Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride

So, on Friday, I decided to grab the dilemma bull by the horns. We are pushing to have the family out here by the first weekend in February. The thought was we will sacrifice space or other comforts in order to get everyone back together. In addition, the school system here starts the Spring semester on February 4.

No, we have not sold the townhouse, yet. Yes, it will be expensive. However, if our family were a rubber band, we would be stretched just about to our limit.

Of course, nothing is every that easy. The average rent out here is $2,200 for a 3 or 4 bedroom house. Everyone asks for 1^st month, last month and security deposit. The renter also has to pay the broker fee, which is equal to one month's rent. That's $8,800 for those of you keeping track. I can tell you that after $15,000 for school and 4 months un or under employed, the well is rather dry; think Sahara. I have it on good confidence that, "Money is just money." But, it doesn't grow on trees either.

I spent the day today looking at rental properties. It is a mixed bag. There is a big place that would be very nice; they are asking $2,800. That puts us up to $10,800 due in 2 weeks. Oh, and probably no pets. "Ohana" means "family." "Family" means "no one gets left behind." There is another one that is not nearly as nice. It is currently under major renovations and might be ready the first week of February. Rent - $2,300. I'll keep looking, ignoring the fact that we do not have the $8,800 to move in.

We're back on the fence on this issue. I really want them out here as soon as possible. I just don't know how we can get past the costs of moving AND come up with a small fortune just to sign a lease.

Title from Lilo & Stitch

Suddenly I See

This may be old news for some of you.

Starting the last week of August, the Ps and I opened negotiations to make my placement with them permanent. The negotiations wrapped up on September 13^th with me taking a contract to be their Household Manager. The benefit package is particularly nice for any industry and very good for this business.

For anyone keeping track, it was 18 weeks from when I left my job to being hired in a new industry. I am sure someday it will seem a speck of time. Right now, it feels like 18 months. The 2 months of training and the month of waiting seem like they took place so long ago. As I've stated before, some days on the property are a week and then the week flies by. It is also 18 weeks since I spent more than 2 days in my own home. I miss my space.

Ma cherè and I put all of our faith in this being the right course of action. I still feel this is where I am supposed to be. I truly enjoy what I am doing. Do not get me wrong; it is still work. There are really good days and really bad days. There are days I go to my room wiped and whipped. 10 to 12 hour days are the norm. There have been a few 14s and just as few 8s. This is management, after all.

There is still a lot of work to be done to reunite our family. I will also have to mend the stress my being gone so long has placed on the Ts and our family.

Next up, of course, is relocating ma cherè and the Ts to Long Island.

Title by K.T. Tunstal

Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk

The time alternates between fast forward and slow motion. A day can feel like a week and then a real week is finished.

We had another candidate in over last weekend. That meant another long week, though I knocked off around 1 p.m. on Saturday and worked from a great little coffee shop in Westhampton Beach. The task sheets for the first floor are all but complete. The tricky part will be to get the work scheduled into a reasonable amount of time and scheduled around the times the principals are not in the spaces.

I managed to get tickets to the Rufus Wainwright concert in Westhampton Beach on Saturday night. Rufus was everything I expected and more. He is flamboyantly gay, has an incredible voice and somehow manages to keep his vocal range during a live performance. The band was in mis-matched stripes. Rufus was in an over-the-top red and white striped suit jacket and slacks. He covered a lot from his latest album, though he managed a Judi Garland set before the intermission. His first encore, "Hallelujah", was a duet with his sister. The second piece was done a la Judi/Liza complete with choreography in tux jacket, black stockings and heels. Who knew he had great gams? He's in Milwaukee next Monday. Check him out if you have time.

Sunday found me taking the candidate to the airport at 5 a.m. I am looking forward to just one of 2 things. 2 days off or sleeping past 5 a.m. on my day off. No complaints, really, it is just the nature of the business.

I toured the south fork of Long Island on Sunday. I drove through Sag Harbor and saw the mega-yachts moored there. I also drove through East Hampton and South Hampton. Think Dells without salt water taffy and moccasins but with Tiffany's & Ralph Lauren instead. Oh, and hold the water parks, think polo fields. I was pretty beat and ended up at the Quogue Village beach later in the afternoon despite the 70 degree overcast weather. No improvement to my tan, but the nap helped.

I am settling into the routine of the house better this week. I cooked quite a bit early in the week, which was fun. We are also making improvements to the housekeeping standards and getting service to our standards from the contract staff.

I will be flying home Friday afternoon for a much needed visit with the family. I was right that this stay would be easier than Denver. However, I am looking forward to seeing ma chère and the Things, sleep in my bed and be in my space for a bit. We have things going on all weekend, but would love to fit more visits in. Call ma chère. It will be a long weekend so I will get to see the boys off for their first day of school on Monday before my flight out.

There is nothing new on the placement front. That is not to say nothing is happening, just nothing tangible. There remains a lot of "in a couple weeks" stories. It is frustrating, to be sure.

