Thank God It's Friday!!

I am so excited that it's friday! I'm heading out to grab some drinks with friends, to celebrate my new job that I start on monday!! But here's some eye candy to make your weekend better!!

A Brand New Day....

Today was my last official day working at Jos.A.Bank Clothiers. I worked there for 7 years, and although sometimes I was disillusioned with my job, I was mostly happy. I loved my boss, Peter (LOVED him!), and through my job I met one of my closest friends, Suzanne - who I affectionately refer to as "Dumbass". (she calls me Dumbass also!) There were trips where everything went so well, that it was hard to come home. And there were locations I visited that I could have easily moved to. I loved Seattle (well, the scenery and the men - NOT the weather), loved San Diego and Los Angeles, loved San Francisco, loved Austin, TX (our store was a block away from the gay bars!! guess who was out at those bars every night??), loved the men of Atlanta, but that city is too landlocked!!, and loved Dallas, TX (but that's mostly because I got to work with Carrie Ann and Alison - 2 of the hottest lipstick lesbians you'll ever meet, and the sweetest and most talented gals!) I just realized that a lot of my "loves" are areas of California. I'll admit it - I want to live there. How could you not? The weather is constantly amazing - and most people are so nice. (doesn't hurt that I have a lot of friends there)

So yeah, it was a weird day. I knew it was my last day - but instead of being sad, I was just giggling to myself all day long. I couldn't erase the smile that PANDORA has seemed to etch on my face. So many people were surprised and sad that I was leaving the company, but I didn't feel sentimental or melancholy at all. Well, not until lunchtime. Right before lunch, they gave me cards that were sweet, and Suzanne gave me some nice gifts as well - but at lunch, they gave me something that made me realize how amazing my co-workers are - and that they'd become some great friends! In January, at a belated Xmas lunch, Suzanne made eveyone wear fake mustaches. Betty took the photos and arranged them so that they were all together, and they framed it for me. It was probably the sweetest thing they'd ever given me! The day before, Suzanne and I were listening to ABBA in the office, and the song "Knowing Me, Knowing You" was playing, and the words were strangley prophetic. I had to change the song, as the lyrics were so sad. Tonight when I was driving home, my boss called, and he called me "Dickhead" - explaining that since I was no longer his employee, he didn't have to be nice. When I responded, I called him "Fuckface", which he loved! We truly were a family!

So, while I'm feeling sentimental, I am also very excited for my future at PANDORA! I cannot wait to get started so that I can show them what I can do. And the added bonus of international travel excites me even more. My new boss, Dominic, is an amazing guy - and I can't wait to learn from his experience.

Here are the words to Abba's "Knowing Me, Knowing You":

No more carefree laughter
Silence ever after
Walking through an empty house, tears in my eyes
Here is where the story ends, this is goodbye

Knowing me, knowing you
There is nothing we can do
Knowing me, knowing you
We just have to face it, this time we're through
(This time we're through, this time we're through
This time we're through, we're really through)
Breaking up is never easy, I know but I have to go
(I have to go this time
I have to go, this time I know)
Knowing me, knowing you
It's the best I can do

Mem'ries (mem'ries), good days (good days), bad days (bad days)
They'll be (they'll be), with me (with me) always (always)
In these old familiar rooms children would play
Now there's only emptiness, nothing to say

Knowing me, knowing you
There is nothing we can do
Knowing me, knowing you
We just have to face it, this time we're through
(This time we're through, this time we're through
This time we're through, we're really through)
Breaking up is never easy, I know but I have to go
(I have to go this time
I have to go, this time I know)
Knowing me, knowing you
It's the best I can do

Yea, Though I Walk Through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I Will Fear No Evil...

As I write this, I am saddened, because my sister Anna's husband has passed away. He was an amazing man, but I can rest assured that he is finally at peace, and in pain no more! So, I leave the sunny shores of California tomorrow morning to return home and spend time with my family, where I belong. I want to hug my sister, and not let go. She's been amazingly strong in the past several years, and now she needs our love and strength. I love you Anna. Patrick's spirit will be with you and watching over you forever.

Walking in L.A.

I love LA! I LOVE it! There is nothing that can describe the feelings you feel when you're here. You wake up, and the weather's amazing. You walk outside at lunchtime, and the weather's amazing. You leave work to go back to the hotel, and the weather is AMAZING! It's crazy. I've talked to my friend Ken - who lives here now - and I realize why most people are in good moods all the time. There's no way you can't be. I feel somewhat guilty that my friends and family back east are stuck in 30 degree weather and there's still snow on the ground - and I am here enjoying amazing sunshine and temperatures in the 80s!!

