I'm on my way.....

My boss let me know last night that my offer letter is finished. Thats a good thing seeing that it only went back and forth once - which means that all the little details are worked out :)

I actually haven't recieved the offer yet, but at least I know its coming! Which means, I will soon be able to list the house! MEXICO AND A NEW LIFE - HERE I COME!!!!!!

Also, I'm typing this from the inside of my car - in the parking lot of Starbucks! I must say that wireless internet and laptops ROCK! The only thing cooler would be a blackberry, but apparantly I'm not high enough on the totem pole to get one of those yet!

Alas, another update

Not too much is occurring in the world o' Mexico - I'm still waiting for my offer letter so I can get our darn house on the market and get this gig moving!

In the meantime, there have been other developments in my life. Most significantly, the decision to end my almost 4 year marriage with Troy.

I won't go into all the details here - but just know it all came down to children, family, lifestyle and most of all, my instinct. I think if I really would have listened to myself years ago, we wouldn't be facing this tribulation now.

We're still amicable, and I still have an amazing respect for him. Hopefully things will all go smoothly and we can part ways and still be friends at some point down the road.

Goodbye Body Shop :(

So Friday night was my last official scheduled party for The Body Shop at home. I'm rather bummed about the whole deal, as I really enjoy going out and meeting the incredible amounts of amazing women that are changing the world each day. On a happy note, though - I did sell a boat load, and made myself an extra $150 for four hours of work. Its best to go out with a bang, right?

I'm getting ready right now to head up to the Naw for the evening. Tomorrow I have to forage to see customers in the upper part of my territory. I don't get to see them that often - but I really enjoy going up to Petosky and helping them out. Its definitely a different market than metro Detroit, fo' sho!

Excuse my absence

Hello Everyone! Its been years since I've posted - or it at least feels like it!

Over the past month, I've spent literally four nights at home - between NYC, Mexico and then Chicago. Finally, last week, I was done - for the time being anyway. Its life back to semi-normal.

So, update on the whole Mexico shin-dig. Things are progressing very favorably. Although nothing can be made official until the offer letter is drafted, reviewed, drafted again and signed its about as official as it gets without that document. They've requested passport, university and all sorts of other documentation to get my visa stuff started, which was pretty darn exciting.

I realized as I was making copies though that I HATE my passport picture. Actually, I didn't just realize that, I've known since I took the picture - but I choose not to think about it until I have to stare at it while I'm copying everything. But, I will live with it because I have pretty stamps in it and I don't want to start over again. *sigh* cest la vie.

Communication between myself and Apasco has gone pretty smoothly, but the one gentleman (who will be my boss, essentially) writes emails only in Spanish just to make me work for it. Usually, I use Google Translator - which works well enough to get the jist of whats going on. Sometimes though, I have to enlist the services of one of the local Maria's from Ecuador (there are two). She's such a gem!

¡Bienvenido a ciuadad de Mexico!

Hi Everyone! Sorry about the lack of posting. I am a busy busy girl. I am currently sitting in the business center of the hotel in Mexico City, getting ready to return from our visit to Toluca and the Concrete Technology Center. WOW! what a trip! It was much better than I expected, and it really looks like it will be a very good fit for Holcim US and Holcim Apasco. AND i got a leather portfolio as a gift, with "El Perro" on the front. Ilove that Apasco bulldog!

Anway, by the sounds of things, the move date will be around the first of August, if Human Resources moves quickly.

My spanish has also improved greatly in the three days we have been here. and i have another week and a half to go in Cancun - i will be fluent before i know it.

Well, back to the room to pack, our flight leaves soon. Please, send lots of prayers my way - i have got a wild and crazy road ahead of me!

Mexico Ahoy!

Short but sweet update - Troy and I are travelling to Mexico on Sunday to visit Toluca and Mexico city. Then we get back, and go back to Mexico for a relaxing vacation!

I haven't had a lot to say lately because I've been so busy, but lets just say that its finally looking like its coming together!

