Departing CubeVille on the Evening Train
Posted by Moose on May 29th, 2008. Filed under: Adventures.“If it weren’t for this budget crisis, we’d love to find somewhere permanent to stuff you and keep you.” She paused. “Not to make you sound like taxidermy.” Yes, tomorrow is my last day here in CubeVille and though I did mock the water club a wee bit, I’ve enjoyed my time here and am sorry to leave.
I’ve pawed through all sorts of musty relics - of the document variety, rather than the shot, stuffed, and mounted on the wall variety – and I’m such a history geek that I loved every minute of it. I got to poke through the first California Senate rulings, charging gold miners with corruption and claim jumping, all handwritten by the original California senators. I learned that the first woman lawyer in California hailed from my hometown of San Jose. Clara Foltz was a housewife who, after raising her five children, became the first woman ever admitted to the bar in California. She was often heckled in court: “She is a woman, she cannot be expected to reason. God Almighty decreed her limitations.” But she persevered and is credited with writing the law that gave women the right to vote in 1911 – nearly 30 years after the governor allowed her to begin practicing.
Sure, there was a lot more wrangling of text boxes (don’t ever do that, if you can avoid it) than accruing of fascinating geek tidbits, but this was a good job for me. I especially liked that paycheck thing they regularly handed me. I walked through sunny Hayes Valley toward City Hall every morning, went to the Civic Center farmer’s market on Wednesdays, went to the Asian Art Museum the first Tuesday of the month, and drank all the tap water I could hold. People are friendly here – unusually so. Or maybe that’s just because I’ve been careful to smile at everyone. I don’t want to get all Pollyanna on your ass, but if I’m having a bad day, smiling at someone and having them smile back is just as good as a fudge brownie. (All right, ALMOST as good. I’m not that far gone.)
Lots of things have come to an end in the last few months, but I’m hoping this is the last ending for awhile. I’m ready for some beginnings. And maybe a taxidermied water buffalo head for my new walls.
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May 29th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
YAY, time for us to PARTY! Oh, and maybe work a little now and again. But mostly PARTY.
May 29th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
New beginnings RULE. I just can’t wait to see you in July. It will be a new beginning of something or other. That is all.
(Wait, I WILL see you in July. Right?)
(I’m not drinking, although this comment sure seems like it.)
May 29th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
I have a feeling that you are going to take this clean slate and be even more amazing than you already are.
I’m getting pretty giddy about July. Squee!
May 29th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
Here’s to FABULOUS new beginnings!
May 30th, 2008 at 6:06 am
I hear ya, sister. I just moved back to Columbia SC for a job, which turned out to be with an abusive bitch, so I quit on Tuesday with nothing else lined up. So, I’m contemplating clean slates myself.
Who knows what unbelievably wonderful Next Things await us?!
May 30th, 2008 at 7:39 am
I love how your ENTIRE LIFE has totally changed in the span of, like, five minutes — and here you are cracking some jokes and flashing a smile. I think you deserve that water buffalo head.
May 30th, 2008 at 8:11 am
Just try not to stare too long at the closed doors so you’ll be able to see the ones that open up and welcome you in. In the meantime, I join the rest of the internets in sending you my best.
May 30th, 2008 at 8:45 am
Get all Pollyanna on our asses all you want. It’s why I keep tuning in regularly to your blog.
I hope that you are as optimistic as your faithful readers are, about your near future.
I agree with Angella: these current bumps are not only temporary, but also necessary, perhaps, in order for you to fulfill your inevitable destiny of becoming more amazing with each passing month!
May 30th, 2008 at 10:18 am
I’ll be thinking of you from here in Cube-land, where the good water will cost ya.
We’ve been having budget cuts too. I’m been all tingled with nervousness that I will be the next to go. Day dreaming of finding a new job. Working at the Zoo or going back to school. It appears I’ve been spared for this round of cuts. But I wonder if being here in my cube is preventing me from doing something awesome. Perhaps there are better things outside of my 5×5 box?
The part of me that isn’t an enormous chicken is envying your opportunity to start something new and better.
May 30th, 2008 at 10:45 am
Here’s to leaving cube-land! *I will second that in the fall when I go to grad school* Anyway – all the better for you – I’m sure you will find something great around the corner (and it may even be in a cube, so you won’t miss it too long, I’m sure).
May 30th, 2008 at 11:04 am
What a lovely way to say goodbye to time well spent. (How cool to dig around all those archives!)
To new beginnings!
May 30th, 2008 at 11:52 am
Today is the first day of the rest of your life! Hey! I just made that up. Okay, not really, but good luck to you as you depart Cubeville.
May 30th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Here’s to all of your fantasies (geeky and otherwise) being fulfilled soon.
May 30th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
I can’t stop thinking about a stuffed water-buffalo head. Maybe you could get one and put it on the sloped wall in your living room so when you’re laying on the couch, it could be looking down at you..thoughtfully.
June 1st, 2008 at 5:59 pm
sad to hear about the good-byes, but it’s great to hear you enjoyed this job. that means there are only good things in your future–possibly including actual fudge brownies!
June 1st, 2008 at 6:54 pm
Would you like to come visit me in Office Land?? There are doors and giant windows and no one can just bust in on you while you’re watching Netflix and/or napping.
In all seriousness if I were drinking right now – and I totally wish I were – I would toast to you and new beginnings and all that good stuff.
I also am kind of jealous that you get to spend more time with the Ladies Who Freelance.
June 2nd, 2008 at 3:43 pm
You deserve bright and beautiful beginnings. And I think there’s a slew of them in store for you.
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:52 am
If we were sitting together right now – I would buy us to large and very fudgy brownies and we would toast to new beginnings. Yours will be fabulous and I can’t wait to read about them.
PS – until the new beginnings start, enjoy the time off!
June 7th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
Yes, here’s to new workly beginnings! Thinking of you friend.
June 8th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Best of luck! I second Diane’s fudgy brownie toast.