In less than 4 weeks, I am packing as much stuff as I can possibly fit into my new (used) Jeep, and I am beginning the trip of a lifetime.
I will drive 4 days straight, through Canada, up to Anchorage, AK, which will become my new home.
What brings this change about, you may ask? Well, a few things... one, I found a man that I'm totally twitterpated over. I've known him for quite some time, but we've only been dating for about 6 months. His name is Scott, and he's completely opposite from me in every way. Somehow, this works. However, though he grew up in Spokane, he now works operating heavy equipment in Anchorage, which is where the initial thought of relocation came from.
Now, I know what you're thinking... this is a Very Big Step. So I want to clarify... I'm not moving just for Scott. We're not that serious yet - I'm WAY too scared of commitment! In fact, he's not even the main reason I'm moving. What convinced me to go is a series of events that I believe were Fate's way of telling me what to do.
See, I have been out of work on disability since early March. The reason is chronic daily migraine syndrome, or at least that's the current diagnosis. Well, as much as being so sick and out of work has sucked, it did allow me the unique opportunity to not only spend a lot of time with Scott before he left, but also to accompany him on the drive up to Anchorage. Since then, I've visited 3 other times, and to be quite honest, though I tried to hate the city, it's grown on me. The school up there (University of Alaska Anchorage) has an extremely unique degree program for my sought-out major (Music Education) that will allow me to graduate with my masters degree in the same amount of time it would take to get my bachelors here in Spokane. Plus, the program up there is unique in that it has guaranteed job placement upon graduation (average wait time in WA is 3 years last I checked) AND they have a desperate need for flute players up there, which is UNHEARD of in every other school I've ever looked at. So the school won me over, and early in May I decided that if I could get my headaches under control, I would be going to UAA in the fall.
Then Fate threw another amazing opportunity my way - A job was dropped in my lap, quite unexpectedly. See, I went into the high end car audio shop in town to get some advice on the install I was doing in Scott's truck one day, and the manager took a liking to me. He offered me a job on the spot, provided I passed the "final interview" with the owner and cleared the background check.
Well, I did it. Effective July 5th, I'm employed as the only girl in a car stereo shop that deals in high end merchandise that I LOVE MORE THAN ANYTHING.
Since then, more and more things have happened telling me to move up there. My neurologist in Spokane tells me that he's got a close friend up there that would be perfect to take over my case. This is huge, because my health is of enormous concern to me. Then, I find out that in Anchorage, the opportunities available for flute players to grow as musicians and perform outnumber the opportunities in Spokane by a ten-fold. This is also huge. Then, I realize that while I love my Protege more than anything, and after 6 months my most recent stereo install is FINALLY done, it's not a good enough car to drive in the winter up there, so I begin looking at small SUVs. Well, the PERFECT car shows up at a dealership in ID and I find out about it on accident. The only problem? WAY out of my price range. Well, Fate stepped in again, and the dealership, which BTW is the same one my parents have purchased 4 vehicles at in the last 2 years, personal and business, lowers the price by 25% just to make sure I could afford it, THEN they threw in GAP insurance on top of it.
So I now own a Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo. And my world is a spinnin'!
The only problem with the entire deal is I'm still supposed to be out on disability until they can get my headaches under control... This is a huge hurdle, and I'll admit, I'm scared to death that it won't work out. But here's to trying... please send good thoughts my way!!!
~LOA
Posted by Lee (Member # 393) on :
Twitterpated?
Posted by Siegfried (Member # 29) on :
It means she likes him in the schoolgirl "ohmygawd he's just so and I squeeeeeeeeee!!!!" kinda way.
Congratulations, good luck, and best wishes for your new life in Anchorage, LOA. I hope and pray that everything finally works out for you.
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
In my experience, a desperate need for flute players is unheard of, period.
Posted by Vice-Admiral Michael T. Colorge (Member # 144) on :
Good luck LOA up there... don't forget that moose are the squirrel of Alaska.
