That’s Stella

I resigned today.

I wasn’t planning on doing it for another couple of weeks, but I have kept it secret for so long from some of my closest possie at work that the guilt ate away at me.

I’ve been looking forward to resigning for a couple of months now, but when it actually came to the crunch, I thought I was going to throw up! As I waited for my director to have a bit of free time to chat to me, it actually for the first time EVER occurred to me that I wouldn’t be seeing my friends every day. I feel so comfortable where I am right now, I never have anxiety about going to work every morning, I always expect to share laughs and lunch with some of my closest friends. I am giving up my comfort.

When I thought about it, I was close to crying.

But lately I have lost my mojo. I am not quite as aggressive and go-get-em as I use to be. And I need it back. And I do think my mojo is somewhere between LA and NY waiting for me to reclaim it.

My director took the news well. He is a traveller himself and understands the need to get out of the city. In fact, he was amazing and seemed to understand that I needed to find my confidence that I’ve lost in the last year.

I brought a few of my closest friends who didn’t know I was resigning into one of the work lounge rooms to break the news. Little did I know there was a video camera and microphone set up in the meeting room for a focus group recording my confession at the time. Luckily the focus group moderator who was recording was one of my friends I brought into the lounge to confess to and got rid of the evidence! It’s still top secret till my director breaks the news to everyone.

Yesterday I booked all my flights within the US and I’m excited by all the prospects for travelling around the US considering all the el cheapo deals there are online.

I’m taking a break and going to a few different cities before going back to New York.

I’m spending a week in Los Angeles. I can’t wait to hang out in Santa Monica. I’m usually not a fan of the beach and sun, but give me Santa Monica any day.

From Los Angeles, I’m heading north to Portland, Oregon for a few days then driving to Seattle, Washington to stay for a week. I have no freakin idea what’s there. All I know about Seattle is that it rains a lot and featured in Sleepless in Seattle.

But the unknown is exciting!

From Seattle, I’m going to the Rocky Mountains – Denver, Colarado baby! I’m staying in the mountains and can’t wait to do snow angels and ski and snowboard and slide down the hills! Yeow!

And finally, after THREE years I arrive back in New York a few days before Valentines Day.

And I tell you what, it is going to be one hell of a romantic Valentines Day this year.

Just me and Manhattan, together again!

I went to the consulate this week to get my visa. You’re meant to arrive 30 minutes before your appointment time so I got to the city an hour before to find parking, and despite the 30 minutes to find parking, I was still late! I was close to handing over my car to valet parking at the Duxton and paying some exorbitant price, till I managed to get a parking right around the corner from the consulate. Phew. I wasn’t really late. I just arrived 20 minutes earlier for my appointment time rather then 30.

Security was really tight. I was extra vigilant to be extra friendly and lovely and not make any sudden moves. They take you up to one floor to make security checks and make you put all your belongings in a locker. I asked the guard if I could take my bottle of water because I had a cold. I heard him say yes and then he mumbled something into his beard straight after, but my ears were blocked and I was already a little delirious that I completely missed it and instead just said “Ok” which felt at the time like a safe answer, except of course if he had asked:

Can you please bend over whilst I put my rubber glove on? “OK”
Can you please take off all your clothes for a security check? “OK”
Can you please give us all your money before entering the US? “OK”

He turned around and looked at me as if waiting for me to do something and I just gave him a cheesy smile. Then he sternly asked me to take a sip of my water. And I said
“No I’m good for now. I’m not thirsty”.
Did I mention I was delirious and sick?

The poor dear probably thought he had a situation on his hands and was close to calling for back up when I refused to sip the water.

He had to ask me for the THIRD time for me to get the hint he wanted me to take a sip to make sure I wasn’t carrying acid or some explosive material in my Evian bottle.

Anyway, I have my visa now so yay for me and my plans!

I promise I’ll have exciting stories here soon.

Or embarassing ones at least.