3 roses, 2 grinning idiots, and 1 perfect proposal

He may not have sweaty palms in front of a courtroom or against the best of defense attorneys. He didn’t have butterflies when asked to officiate his cousin’s wedding. I never thought I’d see him nervous, but that all changed when he got down on one knee to ask me if I’d like to spend the rest of my life with him.

I said yes. Then I asked him to pinch me...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We had planned a weekend getaway to Galveston, a place where I spent much of my childhood and teen years. While the beaches might not be very beautiful, that place holds a lot of special memories for me. We stayed at the Hotel Galvez, a gorgeous historic resort-like hotel. Even more beautiful and more special now that it will forever be the place that David proposed to me.

I arrived on Thursday night. After five and a half hours of driving, I am usually not a happy camper. David knows this all too well, and he knew I might be grumpy once I arrived, but he played all that out in his head and decided it needed to happen Thursday night so we could spend the rest of our weekend celebrating.

Once I got into the parking garage, I texted him that I had arrived. AKA - please come help me drag my 14 bags up to our room. He replied with an unusual, “Can’t come down right now, Mandy at the front desk has your key.” Once I hauled my luggage into the hotel lobby, I asked for Mandy who gave me my room key and a rose with a tiny card attached. The card said “THIS ROSE REPRESENTS THE PAST. I know you hate driving, so I got you this rose to cheer you up. I LOVE YOU.”

I grinned like an idiot riding the elevator up to our room.

Once I got into the room, David was nowhere to be found, yet there was a gift bag, another tiny card, and another red rose waiting for me in the room. This is when I started to figure out something was up. This card said, “THIS ROSE REPRESENTS THE PRESENT. Come down to the bar by the front desk. A drink will be waiting for you. In the meantime, enjoy a chocolate.” He also left a note on the gift bag that told me to change into something comfy. Considering I’m an overachiever and had already changed in my car, I was good to go.

I grinned like an idiot riding the elevator down to the bar.

Once again, I didn’t see David anywhere in the lobby. I went up to the bar and the bartender, Tess, gave me my favorite drink and the third and final tiny card. “Do I have to drink this alone?” Tess nodded. By now I have butterflies BIG time, people are staring at me and my drink of choice was settling in. This card read, “Enjoy your drink! They will bring you to me.” I stood there like a goober for about five minutes until Mandy rescued me. She said to follow her and we walked a distance that felt like three miles (but was actually about 40 yards) until we were in the hotel ballroom. She politely chit chatted with me during our three mile walk, but I could hardly concentrate. I think I came up with some coherent answers to her questions, but mostly...I was grinning like an idiot.

Once I could see into the dimly lit ballroom, there was David, standing up awaiting my arrival. He was set up at a small round table with candles glowing, chocolate covered strawberries, champagne in a bucket of ice and...lo and behold...our song playing softly in the background!

I sooooo know what’s going on. HOL-EEE MOLEY! Is this really happening tonight??!!

He hands me my third and final rose and says “This rose represents OUR future together...” then he says a few sweet things (that I will keep to myself) and gets down on one knee and asks me to marry him.

I was in so much shock that I never took my purse off my shoulder (yes, it’s in almost every picture....sigh...)

My answer was a shocked, “Yeah...I mean YES.” I didn’t cry at first but I did cry five minutes later. I’m a delayed reactor I suppose.

I asked him to pinch me because it felt so surreal. Since that didn’t work, I asked him to pinch me again. I couldn’t be more impressed, happy, excited, in love, and blessed. I couldn’t have asked for a better man or a better proposal.

We grinned like idiots the whole weekend.

The ring? It’s classic, timeless, simple, elegant, and absolutely beautiful. We never discussed rings. He never asked my ring size. All part of his “master plan” of surprising me. He asked my dad for permission two weeks beforehand. That’s what made me cry. There was a rainbow over the ocean about an hour before I arrived. I think it was a sign - perhaps it was our guardian angel, my late grandparents, or God saying “Go David, Go!”

Scents and Sensibility

You're looking at the NEWEST (and coolest, of course)

Scentsy consultant!