The best day of the week so far has been Sunday - the day I arrived. I got to spend a better part of the day with my friends Ken and Ed. They just bought a house in the Silverlake neighborhood - and it's an amazing place! The best part has to be the view from the wall-to-wall windows in the back of the house! They also turned the lower level into a master suite - and it is gorgeous! Ken designed the bathrooms in both the master suite and upstairs, and they're breathtaking! I can't wait to see what they do with the rest of the house. They have a dog now - a cute miniature schnauzer named Myrna Loy. They're such a power couple now - I really am jealous. But every minute I spend with them is filled with laughter and joy - it's a great time.

I have 3 more intense days of work at these local stores. Thankfully, I am working with our local freelancers who are talented, as well as fun to be around. They're very talented, and I'll miss them. After this week, I only have 3 more days of work at Jos.A.Bank - and then I have a short vacation to Houston with Mom, to visit my sister Geri. Then I'll start my new job at Pandora. I can't wait! It felt nice to tell Carla and Linda today about my future - they were surprised and wished me well. Who knows? I might be in a position to offer them a job with Pandora one day!

Fly Me Away, on an Airplane....

My post title is based on a song by the singer Goldfrapp - it's called "Fly me away", and it's this beautiful song singing about someone traveling. It's sort of become my traveling mantra - I play it whenever the plane is taking off. It relaxes me - she has the most amazing voice.

So tomorrow morning at 8:20 am, I will be on a Southwest Airlines jet, heading towards Los Angeles!! I can't wait! Mostly I am excited because the weather in L.A. will be in the 70s during the day! Aaaaaahhhh! I am craving warmer weather - the SNOWpocalypse really kicked my ass. And I think I couldn't be leaving at a better time - because Baltimore is getting even MORE snow on monday night and tuesday morning! Aaaaagh! Tomorrow my plane lands in LA at the Bob Hope Airport in Burbank - if you've never flown into this airport, I suggest you do. It's excellent! When you taxi up to the terminal, there's no jet bridge that you walk on - you walk down stairs right onto the tarmac! It's very 1950's! And then you walk to the luggage terminals, and they're outside! I love it. It's also MUCH less crowded and crazy than LAX. I don't have to work tomorrow, so I am going to visit my friends Ken and Ed, and see their new home. It'll just be nice to spend some quality time with them - and we'll probably also have dinner together. My hotel is a very nice Courtyard by Marriott on Ventura Blvd in Sherman Oaks. It was remodeled, and it's very fancy now. Since this is my last trip for Jos.A.Bank, I wanted to stay in a nice hotel. It's my swan song, you know? I am fortunate also that I'll be able to work with some great people this week - and hopefully the training that I give them will leave a lasting impression. But, seriously, the best part of this trip will be seeing Ken and Ed, and also my friend Kista. And the amazing weather is a much needed change from the cold and snow.

Here are the lyrics to "Fly Me Away" by Goldfrapp
(it's almost like this song was written for this trip!)

Drifting out of time
Something on your mind
And I wanna be the
One that you call
When you get down
No matter where you
Are in the world I'll be around

Fly me away on an Aeroplane
High in the sky
Wanna see you again
Wanna know this time,
Gonna tell you what I'm feeling
Gonna know this time,
Gonna get it back that feeling

Miles and miles of sun
Endless roads
twist on
Don't wanna live a life
In a world that's all the same
The crazy little things
That you do are magical

This crazy life
This crazy world
We're living in is
Magical

Guess Who's NOT a Fan of Mother Nature Anymore??

I can honestly admit that I am SICK to death of this FUCKING SNOW!! SICK of it! Last weekend was exciting. It was the first major snowfall of the year, and it was fun while it was happening. We ended up with 28" of snow. I walked around taking photos - and the people who were also out were in good spirits. Everyone was saying hello, and smiling. Flash forward to Monday - the sidewalks weren't cleared, and the roads were horrible. That's when it started to set in that this went from nice to nightmare! I went to check on my car, and the parking area wasn't plowed, nor was the alley I had to drive through to get to my parking! So, because I need my car part of the time for work, I opted to use the MARC train to DC instead. It was an easy choice.

So, now it's tuesday, and I'm on the MARC coming home from DC, and the snow starts again! And it's not just a normal snowfall - it's white-out conditions! The walk home was an interesting one. It was snowing sideways, and I mostly had to walk looking down at my feet. It was crazy! It snowed all night, and as of right now (7pm on wednesday, Feb, 10th) it is still snowing!! They've said we're getting another 20". What The Fuck? So far, Baltimore has more snow than Buffalo, NY has had this year!! That is amazing. We've officially beaten all the records for snowfall. And I am tired of it.

I love snow. I love it. But this winter has tried my patience! No longer am I singing "Winter Wonderland" as I walk through the snow. I'll get over it. But not until next winter!

