The Long Road Home and the Journey that Made it Worthwhile

I haven't blogged in so long! It may take a minute or a few to get back into the swing of it. So much has transpired over the last year. It's crazy to think that this time last year I had moved to Huntsville and was opening a store. Now, I'm back in Birmingham and work for Chanel! It's been a long road but the journey was well worth it. I learned a lot and grew so much both emotionally and spiritually.

God is so amazing! I learned how to let go and just trust and have faith. Over the past year, I've experienced a peace like no other while at the same time experiencing hurdles and land mines for what seemed like every step of the way. I moved to Huntsville for a job but what I got was fired. That job opened the door to a whole new world for me. Financially, I was completely unstable and broke which I had never been before, physically, I had become run and beat down and I was emotionally exhausted by all the effort that I was giving and not receiving anything back in return. It did however lead me in the path of community service. I felt drawn to serve and found a new home and family at Manna House and my life will never be the same.

Manna House is an amazing organization that provides food, hygiene, clothing and other necessities to those in need. I began volunteering once a week and before I knew it, I was there almost every time the door was open. I looked forward to going and serving and I enjoyed volunteering more than being at work. There was just something so humbling about being there and being surrounded by people who had such amazing life stories and who had overcome so much, and people who were just trying to survive. It definitely put things into perspective and made me more grateful for things that I did have and not focus on the things that I didn't have but was used to having. It makes you realize that it could always be worse and that all that you have can be taken away just as easily as it was given to you.

After I got fired, I poured my all into Manna House. It was worth so much more than just getting a pay check. It's crazy to me that serving and giving of my time was so rewarding to me. I felt like I was the one  gaining from my time there because I felt so fulfilled. It helped to give me peace and it taught me to love in a different way. All of you who know me, know that I am a spoiled rotten brat who judges people on how pretty they are. Now, imagine me serving homeless people who live under bridges and walk everywhere they go, people who live in government funded homes, people who live with multiple families under one roof. And not only did I serve them, but I talked to them, I prayed with them and I came to love them.

Fran, the director of Manna House and someone who is so dear to my heart, one day said, "This is my Africa." Because her doors are open, thousands of people in the Huntsville area are fed weekly, families are provided with food that they otherwise would not have. She runs a PERKS program from the warehouse so that children get enough food in their backpacks to make it through the weekend. She is an incredible woman and a loving friend and I know that if I can be half the woman that she when I grow up, that I will have achieved more than I deserve. Fran also introduced me to some fantastic people which led me to some free lance work that I could do until my lease was up.

Now, I'm back in Birmingham and within a week of moving back, I already had a job. I work for Chanel cosmetics and love my boss (who is also my long time friend, Jared!) I feel so lucky to have been able to experience and be a part of something so extraordinary even if what led me there wasn't ideal. It all worked out for the good. God's plan is greater than my own (thank goodness!) Which leads me to my conclusion which is the whole reason I started blogging tonight and that is that everything happens for a reason and will bring you full circle into your destiny.

The last twelve months of my not so professional career...

Wow, it’s been forever since I last blogged! Do you ever feel like so much has happened however you’re in the same position as you were back when? If so, you can relate and if not, then lucky you. The reason that I am now blogging is because I currently have an amazing amount of free time.

So, welcome to my world! On Friday, just eight days before Christmas, I got fired. Merry Christmas! Yes, that was some sarcasm but it was also one of the things that I was required to say when answering the phone and giving salutations to customers at my last place of employment. (My RVP actually greeted me that way knowing that I was about to be fired. I’m working on being more of a lady even though I have the mouth of a sailor so you can only imagine some of the things that I’m holding back right now.) Merry Christmas because that’s what Christians say; not happy holidays or season’s greetings but Merry Christmas because we celebrate the birth of Christ. Hi pot meet kettle. It turns out that the birth of Christ is more like the bottom line and being able to drive sales in a downward spiraling economy, at least that’s what I’m being led to believe based on the recent decisions made by the company that I used to work for. For the record, I’m experiencing a peace like I haven’t felt since before I began this job and I truly believe that this is a blessing and that better things are on their way. So here we go...

