I’ve begun the process of letting all the people I work with know that I’m leaving my job. For all the joy and excitement I’ve felt at the possibility and then promise of this new job, leaving this place that is comfortable and familiar is bittersweet.

I sat down with my supervisor this morning, in the grassy picnic area onto which our office windows look. We discussed my projects and responsibilities and the things she would have to take care of until my replacement was hired. I felt relieved (but also twinged with guilt that I had procrastinated so effectively) that there were projects (that I had never wanted to do in the first place) about which I could simply say, “I’m not going to get to that” without shame or repercussion. I felt moments of sadness to be handing over events that I had enjoyed and planned effectively.

Sitting in the sun with this woman who I genuninely like and enjoy, who was my supervisor through my toughest year on record, I felt my heart tug with the knowledge that she would no longer be a part of my day to day existence. Our relationship had been fraught with frustration as I struggled with my role in our office and yet she was always kind, continuing understanding and consistently good to me. I’m hopeful that despite this move I’m making, we’ll stay connected.

I’ve spent a lot of time on the couch in the last few days, as this cold has wrecked havoc with my ability to stay awake for more than four hours at a time. I’ve watched five movies, more hours of food network than I’d like to admit, and at a very (VERY) low point, Craft Corner Deathmatch on the Style Network. Does anyone else find that concept terrifying?

I’ve wandered from my bed to the couch and back to bed today. I’ve consumed gallons of grapefruit juice mixed with sparkling water. My voice is hoarse and subdued, when friends have called today they invariably say, “Wow, you sound like shit.” Well thanks. My mom keeps calling to make sure I haven’t died in my sleep. Yep, I feel like crap.

Hey, I also want to welcome all the readers from Jason Mulgrew and Philly Future. Hope you like what you read, and that you come back!

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This is art,
originally uploaded by Marusula.

Here are some of the pictures from my Pittsburgh trip, hope you like ’em.

I spent last weekend in Pittsburgh, checking out Cindy’s hometown and generally being totally impressed with the city. Pittsburgh get’s a bad wrap when it’s actually a pretty cool little town. In some ways it reminded me of Portland, with the rivers, bridges and hills.

We had a fun, busy day on Friday, starting with a two hour marathon at Cindy’s favorite thriftstore, Red, White and Blue. I was standing in the shoe section (got two cute pairs), when a woman walked by me. She looked familiar, but I didn’t expect to be seeing anyone I knew. But on second glance I thought, “that’s Cindy’s mom, Peg.” Except that through dumb luck, Peg was spending the weekend in Philly while we were in her city. I called down the aisle to Ingrid and we went off to find Cindy, in the business suit section, standing talking to Peg. Seems Cindy had mentioned to her that we were going to the thriftstore, and she had stopped in, hoping to track us down before she left for Philly later that afternoon. I got a giggle out of it.

Later that day we went for the famous Primanti Bros. sandwich, complete with coleslaw and french fries in the sandwich. A walk down the Strip for food for the party the next night. A wander through the Three Rivers Arts Fair and a dinner of festival food while listening to the Cowboy Junkies. Between dinner and dessert, the wind kicked and clouds tumbled into place above our heads, but we managed to dash for shelter under a nearby hotel overhang. The weather made lots of noise, but didn’t actually produce anything before timidly folding back into itself.

One highlight was the ride up the incline. It’s a pretty darn cool method of public transportation. I had never heard of an incline before last weekend. It’s two cars that ride on parallel tracks up a hill, and as one goes up the other goes down. People who live at the top of the hill use it as a way to get easily back into the city. All I can say is, Neat!

We stayed at Chris’s house on the North Side for the weekend. He lives in an amazing old three story row house that has been completely renovated, including a beautiful kitchen. It’s also an impressive home, because of the lack of stuff. My apartment is full of books, movies, cds, magazines, bowls (I have a problem with kitchen utensils) and random stuff from my grandparents. I always have extra and more than enough, whereas Chris has exactly the right amount. I envy his ability to be spare, and pare down to the essentials.

