i got a new job. i now work for the IHC sandy clinic. my official job title is office coordinator, although that makes it sound like i have a lot of responsibilities. mostly what i do is schedule surgeries for the two plastic surgeons, one oculoplastic surgeon, and one general surgeon. in my spare time, i am learning how to code office visits and procedures for the plastic surgeon, and enter all of his surgeries for the past six months into a website called tops. it's a pretty great job, but mostly i'm hoping that he's going to decide to turn me into his walking advertisement for all the awesome surgeries he does. the best part is that i got my first paycheck yesterday, and it was both direct deposited and way more than i got at my old job.

living in salt lake is probably my favorite thing. only driving 15 minutes to work (versus 45) is pretty fantastic, and being able to go for long runs in liberty park with tons of other runners is so great. i never thought i'd be a fan of utah, but clearly that was before i knew how great salt lake really is.

the only thing missing is a kitty. reading alitris' post about kitties and doggies made me realize how much i really do want a cat. i think it'll have to wait though, because my roommate is not a fan of any sort of animal in her living space, and i think it might create a problem for both me and the cat if i were to keep it in my closet.

i officially have 12.62 hours of PTO, so my next trip is in the process of being planned. as soon as i have a free plane ticket from my credit card points, someone in my family is getting a houseguest!

my new life.

well, i still don't have internet. but lucky for me, i worked/am working 48 hours this week, so i have had plenty of time to catch up on my internet addictions. one day i'll get internet in my apartment. maybe.

so here's what happened to me since i last blogged.

1. i moved to a new apartment in salt lake. according to the voter registration, it is technically in south salt lake (or SoSaLa, as the city officials are trying to rename it) but i maintain that it's just regular slc. so that's cool. i have a rad apartment, two super fun roommates, and a balcony from which we watched a high-speed police chase this week.
2. i graduated from college! i wasn't too excited for the commencement, but it actually turned out to be really cool. the part where we all stood up and they conferred the degrees was really awesome, especially. and i never have to go to school again, which is pretty fantastic.
3. i ran in the salt lake half marathon again last weekend, and it was the best race i have ever done! the first 11 miles were so great; i ran the whole time and felt awesome. the last two were medium, because they were up a hill, but i finished and even took 18 mins off my time from last year, which is pretty exciting.
4. along with that, i signed up for the st. george marathon, which is really kind of terrifying. i find out 11 may whether or not i got in, so if i did - i will have to start training immediately.
5. i got to sit lower bowl for a jazz/lakers playoff game. besides the time i sat in the eighth row, it was the greatest day ever. being in the vicinity of deron williams it just fantastic, even though they lost and are now out of the playoffs. awesome.
6. i have had a cruise to mexico booked with my best friend since like september. and of course now is when this epidemic of illness sweeps mexico. and when we called to see if we could cancel, we were kindly informed that if we cancel now, no refunds will be given. so virtually she spent a month's rent on a cruise that we may or may not get to take. they will probably re-route our cruise, but what if someone who is sick gets on? ugh. i'm not happy about it. stupid pigs.
7. i'm sick of hearing about swine flu. beyond sick, actually. if one more person comes into work and tells me they think they have it, i am going to punch them right in the face. getting fired would be worth it.
8. i am getting a free red mango as soon as i get off work today. red mango with pineapple and fruity pebbles is the most delicious treat i have ever had.

being grown up and working full-time and paying for insurance is not all it's cracked up to be.

one of these days...

i'm going to stop ignoring this blog.

probably the day i strike up a conversation with my next door neighbors in the elevator, and thus start a life with internet again, and stop living as a cave person.

but let me just say: minus the 1.5 extra hours i drive every day now, living in salt lake is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. the end.

neglect.

i am guilty of some serious neglect to this blog. i have been a little crazy, but also i go through phases (see my fb note) and get bored of things. and i got bored of blogging. so i took a one-month hiatus, but now it's time for another list.

