Okay, now it has almost been 1 and half years since my last post. Believe it or not a lot has happened. I reread some of the posts and started laughing at some of the concerns I had. There was one where I said my worst nightmare after completing my 6 month development program was being placed in Columbus, OH in a 3rd shift Supervisory/Management position. And guess what happened... my worst nightmare was realized and I now live in beautiful Cow town and have even managed to sucker my sister into coming here for grad school. Life has a funny way of working out, I'm hoping one day soon I will see the 'vision' this move was driving me towards.

So anyway, this past year I also went without internet. It was awesome. There were no hassles or headaches with becoming to consumed with IM or e-mail. Of course, I have forfeited many acquaintence friends from the lack of communication. But that was bound to happen eventually. Speaking of friends, Kate moved to California and currently is recruiting me to move there as well. We will see... considering I don't have a job out there as well as limited opportunity within the bank to move for work... Let's just say I haven't quite worked up the courage. Although now is the time to do things like this. Single, no family ties, and all the time in the world to correct a mistake. Good thing to keep in mind.

Where did the weekend go? I had so much fun but now I am completely exhausted. I went searching for apartments all day Saturday and Sunday. After 16 hours of searching Mary (my future roommate) and I found this cute little place in Roscoe Village. I love it. The location is awesome, the price is great, it includes a parking spot, and it is close to the trainline that goes to work. There is this whole cute shopping district area that is filled with tiny cafe's, shops, and of course Starbucks.

So details about the apartment... It is the top floor of a little house in the heart of Roscoe Village. It is spacious and sunny with warm hardwood flooring and decent sized rooms. There is even a huge closet/storage space in the front room that I think we can turn into a great little den for computers and what not. So anyway, it reminds me of this place I was going to rent in Champaign when I went to study abroad. But alas, it is a little different. One of the bedrooms' closet is located outside of the room, which is unfortunate. But I guess it will be manageable, good thing the closets are big. Anyway the kitchen has possibilities, but it is not absolutely perfect. It has white painted cabinets. I wish I could strip the paint and re-finish them. But that is a lot of work and I don't know if I am strong enough for it. We will see. Perhaps we can retouch them with a lemon yellow and then decorate it with a whole water/beach theme. I don't know. The place is super cute though. And it has free laundry. Speaking of which, I really need to do some soon. Hmm... Maybe it is time to stop typing and start getting things ready for tomorrow.

Okay, so I had a nice chat with my manager. It was nice to hear all the positive things she had to say. Though I was disappointed in the fact that she didn't have any improvements for me. I know I can't be doing everything right. I realize that little things shouldn't be the main focus of my development plan, but if those are the things I need to work on I need to know. But anyway, I should be (and am) quite excited that my manager regards me as being a strong candidate who has exceeded all her expectations. I now only hope that I am ranked as one of the top 3 MDP's within the program.

So the questions weighing on my mind is still there. I have no conclusive promise to be placed in Chicago after the program finishes...which is just short of three weeks away. I am excited because I will be done, I will know where the future is taking me, and I will have a definite role and purpose within my job. I will have a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. But I digress... so no definite answers. But I have a feeling I may be in Chicago. My manager suggested that I could perhpas work in Chicago though it may end up on an off shift. So I guess I will have some tough decisions to make in regards to my 'best fit' job. Do I want 1st shift but in a different city, or do I want Chicago but work 3rd shift. Its hard decision. There are pro's and con's to each combination.

I don't know... and quite frankly I am sitting here thinking about things that don't pertain to this Blog. So I should stop now before I become completely random and keep saying assinine things. The sunset looks beautiful right now.

Okay, at least its not a month since I last wrote... though its close. Whew... if I am as negligent with my future kids as I am with my blog I think they may be taken away from me... Lucky thing this is an inanimate object (its a diary, right?). Anyway, I am super excited... I have vacation coming up from May 17-26. Yeah! I miss vacation. And to top it off one of my friends from Germany is coming to visit me!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can hardly believe it. Sometimes I think that whole year in Paris was a dream, a figment of my imagination and my deep rooted obsession with studying abroad. Man, I really miss my friends from there. But alas, one misses me enough to come and visit! So anyway, I am even more excited about vacation!

So let's see. My life is good and bad...but I guess that is everyone's life, right? There are high's, lows, and inbetweens that occur all the time. Be it a day, an hour, a moment... Job wise, I am bummed. I found out I have no control on where I will be placed. I don't get to choose my job, rather it is given to me. I am afraid that they will put me in a supervisor/manager position on third shift in Columbus. That is my worst nightmare at this point in time. On the other hand I am really enjoying my day to day job... i.e. the shadowing of managers, the interactions with my fellow MDPs, and what not. Then there is the extreme smily-ness that I am experiencing right now. I am happy when I wake up, even though I have to drag my butt out of bed at 5:45 am, and happy when I go to bed...regardless what happens during the day. I am getting more comfortable in this whole 'work for a living' thing. No more school, studying, spring breaks, summer vacations, etc... It took some time to adjust.

