One Week Down

Well I've got one week in the books and I've had my first visitor!

Work is good. The team is run a little bit differently than my old team but different isn't bad, it just requires an adjustment period. My co-workers are very friendly and it's nice to have a few more girls in the office. Definitely a change. My job description here is much more specific to Game Entertainment and that's been one of the biggest adjustments. I love it but I'm having to constantly remind myself to not worry about the details related to promotions and marketing and focus on the in-game stuff. All in all a good week and I'm starting to get things figured out.

I'm starting to find my way around Tacoma and Seattle a little bit. It's nice not having to turn my GPS on every time I get in the car just to get to the grocery store or work but then again I tried to get back to my apt without it last night and got lost so I don't have everything figured out. Sometimes I'm still surprised by Mt. Rainier. When it's cloudy and overcast you can't really see the mountain so it's easy to forget it's there. But, it really didn't rain all week and we had portions of sunshine almost everyday so we got some good views.

I get the above view everyday as I drive to and from the office. The other day I was driving home for lunch and I looked over and literally said out loud, "oh my gosh, there's a huge mountain". It's beautiful when you can see it.

My good friend from college, Macall, was here over the weekend. We planned this trip back in late 2009 and I am so glad she came when she did. Macall and I met at U of I when she was there playing tennis. Shortly after we met she transferred to TCU where she graduated from last spring. She is now trying her hand on the pro tennis tour and is pretty good I might add. I'm so lucky she could fit me in to her busy tournament schedule. We had a great weekend exploring downtown Tacoma where we hit the Museum of Glass (which is right on the port) and walked across the glass bridge (which is not near as exciting as it sounds).

View of the Port from the Museum


The "Glass Bridge" is actually just a bridge with pretty glass sculptures. It's cool but I was still disappointed.

Today we spent the day in downtown Seattle before Macall had to fly out. I do love Seattle already. And I definitely miss living in the city. So far Tacoma has just reaffirmed in me that I am not a suburban girl. Macall took lots of pictures this weekend so after I get some of those from her I'll post more. For now, one to week two...

Settling In

Well...I made it and am getting settled in. I was able to find an apartment (and a roommate) in about a day and got everything moved in on Thursday. My parents just left this morning and were a big help getting everything moved in, organized, and figured out. I start work on Monday and I'm really looking forward to it.

To a certain extent I kind of feel like I'm floating out here, going through life without anyone noticing. Work is the small bit of familiarity that I have, I know baseball and game entertainment and quite frankly I just miss structure! I've only worked 5 days since Dec 17th and while I've enjoyed all the off time I'm ready to get back in the habit.

Throughout the week I've gone along constantly thinking "this is not Memphis" and that's definitely true. I miss Memphis but I'm not sad to be here. I miss my friends and church but I know God will provide here as well. One thing I've really noticed here is how genuinely nice all the people are. I feel like that's weird for me to say having come from the South where everyone's supposed to be super-friendly but this is different. I'm sitting in Starbucks now b/c I won't have internet in my apt for a few more days and the people who work here have almost become my friends in the 30 minutes it took to get me signed up and connected to the internet. I like it.

It really does rain everyday but I think I came out here expecting it so it hasn't bothered me yet. My parents hated it. But, while every day is pretty overcast and gray, each one always seems to make way for a clear, beautiful sunset. Honestly, I'm looking forward to being alone for a few days without internet, roommate, or tv and being able to experience the Lord in a new way in the Northwest.

Below are some pictures that my mom and I took from the car on our long drive out west. Talk about a new adventure!

Tacoma


Oregon

Wyoming

Wyoming

Colorado

I'm here!!!

I have officially landed in Tacoma. Mom, dad, and I made it in early on Tuesday evening after way too many hours in the car. We left Illinois Sunday evening around 7:30 CST, drove until about 11:30 CST on Monday and then put in another 12 hours on Tuesday. By the grace of God the drive was about as good as can be expected. We had no car trouble, no weather issues or anything.

Mom took lots of pictures which I will post later (when I can get to my cord to upload them!). Next step: find somewhere to live!

Ending is Beginning

As we closed out 2009 I was able to spend some time in Champaign, IL where I went to school to visit some friends and attend a wedding. I had a great time and was just reminded of how blessed I am and how faithful God has been in each season of my life. I fully intended to post pictures from the weekend but my camera cord is packed away somewhere in Illinois and I'm currently in Tennessee.

Today is my last day as an employee of the Memphis Redbirds. I just finished packing up my office and now sit staring at my computer in this empty space. I haven't started crying yet but my tears are on the verge. I am so excited about the new adventure that stands before me in Tacoma but Memhis really is my home and it's hard to leave.

I landed in Memphis on January 13, 2007, my first job after college, and I have enjoyed every minute of it. It hasn't always been easy but I have been blessed beyond belief over and over as once again my faithful God has walked with me every step of the way. So today, as I leave Toyota Plaza and AutoZone Park for the last time I will always be thankful for my time spent Walking in Memphis.