I didn't just join on a whim, because if you know me at all, you would know that my average time for making a decision is 3.5 months. After harassing a friend's sister, a college friend, and a complete stranger about their experience, I finally decided to give it a whirl.

About 3 weeks ago, I ordered my first warmer and 3 different "flavors" and have since fallen in love, which is ultimately why I became a consultant. I think one of the more exciting things is that in a few days I will get my starter kit and be able to smell new scents until my little nose hurts and decide what I want to order next. So selfish of me, I know.

If you've been living under a rock and don't have a clue what Scentsy is...not to worry.

Check out my sweeeet website:

https://carly.scentsy.us

Check it out. Tell me what you think. Shop online. Whatev.

Cheers!

Queen of Random Crap

That's me!

Case in point: Yesterday, I got a bit of disappointing news by phone and needed to get out for some fresh air and perspective. I grabbed my chihuahua and cell phone and headed down the block. I didn't even make it a quarter of a mile from home and I'm bombarded by a swarm of....I don't know what!

Bees? Wasps? Japanese hornets? I still don't know for sure. All I remember is the large black swarm that came from the tall green swaying weeds, the loud buzzing that alerted me in the first place and then surrounded me, and the hovering black things that I was certain at any moment would sting the CRAP out of me. All of them!!!!! And little Pookie? Where was he? What would happen to him?

Did you know if you Google "insect swarm" you get a lot of World of Warcraft stuff? Weird....

Anyway, the chaos only lasted approximately 7 seconds. It felt like 4 years. But I survived. Neither of us had a sting on our body. I may or may not have seriously considered how fast of a sprinter I was and how quickly I could book it to the neighborhood pond (another half mile) and jump in to escape my flying friends. But I shudder to think of what may have lurked in the pond.

My sister and I have come to the conclusion that my next shopping trip will be to purchase a HazMat suit. Needless to say, I will be wearing my new "outfit" on ALL future nature walks. Observe...

"What I Want" -- The List

I took a long walk down memory lane today. I have mixed feelings about this walk. Part of me laughed out load at the notes between some of my best friends and myself during high school. The other part of me wanted to cry when I read an email from a dear friend who I would never see again. I also read a lot of things that I wrote during a very antsy and uncertain time of my life. It's like looking back at yourself 10 years ago and wanting to reach into that letter/email/IM and scream, "It will all turn out alright!" or "Don't date that guy, he's a jackass!" or "Cheer up, it's only PMS!!" It amazes me how much I angsted in my teens. It also amazes me that I'm exactly that same girl. I remember everything as if it happened yesterday. I remember the emotion attached to each letter, each scribble. Yup, I am that girl - just 10 years older and wiser.

I'm sure when I'm 40, I'm going to look back at myself now (age 27) and go, "Gee, I sure worried a lot." or "If only I knew then what I know now..."

In other news, I came across a list I created in my college years. It was hidden between pages in my Chem II notebook (i just threw up a little thinking about Chem II).

This list was simply titled, "What I Want."

I must have just gone through a break up with my high school love muffin, or gotten fed up with the Fratty boys I had dated. Whatever the reason, I decided to make a list of what I really wanted in a man. Here goes...

- someone I can be excited to start my life with

- someone I find very attractive, even on their ugly days

- ... who wants what I want in life

- ... I'd be proud to have kids with

- ... who could provide if I ever when I want to raise a family

- ... with passion about something

- ... who makes me feel hot

- ... who's genuinely happy

- ... who loves animals

- ... who makes me feel taken care of

- ... my parents LOVE

- ... who I can imagine giving a lot to and not always being selfish

- ... with excellent manners

- ... who makes me feel like a lady

- ... with amazing communication skills

- ... with a close relationship with their family

- Gotta be a Christian

I shared it with Happy Pants this evening. Funny how he meets all my "qualifications." I showed it to my mom too, and she said, God must have been reading that list over your shoulder. :)

Sometimes memory lane can lead to some neat findings. I also found a hilarious letter I wrote to my future self back in Junior High (in which my biggest crush, Matt, also added that I had a nice "toosh"), and a note from my mom when we were at a convention telling me that whatever happens, just be my wonderful, genuine self and no matter what, I was worth every penny that it cost to be there.