Saturday we took it a little easier and didn’t get moving until almost noon. Over in Shadyside we made pilgrimages to Sephora and the Apple store, had lunch and bought cake at Cindy’s favorite bakery. Back to Chris’s fabulous kitchen, we cooked for the party that night. Man did we cook. Chris is one of my favorite people to cook with, because with him, it’s art. The party was a delight, Chris’s people are terrific and there wasn’t a one that I didn’t enjoy.

It was a good weekend. I’ve posted some pictures on Flickr, check ’em out.

I have lots of fun things to write about, but my head is foggy and my throat is sore. Yep, a summer cold has struck and I’m just going to have to ride it out for a couple of days. I’ll post something interesting as soon as I stop coughing.

It’s official.

I have a new job.

I start at Penn on July 18th.

My last day here is July 1st.

This is very (VERY) happy-making.

Sunday afternoon, Cindy, Ingrid and I were flying down the turnpike in my 1992 Subaru station wagon on our way back to Philly from Pittsburgh, when a woman behind us started honking and pointing at my bumper. I wasn’t driving, Cindy had taken over about fifteen minutes earlier when I became super sleepy and needed a break. So I was stretched out in the back seat (highly illegal, I know) checking in with my mom via cell phone when the honking started. I bolted upright, trying to figure out what was going on while Cindy became convinced that this woman was trying to tell us that the back bumper was falling off (she isn’t used to driving such a well decorated car). This woman, in a late model Toyota with Maryland plates, pulled up beside us and started yelling, “Peace through Music” and pointing at the car. She was talking about one of the many liberal bumperstickers my car sports. It turns out that she owns the company Soundings of the Planet (out of Bellingham, WA) which produces those bumperstickers.

From the time I was 3 until I was 18 my dad owned a music production (Revere Records) and distribution company (Lifedance Distribution) that dealt in background and instrumental music (started in LA and moved to Portland, OR in 1988). Soundings of the Planet was a company that he worked with frequently and my parents knew the owners well.

Once I figured out that this woman was telling us that it was her company, I start shouting to her, “My dad is Morris from Lifedance!” She finally heard me and threw up her hands in shock and surprise (not the best idea while you are driving). We waved vigorously and smiled broadly at each other. She passed us and continued on her way.

My mom was still on the cell phone this while this transpired and as I put the phone back up to my ear, she shouts, “What was that? Were you in a car accident?” I told her what had happened and she was delighted (although she did remember that she once lent this woman a book and never got it back. My mom forgets lots of things, but somehow never forgets a book that was not returned).

Cindy, Ingrid and I laughed about it the rest of the way home.

I guess it’s really true that you never know who you’ll run into, even going 70 down the Pennsylvania Turnpike!

I just got an email from Jackie at Penn saying that she’d like to talk to my current supervisor in order to get a reference from her. Our arrangement was that she wouldn’t talk to my supervisor unless they were going to offer me the job.

Yikes!

I’m all aflutter!

I had my second job interview yesterday, and while I don’t think it went badly, I didn’t leave with the same feeling of confidence and victory that I experienced after the first one. I met with two women this time around and they challenged me. They didn’t let me get away with answers that were polite, politically correct or safe. They wanted the real story, why I left my job at AACR, why I want to leave the job I’m in now, what tasks I don’t like to do and why I’m in Philadelphia. There were moments where I felt flustered and it showed, and I don’t like that. It was a hard interview, there’s no denying.

However, I do know that I am on the short list with one other person. They are checking my references (and I have awesome references) and I should hear something soon. Keep your fingers crossed and your good thoughts flowing.

On a fun note, I’m heading to Pittsburgh tonight for the weekend with Cindy and Ingrid. We’re going to eat sandwiches with cold slaw and french fries, ride the incline, go to the arts festival and hit Cindy’s favorite thrift store. What could be better?