Good good good things to come!

First of all, today was my first day of working by myself and alone at the bank, rather than training with a fellow teller.  I actually really enjoyed myself and I'm quite pleased with how much I've learned in three weeks.  It makes the day fly by, which is nice.

Second, I have *seriously* discovered a brilliant business that would be super successful in Austin and make me a very happy girl/entrepeneur at the same time.  I don't want to give away too many details until I'm able to put together a business plan and see if I can get some small business loans to get it started, but I will reveal that it has to do with baking.  Which is my favorite thing in the world to do.  So life would be awesome if I did it for a living.

Third, I have officially reached the point of being 100% ready and willing to start dating again.  Feelings for Ass Hat just aren't really there anymore.  And dealing with him is more of a hassle these days than anything.  I still deal with him because he has said he'd like to be friends, and he is helping me out with my car.  But I'm not interested in anymore than that.  And it's nice to be at this point.  Especially because I know of a couple of guys that I'm interested in potentially "getting to know better".  But I'm not diving into any relationships in the near future.  I'm going to make sure it's right before anything happens.

Please be nice to your bank tellers

The job has a tad more to it than you realize.  Yes, my new job is working as a bank teller.  (Don't even get me started on not being able to find a better job than this...useless college degree.)  I've always taken the bank tellers I intereacted with for granted.  Deposit my check.  Give me some cash.  Whatevs.

Wrong.  There's a heck of a lot more to it.  Knowing all sorts of information and rules and regulations.  Knowing when to get a second form of ID or knowing when you will or won't be able to cash a check.  Not to mention handling tens of thousands of dollars at a time.  It can be a little overwhelming.

So, friends, please be kind to your tellers if there is a line at the bank.  Please understand if the computer tells them to place a hold on your very large check.  It's not their decision.  And please thank them for their help.

Haven't felt this way in a long time

For the first time in months, I feel hopeful about the future.  Not only do I not dread it, I am eagerly anticipating what it brings.  Things have been going well for me lately and I have to keep believing that they will continue to get better.

As cheesy as it sounds, I came up with a perfect analogy for where my life is right now.  I am standing on one side of a river and I can clearly see my future and the life I want on the other side.  I've spent the last year wandering down the shore hoping to find a bridge that would take me to the other side.  But now I'm going to stop looking for a way across and put in the effort to build my own way across.  I'm going to do whatever it takes to get to the other side and the life that I want.

I'm going to not only kick ass at my new job to ensure raises and promotions, I'm going to continue seeking other opportunities that might lead to something better.  I'm going to drag myself out of debt this year and start setting myself up for financial success.  I'm going to pursue hobbies and interests that I've been hesitant to start or dive into.  I'm going to break the old habits that have kept me overweight and unable to live my fullest possible life.  I'm going to let go of the past and the remaining feelings from my relationship with Asshat and allow myself to not only be involved with other guys, but trust them to not rip my heart into millions of pieces.

My short term goals right now are:
*Walk to work all four days this week.  I skipped all of last week because of the weather, but temps are good this week.  The 35 minute walk does wonders for my energy the rest of the day.
*Finish all of my online training for work this week so I can hurry up and officially start working for real.
*Do all of the necessary paperwork and phone calls to manage my student loans by next Saturday.
*Research photography and cooking class options this week during the evenings.
*Go on a real life, honest to goodness date with a guy in the next four weeks before Valentine's Day.
*Buy a book this weekend and allow myself to jump into it and read until 5:00 am if I want to.

Time to start building my bridge...

Victory is mine

I have a job.  A real one.  And they are paying me and I get benefits and everything.  Today was my second day.  I have a job.

Also, weighed myself at the gym today for the first time in about four or five months and I have magically lost 12 pounds without really trying. 

I am rockin'.