Twas fun. I only have the energy to walk memory lane once in a blue moon. It's pretty dang exhausting reliving your past, but I wouldn't trade any of it.

So we meet again, lofty loft

So remember my tiny dilemma - to loft or not to loft? Well, once again, that is the question.

On complete and utter accident (note: I'm inherently random and kinda all over the place so I come across a lot of things by chance), I found some loft apartments above this adorable, small shopping area with little adorable boutiques and restaurants and wine bars, etc. The town is ranked one of the best places to live in the nation. This is the type of place I dream of. Where I look up at the balconies and sigh and say to myself, "Oh, wouldn't that be sah-weet?"

Well, I decided to be random once again and call the property manager and go take a look at one of the units. Just in case. It's not hurting anyone. Well, except me when I get excited and can't stop thinking about the place and lay awake at night planning out my living room furniture arrangement. Sigh... I guess it hurts a little.

Anyway, for where these apartments are and for what they are, it's a FAB price. They are running a special where you get 2 months free and I would prorate that, which makes it pretty affordable (affordable for those who have a clue what their commission checks will look like, and I don't. Yet.)

Friday after work, I sat outside of the loft leasing office for 45 minutes. No lie. I got an expense reimbursement check and had enough for the deposit. I could have put a deposit down to hold my fabulous little loft with a view. But I just couldn't make it work (financially) in my brain. So I prayed about it, called my mom, drove in circles, called my mom, went to Starbucks, texted my mom, drove around again, and finally left. I'm sure a few tenants have already decided that I'm a stalker. Whatev.

I just couldn't make it work on paper and it depressed me to no end. So, I decided I am going to continue to pray about taking that leap of faith. I have some brainstorming (and re-budgeting) to do and if the unit is still available once I make my decision, then I'll know I did the right thing.

I can't wait to see what lies ahead! (please be the loft, please be the loft, please be the loft...)

Meant to beeeeee

Sooo...my love (Happy Pants) and I have a few cute stories about times where we've either been "married" or "engaged" according to someone or something.

It's like the universe is trying to tell us something.

That or everyone is crazy.

That or we just look like an old married couple.

That or I have this giddy glow about me.

OR it's just in the cards that we're meant to be. (and I don't believe in cards, I believe in God, but I'm just sayin'...)

Anyhoo. The first time Happy Pants brought me home to his mom's was Christmas of 2008. It was too early by all my standards to be going to meet mom. And at Christmastime of all times! But I went anyway because I'm nuts. On Sunday morning at church, his grandfather (who already loved me, I just know it) announced to the whole church, "This is my grandson and his fiance." Granted, he was 78 at the time. He's allowed to have a brain fart. My boyfriend's brother turned to us and quietly joked, "When were you going to tell the rest of us?"

Recently, a magazine along with a few pamphlets showed up at my house from Sandals resorts. It was their wedding and honeymoon information. I don't know who or what caused these to arrive in my hands. I may or may not have thumbed through each of them. ;)

About a month ago, while in Arkansas for a wedding, my boyfriend and I were patiently waiting for an elevator in our hotel. While waiting, a charming little 8 or 9 year old with a huge grin on her face approached us. We smiled back at her and asked if she was going up. She just looked at both of us a little longer, analyzing. Then she finally spoke, "You've got a nice wife!" to which Happy Pants replied, "Thank you!" Then we got on the elevator (alone) and giggled at the little girl's odd remark. We didn't feel the need to explain to an 8 year old. Just go with the flow on that one.

And at work, there's my boss who constantly checks my ring finger and calls Happy Pants my "future husband to be."

Then you count the multiple people and multiple times Happy Pants has heard "When are you going to put a ring on her finger?" and "Never mind how the weekend went, did you propose?" Poor guy. He gets it from his co-workers too. Even ones I've never met. It's awesome.

