Spain and Paris, but wants to wait until after she turns 18. I think it will be a nice trip for the two of us. All I have to do is convince my boss to let me take off for two weeks straight. Rev told me today, “Put that request in NOW.” Sounds like a plan. November in Paris sounds wonderful.

Bri and I made it up to the Bay Area late on Sunday, and it has been a blur since we got here. Just getting all of our stuff into the hotel room was a feat. I had brought up a load last month, we shipped several boxes to my mom’s, and on this drive had another maximum load. I could barely see out the windows when changing lanes, and had to have assistance from Bri on the right side. We can barely walk around in the room, but it is organized and all inside.

The views are gorgeous, but we haven’t had too much time to enjoy them. I raced to get my makeshift office setup, because I had to go to work immediately. I have several engagements going on and have to be onsite at a client’s office all next week. Bri started school today, but since their second semester started a couple of weeks ago, she has to make up all that work. We also got a surprise while registering her this morning that we were not expecting. Over the years, she has taken summer classes and participated in outside activities that gave school credit. So, in her senior year she only had to go to school a couple of hours a day because she only had two classes. Now, one credit away from graduation, we find out that California will not allow the reduced schedule. So, she had to fill up the rest of the school day with four electives. Her choices were very limited because she already had so many electives from the past three and a half years. So, she got dance, theatre set design, lifestyle management, and beginning guitar. It was good that they told me to leave when they did, because I was sure she was going to kill me!

Mark doesn’t arrive for three weeks with the rest of our stuff, as he is stuck dealing with getting the Vegas house ready to hand over to the property management firm. That means for right now, I am a single mom again trying to juggle everything. I am way out of practice. My mom is not exactly close and had plans this week that could not be altered. She will be here next week helping out with Bri while I am gone, and getting the house here ready for us to move in. Once the painting, carpets, and minor repairs are made, then the movers will come. Mark, Kitty, and Honey will follow in the car. I am excited for them to get here. Those dogs are going to be in heaven with all the walking trails and the beach.

The move is causing me a lot of stress, but I know it is temporary. The job is busy, but I love it. I work with a great team and they have all been so helpful and have offered lots of support and encouragement over the last few weeks. I made the right choice. I can already tell I am going to be really happy here. I went out to the corporate office last week and got to meet a lot of people from the different groups. I also got to meet another member of my team who started a couple of weeks after me. He’s done a lot of cool research in the mobile space and I am looking forward to him sharing some of his expertise. In the meantime, I am just busy, busy, busy. Par for the course around here.