Last year, around this same time, I had just given my notice at one job and decided to accept another job taking a major pay cut but knowing in my heart that I was doing the right thing. I fasted for two weeks to make sure that my heart was right and that I was in fact doing the right thing. They say (I’m not exactly sure who ‘they’ are but I know I’ve heard this said before by people) usually if it’s God directing you it’s something that you question and don’t just jump on the wagon after. Almost $10K less annually and no health benefits really made me think about what I was contemplating. (Benefits were supposed to be in place within 3-6 months. “Supposed to be” being the operative phrase.) But, the idea was something that I just couldn’t shake. Confirmation was thick in the air all around me. So, I changed jobs and miraculous things began to happen. All of my needs were provided for and I was able to give like I had never given before.

Several months later I felt like I was about to move. I knew that the company had a new store opening in Huntsville but nothing had been mentioned about me going there. I just had that feeling once again, and knew that I was going to be moving to Huntsville, not that I wanted to, but that’s where I was supposed to be. A few weeks later, I got an offer and in May, I uprooted from Birmingham and moved to the Rocket City. The store opened Memorial Day weekend and we hit the ground running. We were well received by the city and did some amazing numbers throughout the summer. By mid August we were already at the half mil mark for volume. But, when summer began to wane so did our customers and our volume. I had some really good days in the months to come but those good days can’t make up for all of the terrible, horrible, not so good days. The sales plans were set high and in my opinion unrealistic for a new store in a new market.

Months went by and we weren’t making our numbers. It’s hard to sell to people who aren’t present. Things began to spiral downhill, my morale, happiness and job satisfaction, just to name a few. I had no support from my RVP who never answered his phone and whose voicemail was always full. The only time he contacted me was to pull associates from my store to travel and do new store openings.

The little things (like still not having benefits, for one) began to build up and add to my current state of discontentment. My personal state began to be altered and not in a good way. When your work makes you lose your religion and need an altar at least once a week, it’s probably time for a change. The straw that broke my back was the day that I realized my assistant made $44 less than me per week. My pride was hurt and my heart was broken; I felt foolish, under appreciated and taken advantage of.

Money was an issue from day one. I took a massive pay cut because I knew that it was a new company with a good concept and that my hard work would pay off and I would one day, when the company was more solid, make what I knew that I should. The offer for Huntsville was low and negotiated to the point that I was told it was no longer negotiable. They said that what was offered was more than fair not to mention the percentage increase above what I was then making as well as a friendly reminder that I had only been with the company for a few months and was now being given this amazing opportunity. It was one thing to not be making a competitive salary when I thought that everyone else was on a similar pay scale but it’s a whole different story when you find out that you are the only one being underpaid. Especially when you think about the 45-60 hours that you are working in comparison to the 38-41 hours an assistant works not to mention the difference in the amount of accountability and responsibility that comes with being a store manager versus an assistant.

I was livid. The more that I thought about the situation the more my blood boiled. I came home that night broken and angry and wrote a letter of resignation. I never turned it in; it just didn’t feel right. I continued going to work and just let it go. I knew that there would be a right time to bring it up but until then I would continue to do my job to the best of my abilities. We hit $1 mil within a few days of our 6 month mark. To me that’s quite an accomplishment to be the 3rd store in the entire company and to be in a new location. But at that time we were already 200k (17%) behind plan for the year.

Last Friday, a day that I will always remember because it will most likely be the only day ever, at least I hope, to have been fired. They sent the new guy, Director of Stores is what I believe is his title (who is also the daddy of store #4’s SSM) to do the dirty work. He lured me in the back with his “I’d like to get to know you/meet and greet” tactics. It was quick, like the removal of a bandaid or hair removal wax. He led by saying that as I am already aware, the store is not meeting projected sales goals and I have been unable to drive sales. It was unanimously decided that they, the company, would be going in a new direction as far as store management effective immediately and that I was being terminated. As he spoke, my RVP sat in silence witnessing the entire thing like he had been castrated and was choking on his balls. Side note: He was probably wishing that the corporate recruiter, who it is rumored that they are having an affair, was sucking on his balls. Bad me. See it just slips out sometimes-no matter how hard I try. But yeah, Friday, just eight days before Christmas, that’s when I got fired. Merry Christmas!