I guess he doesn't need any pressure from this girl. He's got all the "hints" he could have ever asked for. Personally, I can't wait. Each weekend I spend with him I feel we grow closer.

I can, however, wait to plan a wedding [shudder]. Talk about stress.

My 30 Before 30 List

I decided to take a great idea from another blogger and create my own "30 Before 30" list. Let's clarify...I only have approximately 2.5 years before I'm 30 (ugh!), so this might be a stretch (financially) to get it all done in that amount of time.

Note: I reserve the right to edit this list as time goes on. If I decide I want to sky dive and/or develop a terrible fear of dolphins, then there will be some editing. Just keepin' it real.

Anyway, it's neat to create this list. You should try it.

Before I'm 30, I will...

1. Play in the rain
2. Sing in front of someone other than my steering wheel
3. Get engaged
4. Become a Big Sister (big brothers big sisters)
5. Adopt/rescue a golden retriever/lab
6. Move to a new city
7. Visit Europe
8. Wine tasting in Napa Valley
9. Jet ski
10. Swim with dolphins
11. Give a public speech without losing sleep
12. Find a church and happily attend
13. Take a pottery class
14. Join a gym
15. Learn one song on guitar
16. Attend at least one Operation Kindness gala
17. Give blood
18. Run a 5k or 10k
19. Ride in a hot air balloon
20. Experience a TRUE spa day
21. Learn to shoot a gun
22. Go skiing
23. Take my parents out for a fancy dinner
24. Take my first cruise
25. Visit family in Chicago and explore downtown
26. Be able to say, “Yes, I golf.”
27. Learn a new craft
28. Let go of the stuff that does me no good to keep
29. Get a quilt made of all my keepsake t-shirts
30. Become a kick-butt sales rep

To loft or not to loft

Ya see, I've been looking for a place to rent for a long time. A very long time. I am not exaggerating here.

Since I started my new sales job in early February, the wheels have been a-spinnin' and I'm probably getting ahead of myself (again), but I continue to shop around. I think it makes me feel better. (sigh...)

I have pretty much been set on living in Forth Worth (aka Cowtown); as close to downtown as possible.

I heart Fort Worth. It's a feeling similar to your favorite pair of designer jeans that you've worn so much that you ALMOST have to throw them out, but can't bear to do it because you still look great in them. So what if there's a hole in the back pocket? It's got a comfy side and a fancy side. It's definitely not Dallas, which is a good thing.

Anyway, I got uber excited about this (surprisingly affordable) loft and then I was sorely disappointed when I realized it was too soon and I couldn't do it and the unit would go fast.

Then I visited the usual boring old cookie cutter apartments (about 20 of them). After looking at (and daydreaming about) lofts, it's a total snoozefest in comparison.

They all have the same things in common:

1) Close quarters (i.e., creeps you don't want to live near)

2) Fat, ugly deposits (esp. for pets) and hidden "admin fees"

3) overpriced, overpriced, overpriced!

4) Total lack of uniqueness

Oh, and another good one - pet rent! Pets don't have jobs!!!! Why should they pay rent? This bothers me.

Then I looked at a few more lofts. Most of which I cannot afford. Crap.

So I'm back to square one. I desperately want to live downtown and I'd love a loft setting while I'm young(ish) and childless, but I don't think I can swing it financially.

Looks like Pookie is going to have to get a job.

BUT I think I've narrowed it down to three. Which of my top three would YOU pick:

#1) Lofty loft near downtown, true studio (no separation), historic building, renovated, artsy, unique.

Biggest cons - no washer/dryer hookups, limited availability. Not in the greatest neighborhood, but it's not the worst either.

#2) Townhome-style apartment w/ attached garage, views, dogpark, friendly.

Biggest cons- Smallish

#3) Regular nice apartment with river access. Good street.

Biggest cons - Not really digging the complex itself. A little busier/cramped feeling.

For the love of jeans!!!

We north Texans have a neat little store called Plato's Closet. They generally market to teens, and young adults...so I feel a bit "old" in there now, but since I still get mistaken for a 19 year old, I figure, what the hell. Anyway, they sell gently used, brand name clothing, bags, and shoes for less than half the original price. It's kinda like going through a friend's closet and snagging what they can't use anymore. Sweet!

