Last week I was in Austin for orientation for my new job. It was super boring but also informative. Plus, work payed for all my meals! Whoo! I hate going on trips where I have to wear specific things like this. Because I always forget important stuff. This trip, I forgot dress shoes and a belt. Yes, the essentials for a work trip. I guess this is what happens when you pack 15 minutes before you walk out the door.
I met up with Norman while I was in Austin, it was really fun to see him! We went to get a burger at this restaurant/bar on 6th street. This was my first experience with 6th Street. Thankfully, it was a Tuesday. Which means there weren't many people except for middle aged adults who try too hard.
The homeless population in Austin just don't like me that much. A homeless man offered me a flower so I took it, in awe of his nice gesture, I didn't realize he wanted money, but Norman finally caught up me to date by telling me to give the flower back. I wasn't going to give him change for a white carnation that I'm pretty sure was cut in half.
*NOTE TO THE HOMELESS MAN: You've got to step it up, unless, your planning on taking money from drunk people who don't have a good grip on reality...in that case, well played.
A homeless lady who was asking for money, pushed me when I didn't stop talking to listen to her sob story about needing money. I know, I'm heartless.
I'm sad that I didn't get to see all the bats that live under some bridge while I was there...and worse, I couldn't find Urban Outfitters. Next time Austin, next time.
Going back to the office was hard after a nice trip during the middle of the week. My office still doesn't feel like me yet. Unless, of course, you think of me as the type that would have a large assortment of sheriff badges on display, then I maybe I have it right.
This weekend was fun! I went to two shows, we saw Adele (who was amazing!) and we went to Joel Osteen's Church (who puts Barnum and Bailey's Circus to shame!) Don't be fooled into thinking that just because Joel (aka Ringleader) writes all the books and preaches all the sermons that he is the main act. There were plenty of other great things going on like, a man who has been carrying a cross on a wheel for 50 years, or an elderly lady being wheeled through the ailes blowing pageant-like kisses to the audience, or the picketing that was going on outside. Either way, last week was super fun!
While I was sitting in my office today, a man came in and sprayed for bugs...while I was sitting there. I didn't know what to do, I had always thought you had to leave when people sprayed for bugs. I'm probably wrong though. But if I do die from that exterminator, I will need something extra witty on my tombstone regarding Orkin or Terminix.
So, I have just learned that Missy Higgins is a bisexual. Hmm, that puts a whole new spin on The Special Two...
Monday, March 16, 2009
Saturday, March 7, 2009
BUSINESS CARDS MEAN ADULTHOOD...
I am literally typing this in my office because I am THAT bored. Lupe (pronouced Loopey) in the office next door informed me that once he left I would be the only one left in the building. So, naturally I felt inclined to post a blog. Because nothing says integrity like not working when your boss isn't around.
My first week of work was okay. It's hard, and probably not too accurate, to base whether or not you like your job during the first week. Nancy, one of the board members and pretty much my supervisor has shown me the ropes this week. She is a 65(?) year old lady with bleach blonde hair and heavy make-up. I learned that, like most old people, she is a horrible driver. When she took me to lunch at Whataburger and we had waited less than a minute to pull out of the parking lot she said, "I have been sitting here too long, I'm just gonna pull out and hopefully those cars will stop." I thought I was going to die in that maroon Lincoln Towncar. Who knew small towns were so busy at lunch time?!
But being around the elderly hasn't been entirely boring. I have gotten a ton of baked goods. Because apparently I'm still a "growin' boy" and "need some meat on my bones." I have received two small cakes, brownies, and some cookies.
My first day at a real job was a lot less intimidating than I thought. I started out by getting to my office and having my picture taken for the local newspaper. I had always pictured my first real office a little differently, not with Texas paraphernalia and brochures everywhere. Regardless, I am excited about my job. Friday, was a little intimidating though. Nancy and the Chairman of the Board both were in the office and where throwing all sorts of crazy tasks and information at me. Very overwhelming. But, the fact that I, Lane Hollingsworth, officially have my own business card makes the stress of Friday melt away. At first I was sad, I felt this card might as well have been a ticket to real adulthood and never having fun again. But, it's still exciting and who knows how God is going to work in this new chapter of my life.