As you can imagine, I am getting more and more anxious. I will get paid for this assignment, eventually. The pay is not near enough to float all our bills and nothing near what I should be making in a permanent placement. The bogeymen are no longer hiding under the bed. I am expecting them to come knocking on the door in a few more weeks. I continue to be confident it will all work out for the best. Head up, shoulders back, sure steps forward.

I will try to get back in the routine of smaller posts. I will change to posting in the morning. It seems to be when I am most creative. I have had a bunch of ideas, but by day's end I'm too tired to do anything about it. Ciao for now.

On The Road Again

The title really is cliché, I know. In my defense, however, it is 5:15 AM and I am already at the airport. I am a mixture of nerves and confidence. Sometimes, I am just barely brave enough to pull these things off. The moments of self-doubt burble up.
"Psst, why don't you crawl back in bed? Or, better yet, back under your rock?"
"Go away, I'm up, I might as well see this through."

I, shamelessly, sent a text to ma chère this morning when I got up.
CM: "Today is the beginning of our next great adventure. I am very glad you are my best and closest traveling companion. I love you."
MC: "Let us begin. I love you. Go with God. Don't forget your choes. Perhaps you should take a bath towel as well!"

Thanks, Mr. Adams, you can still make me laugh until I cry. Next stop is New York. Where did I put that Guide?

I'm On My Way

I am being given the opportunity to validate my decision to change careers. Arrangements have been made for a temporary placement with a principal out east. I will primarily be assisting the Lady-of-the-House in creating the House Manager's Book for their 2 properties plus the standard "other duties as assigned". I will be out there for a few weeks, until a permanent House Manager is available. My flight leaves early Monday morning. I should arrive at the house mid-afternoon.

I usually try very hard to not build expectations. I have found that a blank slate is not easily disappointed. I have just the barest of information regarding the principals; probably less than they know about me. However, seeing that I have never even talked to them, I am impressed with their trust and conviction in Starkey. A total stranger will be serving their guests and living under their roof starting Monday afternoon.

Of course, the location means more time away from ma chère and the Things. This trip should be easier, though. To begin with, we have had significant practice in the recent past. In addition, it will be possible for me to head for home on the occasional weekend if need be. Back to school will be rough, but we will stay on top of it. Besides, after spending the last 4 weeks with Dad, the Things might appreciate a break from the old ogre.

You Can Do It

Thoughts for self-motivation:

• I know this is the right direction.


• I am doing this, now, because this is what I am supposed to be doing.


• I must trust the process. Patience will prevail.


• Stay focused on the original goal. (A little voice asks, "What was the original goal?" Hmm, I seem to have forgotten to write that one down. Point taken, you must document your goals. "As you think, so you create." It only works if you've written it down somewhere.)

I once had the opportunity to hear Frank Lloyd Wright's son speak a few years ago. He gave an insightful quote that he credited to his father that I will paraphrase, "Worry about the details, everything else will follow." It is such a stretch for me to even imagine how to do that; however, it remains a goal. I tend towards the general; I paint in broad strokes. I will continue to believe that the details of this endeavor will work themselves out.

Yes, I am trying just as hard to convince you as myself. There is no sin in doubting your faith, only in losing it.

Walking On Broken Glass

The placement saga continues. I mentioned to some that there was an excellent position in the pipe. Unfortunately, it did not work out. I am waiting for news on a temporary position in the field that should last until the middle or end of September. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. It will be good to get out and use my training and experience. Hopefully, something will turn around before the end of the assignment.

19th Nervous Breakdown

I must admit it is strange being in summer break with my children. It is not something you expect to do at 40. As is typical with children, it has to be on their terms. We've had a nice time just hanging out around each other. Today it was hanging out at the lake.
Based on Mrs. M's recommendation, I am reading Rich Dad, Poor Dad. The premise is that most of us do not appreciate how money really works. The premise is sound; the application of the premise is a paradigm shift. I've been reading alternative thought processes for a few years. As with a lot of philosophies, you have to take from it what you can apply. I will see how much of the ideas I can apply to myself, my family and my ideas of raising children.
There are a couple of placement opportunities in the works. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. The first opportunity is, by all descriptions, what I got into this industry for: hands-on, process improvement, relationships, travel, mature freedom. The second looks like a wonderful opportunity to help a couple with their entertainment and business needs. Both provide an excellent way to get into the industry and exciting location opportunities.
I have some other work that is keeping me busy. A few new accounts at GBL Software and another idea of my own. Next week, I will have to return to reality and start the temporary position job hunt. I will start in Milwaukee; I can expand from there if things get dire.
I will miss working on the deck up north in cargo shorts & Merrell's with a Blue Moon. Working on a tan and swimming with the kids, Sirius Alt Nation 21 as the soundtrack for the summer and hacking for 8-10 hours a day. Someone is going to show up with the reality train, any minute now. In the meantime, "Bartender, another Blue Moon."