Anyhoo! I snagged a pair of Paige capri jeans (I adore Paige denim) and some Bigstar jeans, which is a brand I've never tried before. I also got a pair of cute, yet modest black heels for work.

The items cost $25, $35, and $8, respectively.

Score!

Thank you, Plato. I shall shop again soon.

(I MAY have failed to mention that I recently won a pair of Seven For All Mankind jeans on eBay. They will be arriving shortly. I pray that they fit. Yes, I have a jean problem and I'm seeking help for it.)

(But in my defense, my fave jeans are starting to get a hole near the back pocket, so I was in need of new jeans before everyone at work caught a glimpse of my pasty white ARSE!)

yes please...

and yes please. I'll take them all.

Welcome to the workforce....again

Well, I start my new job tomorrow. While 75% of me CAN'T WAIT, the other 25% of me is a bit worried. The only reason I don't look forward to it is because of the abnormally long commute. The first few weeks are going to....well....suck. I will have to get up at the ungodly hour of 5 a.m. and then won't get home until 7:30 or so. Then I will have a whopping 2 hours of ME time before I must go to bed. Blah.

(All the more reason to consume lots and lots of coffee.)

On a more positive note, once I get past the first few ugly weeks of the drive and training all day, I think I'm really going to like it. When I interviewed, it was for an in-office position doing pretty much the same thing day after day. A friend, and sorority sister from college, was going to be the one training me. Well, my interviewer had other plans for me. He asked if I would be interested in sales because I had a "sales-y" personality. (and no, he didn't mean used car sales, but a relatable and make-you-feel-at-home personality type) (at least that's what I tell myself). I told him that I'd be thrilled to get into sales for their company, if they would have me.

Fast forward a week, and he offers me a job. Not the office job (that doesn't pay great) but the sales job that I didn't even know I wanted until the interview! I gladly accepted! All logic and reason was telling me that he wouldn't offer me a sales job because he said they didn't normally hire someone without a true sales background. Then he mentioned not having any open positions for sales at this time. Then my imagination got away from me and I started thinking that maybe, just maybe, he was creating a new position for a newbie like me. That maybe he liked me enough to find a place for me instead of losing me altogether. But perhaps that was just wishful thinking...

But that's exactly what he did! He found a place for me! A position that was created with me in mind. :) And I figure, if they believe in me so much, there's no reason for me not to. I know that if I work hard, I can really kick butt!

So you are now looking at the newest member of the sales team for a Dallas-based Title company. I get a territory that hasn't been touched yet. They are also gonna give me a blackberry, laptop, car allowance, etc. And when God decides it's the right time, I will plan a move closer to work. I'm thinking that might be around April.

Hoooray!!! God is good. Now I just pray I can do this commute for several weeks until everything falls into place.

I will be tempted to do this on a daily basis...

And on warm days, maybe this will be the ticket....

And if it really does snow in Texas this week, I may get stuck in this unfortunate scenario...

But let's hope that's not the case!!!

Shut up and dance!

I just had to share with you all that I bought the Wii game, Just Dance, two nights ago. I do realize I'm a complete and utter nerd for absolutely loving games like this. But hey, if it gets me off my butt and gets me doing cardio, and therefore, gets me in a bikini in a few months, it's toootally worth it.

On that note, I'd like to share a Mad Lib with you. It's appropriately titled, Dance Therapy. Enjoy!

Dance Therapy

Sometimes the cure for a generous heart is to dance until the wee hours of the nail file with your girlfriends at a pastry club. Now that you're swimmingly on the market, you'll need to swift up on your dance moves. Here are some plump tips for boogying down in your bath tub or in front of a freakish crowd of meerkats.

-Rotate your eyelashes to the music, of course.

-If you have grumpy hair, kick it with all you've got - but don't get so dizzy that you hokey pokey.

-Be sure to move your breasts with purpose - flailing is not attractive or indigenous.