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
quote:Originally posted by TSN: In my experience, a desperate need for flute players is unheard of, period.
Mabye they're trying to get rid of rats...or children.
I'm happy things are working out for you- it sounds like a biiig step in the right direction, and who knows? If the migranes were caused by some unnoticed local stress, they might go away in a new localation. (unless they're the result of loud sound systems- then you're boned).
Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
"Thoughts" LOA! Woo! Posted by Kosh (Member # 167) on :
Hope it all works out Liz. Sounds like the perfect place for a Flutest.
Posted by David Sands (Member # 132) on :
LOA: congratulations, Liz. Best of luck in the great white north!
Posted by Mighty Blogger Snay (Member # 411) on :
quote:my new (used) Jeep
Wait. You bought a Jeep?
Posted by MinutiaeMan (Member # 444) on :
Uh-oh...
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 138) on :
Forget deer, take out moose instead. Might as well crush Jeff's manhood.
Posted by Siegfried (Member # 29) on :
That's what the 20 pound sledgehammer is for.
Posted by Toadkiller (Member # 425) on :
Talk about overkill.
Posted by Siegfried (Member # 29) on :
Why use a hammer and chisel to make a precision attack when you can get a stick of dynamite and cause widespread mayhem and destruction?
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
Thus, a new slogan for the US military is found.
Posted by B.J. (Member # 858) on :
quote:Originally posted by Toadkiller: Talk about overkill.
Rule #37 from The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Pirates: There is no �overkill�. There is only �open fire� and �I need to reload�.
B.J.
Posted by Siegfried (Member # 29) on :
quote:Originally posted by Jason Abbadon: Thus, a new slogan for the US military is found.
An Army of One... demented soul with access to the heavy artillery and lots of time on his hands.
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 138) on :
Meet new people, go to interesting new places. Then blow it up.
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
We are mean. While everyone loves to blow things up (who would'nt?) it's only the leadership that's demented.
Posted by LOA (Member # 49) on :
Jeff~ Yes... I bought a Jeep... not a deer killing model, though. It's a Grand Cherokee... yes, and EVIL SUV!!! Bwahahaha!
TSN~ Cheap shot about the flute players... that's just low
Jason~ The migraines don't seem to be stress related... as I said, I've been out of work since March, and since February I've actually taken EIGHT vacations, trying to "get away from it all". They don't seem to be helping me.... same headache, different scenery, you know? But that's okay... it'll get figured out eventually
Thanks for the congrats and well wishes all... It's gonna be quite the experience!!!
Posted by Balaam Xumucane (Member # 419) on :
Feel a migraine coming on-- go wash your hands in warm water for about a minute. Water has to be warm. Sometimes it works for me. Good luck up north. Make sure to send pictures (we can manipulate).
[ June 08, 2005, 06:58 AM: Message edited by: Balaam Xumucane ]
Posted by Grokca (Member # 722) on :
North to Alaska, she's going north, the rush is on..........
Good luck on the new life, watch out for the skeeters, I hear that they a 1m long and suck directly from your heart.
Posted by WizArtist II (Member # 1425) on :
Congratulations. I had a similar experience that ended up with me half a continent away. My fiance was going to move back to Joklahoma where I lived. She came out to visit me for my Birthday in November and on the day she left, I was fired from my job. I applied at every bank in the OKC Metro area and with 10 years of experience from operating Mainframe, to Credit department to Teller I only got ONE offer for a PART-TIME teller position. So I put my house up for sale, loaded up the truck and moved to Beverly... er well, a few hours north of there actually. I say when every door is closed, grab a blaster and shoot your way into the trash compactor!
Good Luck and may God bless.
Posted by Tora Ziyal (Member # 53) on :
Congrats Liz! I love synchronicities . More power to you that you recognize them.
Posted by Kosh (Member # 167) on :
quote:Originally posted by Lee: Twitterpated?
Twitterpated: To be twittered and pated at the same time.
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
. More power to you that you recognize them.