So an entire year later, with lots of memorable experiences and several learning curves, I am in the same position: in between jobs just as I was last year. Weird how that happens...like Groundhog Day. Anyways, I hope you have enjoyed your visit to my world. Either you’ll relate or appreciate the going ons in your own world a little more ;)

And like GloZell says, “Peace an blessins, peace an blessins!”

For Love or for Money

I used to always joke around and say that I would be married multiple times. I would marry first for money and later for love so that I could have the best of both worlds. It's funny in an ironic way because in a way I was kind of right. Though I haven't yet been legally married, not even once, I have experienced the choices of love or money in my career choices. What I have learned through these experiences I will definitely carry into my relationship choices. (And the fact that there was old Jeff and he made me realize that I could not by definition be a gold digger or have a sugar daddy. For sure! Money was not THAT important and other things DO count!)

I am happier now than I have ever been before and I make less money than I ever have before. When I accepted my current position, I said that God was taking away my beer money. I guess that could still be true but I go out and enjoy life just as much if not more on my tighter budget. Maybe, also, because I have re-prioritized my life and things that used to be important aren't that important anymore. I also realized that when I did have a lot more money I didn't use/spend it very wisely so I'm learning how to do that now.

I am doing something that I have always loved doing but I am doing it in an environment and with a company that is so incredibly different and inspiring that I can't help but be inspired myself. The traits that I desire in a husband are the some of the many traits that I have found in my job which leads me to believe that I am on the right track.

I am a SATC fan and Carrie once asked in her column "Can we have it all?" I have awesome friends and an awesome job. I'm still waiting for that third thing, so in some ways I'm in her shoes and in other ways I totally wish I were! (Blahnik, Choo and Louboutin are not in the budget.)

So for love or for money, I'm choosing love and hoping the money will come.

In the Bonds and Out in the City

2011 has been an awesome so far and I know that it has just begun. So, I don't want to jinx it but I'm going to say it anyways. The last couple of weekends have been crazy amazing and filled with awesome people and fun times to the max! Yes, there's been some drama but that's life and it's overall been good, real good. So this past weekend we celebrated a milestone, ZN's 20th year anniversary. That means DG reunion! Whoop whoop! Fargher came from Cali, Tidmore from the Big Apple and Smiles from the PCB. Even locals that don't come out made an appearance. Look out, the girls are back in town! We had a blast and I have the pictures to prove it. (Be afraid girls, be very afraid.)

Let me also mention that amongst us were several pregnant women and dinner was a buffet. That being said there was almost a brawl over a misunderstanding of cannoli, one was trying to dance her baby out and the other was reminiscing about how she tried to convince a student to give her her baby if she didn't want it.

Later in the evening, Fargher gave in and decided to try and work out the crick in Tiff's neck. This caused some rubbernecking not because it was odd but because sounds were being made like that off of a homemade porno. Names were being screamed and there were many "oooooohs" and "ahhhhhhhs" and "right theres" and "don't stops." And that's how the toot it and boot it convo happened!

Randomness From A West Coast Cutie

F: "Toot it and boot it, you know what that is, right?"

Everyone else: "Huh?"

F: "You know, hump it and dump it? F$@! and chuck"

Everyone else: "Umm, no"

F: "It's a song, but more than a song. It's my life motto!"

Oh, I forgot about the meat! After the massage and before the toot it and boot it, Fargher picked up a piece of cubed meat. She held it in her hand and looked Mayree square in the face. She then asked her "You want some meat" and opened her hand to reveal the cube. So gross and so funny all at the same time!

Last call means let's move this party elsewhere. So at last call we decided to move on. A request had been made earlier in the evening for fruitloops. I made the call in the car and they were chilled and waiting for us upon arrival. Little to no shenanigans were had this weekend just fun times to be remembered. Shenanigans were last weekend but that's a whole other story!

A Common Tread

Since totaling P. Soph, I have been on a car hunt for the past several weeks. For those who know me, I’ve been on a man hunt all of my life and and more recently and specifically a husband hunt. Tonight the light bulb came on bright and I realized that there is a common thread in my taste for cars and men. Wait for it. Wait. Boom! High maintenance and unreliable but they look oh so good! In both aspects I’m always advised against what I want for those reasons (maybe not exactly in those words but it all boils down to about the same thing.) After this wonderful epiphany, I am left thinking about my options. Car options specifically because that is priority right now. And did I mention I’m trying to stay within a very limited budget? Yes, you heard right. That’s what I said. Me, on a budget! Absurd, right? It’s difficult but I’m going to do it; I’ve got my mind set and that’s all. I still want to believe that on the topic of both man and car there is something that is attractive, dependable and reasonably maintainable close to home and within what I am willing to give. So the search continues... Wish me luck ‘cause I’m gonna need all I can get!

