"So What" ~ Pink

I can't believe more than 3 months have passed since I'd written about what's been going on. The planning is long over and I'm here. I live in Denver, Colorado and I've been living here since September 16. I became an official resident on October 7th when I was hired by PFG. So much has happened in those months I'm sure I'll leave a lot out but let me try from the beginning....

The end of July was very rough as you can see from my last post. Jess is gone. I see our college pictures and I hear her voice. I doubt it will ever sink in. The one thing I'm grateful for during that time is that I was able to reconnect with my other college roommates. Not all of them but most and the ones that mattered in the end. Becca was a total prick as usual. She barely showed up to the wake after pleading from me even though she should have had the decency to make the effort herself. Jess did a lot for her and Becca let her social ineptness and ridiculous jealously get in the way of a great friendship. The only reason I could stand her presence was because I wanted to see the tattoo of Jess's handwriting on her arm and I knew the doubledays would appreciate it. Jenny, Ashley Reid (or Wee as Jess named her), and I had movie night at Jess and Ashley's apartment. I wish I had gotten to see her in it. Liz, Nisey, Catherine, and I caught up over dinner one night. We were all there for the wake and the funeral. I was able to spend a good deal of time with all of them. I got to see Ashley in her element at fair oaks hospital. She graduated a couple years later then us and became an RN! Nurse Ashley. Jenny, Chip, and Catherine were even able to attend my going away party. I really do miss our times at Mason and they're memories I'll cherish always. I just wish we hadn't grown apart even though it was probably for the best. We all found our different personalities. If only we'd been able to get together 10 or 20 years from now and share them. Maybe one day I'll be able to get rid of the regret I feel for not trying harder to keep in touch.

There was a happy moment during those rough weeks. I got to see Kristen get married. :) The ceremony was beautiful and even though I couldn't stay for the entire reception it was a great gathering. After those few weeks I just needed to get to my bestfriend. I needed to be miserable in peace with all my worries taken care of.

I had left Indus by that time and started working at Feld Entertainment - a.k.a the circus. I think I may have mentioned that. It was a mindless job, just processing invoices. Some of the people were very nice but the overall atmosphere was rotten. It seemed the superiors were only hiring black ladies. There was one white girl who was a sort of in a supervisor role and she was just a rotten rotten egg. I think it might have been her lack of correct social conduct. Good example - I told her about how my friend had just died in an accident and needed to take off work for the funeral and the wake. Her response? 'Oh yeah well, you know life goes on...' I really really disliked her. A couple weeks before it was time for me to leave they decided to end my contract. Oh well, I got a some vacation time to completely prepare for my big move. I spent those last weeks with my friends and family. I had everything packed up more than a week before my flight. My car and my belongings left for Denver a week before me and all I had to do was wait.

My going away party was fabulous. Mishell was amazing and set it all up. We basically filled up the outside bar of backyard. It was a great party. I got to spend time with friends from high school, college, and the present day. Hmmm i think i remember most of it :p My last couple days were pretty sad. I guess I had never known what nerves were till those couple of days. I was sick to my stomach most of the time. That definitely sucked a lot. My last night was a Monday and instead of wings night with the group I said goodbye to them on Sunday night. It was a Dusty/Teresa night. I ran my last errands while he was at work and when he was done we went out to dinner at Clydes. I felt really bad cause he had just started to get the flu. He was pretty sick but he downed meds so he could be well enough to hang out. We got yummy lobster dinner and were waited on by a good friend. Afterwards, we headed to the most appropriate place.. backyard. My stomach nerves took a break and let me enjoy the night. He didn't go to work the next morning so I was able to say goodbye properly. The goodbye's with my 'mom's' were the most difficult. Dusty's mom cried and my mom had a meltdown. It was really rough. The tears kept going for me till I got to Denver. Really rough.....

But here I am. My dad spent the first week here settling me in. I spent the first two weeks doing interviews, meeting the people in my building, and getting back into touch with the few people I knew in Denver. I got a few offers but ended up taking a Staff Accountant/Analyst position with Performance Food Group. They had just been bought out by the Blackstone Group, a very large corporation that owns some notable businesses. To my surprise, the head quarters of PFG is in Richmond, VA. A lot of people in the office are former east coasters. Picking that job was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. The work is great and interesting. My co workers are just AMAZING. My boss is a funny and fair man. He's totally into politics too. Even though we don't share the same political views we can talk easily and poke fun. We were an office riot during the presidential elections. Yay soon to be President Barack Obama!!!!! I've gotten pretty close with the two women I work with. We go out to lunch often and hang out outside of work too. I started the laser hair removal process with Diane and she also came with me  and Bove on the walk for diabetes. Cindy just had a fabulous costume party at her place last weekend. lol my co workers are just crazy. I'd been to a happy hour with them already but this was a whole other ball park. It was like a trip back to college except a college life just a tad more crazy then the one I had... and that's saying a lot. I had a great time though. I couldn't help but miss VA. I kept looking to the left and right of me to raise my eyes or say 'wtf!' but the people who'd be able to read my face were a 4 hr flight away. :( 

I celebrated by 25 birthday in Denver. It was hard at first but I ended up having a really great day. My co workers had decorated my desk, got me a cake, and cards. It was a total surprise! The Gliddens had flowers delivered to my office for me. They were incredibly beautiful. Cathy fed ex'd me a package of frosting covered oreos... mmm mmm good. My parents wired me birthday money. Sheila had amazon mail me my presents. My facebook and phone were filled to the brim with birthday messages. Even though my friends and family were far away they managed to throw me a fantastic birthday. My friends in Denver took me to a sushi dinner and drinks. Sake shots!

The two coolest things I've done in Denver - My first couple weeks I got to see the Toadies live in concert! They were freaking awesome. I'm so glad they've gotten back together. I really want to see them again. The second thing was getting to see Barack Obama speak at the Denver civic center. The streets were filled with supporters and no protesters. Everyone was so nice and they moved out of the way so I could see him speak. So many families. There was never a more inspiring sight.

I was able to spend Halloween back in NoVA. Before I was hired I told the company I had a vacation planned. I took a couple days off to vote back in VA for the election. I got to be in VA from Halloween night till Election night. Dusty picked me up from the airport and we headed to meet our friends at backyard. I changed into my costume on the plane. I was Sarah Palin for halloween! You betcha! hahaha All done up even with the hair. A couple days before I left I decided to get a hair cut. Bangs.... I was hoping I wouldn't regret it and I don't. I love my hair. The girl did a fantastic job. Kudos to Bri for referring me. I can't wait to go back for some hair coloring. Anyway, I totally won some money in the costume contest. Even better... I got to spend Halloween with my friends! Sadly, I hadn't really drank since I'd been in VA the last time so my tolerance was next to nothing. The thin air in Denver reduces my tolerance so that after a drink I'm totally feeling it. haha. I blacked out for a good part of the night but the pictures don't lie :) Also, no graveyard visit for me! Great Halloween... only people i loved at the party. I missed them so much. I had to change my flight a bunch of time to be able to make it on time but I'm so glad it happened.

k I'm exhausted... I've been fighting with the flu since friday and I've just started to feel better. I need some rest. One more day of work tomorrow.... to be continued.