-Put your hands on your SUVs to look ultra shapely.

In no time at all, you'll be attracting many jelly beans.

A week of hard(ish) conversations

Remember I started that job that didn't pay well, but it was something in a time where I was desperate?

Well, my last day was Friday.

Pros:

No more waking up at 5:30

No more driving an hour in God-knows-what kind of traffic

No more wearing a suit every day

Cons:

No more paycheck (even if it was teensie weensie)

No, I didn't just up and quit. I thought long and hard about the thought of staying there. I also gained information that I wasn't given in my interview. Information that may have swayed my decision in ever starting. I was finally able to ask my questions and I got a highly disappointing answer. The day I found out that the chance of them paying what I needed was very low, I was completely bummed. Then I had to go to work every day pretending to care when, mentally, I had already checked out.

I remembered during my interview, Holly asked me to be totally honest with her. If I ever got bored, or decided it wasn't for me, to tell her and she'd be happy to find me something else. So I called her on a Thursday right at 5:00 and spilled the beans. It would have been MUCH easier to just leave and never come back and assume they understood why. But I owed it to them to tell them it wasn't where I saw myself in a few years down the road, and that it would never pay me what I needed. I have never in my life sat down a boss and told them that it wasn't going to work. That was hard convo #1.

Once the owner got wind of my leaving, he scheduled a time to sit down and talk to me. So I gave him the same info that I gave Holly. And, bless him, he didn't beg me to stay. Sometimes I get caught up or put on the spot, and I'm too nice and I'll agree to almost anything. But thankfully, he could see that I just wasn't passionate about the company. He was very gracious, and so was I. But it was still hard to look him in the eye and tell him that HIS company, his blood, sweat, and tears, wasn't my calling. That was hard convo #2.

Some other night that week, on my long drive home, I was talking to my boyfriend. He is probably almost as stressed as I am about my lengthy and painful job search. So during the conversation, we both got really stressed out and started taking it out on each other. However, we finally decided to act like adults and share our feelings - stuff we've put off saying (because at times, there is no point in bringing it up when there's no solution). He feels very out of control of the whole situation, as do I. The situation being us having been together over a year, and never having lived in the same area code. He lives in Austin and I live in DFW. Does it make us not want to be together? No. We can't imagine not being together. He said if we have to continue doing this long-distance, then he's in it for the long haul. But wouldn't it be great to not have to schedule a week in advance to see each other? Wouldn't it be amazing to just have dinner together after work? Unwind with a glass of wine together? Cuddle up and watch a movie on a rainy day? HELL YES! We want that!!! So that was hard convo #3.

Now I start from square one tomorrow. I have a list of places I want to call/email/apply. Some in Austin, some here in DFW. My boyfriend was up visiting this weekend, and we had a wonderful weekend together. It really made all the craziness fade into the background. :)

I also want to add A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my beautiful sister, CJR. She turns the big 3-0 today. I just know that this year is going to be an amazing one for her and her new life with Lobster. Love you guys!

Awww, Thanks!

Thanks SO much to CJR at Girl v. The World. She's an amazing blogger and, once again, I'm not sure I am deserving of this Beautiful Blogger Award. But I digress...

Here are the rules:

1. Thank the person who gave you the award.

2. Paste the award on your blog.

3. Link back to the person who gave you the award.

4. Share seven interesting things about yourself.

5. Nominate up to 7 more beautiful bloggers.

6. Link the seven bloggers you nominate.

Seven neat-o things about me. Well....I feel incredibly dull lately, but here goes:

1) I think I would be happy as a hamster if I owned a coffee shop on a beach. Coffee + beach + acoustic beats = bliss.

2) I'm starting to think that if I got another dog, I would want a golden retriever.

3) I cuss the most when I'm in the car.

4) I've become a book lover within the past year. I used to actually hate reading when I was a kid. I'm starting to wonder if my kindergarten teacher was to blame. I remember being very enthusiastic to read to her, and she never had the time.

5) I can't wait to have kids. I have always pictured myself as a mom.

6) I wish I could play an instrument.

