Jenna's House of Idiosyncrasies Version 10.0 [Focus.]

“I've gotta say Jenna, you're pretty stubborn. I mean, you're the one who only eats once every three days.”

Gumby continued with an imitation of me. “‘I don't need food; I'll just snack on my ego!’”

When I started my job at my current place of work, my part time position was called, no joke, ‘Junior Web Author’. I always resented the ‘Junior’ and routinely trimmed it out of conversations and correspondence. Eventually this title was changed to the more respectable ‘Associate Web Developer’, but by that time the connotation had stuck. Some kind of intern. However, I have made the most of it, pushing for more hours and more challenging work, innovating processes, and turning myself into an important asset.

This has paid off.

Last week one of my managers called me into his office to deliver some good news: my move up to the full time position that I had been fighting for was official, and would take effect on Monday, May 16th. The move is contingent on me continuing to go to school and eventually finishing, which means, starting in the fall, I'll be working a 40 hour work week (the late shift for West coast support, 11 AM to 8 PM) plus taking 2 to 3 classes in the morning (including 8 AMs, I'm sure). Because I have not taken school at all seriously for the last year and a half, it will take me another 3 to 4 years to graduate. The whole 12-hour day thing is going to kick my ass, and crazy me, I'm excited by the prospect! I think this is how it feels to have goals. And it feels really good.

Continuing the theme of ‘Bigness in the Life of Jenna’ I signed a new lease last week, for a studio apartment about half a block from where I live now. While the new place isn't a swank as the place I currently share with five others, it will be entirely mine. No longer sharing a bedroom with another person (even if that person is the fair red headed friend) is going to be a plus, even if it's just so I can set 4 different alarms without waking up anyone but myself.

For the first time in a long time, things are going really well. So well, in fact, that aside from the initial shock of nearly ending up in the hospital, the car accident I was in over the weekend presented itself as a minor inconvenience. This is preferable to allowing it to induce panic over how can I possibly deal with one more bad thing, which would have been my reaction just a short time ago. Read More »

There is actually much to tell, but my focus for composition has been lacking lately as my head has just been swimming with happiness (and I'll admit, some tiredness as well). For now, however, I cannot expand on what's going on, for I have to make a good impression at the office tomorrow, and for that, I need sleep.

I did want to say though (and if you are within audible distance of me at all you'll hear me say this a lot for the next few weeks) that it finally feels like everything in my life is falling into place.

Just a make a note: 3 weeks until celebratory drinks. I'm buying the first round.

him: “I'm really my mother trapped in my body.”

me: “You know, it's a little awkward for me if I spend all this time flirting with you and you are actually a woman.”

him: “There's nothing wrong with a little girl-on-girl action!”

Today was strange and fun and weird and fantastic and stressful and long.

My boss, after talking to me about scheduling, was walking away and turned back for a moment just to say, “Good work today, by the way.”

“Thank you!”

I suddenly realized I was glowing. A little hard-earned praise goes such a long way with me for some reason.

I think I like the attention.

I stayed at work pretty late today, finishing some things up, and walked home in the cool night with my headphones on. I tend to complain a lot, but it was actually pretty wonderful.

It's the simple things sometimes.

Today I got to work mostly on time. Within half an hour. I began the day by heating instant oatmeal in the break room microwave, followed by spilling a full glass of water all over the break room floor.

Not the way I want to start my morning, crouching on the break room floor, cleaning up an ocean of cold, pure natural spring water.

The morning dragged on. I tried as best I could to be productive and stay awake. By 10 o'clock I had downed the two Dr. Peppers I had brought with me and was waiting for the pick-me-up they promised to bring.

"Sometimes, you have to call in the Doctor." Johnny said to me.

Eventually I clocked out and headed home for lunch. As I rode down the mirrored elevator I checked out my hair in my reflection, running my hands back through it and pondering on the fact that I was having a great hair day. My gaze slipped down to meet my own eyes and I could only think that I wished my eyes looked as lively as my hair, instead of looking so tired.

Getting off I almost smacked right into the TA for my Intro to New Media class. I gave gave him a cheerful "Hey" and it took my about 15 seconds to realize that even though I know exactly who he is, there are roughly 200 people in the class so he probably won't recognize me.

Also: I nearly smacked into him again on the way back up an hour later. No kidding.

Upon returning to work, I felt friskier, ready to do great things. I tackled several crazy things, and then came the thousands of Verisign incidents.

Well, it was actually about 15.

I was working on the last of these when my boss comes over and advises me to move on to Nicole's queue, because she has tons of Verisign incidents and she is not here today.

"Cool, I think I'm getting pretty good at them."

"Well Nicole is like the queen of them, so good luck."

I, of course, took this as a challenge, and proceeded to knock out all 35 some-odd incidents of hers. Then my boss complimented me on my speediness and dedication (not in so many words, it was more like, "Good job on those Verisigns :)" but I knew what he meant).

It's shaped up to be a pretty decent day, even after all the nearly streaking.

9. The unspeakable visions of the individual

I told you I'd be gone for awhile.

Finals went good. I am an AB student for the first time since entering college, instead of a ABCDF student, which is very nice. While most people would cram right up until exams were passed out, my pre-final therapy included breathing deeply and listening to Aerosmith's Sweet Emotion over and over and over again.

I think it worked.

For anyone who is interested in what's up, I am now working 4 days a week (Tuesday - Friday), I have knocked out one of my "goals" as of today, and things are falling into place. Nothing too crazy has happened. Just lots of you-had-to-be-there antics.

More antics ensuing. Gotta go.

I got it.

I got the job.

I am on my way to being a Junior Web Author at the ultra-cool web company known as [redacted].

After receiving the news this morning I walked around with a big stupid grin on my face all day.

It's a great place, with really nice people, right in the center of town, walking distance from class, I have a really cool boss, and everyone uses first names!

The job is just perfect for me. And I for it. Plus, there is a certain amount of validation that comes from being hired by a real company for something you've essentially had as a hobby for the past 6 years.

If I could do cartwheels, I would.

I MADE A PERFECT SCORE ON MY STATISTICS TEST!

I haven't done this well since high school.

(And never this well in math.)

::does a victory dance::