Because I have a real job now, I was invited to the Chamber of Commerce Banquet on Thursday. Being the youngest person there, all of the old people wanted to sit and chat with me. In doing so, I accepted invitations to a Lions Club meeting and to have breakfast with the mayor next week. I have a strong feeling that this will provide me with great blog posts in the future.
I was also sent an e-mail this week with an attached press release about me and my new position. There was a really great quote from me in there...that I definitely never said. I was never asked to give a quote or even told there was going to be anything written. But I didn't complain...I would have never said anything that sounded that professional...
Chris Brown and Rihanna=the new Bobby and Whitney?
My first week of work was okay. It's hard, and probably not too accurate, to base whether or not you like your job during the first week. Nancy, one of the board members and pretty much my supervisor has shown me the ropes this week. She is a 65(?) year old lady with bleach blonde hair and heavy make-up. I learned that, like most old people, she is a horrible driver. When she took me to lunch at Whataburger and we had waited less than a minute to pull out of the parking lot she said, "I have been sitting here too long, I'm just gonna pull out and hopefully those cars will stop." I thought I was going to die in that maroon Lincoln Towncar. Who knew small towns were so busy at lunch time?!
But being around the elderly hasn't been entirely boring. I have gotten a ton of baked goods. Because apparently I'm still a "growin' boy" and "need some meat on my bones." I have received two small cakes, brownies, and some cookies.
My first day at a real job was a lot less intimidating than I thought. I started out by getting to my office and having my picture taken for the local newspaper. I had always pictured my first real office a little differently, not with Texas paraphernalia and brochures everywhere. Regardless, I am excited about my job. Friday, was a little intimidating though. Nancy and the Chairman of the Board both were in the office and where throwing all sorts of crazy tasks and information at me. Very overwhelming. But, the fact that I, Lane Hollingsworth, officially have my own business card makes the stress of Friday melt away. At first I was sad, I felt this card might as well have been a ticket to real adulthood and never having fun again. But, it's still exciting and who knows how God is going to work in this new chapter of my life.
Because I have a real job now, I was invited to the Chamber of Commerce Banquet on Thursday. Being the youngest person there, all of the old people wanted to sit and chat with me. In doing so, I accepted invitations to a Lions Club meeting and to have breakfast with the mayor next week. I have a strong feeling that this will provide me with great blog posts in the future.
I was also sent an e-mail this week with an attached press release about me and my new position. There was a really great quote from me in there...that I definitely never said. I was never asked to give a quote or even told there was going to be anything written. But I didn't complain...I would have never said anything that sounded that professional...
Chris Brown and Rihanna=the new Bobby and Whitney?
Sunday, March 1, 2009
LIFE IS LIKE A BOX OF CHOCOLATES...WORDS TO LIVE BY.
This blog post is slightly different than most. I spend most of life, asking the questions, doing all the talking, and making witty remarks so I can avoid any sort of serious questions about things that I am feeling or experiencing.
So, in this post, I am choosing to open up to the things that I am feeling and about how God has been changing my life. I apologize if this post is boring, whiney, or too long. But, more than being read, this blog was about being written.
I haven't written on my blog in a long time. Mainly because I didn't know what I would write or what I would say.
I unwillingly and fearfully moved back to Abilene and into my parents house. I spent such a gut wrenching amount of time working day-to-day and never thinking about what would happen once January 1st came around and additional bills would need to be paid for loans I had taken out to pay for school.
Moving out of my apartment in Harlem, was an event that I thought would be a happy experience. But as Brittany and I wheeled out my whole life that miracuously fit into 2 suitcases, I realized that I didn't know what I wanted anymore.
I had always dreamed and read about New York City and thought that it would be so fun to live there. Moving there, I felt like that a dream had come true for me. And leaving I felt like that God was denying or disregarding what I wanted for myself. So many times I have thought, "This is what I wanted, It worked out so perfectly in the beginning, you made it seem so right and provided for me. Why did it end like this? Why did I fail?" I have countless recalled situations and thought if I had saved more money, sought different jobs, or moved somewhere different my outcome would have been better.
