So- I have recently begun an adventure of sorts.  I moved 600 miles from the place I have lived for the past 11 and a half years to be with my boyfriend David.  I packed up a Budget rental truck, drugged my children (they're cats!!  Geez! relax.) and hit the road on Sunday 04/27.  We made it up here after an 11 hour drive, stopping a few times for gas and restrooms, once for dinner.  [I even called my friend Helen as we drove through South Carolina (she was like THE best welcome wagon!).  I tried to get a hold of Hskrdave, but since he was working , we made do with text messages about how close I was driving by him.]

I will be transferring to a Lowe's here from the job I left behind after 10 plus years of service.  THIS is the part that worries me the most.  I was Terika Harifa at my old store.  Here, I will initially be called Teresa- blech!  I could get away with murder at my old store.  Telling managers where to stick it, telling them what to do and seeing them do it, even!!  My employee log-on for all this time was "TH1".   Apparently there is someone running aroud this new store with the same initials as me so I'm stuck with "TH2" now.  What kinda crap is that?!  David directed me to my new store on Tuesday (where we got me a house key and later returned to buy mulch with his Mom) and on Wednesday I had arranged to meet my new boss and talk about when my first day will be.  I shocked David by insisting I could make it there on my own and told him to stay home.  I made it there with no hitches- 20 minutes.

I went in, introduced myself to some co-workers, found my new manager and will be reporting for duty on Sat May 3 at 1pm.  Talk about a baptism by fire!!  Weekends are hellacious as a general rule and yes, I know my job, but this store is laid out much differently than my old one.  Ugh.  Oh well.

David went back to work today, leaving me on my own for the first time.  Thus far, I haven't burned down the house or done anything else to get in trouble.  ;)  I ventured out for some solo exploration and didn't get lost.  I went to a Red Robin for lunch (Ali is always going there and I couldn't resist since it was right beside my favorite store Borders) and had a burger.  It was really loud in there so i missed an unexpected call from my Step-mother back in GA who left me a voice mail telling me that my little sister Emily is having bad headaches.  I drove home and called her back.  It is distressing to know she is in pain, but I am relieved to know she is being cared for.  Strangely (and there is a REALLY big back story here that some here know and helped me get through in Jan), I was not filled with a panicky pang of regret to not be there.  I am concerned and am grateful that step-mom said she will allow little sis to call me when she wakes, but i don't feel like I should be there.  It feels good.

Ok- well.  I feel I should get something constructive accomplished.  David will come home from work and say "What'd you do today?"  and I will shrug and sheepishly admit-  I was on the Q.  Oh- and I went shopping.  2 new shirts for work, Natasha Bedingfield's new cd, Carly Simon's new cd (I am SO excited about that) and a bigger trash can for the bathroom.