Congrats!!!

To my sister on the birth of her 4th child - yes I said 4th. ;-)

Nathaniel or Nathanael (they haven't decided how they want to spell it yet) was born at 12:34 this morning. Finally another Gemini in the family!

Well shame on me for assuming that since this was an interview for in inter-company position change it would be more like a conversation than an actual interview. Ugh - they asked real interview questions like "Give an example when you anticipated a client's needs, what steps you took, and the results" and "Give an example where you were forced to take on a new responsibility, how you handled it, and what the results were."

So of course I think I completely blew it, but talking to one of my best friends who works in the KC office who works for one of the supervisors that was on the interview call, SHE says that both supervisors were 'very impressed' and that the only snag might be the relocation part. Which, in true Danni fashion, I didn't even think about - even though it specifically said that they WOULD relocate for this position, they probably still put people like me at the bottom of the list of candidates because it's cheaper for the company to hire people already in the KC area.

:(

But at least I won't have long to wait - they're supposed to make final decisions by the end of the month, which is only 10 days away...

Okay, never mind - I have an interview on Monday!!! Fingers crossed!!!

One More Thing

Oh yeah, forgot to mention that I won 4 tickets to the NASCAR All-Star challenge this weekend in Charlotte, NC and am so pathetic I couldn't find anyone to go with me. Granted, the fact that I got less than two weeks notice for something that most likely would have to be a weekend-long type trip due to the fact it's over 6 hours away helps raise the self-esteem back a little - and the fact that I only know 5 people who are NASCAR fans besides me. But still - makes me wonder how my lifelong wish for hermit-dom came true without me noticing?

Hope fades

I just wanted to sincerely thank those who have wished me encouragement over the past few weeks, you have no idea how much it means to me!

Quick question: is it standard in a large company that when applying internally for other positions your current manager can HOLD you back from moving to said different position by deliberately not doing the managerial administrative-type things that are necessary in order for your resume to reach the hiring manager of the potential position? Because someone I work with intimated that today, and now the fact that I still haven't heard anything from the hiring manager is making me paranoid and depressed. However, my current manager has not said anything to me so I'm confused... If it IS the case, I have vowed to take this to my VP, because it just does not seem fair at all to me. What do you think?

It's not like I'm a foregone conclusion to get this potential job in KC, but for cryin' out loud - I think I deserve a chance to at least have an interview, you know???

Oh holy crap.

Not only did they NOT say no, but the hiring manager said she was "happy and excited" that I was interested in moving to her team and she told me to submit my resume as quickly as possible so she could set up an interview! Could be as early as Friday (and the resume went in today).

The company will pay to relocate me, too.

So now we come to the question JB so poignantly asked: "Do you think you'd be able to go through with it if it comes through?"

First and foremost, being halfway across the country from my family is so scary to me it's almost debilitating. Having never been more than half an hour from my parents, the thought of being half a COUNTRY away is almost unthinkable. Strangely enough, I'm almost hoping I WILL get this position so it will force me to grow up and do it, though. And I do have other family a stone's throw from the campus out there. But to be away from my sister's and brother's kids breaks my heart at the thought of what I will miss of their growing up. Makes me realize how much I've taken for granted already. And don't even get me started on being so far away from my little bro -I'm already crying thinking about it.

But on a more upbeat note, when I think of the house I could have once I sell my condo here - oh my gosh you would not believe how much cheaper things are out there. Just doing a surface scan of availability in the area tells me I could get 1000 square feet 2BR/2BA condo on the 12th floor of a high-rise in the heart of KC, MO (also included in the building: a full gym, swimming pool, concierge service, plus you get 2 parking spaces in the underground garage) for a price that in Northern Virginia MIGHT get you a 400 square foot studio apartment in the heart of the ghetto...if you're LUCKY. To keep in the back of my mind: moving back to the east coast at some point down the road will be VERY difficult if not downright impossible financially, unless I find another company willing to relocate me again.

Then you need to factor in the angle that transferring to the company headquarters is the smarter career move, if I want to stay with the company. People in Reston are dropping like flies and I have a bad feeling about hanging out here much longer.

So what does this tell us? The pros are slightly outweighing the cons. But there are still a LOT of logistics to clarify; it may end up looking great on paper but not be feasible at this point in time.

Stay tuned...

So today was the day I found courage to ask to transfer to Kansas City. I'm sure it's an extremely long shot and they'll say no, but at least I'll know I asked and won't look back with regret on a potentially lost opportunity.

Meanwhile, I wish that I hadn't gotten the Kansas City thing in my head, because you know how I get when I get an idea in my head - has to be done NOW and there are NO other options other than that. Not completely true in this case as for once, I'm trying with every ounce of willpower I possess to be patient and try to really slow down and not mentally put all my eggs in the KC basket.

But I can't help think that although it would be the hardest, scariest thing I could possibly do in my life that I really want a clean slate and the opportunity to just start all over.