7) I have prophetic dreams every now and then. (prophetic: foretelling events as if by divine inspiration).

Ok lovelies, thanks for reading, and thanks again CJR for the award!!

God Works in Mysterious Ways

Guess what folks? I got myself a job.

In a nutshell, I applied for 842 jobs (on average) over a four month span. In that time, I was only called in for 2 interviews. The first interview was explained in this blog, and it was a shady pyramid scheme. The second interview was a decent and legitimate job.

And I got it.

Out of the 842 jobs I applied for, I'd say about 45% of them were in Austin, Texas. I was completely open (and mentally prepared) to move south to be closer to Happy Pants and start over in Austin, seeing as how I feel like I'm stuck in a rut here in the DF Dub.

But, oddly enough, the job I landed is in Fort Worth. On one hand, it's perfect. I abso-freakin-lutely love Fort Worth and have wanted to move to that area for a long time. I had been praying that a door would open where I needed to be, whether that was Austin, Fort Worth, or wherever. I ran into slammed door after slammed door and nothing came as smoothly or incredibly easy as this job.

I went to this particular business's website and found an internal position open, clicked "apply," attached my resume and hit "send." That was it. A whopping 25 minutes later, I get a call from Holly, who schedules me for an interview the following day. I go interview the next morning, and the interview goes so well that she calls the CEO and sees if he has time to meet me. He does. So I go meet with him. I feel that interview #1 went swimmingly. Interview #2 was questionable, as he was not as easy to read. But it was still a pleasant meeting.

On my drive home after a morning full of handshakes, nods, smiles, and politically correct responses, I'm exhausted. I drive home (in the snow, mind you) and I get a wave of depression. It's ugly. I want to shake it off but I keep feeling discouraged. I would never have considered this my dream job by any means. It may not pay enough and I may not even like it. But it's a job and I really need a job. And I realize that the CEO may not have even liked me, so I may have screwed up the only job that's been thrown at me. Too many thoughts running through my head.

Later, I anxiously await a phone call that never comes. I get really nervous because now I kinda want the job...I think. I go to bed that night, not knowing what the hell I want or need anymore. I'm at my wits end. I'm so tired of the hunt, the waiting, the rejections, the unanswered emails. I'm not sure I can do this much longer.

It was around 3 a.m. that I popped awake (BING!) and I remembered a dream I had about three weeks ago.

I dreamed that I was driving around with my boyfriend, looking for a place I was supposed to interview. After I found it, I walked in and spoke to a woman at the front desk of this really neat place. She told me that the CEO was in a meeting and would be out to meet with me, but to beware, because he was a bit intimidating. Once he came out, I realized two things. A) he wasn't intimidating, and B) he had a copy of my resume in his hand. I didn't have my resume on me and so I was relieved when he miraculously had one. He told me that he got it via email. Whew! Then he walked me over to a meeting table and we began a meeting. I felt important already. I really liked this place and this feeling.

So the reason I startled awake at 3 a.m. was because I suddenly realized how this dream paralleled with my real-life interview that day. Why, you ask?

1) The woman who interviewed me made me feel very important.

2) She then called the CEO and asked him to interview with me.

3) When we both realized I was without an extra copy of my resume, she emailed one to him.

4) She warned me that he may be intimidating.

5) When I met him, I decided he didn't intimidate me.

6) He came in with a printed copy of my resume (that I didn't supply him with).

7) I was wearing the same deep pink shirt and blazer that I wore in my dream.

Holy schnikeys! Do you see why I was freaked out?

So this gave me a sense of renewed hope that for whatever reason, whether I understand it or not, God was reassuring me about this job. Maybe telling me not to give up hope yet?

Two days later, I get the call from Holly congratulating me on my new job.

So why here and not Austin? I don't know. Happy Pants and I are both slightly bummed that an Austin job didn't pan out, but it's okay. We will be in the same city when the time is right. And apparently, I'm needed here for a bit longer. I just have to keep an open mind and a faithful heart.

Here's to a happy 2010 and a new job! I hope that you, too, had a new year filled with pleasant and unexpected surprises.