New York Bound

For all of the crazy conference I go to each year, I really do enjoy the ACI ones. This year, it is in New York City. I'm very excited because I get to go to a Yankees game and maybe I'll get to see the Statue of Liberty. I've been twice before to New York, but for some reason Eunice never took me to see Lady Liberty. I think its because she's Canadian, and its not that important to her :) (just kidding Euni! I know we never had time!) Of course my primary reason there is to learn about all the hot and fabulous goings on in the concrete industry - there are lots of meetings and presentations going on Sunday through Thursday. And, on Tuesday night the "Concrete Mixer" is taking place on Broadway (insert jazz hands and/or spirit fingers here).

Updates - no contemplation

Alright, apparantly I burned myself out with all that introspection. Now, I'm back to my normal happy-go-lucky self without all that "deepness".

So, here's the update. I've been given clearance to take a pre-assessment assignment by our relocation company to identify my weaknesses/strengths etc. Before you jump ahead by wondering why the heck they would want to do something like this, let me tell you that I gladly volunteered to be the guinea pig. Holcim HR has wanted to implement something like this for a while, and I'm always up for new things, so its a good fit.

After the assessment, which will be approximately a day long of interviews and psycho/socio analysis, we will go on a site visit to Toluca for a few days. After that point a offer letter will be drafted and signed and I will be on my way.......Really though, I probably won't be able to get out for a site visit until mid-May, which means if everything goes smoothly (and lets face it, up until this point it hasn't) we won't be moving until late summer early fall. Which actually works out well because that means I can have some time to do Cedar Point once more, and maybe get a week of camping in or so.

I should be ecstatic - but with all the ups and downs I've gone trhough this whole process I'm being slightly reserved. I figure I'll have more emotion when I'm down there visiting, and meeting my potential co-workers. In any regard, there are some huge potenital life changes ahead for me!

On another happy note I got a new computer yesterday. The company decided to make the move from Toshiba to IBM. Its not too bad - increased memory, speed, and wireless internet - but they didn't load any games on it at all, which makes me kind of angry. Granted, I don't have the time to sit and play solitare all day and night, but occasionally your brain does need a little break. I'm just going to have to download them myself.

FEVER!

Never knew how much I love you
Never knew how much I care
When you put your arms around me
I get a fever thats so hard to bear

You give me fever.....
When you kiss me
Fever when you hold me tight..........
FEVER!
In the morning
Fever all through the night!

Although its a great song, sometimes its irritating to have it stuck in your head. And since thats the only verse I know, it gets old real quick. And I can't find the darn CD so I can learn the rest of it........But DAMN! Thats a sexy song!

Anywho, I feel like I have a fever right now. The weather is ridiculously beautiful, but with it comes a slew of allergies. Granted, they are much less harsh now that I'm doing shots - but still a pain in the butt. I'm all crazy drugged up.

MEXICO UPDATE
Apparantly I'm through most of the major hoops, and now they are consulting with a company to do a pre-assignment assesesment. I'm not sure what that means, but if they make me drink any wierd liquids, or make me eat corn flakes that effloresce, I'm totally not down with that!

So what does it all mean?

Really, nothing at all. It means I’m a complicated woman who on many different occasions doesn’t know what she wants. Plain and simple. Of course, if I didn’t have many different layers, maybe it would be easier to decipher my plan. Then again, if I didn’t have so many layers I suppose I wouldn’t be nearly as entertaining to myself – now would I……….

Who Am I?

Every now and again an event will occur which sends me into a contemplative mood. It may be a movie, or maybe words from a friend which ring true, but it almost always happens when I’m already ready for it to occur. And it almost always involves crying a lot. **WARNING** THIS POST MAY BE LONG…….

Which brings me to my current state. I watched a movie, and now I’m like – Why am I Here? What is my purpose? Am I doing what truly makes me happy and what I feel like I’m called for? And then I think to myself – man, it would be awesome if I wasn’t this deep and never thought of these questions, and I wonder if those that don’t contemplate things ever achieve the culmination of their life, or if they just live and enjoy. Sometimes its hard to be an onion. Or a cake.

Anyway, I think in order to understand the whys, it is of utmost importance to understand the whos. As in, Who Am I?

I am hard to define, so lets break it down to likes and dislikes, and in general how I feel about me.

