Finality.

After informing the new company of my disgust with their offer and telling them what I would like to receive as an offer, they called me later that evening to confirm that they would offer me what I was asking.

Soooooo, today, I've had the daunting task of personally telling our partners of my intent to leave before the message gets spread by the masses.

They have each been very disappointed at the idea of me leaving, but they've been very supportive and very happy for the opportunity I have found. They admit that they realize I am limited here and they wish there was something more they could offer me here. They offered to give me more money, but as they expected I wasn't interested strictly in more money, but in the opportunity presented with the new company. I've heard some extremely encouraging words that have warmed my heart and make me love the people I've worked with that much more.

My final day with the firm is January 13th, and I start with the new company on January 16th.

So, I close 2005 and open 2006 with a grand new change for me. I hope at the end of 2006 I will be confident that it was the best decision for me.

Thank you, ALL, for your prayers and support throughout this very quick process.

Had my second interview.

I'm not the greatest interviewee. I'm much better at being the interviewer. In spite of that, it went well, and they like me, and they want me. Problem is, they e-mailed me and told me they'd be writing a formal offer letter, but told me in the e-mail, what to expect for compensation in that offer.

They're only offering me $1.44 more than I currently make per hour. Is this a joke? You want me to leave the comfort of my job with the firm for barely more money? You want me to give up my plush schedule that allows me to leave at 2:30 EVERYDAY for that? They can't be serious.

Yes, I'd have my own office, the job would be VERY close to home and Maddie's school, I'd have a "manager" title, and it seems there'd be great opportunities for me to build on there, but I'm giving up a lot to take the risk with them, and they're only offering up $1.44 more per hour.

AAARRRRRGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!

More later.

Interview went GREAT.

They love me, but I think they already decided that before the interview. As expected I have a second interview on Tuesday at 11:00 a.m.

I still don't know what the job pays. I didn't ask, because I'd rather they take their time to formulate an offer they would consider worthy of me leaving the comfort and security of my 8 year tenure with the firm and an offer too challenging for the firm to counter.

By all accounts so far, the job sounds perfect for me and me for it. The people seem great. The woman I'd work for directly is a dream and I could see us working extremely well together and she sees the same in me.

Hang in there for more updates next week.

Eight years with the same employer. I moved to Nashville in 1997. I went on one interview with a headhunter who sent me out that same morning for an interview with an accounting firm. I started work with that firm two days later and have been there ever since.

So, for the fun of it, on Tuesday, I faxed my resume in response to an ad in the paper. The ad was nearly two weeks old already, so I truly wasn't too hopeful that I'd hear from them. I WAS WRONG! Only hours later, I received the call. On Wednesday, I sent a CD of samples of my various design work to the prospective employer and called them that afternoon as requested. So far, they love me and they haven't even met me. They want to meet with me Thursday (12/22), and the lady I talked to pretty much told me that I should expect to come in next week for a 2nd interview with her boss as she already knows that she will be recommending me for the position. WOW! There are two other candidates being recommended, but, from our conversation, it sounds like I'm at the top of the stack at this point, and she's already interviewed them and has only talked with me briefly on the phone. Providing I don't mess up my interview, I should stay at the top of the stack.

Can I actually leave the firm? Would I know what to do working for another employer? Could I leave my comfort zone and learn a whole new job, employer, colleagues, etc? So much going through my mind right now.

The job would be sooooooo close to my house and Maddie's school. I'm guessing it would be a significant pay increase. . . well, heck, it would have to be in order for me to even consider it.

What would the firm think if I put in my notice? Would they try to convince me to stay? Would they make me a new offer? Would they replace my position or just try to spread my responsibilities out? Could they actually learn to trust someone else the way they trust me? I wonder if I could find my replacement before I leave and still get the employee referral bonus??

Wild, wild stuff for me. I haven't even been on an interview in over 8 years. What do they ask? What are the winning answers? I've had a couple friends who've interviewed more recently than I have helping me with possible questions and scenarios in order to better prepare me for this meeting.

Update you more soon.

The American Idiot

Over the past year or so, I've realized just how stupid we are becoming as a society. This stupidity is being accepted more and more as a standard level of intelligence and it's driving me crazy. Here's one of my biggest pet peeves . . . people who ignorantly use the word "your" when the appropriate word is "you're". I cannot believe the number of people who do this REGULARLY. I see it in professional business correspondence. Most recently I saw this ignorance on a shirt that Paris Hilton was wearing, which has since been mass-produced and made available for purchase. The front of the shirt says "That's Hot". The back says "Your Not". I find it crazy to believe that NOBODY in the process of making that shirt knew enough basic grammar to correct it before it was made.


My concern is that the more it is used improperly the sooner it will become completely acceptable and we'll adjust our American Grammar rules to meet this stupidity rather than hold everyone accountable to learn proper English.

For anyone reading this that is baffled and confused, let me explain the difference for you. YOUR - this is a word of posession. Your coat, your car, your belongings. . . etc. YOU'RE - this is a contraction for "you are". You're going to the mall. You're welcome. You're going to bed early. . . etc.

It's o.k. if you do it one time accidentally as you're (look I just used it correctly) typing a quick e-mail to someone. If you use is regularly because you don't know better, GET A CLUE or an education.

This is the first of what I'm sure will become many posts on my pet peeves with the "American Idiot".