A Prayer for Deliverance

Hey again! I am going stir crazy!! I'm literally stuck. My car is buried in the snow, and since I don't have a shovel, nor has the leasing company cleared the snow around our cars - I guess I'll get the car out whenever I can! Jeez! I took today off, and I walked around Mt Vernon, trying to find someplace (anyplace!!) that had a shovel to sell me. No luck! Damn! I did manage to get the snow off of the top of my car, simply using my arms and pushing it off! There was an angry-looking lesbian neighbor watching me - and as I noticed her, she was laughing at me. (nice) She did say "Good Luck" and "Make sure you don't get any snow where I cleared my walkway, or I'll kill you". Charmed! Why is there always a stereotypical angry lesbian around when you don't want her to appear? lol

Yesterday. my friend Robert and I went to our friends Dan and Rob's place to watch the Super Bowl! I know, I know. Those of you who know me are probably wondering "Who are you and what have you done with our friend Matt?" Rest assured, it's still me. I went because I love Dan, and he asked. Not having any other plans helped as well. Robert is a great friend - he's always so cheerful and spontaneous - and for the most part can talk me into anything. So when I mentioned going to Dan and Rob's, he was begging to go along. Our walk to their place was a long one, but because my car is buried, it was necessary to walk. It actually was a nice walk, except for dodging the cars who were driving fast on the snow-covered and slippery roads. But we had fun, and I actually enjoyed the Super Bowl! I'll admit, I was bored in the first half, but the last 2 quarters were so exciting! And I was so happy that the Saints won - especially since it was their first trip to the Super Bowl and especially because their player Scott Fujita has said that he's PRO gay marriage! (I love him now! and he's fucking adorable!)

Prior to heading to the SuperBowl party, I shaved Roberts head for him - and even gave him a mohawk! He looks amazing. Maybe I should start a service in my apartment where I shaved heads? Hmmmm, it'd be hot if the guys I was shaving were hot guys too! lol

So, because my car is still buried, and because I still have to work, I am going to head to DC tomorrow on the MARC train to work at our Dupont Circle store. I love heading there - because it's a gorgeous store, the manager is a good friend, and the eye candy that passes make's the day worthwhile! LOVE those DC guys!!

SNOWpocalypse 2010, part 2

Here's some pics of my neighborhood that I took today....

SNOWpocalypse 2010!

Here are some pics I took during the snowstorm, on friday night....

Going Through The Motions....

Hey! So, it's friday! (YAY!) We're expecting a MAJOR snowstorm here starting tonight - it's supposed to snow non-stop for 36 hours!! (I hadn't realized that Maryland was now Colorado) They're predicting up to 24" of snow!! Can you believe it?! I am excited, but also a little worried. What if the power goes out? I don't have a fireplace, so that scenario is not a good one. I suppose I could stay hunkered under my down comforter - but I'd prefer to be in a warm place. Anyone have a fireplace?? lol The weatherman just said we'd be in "blizzard conditions". Sounds scarey! At some point over the weekend, I'm sure I'll venture outside to try to take some pics. Dan and I have already joked about a snowball fight - I haven't been in one of those since I was a kid!

Only 3 weeks until I start my new job! I am VERY excited! (a little nervous as well, but who isn't nervous when starting a new chapter in their life?) At some point, I have to start buying a LOT more black clothing. (We can wear anything we want, as long as it's black, grey, or white - I will mostly be wearing all black. I jokingly said to friends that I'll either look artsy, or people will mistake me for a hairdresser, or waiter! LOL) But, if you want to know more about Pandora, check them out at www.pandora-jewelry.com.

So, while I feel like I am going through the motions at my current job, they did make me happy - booking me on a trip to California!! I'm heading to LA, because they're having issues. So, I'll be teaching them how to merchandise their stores, and answering any questions they have regarding how to make our clothing work in the California environment. I'll also be spending time with my friends Ken and Ed, who've just bought their first home together. I can't wait! After these snowstorms we've had and will soon be getting, it will be so wonderful to be out in the beautiful California weather! I love L.A.!!

So, if you live on the east coast - be careful! Make sure you have enough food and water! And if you haven't been to the grocery store yet - beware!! They are all pretty much a clusterfuck right now! Everyone is in panic mode! LOL.

I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm??

What I need is someone like this to warm me right up!! lol

War with the Amalekites

I know it's winter, and it's supposed to be cold, but would someone PLEASE tell me why it's so FUCKING COLD in my apartment?? I have the freaking heat cranked to the max, and I am still wearing 2 sweaters, plus long underwear - and shivering under a blanket on the sofa!! Jeez Louise! It makes me so angry that I pay so much money for rent, and I have to deal with crap like this!! I suppose I need to complain to the management - but I have a feeling they won't be able to do much. I should move, but I fucking HATE moving! I don't know what to do...