It's so hard not to stare but I don't wanna be gang banged...

So here I am in the dirty dirty gulf. Literally people, I'm in Gulfport, Mississippi. I'm here for training. Yay! I'm no longer unemployed! (insert happy dance) Now, take away the happy dance and focus on where I just said that I am. Okay, back to reality. After training for 12 hours today I decided that I needed a margarita and I wanted some Mexican food for dinner. I mentally prepare myself to do this all alone and get to the restaurant only to realize that they close in about 10 minutes. I get in my car and leave because surely there's another Mexican restaurant somewhere close. Nope. Nothing besides 2 Taco Bells. So I U-turned it for the 2nd time in like 30 minutes and decided on an Applebee's.

1. I knew there was a bar

2. I knew they would still be serving food and

3. Because it happens to be close to my hotel.

So I get out of the car and get majorly stared down by some sketch looking white guy talking on his cell phone outside. I go in and sit at the bar with open seats on both sides of me. On my right is an average looking white guy with a weird mole thing on his face reminding me a little of Jeff, not old Jeff, the young really bad set-up one. And to my left 4 or 5 big dudes that resembled part of any football team's defensive line. As I sat down I heard all kinds of noises and comments coming from the guys to my left and I told myself that they were talking about stuff on the menu. Then sketch from outside comes in and sits to my left between me and 'the team.' Sketch starts talking to 'the team' and I decipher that he is a cross between nascar and a slim shady wannabe. His convo consists of words like boi and aight and wit and da. For real I heard him say, "Mān (sounds like: main) this be off da chains" and he was talking to 'the team' about Kobe Bryant and LeBron James and some beef they've got going on. Mole guy leaves. I order a drink. The bartender must know that I am totally out of place and brings me a shaker full of goodness! Slim Nascar Shady leaves. I happened to look to my left and swear that dude is smiling at me with a glow in the dark grill! I wanted so bad to look again but thought to myself, "Don't do it! Straight ahead, just look straight ahead." It was so hard not to stare, but at the same time I didn't wanna get gang banged! So I did what any girl in her right mind would do...

I finished off my shaker of goodness, paid my tab and high-tailed it out of there!

GBT 2010: The Tradition Continues

What is equivalent to SEC football? A tradition as sacredly honored as Auburn and Alabama tradition? That’s right, there’s just one thing: our yearly GIRLS’ BEACH TRIP!!! To some, it’s just fun but to most it’s a week of sanity, laziness, lushiness and great company. For any who have had the chance to join us on our yearly adventure, you know exactly what I’m talking about. And for those who have never been initiated into our tradition you can only hope to be invited in the future. (Depending on the economy we may start accepting bribes! lol)

I, alone, am a force to be reckoned with, so just imagine me with some of my nearest and dearest! All year long, we look forward to this one week . It’s our grown-up Christmas. I say this because as a child you look forward to Christmas and as you get older you still enjoy the holiday but you realize that Christmas has strings. It’s not just Santa Claus and being good all year-or at least just from Thanksgiving on. It becomes about gift giving and excessive spending and parties and stuff that you never had to worry about as a kid. So, our beach trip is like Christmas. Strings are cut. Husbands and boyfriends are left behind. Just a week of pure enjoyment. You want Swiss Cake Rolls and beer for breakfast, you got it! Wanna snack all day without counting calories, consider it done! Get a massage, shop, and watch a Jersey Shore marathon? That’s what we’re here for! From trashing dresses and dancing like Beyonce on the beach to stealing, I mean borrowing, bicycles for photo shoots. We do what we want!

This year the trip was a little different than most because our trip coincided with another trip planned from some Birmingham local boys. So for one day and one day only our girls’ trip was invaded by two dingleberries. (I know what dingleberries are but I use the term out of context because I like it and think that it’s fun to say. So to me it’s a term of endearment.) The boys came and played for the day. There were drinks, shenanigans on a small scale and we even got in the ocean!

