A few lasts

Well, the "lasts" are starting. My last day at Old Navy was Sunday. Both Saturday and Sunday went well. They were easy shifts, nothing too out of the ordinary. I've spent almost 3 years working there. It would have been 3 years in October, and while it never had any relation to my real career goals, it was a fun place to work, and I enjoyed it. Most of the time it was the job I knew I could go to, turn half my mind off and work on auto-pilot and just enjoy the company of my co-workers and occasionally the customers. It was a little bittersweet to leave.

Last night was probably the last dinner part I'll be able to host here in Rochester. Luckily it was easy prep for me. I just made Sloppy Joe's (recipe below), cole slaw, and french fries. And then we enjoyed the delicious sides everyone else brought as well. It was an interesting group of people, and watching the interactions happen was quite intriguing for me. I enjoyed sitting back for a few minutes and just watching everything around me happen. But once I was reminded that I needed to be social I snapped back to reality and did my best to actually engage with people, which for some reason was really difficult for me. You'd think knowing it was the last time this would happen would make it easier for me, but given the situation itself I felt more and more like I was window shopping on my life, for multiple reasons. It was kind of a weird experience. Overall a good night, people were well fed, and they seemed to enjoy themselves which is the goal to the whole thing.

Today is my last day working at Sylvan. This is a little harder for me. I've really enjoyed working there. It's not even necessarily about the specific kids or my specific coworkers, it's just that the environment itself is comfortable to work and teach in. After working at Mathnasium, which was similar but so unhealthy and towards the end I was so unhappy there, and then coming to Sylvan it was such a breath of fresh air to be treated with respect and given opportunities to just teach and not be expected to do more just because I was capable. As much as I do enjoy the job itself, I think it also marks the one of the first times I stood up for myself and made a decision for my own benefit that had such drastic effects on my life. I haven't looked back since making that choice and while it was difficult at the time it has been one of the best decisions ever!

The fact that I won't be working for the rest of the month makes me a little anxious. I have spent the past 3 years working either 2 or 3 years pretty much non-stop. While it has made me a little crazy at times, it's been what I've gotten "good" at. Balancing a schedule, working a lot, and just doing what needs to get done. While I will still be busy, it's a different kind of busy, I need to be self-motivated, and it's not something that is necessarily scheduled which is a learning curve. I have a few days off this week, then I'm going to Virginia for a week to sign my paperwork and look for an apartment and meet with a few people I'll be working with, and the week after that I'll be in Schoharie, NY working at another day camp! Then I'll be back home in Rochester for a week or two (depending on when I end up moving to Virginia) to pack up my life and then actually move it all down there. There is a lot going on and things are happening quickly, but I am excited about it.

Sloppy Joe's
Ingredients:
1 pound ground beef
1 medium onion chopped
1/4 tsp garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste
1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
1/4 bottle ketchup
1/4 bottle bbq sauce (I use Sweet Baby Rays)

Directions:
1) Brown ground beef and onion together. Once browned, drain fat.
2.) Add seasonings and simmer 5 minutes.
3.) Add ketchup, bbq sauce, and  Worcestershire sauce. Simmer 10 minutes.