News!

I haven't written in a while. I didn't want to jinx anything that could possibly happen. On Monday, I had an interview for a Data Analyst for UCSF, located in Sacramento. I really wanted this job. It doesn't pay as much as I think I should earn, but it's a full time professional job with UC benefits, which are awesome. UCSF is also a place for growth. There are so many places for me to transfer to once I become a UC employee. On top of all that, the skills that I will be working on will pay me well in the future. Kaiser was looking for someone with two years of experience with these skills and paying a lot, almost double what I will be earning. This would be a job that gives me great experience and has a great future. So I want this job. But I didn't want to write about it because I knew if I did, it wouldn't happen.

But guess what, I got the job. I got the call today (had the interview on Monday) and she really wants me to work for her. I told her that I needed some time to think about it, but I called her back an hour later and told her that I would take it. I'm employed!!!

The best part is that we have put off the starting date until August 21st. That means I can go to South Africa for a couple of weeks. Just in case you didn't know, my brother moved there for a job. He just left on Monday. He told me about a week ago that he can buy me a round trip ticket for $600. Since my brother travels a lot, that whole international businessman thing, he has lots and lots of miles. He is going to give me some of the miles. One reason he is willing to do this is so I can help Magda out. She is going to be alone a lot (Jeff works, she doesn't) in a new city in a new country (far away from anything Mexican). I can help take care of adorable Kenneth, explore the city with her, and go to some real south african restaurants. The only reason why I am not leaving tomorrow is that I needed to get my passport renewed. It's in the mail on the way here. I just want it in my hand before I buy a ticket. What if I buy a ticket for sunday and it doesn't show up until Monday? Not good. I also bought an ipod nano to keep me company on the flight. Yeaaaa!!!! Anyone have audio books you can give me for the flight?

Now that I am employeed and have one final long, cool trip ahead of me before I start work, people are asking me, what about that condo? Well, yes, I still want it. But I am going to play the waiting game right now. The price dropped 23,000 from when I first looked at it. The market may be slowing down so I am going to hold my breath and wait for it to go down some more. I plan to keep tabs on it just in case the situation changes, but they only sold two places since I last visited, over a month ago. So maybe I can get a good deal if I wait a bit. Next question is can I afford it? The first year or so will be hard. After that, I shouldn't have a problem.

Can you believe how this is all coming together? I am a little sad at leaving the Bay area. I like Irish dancing (and plan to go at least twice a month), I like the ballet and jazz dance classes I have been taking, I like the farmer's market at the Ferry building and walking to pier 39 and back on a Sat. morning (which i will be doing this sat.), I like the cheap restaurants, and I like the weather. But, if I got a job in the Bay Area, I would be thinking about all the things I would be missing in Sac, woodland, and Davis. But, the thing with this UC job is I can go anywhere in the UC system. So if for some reason I want to go back to the Bay Area, I will be able to do so. But for a while anyways, I can hang out here in the heat with friends, audition for shows, and just be happy to be employed and have a little bit of money. AND NOT WORK GRAVEYARDS!