I love my skin. I love my back. Even though the weight of time has changed them, I believe I have damn near perfect breasts. I love my brown hair and my brown eyes. I love that my eyelashes are straight and long and that my fingernails have a good shape. I love the freckles on my nose and the freckles on my lips. I am overweight, but I am beautiful.

OK, since I lack the ability to really write cohesive poetic prose, I will from here on out just type whatever pops into my head.

I like getting up early when I’m camping and sitting on the beach before anyone else and watching the sun rise. I love the sound of just a campfire. I love the quietness of nature, and the bustle of the city. I’m selfish, yet I want to save the world. I want to become one with nature, as long as I can have a Starbucks Chai Latte. I’d love to give all my money away, but I love jewelry from Tiffany’s.

I love the energy that surges through me when I saw Mark McGuire break Roger Maris’s home run record. I love the sound of “Play Ball!”. I love beer. I believe only mustard should be put on hotdogs when at a ball game. I believe at the beginning of EVERY season that yes, this could be the Lions’ or Tigers’ year!

I only purchase bras and panties from Victoria’s Secret – and I used to work there!

I really love the smell, feel and taste of a good wine. I love boursin cheese on a water cracker. I love gorgonzola, but only if I’m in the mood. I always love it on a good juicy steak. I don’t like onions. Or mushrooms. No matter how many times I try. I really don’t like Italian food – but I don’t really dislike it either. I grew to love tomatoes, and asparagus. I LOVE LOVE LOVE peanut butter – but only JIF.

I listen to talk radio. I really love sports talk, and I love singing to country. I love the way my body wants to move with Salsa. I love the driving base of hip hop, and the way my emotions can be moved with a symphony. I love how a song about a soldier can make me cry, and how anything by Enya can sail me away.

Sometimes, I just like to cry.

I love cartoons and sappy movies. I can’t watch horror or suspense because its just too intense. I’ve never seen Pulp Fiction (although I did just go out and rent it to watch tonight). I love chic lit and classic lit. I’ve read “Who Moved My Cheese”. I like Stephen King, even if he is twisted. I like to read smut magazines. I’ve subscribed to ESPN the Magazine, Cosmopolitan, and Latina.

I like that I do........even though I sometimes shouldn't.

I am addicted to anticipation. I love the way it feels coursing through my veins……waiting for the next email, the next call………waiting for the next letter on wheel of fortune…....waiting for the next score in a game. Or maybe I’m just impatient. I’m passionate, I’m governed by my emotions, and yet some decisions require meticulous research, thought, and planning.

I love my family and my animals.

I love butterfly kisses.

It makes me angry to have to “Spring” ahead an hour. Sometimes I think trains are stupid. I occasionally get a little crabby in the mornings. Most of the time I get REALLY crabby in the mornings…….*sigh* my fingers are getting tired so I guess I should just call it good here – I never knew I knew so much about me!

Meet me in St. Louis....

Had a fantabulous time in St. Louis this week. It was pretty cool being there with all the buzz about the Final Four games this weekend. I had a couple moments of weekness when I wanted to steal some of the hotel decor/final four garb as a momento for my sister-in-law, but I figured if she wanted some of that crap she'd be able to get it. The woman has more connections than any 20-something should have.

I spent the time in St Louis at our plant in Clarksville, which is actually about an hour or so north of St Louis. There's no place to stay in the immediate vacinity, so St Charles is a good choice. It has brand name hotels, a Walmart close by, and plenty of things to entertain yourself in the evening.

I don't think anyone really understands how much hard work goes into concrete testing. 40 different mixes in two days is backbreaking work. Of course, I only did one day of testing so my back didn't hurt that bad :) I also learned how to strip concrete cylinders and grind off the tops. Very informative, even if Concrete Joe did yell at me for not making my 8's correctly (FYI - they are supposed to look like snowmen).

Aside from the po-dunk cities and back breaking labor, the weather was nice, and of course there was good company. So all in all, I had a really great trip. I enjoy getting together with my fellow tech service engineers (i.e. concrete nerds a-go-go). I always end up learning new methods or information, having great conversation, and the people are just so damn enjoyable. I wish we could get together more often.....

Lucky for me, I get to see one of them, the Manly Irish/Polish Man who covers Chi-Town, next week, and then again in NYC for the American Concrete Institue's Spring Convention. Yes, there is an American Concrete Institute. Don't laugh, you all know you wish you could know as much about concrete as me. I'm a very passionate person......even if it is just the grey stuff!

