The storm before the calm, or something like that.

I know that I have not been posting as much as a good blog etiquette dictates (not that I really care about blog etiquette).  To tell you the truth, it will probably remain that way for the next month or so.

People told me I was being brave for starting a new job and moving all within a few weeks of each other.  I though the "brave" part was moving into an apartment that I have never seen before (more on that in a moment).  People move and start jobs all the time right?  I don't know how they do it.  My OCD is kicking it into high gear and I am stressin' out!

 True story, last Tuesday I had a complete melt down because I couldn't find a pair of pants.  Okay, really it was about a lot more than the pants.  I thrive on structure, and routine.  I have felt like my world is completely unstable these past few weeks, and when I couldn't find a specific pair of pants that I wanted to wear to work, I lost it.  It was my breaking point after weeks of so many unstructured life changers.

Who wouldn't be stressed if this is what you looked at when you walked in the front door?

What on earth could be so unsteady?  Let's start with the employment situation.  Around late March I received a message from one of my former co-workers (who is absolutely amazing, by the way).  She told me that her current employer was creating a position that I would be absolutely perfect for and I should send my resume right away.  I originally turned it down because of the hours.  A few days after I turned it down I received a second message that said I could have flexible hours and a decent amount money.   I decided that was appealing so, I sent in my resume.  Not to sound conceded, but I pretty much knew that I was going to get an offer because two out of the three people making the hiring choice were people that I worked with at my (then) current company.  Almost two weeks went by before I was called in for an interview.  At my interview I was warned that they didn't have a hard start date, but they would keep in touch.  I completed some back ground check information and waited another two weeks before I got an email saying that they wanted me, but they are waiting on a few things and if I just sit tight for a bit they will reach out with an offer letter.  Then a week and a half after that I got a call with an official start date.  Let's recap, I went about 6 weeks being unsure of a job that I was "a shoe in for".   That's a little stressful!

Then there is the whole moving thing.  You have all heard my sob stories of how small this place is and how I have only stayed because it is so cheap, so I will spare you those details.  I received a lease renewal in the mail with a notice that rent would be increasing by 20%.  Not cool!  20% is a lot, and this place is not worth it.  So we started apartment hunting.  I found a few places on craigslist, but no one was getting back to me.  I put Dean in charge of contacting them and he succeeded.  Slight catch, they would only show the place between 11 am and 3 pm Monday through Friday.  That put me in a pickle since I worked 8-5.  So, Dean went, with his iPhone, and took a video.  A very shaky, hard to watch with out getting sea sick video.  When I got home from work he drew me a map and we decided to go for it (GULP).   Yes, I agreed to rent an apartment based on my husband's opinion and sloppy cell phone movie.  That is stressful! Also, I earn killer wife points!

 Oh but it gets better!  You see, we had until the first to tell our current landlord if we were moving out, or renewing at 20% more.  The first came, and still no word from the new landlord.  I knew he got our application, because the check I sent for the application fee was cashed.  When Dean called he was told that they just needed to check our references and the application should be processed in no time.  "No time" turned into an extra week.  Meanwhile our current landlord is showing  the apartment and the new apartment was re-listed on Craigslist.  Awesome.  I was freaking out!  I was making plans for storage sheds, and finding friends with couches and trying to find people to take the cats until we found a place because I was convinced that we would be homeless in three weeks.

It all ended up working out in the end (like Dean told me over and over again).  As of Saturday we will live in a much bigger apartment with a full size stove and plenty of storage.  I know that everything will settle down and I will have a normal routine again.  When that happens, I will be hopping right back on the blog-o-sphere again.  Don't you worry!

But first, let me get out of this corner I packed myself into...

I look far to happy to be packing