Now I am confronted with a complex situation. The other day I was sitting there telling someone to follow their dreams. Right now we are young enough, unattached, and basically free... hence, now is the ideal time to chase far off dreams, challenge our hearts, and make the future into what we want. Live life, don't just let it happen. So right now I would say I am letting it happen... Now I need to figure out how to LIVE it the way I want to, doing everything I want to. Hmm... a tougher break to make then most would think. Afterall, right now I have a secure job with a nice pay check... I have a respectable job by society's standards... my parents are very proud of what I have accomplished. But the question still remains, am I proud of my accomplishments? Have I ever really challenged myself? Have I ever put myself on the line? Am I going to waste my life on the 'security' blanket my lack of courage has planted me into now? Geez... my philosophical questions can and will go on forever if I don't stop now. So I am stopping.

Wow, almost three weeks later and I am checking in. I am doing better, am I not? Well if you beg to differ it doesn't matter... because I don't have a comments box anyway! HA! So anyway, who said 'ignorance is bliss'? Smart person! Well anyway, I am about 60% through my management program. And finally back in Chicago! So now I have to work really hard at impressing everyone I meet so that they all want me when the program is over. Of course, for the networking nitwit that I am this may be harder to do than most would anticipate. But that is another topic unto itself. So I just started my R&IP rotation, Remittance and Item Processing. So far it is going well, of course it is just day 1. I was so excited to see the guy who interviewed me because a little birdie told me that he really liked me and wants to give me a job! So I'm crossing my fingers and wishing on satrs and clocks... Two more months and we will see where my wishing gets me. Not that this is what my exact wish is, but I can't tell otherwise it won't come true... right? Well anyway...

So lets see... what has happened since I last wrote. I went to Phoenix for my National Retail Lock Box rotation. IT was great, there wasn't a cloud in the sky, 80 degrees with gentle breezes, and palm trees all around. They had these flowering bush/trees that lined everything. They reminded me of my mother's home back in India. Those beautiful fusia leaf like flowers that spring out at every branch, nook, and crannie.... yeah, yeah...my grammer sucks. As does my description. But you know, I just can't describe it. I always feel like I'm home when I see them, maybe because the time I spent around them had been so special. But no need for sentimentalism now. Its impossible to describe the way I feel or how happy my heart is to see them. I saw them in Tunisia, in AZ, and in California. Maybe that's where I am meant to be! Who knows. But anyway, if you didn't catch the Cali bit, I went to California for the weekend in between the rotation. My first trip to LA was great. I didn't see anyone famous, of course if I had I probably wouldn't have even known it. Hee hee! Oh well. I stayed at the Hyatt on Sunset, which was great but not the best place I have stayed recently. I spent friday night walking on Broadway, seeing the Chinese theater, wax museum, etc. And then Sat I went to Santa Monica pier and walked along the beach. I rented a bike and went for a long, beautiful ride. I loved it. Then I went back and washed the salt and sand away. I went to the Comedy Store and saw some funny funny and some not so funny stand up comics. The guy who hosts fear factor was there. He was hilarious. Raunchy and definitely not Politically correct, but funny none the less. Hmm... then I spent all of Sunday sitting in LAX. Let me tell you, that airport is not the 'hottest' part of LA. I don't think I will ever fly united again. But after a few vague statements and an eventual cancellation I finally got on a plane, 6 hours after my initial departure time... So now I know the airport. And I hope to never spend as much time there again. It was a waste of a perfectly beautiful California day!

But anyway, I need to wrap up and do some work. I swear my job is non-stop, though I often don't realize it. I guess that is a good sign. But in the same spirit, my mind is always thinking about things that have nothing to do with my life... like making up or singing my dorky original songs.. hee hee... Now, I think I am a misguided soul. But I comfort myself by thinking that at least 1/2 of the 6 billion people in this world must be confused. And keep compromising dreams for the 'dollar'. Life forces you to make decisions, whether you want to or not. I guess the strong follow their dreams, regardless if its feasability is limited. Oh well... enough self reflection!

Okay, so I think I am making history... two entries in two days! Hee hee... right, well I am going to try being better. Afterall this will turn out to be a great 'scrapbook' if I keep up with it. So anyway, today is Sunday. I get to fly out tomorrow morning, so that is exciting. Its like I have a whole weekend, not just a day and half. But anyway, tonight my roommates friends are coming over for dinner. So no alone time for enjoying the apartment as is. Oh well.

Yesterday Kate and I went shopping. Which was fun, but I spent almost 100 dollars. I hate it when I spend money on clothes, shoes, and what not. Because eventually I ruin them and then it was all a waste. I went to buy clothes for work. So instead of buying work clothes I bought a black skirt to go out in, and yellowy cream skirt that may be suitable for work if I can reduce the 'see-through' ness... And then I bought the same shirt Kate has, except that its blue. Hee hee... much good that does me since I left it in her car. I finally used the store credit I got for the mickey glitter shirt that Sarah got me for my birthday last year. I got shoes! hee hee... I love sandals. Okay, so this is boring mundane stuff... moving on to more interesting topics.

