Have I hit the wall?  No.  But other posts I’d like to write would take thinking, and emotions, and you know…  Stuff.  I just don’t have that in me today.

But.  Today is the last Sunday night where I have to get up and go to work the next day.  That = awesome.  And as a small plus, the kids don’t have school Monday or Tuesday, which means that Poe is going to take them to our other babysitter - and I don’t have to do the morning routine!  Yay!

This is it.  The last week.  I’m having a going away lunch on Thursday - but Poe can’t make it.  He  was sick for a full week a couple of weeks ago, and so he can’t take the time off of work.  Sigh.  Oh well.

ALMOST DONE.

Almost.  We’re at the finish line.

I suppose it’s natural.

I keep marking time.

This is my last weekend in which I will have to wake up Monday and go to work.

I’m excited, elated, scared, tired, anxious.  Mostly I just want the transition overwith so I can get going on my “new” life.

Training my new replacement is going well.  She’s smart, so it’s not like I have to teach her how Outlook or Word works, which helps tremendously.  She also has temped at my company before, which means she’s familiar with some internal programs, also a huge help.  She’s religious, so I don’t have to feel like I have to keep anything down low.  We do, however, have a tendency to go off on tangents, so some of the training has gone slower than I wanted it to, however, I think I’ll get most of it done with her.  She’s very perky and excited, which I’ll beat out of her.  Kidding.  Sort of.  Basically, this is her first “real” job out of grad school, although as someone who’s been very involved in ministry, and traveling and such, it’s not like she’s green.  I’m going to make sure that she knows to email me if she needs some advice on internal politics.  She may be technically proficient - but let’s face it, this is the entertainment industry, and I don’t want it to chew her up and spit her out.  I’ve gotten chewed up plenty, and know how it feels.  My only concern is, she’s got some real doctrinal differences with our boss, which I’m hoping she’ll be able to compartmentalize.  One might say, “But this is work!  You separate work and religion!”  Well yes.  In theory.  In reality, though, if you’re religious, it is the compass by which you see your world, and react to your world.  So it really does make a difference sometimes.  For example…  If I worked with an ardent atheist…  That wouldn’t matter.  If I worked with an ardent atheist who constantly made fun of those “religious idiots” I’d have a hard time.  He’d be insulting me - even if he didn’t know about my philosophies, and that would indeed effect our relationship at some point.  So, my hope is that they’ll be able to agree to disagree - or at least, that my replacement will be able to overlook the differences.  Because, it will indeed be up to her.

All this week, I was doing the job, with her over my shoulder, as I explained what/why/how I was doing it.  Next week, I’m putting her in the driver’s seat, and I’ll be a back seat driver.  All of this is very nervewracking for me, and very much a lesson in letting go.  I’m a perfectionist, as well as anal retentive.  I basically told her up front - don’t change a thing until I’m gone.

You know - for someone who hates change, plunging myself into leaving a job I’ve had for almost 4 years, starting a business, and staying home and all that entails, is simply a prescription for anxiety.

Today is the last Friday and weekend in which I still need to go to work on Monday.  Next Friday is my last day.

It’s almost all over.

No more celebrity sightings.  No more diva requests.  No more international travel accomodations to arrange.  No more office politics to tiptoe through.  No more boss to keep happy through filtering and screening and representation.  No more beautiful courtyard office.

People…  I’m coming out of the closet as to where I work.  What are they going to do?  Fire me?  For almost 4 years I’ve worked in the music division of Warner Bros. Studios.  I’ve worked on almost all their releases in some capacity or another during that time.  I’ve read scripts.  I’ve seen the prereleases.  I’ve navigated the bureaucracy that goes along with all large companies.

I’m coming home to be with my children, and the rest of my family.

This is the right decision, but I’m losing some stuff to do it.  The beautiful sunlit office I painstakingly decorated and that nearly all guests commented on.  It was calm, and a beautiful place in which to spend my days.  I’m losing the status of being a real worker on a real studio lot, and reading reading real scripts, and having a real ID.  I’m losing the on lot Starbucks.  I’m losing those beautiful grounds I worked on.  I’m losing all the fun good stuff, along with the bad stuff that always is in any job.  I’m losing the actual thank you credit I have on most of our soundtrack albums.  I’m losing the status I have among the people who know me in my real life.  I was sort of the “made it” story amongst those that know me, and know what I went though over a decade ago.

I’m going through a bit of a grieving process, to let it go.  I’m going to be a work at home mom, with her own business.  There will be no ER celeb sightings.  There will be no recording sessions.  There will be no potential glamour.  For goodness sake, my boss goes to the Grammys as a matter of course!

And so as I go through the rest of this weekend into my last week…  I’m going to say goodbye in my head to the little things, and make the necessary transitions in my head to the different life I’m going to lead.

Do you think I can get through Thursday’s goodbye lunch without crying?

Just a quick post to keep up NaBloPoMo…  I don’t really have access to my computer at work any more, so I need to dash this off this morning.

Training is going decently.  My replacement is SMART!!  This is so so good.  It means that I don’t have to explain how Word works for goodness sake.  In addition, she has a masters of Divinity as well as a pastor’s wife - so we have good conversations.  The bad part of this is we keep getting waylaid by side conversations…  But I suppose that’s always the case with people getting to know each other.