Mexico Update

I had a meeting with the head of HR today. I really thought it was going to be the end all of the process - I figured she was here to tell me yay or nay.

Alas, I'm still drudging through the process.

Which I suppose is better than being told that I'm not going, but in reality the suspense is killing me. I can't even watch suspense or horror movies because it puts my stomach in knots. I just get too tense. This is worse than watching the exorcist.

The purpose of the meeting today was to talk through some of the obstacles and really settle her mind about my committment to the process and make sure expectations are managed appropriately. As much as my husband will be PO'd about this - the meeting didn't meet my expectations at all. I wanted to come out with specific objections to overcome as well as a defined timeframe - but she was reluctant to do so despite my pressing.

What did occur is that in her mind, although its unclear the position that is available is the absolute right position for me, I am a good candidate for the ex-patriate process. I told her there are three things that she should never worry about when dealing with me.

1. Committment
2. Attitude
3. Flexibility

Aside from my stunning beauty and amazing technical expertise, those items are three of my strong suits.

The only action that came from this meeting is that I'm going to be speaking with a expat consulting firm to do an assessment of readiness, then after that will be a site visit. I won't know until after the site visit if its official or not. In my mind, that pushes our ETD out to August instead of June/July.

Vegas Baby!

Aside from the fact that Troy hated Vegas, we had a good trip. He just doesn't understand the concept of gambling and isn't much of a social flutterby type of guy. So the flashing lights and outrageous people irratated him more than anything. And his feet hurt from walking too much. Poor baby. Try walking the same amount in 4 inch hot pink heels.

The business portion of the trip was well done - meetings and training and rah rah sessions, along with a serioulsy elaborate customer reception on Tuesday night (customers were there visiting ConExpo/ConAgg - which is the largest trade show in Vegas). The best pasta I've had in a while. YUMMY! Of course the accomodations were supurb. Love the venetian. Kinda snooty, but really nice!

We caught a show (Zumanity - the other side of Cirque de Soliel). The show was actually pretty darn good - aside from the dark fetishes they explored. Erotic, funny and entertaining - hey, it is Cirque de Soliel. There were also prosthetic penises involved which were hilarious.

We also gambled a bit (me more than Troy) and ate and drank a lot. Mad props to Pat for letting us hang with his dad, brother and friend on Wednesday night - hopefully they did better betting on the Big Dance than they did at the BlackJack tables!

I won $150 the first night there playing blackjack - and gave it all back over the course of the days after that. We actually broke even - aside from the shopping at Lacoste and Tiffany's :)

I love Vegas. I think its the energy of people letting loose and having fun. It could be the lights too - I like sparkley things. Of course, I'm a bit naive (I admit it!)- so I choose not to see the plethora of strippers/cheating/prostitues/drug use - that would ruin it all for me!

Note to Everyone Else

A decision should be made sometime in the next week or so about my future career move. It looks like either:

• I'll be moving to Mexico and doing the Mexican Concrete Hat Dance

OR

• I'll be moving somewhere else, maybe making struedel or brats.

Either way, it would be a good deal. Troy really is pushing for Mexico - which is funny since he really was pushing for Europe in the beginning.

In the meantime we'll be having our National Sales Meeting in Vegas, BABY!

I 'm ectatic! Not only is it free, but its also 80 degrees there right now. RIGHT ON BABY! Let it ride! Momma needs a new pair of shoes!

Note to Beth

I keep on trying to post a comment - and it tells me Blog site not found! ARGH!

In response to the last couple of posts:

1. That Rocks! I was wondering if that was the Diana you were talking about!
2. Have fun in NYC
3. What happened to Derek? I thought you were soul mates?

Another Mexico Update

I've figured out that it is much more effective to voice your concerns to a Senior Vice President than to vent in anger in a blog. Blogging feels good, especially if you do it right away - but if you calm down and look at the situation rationally, and then talk to someone with power things actually might get done.

