I'm exhausted...

It was a great weekend except for the bad
ending after I got back to Florida.

~Landed in Nashville, picked up the rental car,
then had the pleasure and honor of meeting
Winston for lunch. Another Southern Gentleman
who is even more charming in person than he is
on his blog. Thank you, dear man. Repeat, ok?

~Drove to Cookeville, got settled in my hotel room
and called the HR manager. Made an appointment for
10 am Friday.

~The interview was more than I expected.
I talked to the HR Manager, the Production Supervisor
and the Engineering Manager.... for almost three hours.
Everyone there loves their job. Loves their boss.
The Engineering Manager was intrigued by my email
address. He googled it. He found my blog.
"So, you're a writer? You sounded pretty excited to come up here."
Yes. And yes.

I think it would be a great place to work. I think they liked me.
There is no pressure to be available right away. They understand
about needing to sell my house first.
They did not offer me a job yet. They said they would be in
touch soon.
Their pay range is comparable to where I am now, but I have
no idea what kind of rate they would offer to start.
I left there feeling good. Very positive.

The rest of Friday and most of Saturday I spent driving.
And driving some more. It's beautiful, even though it rained
almost every minute for three and a half days.
It actually reminded me of southern Ohio.... lots of rolling hills.
Fruit trees are in bloom everywhere, as well as daffodils, crocus,
forsythia, grape hyacinth and a few pink dogwood. True Spring.
Gorgeous.

I only took a few photos. I'll get them posted soon.

~Saturday I saw a realtor. Showed her the kinds of properties
I liked and told her what price range I would stay with.
She is going to email details of anything she thinks I would like.

~Now for the bad part of the weekend...
I should have been home by 6:30. Turned out to be after 9:30.
My car blew the radiator on the way home from the airport.
On Interstate 95, in the rain, about 75 miles from home.
I thought I had 'roadside assistance' coverage. Nope.
Tow truck = $310.
Shit.
I'll be using another vacation day tomorrow to get the car fixed.
I guess it can be fixed. I'm too tired right now to care.


p.s. the Spaghetti Monster did not get me... you crazy, sweet people.

UPDATE: got the car back this afternoon. $266 for the radiator.
Mechanic said they couldn't find any other problems. Yay!

Have a great weekend...

I'm off to Tennessee.
See ya Sunday night.

BOING! ...

ok, ignore my snarky title up there before Sparrow
bonks me with a coconut... she's in Hawaii, ya know.

Busy yourself with her Wednesday Haiku Contest.

This week's subject: SPRING.

boing,boing,boing...heh.

Intangible...

What I have
received
from you
cannot be
held
in my
hands.
It fills
my heart.

Made some plans...

I got tired of just thinking about it.
I want to see this place in person, damnit.

Thursday, this week, I am flying to Nashville
and renting a car to drive to Cookeville.
I emailed the company and asked if I might be
allowed to tour the facility on Friday. Of course,
I'm hoping they will say, "Why sure! And, as long as
you're here, stay around for an interview, too."

Got nuthin' to lose and a new life to gain.

If nothing else, I haven't had a vacation in a long time
and have never taken one by myself. I don't plan on doing
the usual tourist-y things this time. I want to look at the
area from the perspective of what it would be like to live there.

Fingers crossed, my friends... fingers crossed.