Here Comes the Sun

The last few months have been tough. And everyone who knows me knows that it's really difficult for me to share stuff that makes me sad.

It's been hard to watch my family continue to recover from super storm Sandy. Sometimes it feels like our whole world has turned upside down. It's impossible to explain how violated it feels to have a natural disaster ruin your home (and essentially your life). Watching my parents struggle with the recovery of their home breaks my heart. They're still picking up the pieces and trying to put their lives back together. My amazing mom has been finding help from nonprofits, applying for grants, and taking the lead in getting the family back to normal. I know they will make it to the other side and there's FINALLY a light at the end of the tunnel.

On top of that, my job at Roundabout basically turned into a nightmare. It went from a work environment that was fun and relaxed to a company in financial distress having layoffs with all of the senior staff on edge. My department itself is full of bullies. The head of our department yells and screams at everyone like a tyrant. One of my coworkers gives me the silent treatment (she hasn't spoken to me in weeks) and I don't know what I ever did to upset the apple cart. My boss's head might explode if it gets any bigger. And a smelly intern (literally, unfortunately) was hired and sits inches away from me. It's not a pleasant work environment in any sense (or scents for that matter). I was coming home from work day after day drained, upset, and defeated. After months of this, and after a long and tedious job search, I am happy to report that I'll be leaving Roundabout for a position at Lincoln Center. The opportunity to work there basically fell into my lap after an informational interview with the director of their Individual Giving department set up through a good friend who worked for her and loved having her as his boss. Since I was ready to make a positive career change and because my potential new boss came highly recommended, I took a job as the Individual Giving Manager there. I couldn't be more excited to start my new job early next year. This position is my dream job - a nice team of people doing the type of work I love at the exact location I wanted.

When Harold's girlfriend, Kristina, moved in with us for good, I knew it would be hard. Between their fighting, her fussy dog, and trying (somewhat successfully) to share a kitchen, it has been a challenge. Alex has been optimistic and has let most of it roll off his back which definitely helps the situation. But we won't have to deal with the loudness at night or messiness for much longer - Alex is closing on an apartment on the Upper West Side very soon! I'm ecstatic about moving into a home with just the two of us! Not to mention, my new commute will be 8 CITY BLOCKS!

I feel like all of the pieces of my life are falling into place again. After a long stretch of time feeling like a dark black rain cloud was hanging over my head, I can see the sunshine again. And it feels good.