I miss the fast paced movement of the city, the rush I always got just walking down the street, and that satisfaction I felt when I realized that I was on the right subway car (haha).
I also miss those relationships I built with those I worked with. I know that many were those relationships that you experience while you were on the clock and when you left you wouldn't see those friends until your next shift. Regardless, I know that certain stories, jokes, and names will stick with me for a lifetime.
I miss Brittany. Experiencing the city with her was so exciting. I feel that because of things that we saw and experienced together that our friendship is so strong. It's like when you and a friend have an inside joke that no one understands. She and I will always have the memories of the experiences/adventures we had in New York.
Once I moved back to Abilene, I realized how much I had missed my friends and family. I spent a lot of that time consumed with a sense of self-absorbtion, wallowing with why my life hasn't turned out the way I wanted it too. I regret and apologize for not better utilizing my time in Abilene to rejuvenate, re-evalute, and rely on God and the people who care about me to help me through.
Now, I'm sitting in my apartment in Kingsville, TX. I was so nervous to move here to take my job as Regional Coordinator for Texas Tropical Tourism. Mainly because this was something I would have never dreamed I would do and was in a placed I never wanted to live. But, I'm confident that God has big plans. I have so many thoughts, goals, and things that I know God wants to teach me here in South Texas.
I promise that not all my blog posts will be this emotionally draining. But, it's my first one in forever. (Yes, Treg, I know I'm bad at updating my blog.) So, I felt like it needed to be real and let out some of the things I have thought and experienced in the last couple of months.
So, in this post, I am choosing to open up to the things that I am feeling and about how God has been changing my life. I apologize if this post is boring, whiney, or too long. But, more than being read, this blog was about being written.
I haven't written on my blog in a long time. Mainly because I didn't know what I would write or what I would say.
I unwillingly and fearfully moved back to Abilene and into my parents house. I spent such a gut wrenching amount of time working day-to-day and never thinking about what would happen once January 1st came around and additional bills would need to be paid for loans I had taken out to pay for school.
Moving out of my apartment in Harlem, was an event that I thought would be a happy experience. But as Brittany and I wheeled out my whole life that miracuously fit into 2 suitcases, I realized that I didn't know what I wanted anymore.
I had always dreamed and read about New York City and thought that it would be so fun to live there. Moving there, I felt like that a dream had come true for me. And leaving I felt like that God was denying or disregarding what I wanted for myself. So many times I have thought, "This is what I wanted, It worked out so perfectly in the beginning, you made it seem so right and provided for me. Why did it end like this? Why did I fail?" I have countless recalled situations and thought if I had saved more money, sought different jobs, or moved somewhere different my outcome would have been better.
I miss the fast paced movement of the city, the rush I always got just walking down the street, and that satisfaction I felt when I realized that I was on the right subway car (haha).
I also miss those relationships I built with those I worked with. I know that many were those relationships that you experience while you were on the clock and when you left you wouldn't see those friends until your next shift. Regardless, I know that certain stories, jokes, and names will stick with me for a lifetime.
I miss Brittany. Experiencing the city with her was so exciting. I feel that because of things that we saw and experienced together that our friendship is so strong. It's like when you and a friend have an inside joke that no one understands. She and I will always have the memories of the experiences/adventures we had in New York.
Once I moved back to Abilene, I realized how much I had missed my friends and family. I spent a lot of that time consumed with a sense of self-absorbtion, wallowing with why my life hasn't turned out the way I wanted it too. I regret and apologize for not better utilizing my time in Abilene to rejuvenate, re-evalute, and rely on God and the people who care about me to help me through.
Now, I'm sitting in my apartment in Kingsville, TX. I was so nervous to move here to take my job as Regional Coordinator for Texas Tropical Tourism. Mainly because this was something I would have never dreamed I would do and was in a placed I never wanted to live. But, I'm confident that God has big plans. I have so many thoughts, goals, and things that I know God wants to teach me here in South Texas.
I promise that not all my blog posts will be this emotionally draining. But, it's my first one in forever. (Yes, Treg, I know I'm bad at updating my blog.) So, I felt like it needed to be real and let out some of the things I have thought and experienced in the last couple of months.
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