What a week...

Luke and I are sitting in our new living room watching Doctor Who (the 1960s black and white version).  Under some prodding (you know who you are) I've decided to start a blog.  I must admit, like all the events of this week, I'm slightly excited and nervous about it...

I've been thinking a lot about home this week.  We've just made the move from Montgomery to Birmingham (Hoover to be exact).  Like any move it was difficult.  The apartment it starting to feel like ours now that we have our photos on the walls and our furniture in place (check out luke's blog for pics).  If only we could eradicate the old, stale apartment smell we'd be in business.  I think the cat has made the made the transition the best of all of us.  He is as fat and lazy as always.  I think the only motivation he has it to lay on every piece of carpet in the apartment.

I will be starting in my new studio, Patton Creek, tomorrow.  Speaking of nervous...  I've been 'hand-picked' to run the number two studio in the entire country (only narrowly topped by a studio in the mid-west).  I know that I possess all the qualities of a good manager, but that being said... I'm very much 'on the radar' now.  Even the smallest mistake will not go unnoticed.  I will be going from around 12 to 35 appointments a day to 30 to 65 appointments a day (needless to say, a big difference).  In case you didn't already know I did start at Patton Creek a couple of years ago.  I was used to that kind of business at one point, but I've never been in charge of it.  When I first became a manager it was a new studio.  New associates, new problems, etc.  But now I'm walking into a staff that I didn't pick, problems that I couldn't have anticipated.  I'm sure I'll be fine but I can't seem to quell the nerves.  And for any of you that love Christmas and all its carols and traditions... step in my shoes for a week at Christmas.  It is twelve weeks (starting the last week of October) of pure, unadulterated jolly hell.  I know the evidence leads to the contrary but I really do love my job, no sarcasm intended.  I enjoy it, I'm good at it and I'm well compensated for it, but my God Christmas is a trying time.  I guess I'll deal with that mess when I meet it.  And I'm sure you, dear readers, will hear all about it. Until then I will just plow ahead with a little luck and a lot of prayers.

So I can only hope that Hoover will become home (in some respects).  I'll never be able to replace Montgomery, in the same way that Montevallo can never be replaced.  I owe part of who I am to Montgomery and the people I grew close to there.  It will always be home.  But while we are here, yet again, our lives are going to change.  I must remind myself of the advice we were given (after only one margarita)... (to paraphrase)... As long as we have each other we will be happy.