**Side note: We are pool girls! I think that this was the first year that any of us have gotten in the ocean more than ankle deep.

cont...Like I said, drinks: self explanatory; shenanigans on a small scale: oh, yes! Stories to be told. Alcohol, game and a pole...an unexpected combination?

Got you feeling loose...Got you in the zone Blame it on the a a a a a alcohol Blame it on the a a a a a a alcohol. That being said (NG)² was getting her flirt on (slurring about the Russians!) and stubbed her toe on a structural pole. A more expected version of the unexpected combination. There was also a mini version of a one handed bra unclasping competition, but that was random and is a little fuzzy. And then, there was the ocean. MB and I do not like getting in the lake and do not do it unless totally necessary. We have similar feelings towards the ocean. But, when your day starts off with alternating Fruit Loop and Jello shots the day becomes an unexpected blur of things you might not do sober. Thus the ocean. We got in and stayed in for quite awhile and admittedly had a fun time. We were in the company of Tiff and the boys and had some interesting conversations about sharks, my epic fail on match making, politics and the fact that Lukie-doo was trying to snorkel with the straw from one of his many margaritas.

...Now put your hands up Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,oh Thats, right! Beyonce’s Single Ladies got danced on the beach in broad daylight. Two white girls just shakin’ what their mamas gave ‘em! This was after a karaoke performance of Aretha’s A Natural Women performed by our own “30 year old (kind of, but not really) virgin,” (NG)². All of this singing and dancing attracted quite a crowd. One man in particular, was a neighboring beach squatter who took very kindly to us. He was a the kind of major creeper that if you saw him at night you might conclude that he could quite possibly be homeless. This assessment could also be made in the daylight. He was leathered and rough looking and trying to bum cigarettes and beer from us. He scooted closer and continued to try and have conversation with us. He finally got the message and left. Shortly after, we too packed up and went in to get ready for year two of “Trash the Dress.”

Girls’ Beach Trip began the summer of ’07. Since then, there have been some changes, like location, the participants and marital statuses. The last of these things spawned its own little tradition. Stuff happens and “happily ever after” doesn’t always work out like Disney taught us to believe. But as adults you have to accept these kinds of things and move on. Last year was the first year that a wedding dress was trashed. It belonged to a divorcée who had just a week prior met her soon to be next husband. The old dress was trashed and less than a year later she was in a new dress. This year, just weeks after the final divorce decree, the dress of another was trashed. This ceremony of sorts, is liberating and auspicious to moving forward and doing it in a way that is fun and memorable with people who you know will always stand next to you when you’re wearing a white dress no matter what the circumstance.

Verde’s Clues also began this year in the car on the way to the beach. MB and I received a joint gift of a green notebook and a sparkly glittery pen. The purpose was to keep track of all of the crazy things that often come out of our mouths during our girl trip adventures. Let it be known that during this time sensors and filters do not exist. So with a newly wed, a ‘trying to get pregnant on purpose,’ a nympho, a virgin and two might-as-well-be virgins...Verde’s Got Some Sexually Frustrated Clues!

• I just suck and swallow.
• The door does close, just in case...
• ...the touch of wood
• Oh, my! I only have on my pj’s and no bra.
• That’s okay all you have to do is pump.
• I wanna make a transaction; swap some funds...
• Your penis isn’t on the radar either...she can’t see it coming.
• I don’t just go one way, I go multiple ways.
• This won’t come/cum (hmm) in my mouth.
• JMJ 2010: Jesus Mayree and Jello
• That spoon would not lead to a fork.
• I can’t swallow those big ones.
• I’m drunk. I think I like those hornsberry things.
• Are you’re panties wet? Oh dear, It’s all wet!
• Throw that shit over a bush.
• It’s so cool and smooth. I just wanna waller all over you.
• I wanna get on and ride it.
• I can still taste it in my mouth!
• It’s different in your mouth. It’s thick and slimy.

So there you go! Sometimes Verde's Clues could not be located. And to think that those were just things that we remembered to write down. It was, as always, a very memorable-of what we actually remember-epic adventure! Until next year...