Travelin'

The trip to Phoenix was enjoyable. We travelled almost 2800 miles in five days, and that included a trip down to Tucson.

As we were pulling onto the highway outside of Payson, and encountering the lower desert, I caught glimpses of the saguaros, mesquites, and desert brush. Because of the rain, the desert was green and vibrant. Beautiful sight to eyes that have been missing the scenery.

The journey was uneventful on the road until the ride home when I accidentally had my very first large animal road-kill. An armidillo was eating something in the middle of the road and I was clocking over 65 miles per hour, no time to swerve or miss. There was a loud thunk, and it must have spun sideways because when I pulled off at the next available truck stop, there was no sign of dead animal on the car. I was pretty shaken up, but recovered enough to continue driving.

It was good to see friends and family. The boy party at photo boy's house was small, intimate and fun. We had pizzas and salad, and lots of hugging and conversation.

Our host s. g was exceptional. He provided what we needed, and continually asked if there was anything else we needed. We arrived Mon afternoon, and ended up staying an extra day. Tues. morning was my interview, and there was an ironing board and iron placed where I could iron my clothes. I also contacted my former Chef to see if we could set up some time to talk about my coming back to work for him.

I went to the interview. Lovely corporate standardized questioning, and a young exec sous chef. It wasn't quite what I was looking for, nor the pay I need to make, but that's alright, at least we were there, and I did what I came to do.

I had checked other jobs online to see who was hiring, read careerbuilder, and a couple other job postings. There were several other places to turn in applications/resumes. We went to copy the letter of recommendation and my resume so that I could hand them out.

The two places were Wrigley Mansion, and The Buttes in Tempe. Wrigley Mansion was a bit confusing, and I ended up having to call them while on the property, in order to find out where to go to hand them my resume.

The Buttes had applications and a box. So I filled that out, and dropped my resume and letter with it into the box. (ewww..boxes).

The Tucson trip was fun. Master got to see a bit more of it than what I showed her before. We ate at one of my favorite little cafes, and though the owner/barrista was very rude, and not seeming to want to converse, the very cute, and dyke-looking woman who prepared and brought our food out was friendly and interested in our concerns. The coffee was strong and good, and the food was yummy, stunning, and just like I remembered it.

I turned in several resumes at places, and we drove back to Phoenix.

It was so good to be in the desert again, around the Phoenix Mountain range, around cactus, and not so scary green. (I've discovered there are certain green foliage that I am afraid of). Both the Buttes and the Mansion are up on hills, providing sweeping views of the city.

It was humid, and rained a bit while we were there, but that's not such a bad thing, considering the drought the desert has been in for several years. I just took in everything I could while there, to put it in my minds eye while spending the last few weeks in Topeka.

It was refreshing to be around another slave who defers to Master's authority. It was beyond energizing to be around friends. It's given me the armor to last through the move, and the understanding that yes, we need to be home, soon!

Driving the last 50 miles into Topeka were brutal. I was tired, stinky, and wanted lots of sleep. I did not want to walk back into the chaos of my job. During the trip, my cell phone decided to not charge any more, so for two days I was without phone. When I finally checked my messages there were several from the Chef, and one from F&B. Somehow the conversation I had with the Chef translated into I'm not coming back. Very confusing. And then I was told that the sous chef was told that the Chef hadn't even heard from me. He was the one who called me! So I called F&B back and said, yes I would be in to work, and no I would not do that to him...just disappear. The whole incident was amazingly ridiculous, and much like the child's game you play called "telephone". One person whispers something in someone's ear, and it goes through the circle, and by the time the last person gets the message, its garbled, and not even the same message/saying.

After being in Phoenix, and a work environment (twice due to 2nd interview) that I was familiar with, and around people who I consider a bit sane, walking back into the current chaos of my job was a huge challenge. I wanted to leave 30 minutes after I got there, but I hung in there, and will work the next six days, and give them the best six days that I can.