Such as Kate's little scare about her purse. I was purchasing my shoes when all of a sudden Kate was like 'Where is my purse?'. Of course I immediately felt for my purse (though I had just used it) because losing a purse seems like something I would do, not Kate. But anyway, we went running back to Sears and asked people if there was a purse there. Of course no one had any idea. So then we went running back and divided up, Kate went back to Gadzooks and I went to Hollisters. No purse there. And no purse at Gadzooks. I kept hoping that human goodness would make someone turn it in. But I could see Kate already thought it was gone. But luckily we went back to Sears to check the racks and dressing room one more time. Luckily there was an employee, Anne, who was tidying the dressing room. Kate asked her and she was like 'Yes, I turned it into security'. So off we went running to security, she gave us really bad directions (actually I don't think they can even be considered directions), and got her purse back. With everything in it. Whew... good thing we got it back because it had both her sets of keys for her car in it, which meant that her poor little car would have been stranded in the parking lot until it could be towed and the locks re-done. But anyway, alls well that ends well!

So now back today, I got back to the apartment and my hope was dashed of finding my cell phone magically waiting for me. For the past two months have been trying to get a cell phone. Alas, nothing has happened. I tried and tried getting one, but the guy I have to go through to get all the bank benefits hasn't been able to get it to me. He said it would have been here on Friday, but there is no phone here. This is the second time he has 'sent' the phones. I am ready to just go into a store and buy one. Screw the benefits. I really need one considering I am always traveling. But somehow I think the fates are against me in this. Maybe they are trying to tell me not to go with Sprint. Well, if this is any harder to do then I am going to say bye-bye to sprint and hello to AT&T...

Besides the frustration life is good. I love the new song by Daniel Beddingfield 'if you're not the one'. I want someone to feel that way about me. Heck, I would settle for someone who would sing it to me. Oh well, all in good time. Maybe on my travels I will run into someone amazing. HA HA!!!!! Fat chance. Considering the pace of travel and my constant 'go' mentality right now I think that this is highly unlikely. Well anyway, I need to pack. Let me finish that and then do some work. And hopefully I will fit in playing Sims (I am going to install living large) and getting on here to type up a straight forward description of my program and what the future looks like. So anyway, time to go and be productive.

Wow, the 23rd huh? Of January none the less! Argueably, there are fewer days in Feb., which reduces the number of blogging days... hee hee.. yeah its a stretch, even for me. I would like to say I followed throuh on my promise to blog more often, but alas I am not able to say that. In part because I am traveling non-stop during the week and don't have access to this site (company security says 'No-No!'...whatever) and the other because I find it impossible to spend time online over the weekends I am home. Right now I have time because I am wide awake and Kate is fast, and I mean fast, asleep! So I have time to do a little summary of my activities.

So first the job!!! Its great. I learn something interesting everyday. The traveling is really tiring and to say the least I am perfecting the art of packing and living out of a suitcase. My travels have included exciting destinations such as Indianapolis, Dallas Fort Worth, Columbus, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans. Now I am looking forward to my trips to Phoenix, Boston, and Louisville. Okay, in truth I am looking forward to the little trips over the weekend. I am planning on going to LA (I have never been before) and/or Las Vegas. When in Boston I am planning on going to New York! now that would be awesome. I haven't been there since 96'. But anyway...for now I am enjoying a pleasant weekend at home. I wish I could have spent more time in my apartment just chilling and doing nothing. But Kate's house is fun too. Though not so much when she is sleeping....

Now for the actual job...I never knew how much goes on behind the scenes so that when you go in the morning you have access to your money. Definitely a learning experience. Next, learning how to deal with peole. Just when you think you have seen them all you find a whole new breed you have never discovered. First, who knew that so many bankers cursed with the best of them. Supposedly back in the early days our CEO could give any profain rapper a run for his money in the cursing department. Even now, with it being toned down, it still surprises me how many of these execs use little four letter words at the drop of a hat.

Hee hee... Kate's talking in her sleep. And getting even more comfortable on the futon, if that is even possible considering she is strategically all tangled up in flannell sheets and blankets. Hee hee... I bet she will be really happy ;) that I blogged!

But anyway, the job. So this past Friday we had to give a HUGE presentation to this Senior Exec Banker. He is the biggest butt head in the world. His reputation of eating people alive during presentations preceded him, which had all of us novices shaking in our boots. Lucky for me, and no neccessarily for everyone else, he didn't dig into me that much. I was so nervous the whole day that it really was making me feel sick and made my 3 day old headache even worse. Internalizing stress is not good. I appeared to be so calm on the outside, but on the inside my body was wreathing with anxiety. Go figure. Anyway...time to go. I got better things to do with my precious time then sit here and blog... especially since Kate is up!