I had a quick meeting with our SVP today about my desires - and he expressed his concerns about the position not being challenging enough and not bringing enough value to Holcim US upon my return. We talked about that amongst other things, and essentially I made it known to him that I wanted the experience abroad (something I couldn't get at some other lab in the US) and I thought the value of the international assignment couldn't just be measured in what my job responsibilities are. All and all a positive conversation - at the end of which he said "well, you're probably going to go".....

Of course, since he's the SVP, he can always change his mind for whatever reason. I do however think the concerns he does have are valid - and I do believe him to be a very fair and reasonable man. So whatever the decision is I'll be down with.

Hopefully we'll know soon.......

Mexico Update

Funny - there is no update! Surprise!

But, I do have some updates on my feelings. Truth be told, I feel kind of jipped. I really thought the potential of doing an international assignment was real. In fact, its one of the reasons I chose this company out of college instead of the other offers I had - even though the other companies had higher salaries.

I suspect if I had chosen to stick to my guns and push for a process engineers position instead of taking the marketing route, I would have many many more opportunities to work abroad. I truly think that this company (and I'm sure others too) have a tendency to favor those in a "technical" role. Whether people chose to admit it or not, those who work in a plant and have technical backgrounds devalue the intelligence and gifts that it takes to work for a Sales Group - they inherently think that we're not as smart as they are.

Also, I think in addition to the above predjudice is the theory that money (for an international assignment) is better spent on someone who has the potential to rise to a plant manager - which will have more effect on the companies bottom line than someone in sales and marketing. So there are no qualms about providing said manufacturing people with more opportunities.

Am I bitter? YES! Of course I'm bitter! If you saw a wonderful opportunity slipping away when you knew you were highly able to take on the task, definitely smart and intelligent, and WORTH it, wouldn't you be bitter too?

Jeep Jeep you stink......

Pink Pink you stink. Somehow I transformed that saying into JEEP JEEP YOU STINK. I'm not sure how it happened. Sometimes its best just to not try to figure me out.


Anyway. Yes, we have a Jeep Wrangler. It has a personalized license plate. JPSTER. Corny, yes, but I like it that way. Troy had it as his primary vehicle when we met. I even learned how to drive it - my first stick shift! Part of the Sig Tau tradition in Houghton was taking Jeeps and other 4WD vehicles out on the old logging roads and gallivanting through the mud. We never got stuck, but it was always fun when someone did - or when someone's little Ford went through water too deep and sucked it up the intake :)

There's even a "club". People with Jeeps wave to each other. Whoever has the lowest scoring Jeep waves first. Its so darn friendly. That initially was my favorite part of being a Jeep owner. I think last time I figured we had a score about 60. Not too shabby! Check out the rules at http://jeeptalk.org/jeep_wave.shtml

The little Jeep that could made it out to CO (Keith and Troy drove it out together. I imagine it wasn't the most comfortable 21 hour drive, but it could have been worse). It got a face lift (and a suspension and body lift!) in order to brave the 4WL rock crawlin' of Colorado. We loved traipsing through the mountains! I was only scared once when Troy almost drove off a cliff going down a trail he didn't know. Seriously scared the crap out of me.

Jeep owners in Colorado don't wave either. Mostly because if they kept that up, you'd literally be waving every two seconds down the street. I swear thats the highest per capita population of Jeeps in the USA. And there are lots of pimped out Jeeps to climb mountains with. I think people had a hard time determining who had to wave first.

We had it transported back to MI (along with my truck). After I got a company car, we decided to make it a FUN vehicle. And we promised to never ever sell it so our kids will A) learn how to drive a stick and B) have a cool vehicle to cruise around town. Lets face it, there’s not many things much more fun than driving with a obnoxiously loud stereo with the top down on a warm sunny day!!!

Every time we get a little bit in debt and get freaked out, we talk about selling the Jeep.

Every time we get back in the Jeep, we wonder why we talk about selling it.

It will be officially paid off this summer. I’m pretty sure it’s the first vehicle either of us have owned, free and clear. We wish we had more time to use it for what it’s built, but we don’t have the time. Really though, we love that vehicle, and even if it’s not muddy all the time, we’re still Jeepers through and through.

Bonus Bonus

Supply and demand baby! I get my second bonus this year next Thursday. I like being able to have a little cushion instead of scrounging. It makes me much happier :)