I long to be home. Master is challenged with finding us a way to get there, and a place to live once we arrive. Our funds are limited, and without jobs, she is worried that we won't pass credit checks, or be able to rent something. I didn't get a second interview for the job we drove all the way out there for, however, good things are in the works.

Yesterday I recieved call-backs on both the resumes I turned in. The Mansion is looking for a Banquet Sous Chef, and the Buttes is looking for everything. Both are willing to talk to me after I get back to Phoenix. The mansion is supposed to email me some information, and my direction is towards them. Both environments could possibly pay more than PVCC (my old job). I want to talk to them both before I commit to going back to the CC. If I can get a better position and better pay, that would be worth it.

However, apparently without a job, or garunteed income, one can't rent an apartment. We spent this morning checking craigs list for sublets, and found several promising ones. Master has sent out emails, so it is a waiting game.

In the mean time we have started to pack up stuff, and organize so that we have somewhere to put all the boxes we fill. We really have no where to put empty boxes except for the living room. I feel bad for mamasita, but there's not much we can do until we get the truck, load it and move out.

It's all about challenges, and overcoming obstacles, and listening to your gut, and paying attention to the signs that the Universe gives us.

And in the middle of all of this, Master had arranged for us to go meet someone last night. We drove to Lawerence to meet this cute little redhead that is very cocky and full of attitude, and a potential.

At least Master and I travel well together, and we had no major incidents, problems or hassles while spending five days in a car together...!

back to the top

8.17.06

Going Home Soon!

I got a call today from a job application I put out over the weekend. It is for a high end resort in the Phoenix Valley. The result is I have a job interview Tues. morning with said resort. Master gave me the go ahead to arrange with them. We drive out Sunday afternoon, and will be coming back to Topeka by Wed. evening/early Thurs. Don't have to be back to work til Thurs afternoon.

I had given them my notice. I will get them through Labor day weekend, and then I am gone, history, outta there! We had intended to take a week to pack everything, and then head back to AZ with or without our stuff...depending on the permutations of trailers/trucks, etc. If I get this job, I will have to be back in Phoenix that first week in September to start working.

I don't know the position, or the pay, but they really want to talk to me. I really want this job. I have a gut feeling about it. And I'm ready. I am grateful that I have a Master who wants to see me progress in my chosen profession. Upward movement. I could go back to the Country Club I worked at before, but that's not forward progress, that's lateral motion, and job security...

Yippee! I'm excited. Master and I on the road for like a bizillion miles together. And I finally get to see mountains again, and smell the desert summer air. Oh, I've missed that smell...

back to the top

08.14.06

It's all about the moving...

We are working on getting home. The last week has been conversations about various scenarios that will land us either in the Phoenix Valley, or in Tucson. (don't be upset friends, Tucson is a beautiful place to be). I've put out feelers about some really good jobs, and hope to get responses.

Master is talking about doing one of the weekly rental places until we can get settled. I'm not about that at all. It scares me, and I don't want to live in a roach infested, previously-sweated-on by-some-other-person-bed. We can do better than that. I'm working on re-connecting with some of my old resources, but haven't had much luck. I need to find this one phone #, but the internet isn't so kind. I would have to pay money to gain access to the information...yeah, not gonna happen.

We need so much good energy sent our way right now. It's been cloudy and rainy for 2 1/2 days. Good for the farmers, bad for the Master who has S.A.A.D (don't know why they call it seasonal...anytime the sun goes away the depression kicks in!). I'm just worried about getting all of our stuff packed, and ready to move. But I don't have a decent "staging" area to set all the packed boxes. It seems overwhelming, once again, but we must pack and move better then we did the last two times.

We have weeded down boxes. Went through books and reduced that by about 1/3. Reduced the kitchen stuff and repacked those items. Getting the vhs tapes reduced slowly but surely, but we still have so much STUFF...too much stuff. There's the art room, and our bedroom, and all the extraneous items floating around in the office. YIKES!!!

