Out with the old, in with the new
I'm a little late on this entry, as it is the middle of January 2013. I had meant to drop a few lines at the end of 2012 but like many other important things I've vowed to tackle in life, the thoughts found themselves in a holding pattern up in the grey matter. But hey! Now is as good a time as any, right?
The past year has been an amazing experience, all around. I thought 2011 was a banger of a year, but 2012 actually topped that and then some. We were faced with challenges and adversity, but we always overcame them and moved forward. That's what life is about.
I started of 2012 still living in my cozy Grandview Heights town home and continuing the daily grind with Chase Home Finance. Rochelle flew out to spend the New Year with me, and I took her out on the town. We were able to see the Columbus Zoo Lights on New Year's Eve, did some major shopping at Easton Town Center. At the end of her visit, I surprised her by flying back out to Virginia for a few more days.Upon returning, I decided it was time to do it...to make the big move. In latter 2011, I had flew between Columbus and Ashburn nearly every two to three weeks. As much as I loved the homey charm of Grandview and my beloved Ohio State Buckeyes, I made the decision to open the next chapter of
I took a job in downtown DC with JP Morgan's Commercial Term Lending group. It seemed like it would be a good fit. Over the next three months, I was sent to Philly and Texas for training. In May, I was sent to New York for four days and took Rochelle with me. We stayed at the historic Roosevelt Hotel, toured Central Park in a horse-drawn carriage and visited the Ground Zero memorial. It was a wonderful "business" trip and I was blessed to have my best friend and love of my life along for the ride.
In the long run, the position with Chase didn't pan out. It wasn't right for me and I ended up resigning. Although at first, I was a little worried about the decision, in time it turned out to be for the best. I didn't like sales. I didn't like the high stress, push for profit environment. I hated babysitting the whiny commissioned sales guys and trying to cater to their lazy clients. I didn't enjoy riding a commuter bus in and out of the District every day. My commute alone stole two and a half hours of every day. I left the position in early July and really never looked back.
Christopher was out over the summer, and despite the budgetary issues that resulted from leaving Chase, we still had a great summer. We were able to take several trips into the nation's capital to see museums and the sights. We all participated in the CCFA's Take Steps walk along the Tidal Basin, and I took Chris to the National Air and Space Museum in Chantilly as well. After his visit out, though, it was quite apparent that we would, in the future, need a bigger place. Our two bedroom apartment was a bit crowded for the kids.
I was out of work for roughly two months, which wasn't too bad considering the economic conditions and job market. I landed a temporary position at CapRelo, a subsidiary of JK Moving. The position drew upon my background in mortgage and administration. I enjoyed working there, but to be honest, temp work has some very large drawbacks. Plus, being without insurance for both Christopher and myself was a huge issue.
In September, Rochelle and I flew down to Florida to spend a week experiencing surf, sun and of course, Pearl Jam. The band was playing at the DeLuna Festival in Pensacola and I felt it was a good time to visit my siblings on the gulf coast as well. We had a wonderful week, with tons of live music, drinks, family, miniature golf, sunbathing, you name it. There is nothing as awesome as listening to your favorite band while your feet are nestled warmly in white sand.
For Thanksgiving, we made a road trip up to spend a few days with Rochelle's extended family in Connecticut. I met sisters and nephews and nieces, had a ton of turkey and stuffing, and then got to fully experience the Febbrario Family Poker Tourny... in which I lost all of my money quickly and efficiently. It was very wonderful to have a "real" big family Thanksgiving. I had not experienced that in several years.
In December, we kept extremely busy. Rochelle and I spent one Saturday touring the Newseum in DC and visiting the National Christmas Tree. The next weekend, we took Hannah to a wonderful Christmas Sing-Along at the Kennedy Center. Rochelle's mother, Lynn Pocquette, arranged a great Winter Solstice dinner at the always delicious Clyde's Restaurant. We celebrated Christmas Day with the kids.
We were set to spend a quiet New Years Eve at home with the kids, but our lives were quickly turned upside down. Rochelle's ex-husband severely injured himself in a motorcycle accident that evening, and his girlfriend, who was visiting him from Westerville OH of all places, brought him back to our apartment, not knowing what to do. He was in bad shape but didn't want to go to the hospital. Rochelle took them to the hospital so he could be admitted, and left the girlfriend to handle things. The next day, we found out the news was bad. He had broken his clavicle, several ribs, had a punctured lung and a fractured hip. To make matters worse, he had no insurance, as he had been dropped at the end of the divorce. Rochelle was left trying to take care of things for him, contacting his mother and taking both kids full time, as well as a 100lb lab. In a little less than a week, we had to move from our 2 bedroom into a much larger and more expensive 3 bedroom, also on the third floor. Thankfully, the community management worked with us and we had a posse of great friends help get us in the new place. We are now in the third week at the new apartment and really just settling in. The hard part is over and it looks like the ex will soon be coming back home. Things are slowly returning to normalcy.
While all of this was going on, I landed an excellent (and permenant) position with CFC, a co-op that finances rural electric cooperatives across the country. This is a dream job with a company that I've been trying to get on with for nearly seven months. I feel very humbled and blessed that I have the opportunity.
We look forward to 2013 with much anticipation. There will be tours and trips, vacations, experiences...and we will likely see old friends and make some new ones along the way. Life always has a plan, although it may take you forty years or so to decode it.
Love, peace and happiness
Andrew
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