New Changes!

yup, letter to the girls

It looks like I will be starting a new job in two weeks!!! It is at a company called Art Select - mainly web based, they sell framed art reproductions. Check out www.artselect.com

I heard about the opportunity through Sarah when she was in town, her friend Stacy D. who works there was looking for an assistant. After a bit of missed calls and losing phone numbers and stuff while trying to get in touch, we connected and she asked me to bring in a resume, but before I could even start on one, she called back to say that her boss was going out of town, so could I please come in for an interview tomorrow! So I stay up till 3 am learning how to write a resume off the internet (by the way, this is the site I went to, I think the points they make here really make a lot of sense if you need resume tips - either writing a new one, or fixing up yer current one... ) and go in the next morning at 9 am! After chatting with them and showing them my portfolio of the different ads and brochures that I've created over the last several years, the guy was like "When can you start?!" and I explained I still had my other jobs and I'd have to finish up with them, and he said he understood I had to extend courtesy to them of course. They didn't even look at my resume, but I left it there with them!!! When I told him my current average pay rate he said "Oh, I think we can start you off at more than that. I generally like to give someone an increase from what they are used to when making a transition." Plus if I work full time for them for 90 days I can start getting benefits! He did have to discuss what exactly they could pay me with his boss and my boss but yeah... wow.

I'm kind of in shock, and I actually don't even know EXACTLY what all I will be doing for them. I take it I will be helping to organize themed collections for specific clients, and he was impressed with my design capabilities and wanted to take advantage of that. I have the feeling that since they just created this position they are not even sure what all it will entail... But I think that at this point in my life the structure of a full time job will be good for me, I had a good run of not so much structure and it's time for a change. And if I am going to be working in an office, even if it is lame office stuff, this seems like a pretty good one to be in. It's a small company, but bigger than either of my parents companies, and there are a lot of people closer to my age (including Celio actually - how funny is that?) and its revolving around ART and design. So it seems like a really wonderful opportunity for me!

I was a little worried about breaking the news to my current employers, my dad especially, but he actually took it really well, telling me I couldn't pass up the opportunity, and if I was thinking in this way - not to worry about him he'd be fine. Which was good, because I WAS worried!! I think it will be good for us to have the space to just be father/daughter again, because adding boss/employee into the mix was getting to be too hard.

Stacey H of course does not want to let me go, but understands, and only half-jokingly asked me if they thought they had any more room for her to apply for a job and she would give over the whole ArtLife Society thing too! She's hoping I can still help out till November or so when they hang their 3rd Annual Small Works show, and I think it could be possible, because they said it could work for me to start out part time or something at first. We'll have to discuss. It's going to be a little confusing working for two Staceys!!!

Still, I feel really good about this, and I will probably go in sometime next week to start training. I'm a little wary of having an office job in front of a computer all the time, but who am I kidding, I sit in front of a computer all the time anyway. This will be more structured, which I think will get me on a better routine, which I've been wanting and it looks like a fun office to be in. Plus they are moving out to the old Telegroup building pretty soon, and my favorite coffee shop Cafe Paradiso is going to set up a little branch out there too. Super cool!

My improv class ended on a great note, we had a performance last night and about 30-40 people showed up, the kids did well, and Kevin and I ended up with about $144 each after paying off our expenses for the space and advertising. Not too shabby for something we pulled together in about a month!! (organizationally - we've spent a couple of years learning this stuff! ) Plus parents and kids were asking us if we were going to continue - unfortunately with my new job starting, and school starting for Kevin (he's an English teacher) we will probably need some time to settle into work before we can think about it again... but we established a good reputation! Alright, well, just wanted to share the good news. G and I are starting to get a wee bit more serious about wedding plans, I started an account for us on weddingchannel.com and we are building our guest list. Once we know that it will help us decide on a few key location type things, and we are still working on pinning down an exact date... I'll keep you posted of course!