things that are awesome right now:
-i found a fantastic apartment. it's a little bit in the ghetto, but i'm from fresno, so i can handle it :) it's on 21st south, which means my dream of living in sugarhouse is finally coming true. i sign the lease this weekend.
-with this new apartment comes my own room! oh yes. it is cute and has room for a queen bed (and this bedding that i already bought: http://tinyurl.com/c2amuw) and a purple wall and a giant closet and a hookup for cable, so basically i'll probably never want to leave it. well, maybe sometimes.
-long beach, fresno, disneyland, price is right, hollywood. six days.
-kate speaking in full sentences last night. "i'm gonna sit in it like a chair."
-i get to hang out with emy and boozie in like two months.
-i am graduating in 63 DAYS! my last final EVER will be taken in less than two months!
-deron williams, last night against the celtics. oh yes.
-my tax refund is content in the bank. i didn't lose my check this year, so it's safely earning, oh, .05% interest. yay.
-i am graduating and i already have a job. even in the worst job market since the great depression.

things that are less awesome:
-the amount of times i have driven to salt lake in the last three weeks. a rough estimate: 15.
-having to start paying rent. and insurance. and all those other great things.
-the next six days are going to be intense, getting ready for my trip and getting all my homework done so i can do nothing while i'm gone.
-that midterm i have to take on tuesday.
-and then the one i have on thursday.

yay for life changes and new cars and awesome apartments and funny little nieces and strawberry lemonade crystal light. delicious.

thank you to all of my life coaches. and to everyone who listened to me talk this thing to death. :)

and the final decision is.... stay!

yes, friends. i am remaining in provo for another few months and working a lot and trying to learn how to be better at saving money. because the thing is, if i can save more over the next couple, i can move to salt lake and not stress so much about finding a job so quickly. i can take my time and pay my rent and chill for a bit before figuring everything out. plus, then i'll be graduated and employers wouldn't have to work around my school schedule, which they clearly are not so keen on.

i hope hope hope i can find another apartment like this one though, because oh MAN it is perfect.

the other incentive to stay: i have vacation time this year that i can use for my two upcoming trips. one to long beach/fountain valley/fresno/hollywood/anaheim for my birthdayyyy and the second to MEXICO! ah, yes friends. the other fantastic piece of news is that for my graduation, my bestie is taking us on a cruise to mexico. oh man. she is pretty fantastic, to say the least :) we leave 24 may and return 29 may. i am so very excited!

so that's the plan. work for a few months, finish school and graduate, and then move. seems logical. getting my ducks in a row, and all that. sad, but logical and much safer in this job market. my dad would be so proud :)

what to do with my life, take two.

this might seem like a duplicate to a blog i posted a few months ago. but it's not; i'm just trying (again) to make a decision about my life.

i had pretty much decided that i was going to stay in provo for winter semester. finish my classes, work at my job for a couple more months, live out the provo scene until i graduate and move on. but for some reason, i kept looking at apartment listings online. most days, in fact. just to see what was available, i guess. and today i came across the most perfect apartment.

i mean, seriously. i had a list of requirements for my first post-college apartment. my parents told me i was severely limiting myself in my search because my heart is set on getting a kitty. i want an apartment that is pet-friendly, with a private balcony, under $550/month, and in either sugar house or downtown salt lake. yeah. seems impossible.

but then i found this listing online. and suddenly, i'm not sure what to do anymore! i feel like i won't find another one like this. it's ideal. so, back to square one. should i stay or should i go now?

pros of moving:
-live alone. andddd live in salt lake.
-two of three classes this semester are at the salt lake center. so my commute would be twice a week for school. i already commute to salt lake at least twice a week anyway.
-see my friends up there much more frequently.
-find a new ward, since mine is no good.
-get a kitty!

cons of moving:
-must find a new job, probably make less money until i graduate.
-more expenses (deposit, rent, furniture, etc.)
-have to quit job...ughhh.

pros of staying:
-keep my job, save more money.
-12 vacation days at work.
-not have to drive to provo on tues/thurs mornings.

cons of staying:
-stay with roommates who are loud and young.

i don't know. i guess i don't have to make any decisions until i see the apartment. but the prospect of such a huge change in my life is making my head spin.
i need to go to bed.