I am confident it will get done, I am confident we will get home. It is just hard trying to convince Master that it will be ok, that the Universe will take care of us, that we will have enough $$ to live once we get home. (which is the big concern right now).

So to all of our friends out there, lots and lots of positive energy to get us home. Send us what you can, and what you can afford. We are so grateful that we have friends, and grateful for the kindness of all of you, and our family. I am open to any and all ways, suggestions and opinions on what else we can do to affect our journey out of Topeka, and back to Southern Arizona.

It doesn't help that the guys at work don't want me to leave. The new chef really likes me, and would be willing to give me a raise if I stayed. That is something. I received a great letter of recommendation from the F&B manager that I am sending off with resumes. It feels really good to be wanted and liked in my job environment. I do need to move forward however, and get to a higher end kitchen with equipment that works! At least this job taught me how to deal with adverse situations in a graceful and competent manner.

And the journey continues...

back to the top

08.05.06
12:30 p.m.

More busy

I'm now in the process of transferring LP's to the hard drive. Now that we have a new hard drive that works better, puter is working and humming, and I don't feel like I'll lose all the work due to electronic errors.

It is an involved process because 1) you have to record the LP in real time onto the hd, 2) you have to adjust for all the pops and crackles and noise inconsistancy. 3) you have to figure out the program you are using in order to do all of this!

I'm using Nero, and it doesn't have a very good help section. Just the basics thank you. It has sound trax which is supposed to find the silence between tracks and then make a cd for you. It's been three days and I'm still struggling. The goal is to teach Master how to use this process so that She can then spend time doing this. I have to understand the program in order to teach Her how it works! It's a pain in the ass, and time consuming. However, I am enjoying the end results of digital quality audio from all those old lps.

There's that other thing about having to ID3 tag the recordings. I haven't figured that out in Nero yet, so I'm using Audacity (a freeware program), so I then have to move the files into there and id them. YIKES!

And I'm not being a selfish boy. I'm doing Master's LP's first. She made a list of selections that She wants from certain LP's. I'm transferring those. I have a huge collection of Alan Parsons that I want to record, and loads of other music, but Master comes first. At least this way She can play the songs on puter while surfing or whatever, and enjoy the Digital quality sound I've produced for Her.

We still have scads of video tape to record to DVD. Files still to be organized, household stuff like kitchenware that has to be reduced down; books to go through and get rid of. We don't want to go back to Arizona weighted down with all the stuff we moved here with. The process has been intense. Master has had some issues, and hasn't been able to get things done, while I'm running around doing things. Sometimes She wants me to just sit with Her, but I'm antsy, there's all this stuff to do, plus the general household upkeep, and work I have to go to every day. So sitting still is hard for me. Someone has to keep the forward motion going.

And I know we'll get home, but sometimes it feels like an overwhelming task to get all our things organized, and ready to move. There's the factor of how we are going to get home, and when. I want to be there now! I'm searching jobs, and trying to find something before I get home, but in my business, if I'm not present and ready with the knife, then I don't get work. They want to see you and interview you, and decide if you are right for their kitchen.

Yeah, feeling overwhelmed, and wanting to just chuck all the stuff and drive back home so that we can at least just be in the desert and the dry and with our friends. 9 months here, and I still don't know anyone really except for people at work. I haven't kept up with some of the people I met at the meeting I went to. I feel bad about that but I haven't had a lot of spare time to make friendships with all the stuff we have to accomplish before moving.

I was so happy to have terra here, and she's been gone a couple weeks, and I feel sad. I enjoy our friendship and desire that physical presence with her and other people...photoboy, frank, Master's leather sister, and her girl, and Daddy Jacki. All of them.

It will be ok though. I have faith in the Universe that we will be home on or before the target date Master set. And before I know it, I'll be looking at mountains, and glorious cacti, and hearing the coyotes howl.

back to the top

back to: past musings