It’s all very strange.  But I’m leaving and I’m trying to release it all to her with grace.

I basically am just trying to get it all done, you know?  I’m done with the job a week from tomorrow.  Wow.  It’s finally here.  And then I have to get geared up for Thanksgiving which is all me this year.

I had to cancel a gynecologist appointment today.  It was fascinating.  I called, and then they gave me the third degree as to the cancellation.  I proceeded to get a lecture on my health being most important.  Um.  I would have to take a half-day off work in order to do it, due to the location.  I already had to do some time due to the kids’ conferences (all good), and I’m leaving next week, and it would just be bad form.  But that’s none of their business, thank you.

To say I’m feeling overwhelmed would be an understatement.

Well, the presidential elections have come to a close (Thank God.)

My reaction?  I’m bitterly dissappointed.  I’m still waiting on two California Props, which are going my way as of this writing, but are too close not to wait to the bitter end for the final results.  But as for the presidency, I’m terribly, terribly dissappointed.  I did not want President-Elect Obama to be my president.  I did not vote for him.

I’ve always said that even if you don’t like the president as an individual, you still need to respect the office he holds.  This is the first year that it’s going to take me a few days to get over my bitterness and get to that point.  I will.  I think I just need to go through a small grieving process after all my hoping during the last year.

Beyond the presidency, I honestly fear for my country this time around.  It seems to me that in previous years, there’s been more of a balance of power…  That is missing now.  It is truly a liberal government now, and that, to be completely honest, scares me.  Why?  Because I don’t see a checks and balance.  That frightening to me.  Because the system, as we hold hold dear, will simply further an agenda, rather than hold it accountable.

Obviously, we’ll have to wait and see what the future holds.

Although, I have to say…  A part of me is glad that President-Elect Obama was elected…  That perhaps an African American president will further the eradication of raciscm in our country.  I just wish that it had been a candidate that I could back.

So, for now…  I must force it out.  Congratulations, President-Elect Obama.  Please…  Please.  Prove me wrong.

And to Senator McCain.  Thank you.  Thank you for your continued service to our country.  Regardless of any campaign shortcomings, you have proven your allegiance to this country, and then some.

So.  I voted.  Actually I voted weeks ago via absentee ballot.  I’ve had too many years where some kind of issue kept me from the polls…  you know fevers, pipes busting and the like, and so now, my husband and I vote absentee in order to make sure our voice is heard.  We weren’t undecided on any issue, so we were able to take advantage of that.  That also means, we’ve been sitting on the sidelines, “Let’s get ON with it already!”  And so.  Unless this turns into an election MONTH, we’ll know tonight or tomorrow morning who has won.  For me - although I voted on everything in my ballot, I only care about the Presidential election and two props, so I’ll be keeping my eyes on those.

I start training my assistant replacement at work today.  I had some computer issues in getting her setup, so that’s been stalled, which is frustrating considering we put her paperwork in a month ago.  And she’ll be late, ’cause her orientation decided to do some of it today too!  Without letting us know!

And then I have to leave her alone in the trenches, as I have not one, but two kids’ conferences today.  Which means I’ll be driving all over town.  But this is the first year that I haven’t been called to the school for something thus far - except once when they thought maybe one of the kids was sick - and so I’m really really curious how they’re doing.  I think they’re doing great.  I mean Joseph’s been bringing math grades home of C’s - A’s.  Which means he’s doing it.  And Logan’s stuff is already legible, which means he’s getting it.  So, I think these conferences are going to be just fine and dandy.

And of course, in the backdrop of this day, I’ll be trying to catch snatches of the polls.

What a day.

So.  This week is just going to be fabulous…  She said with sarcasm.

I don’t do well with change.  It’s very difficult.  Add to that - I’m premenstrual, and I have serious PMS symptoms (trust me, you want to give your sympathies to my husband.)  And the next two weeks is ALL ABOUT CHANGE.

I burst into tears on the way to work for no reason whatsoever.  Oh yeah.  This is gonna be good.

Today is my last day alone in the office.  The rest of the two weeks will be training my replacement.  Which isn’t anxiety inducing AT ALL.

My mother decided to get all passive aggressive on me about us not being here for Christmas.  My punishment?  Thanksgiving is ALL ME, baby.  All cooking, etc.  Mind you this is the same woman who can’t stand my turkey, potatoes, or yams.  Therefore, dinner should be really really pleasant.

I’m just this little ball of stress and anxiety right now.  I’m doing the right thing - but getting there is oh so hard for me.

As a total aside - the old people give the very best candy.

Thought I better get a post in before I go to bed…  Was a little busy today, and couldn’t until now.

So the business has launched.  Let me know if I can help you!

Tomorrow will be the start of my last two weeks at work.  I’m excited and apprehensive all at the same time.  It’s finally happening!  Now we just have to pull this off as a family.  But tomorrow is my last day alone in the office, and then the rest of the time, I’ll be training the replacement.  Which is odd.  I’ll survive.

I’m hoping that once I get going at home, I’ll be able to concentrate a little more on my duties for Blissfully Domestic and Blog Nosh.  I’ve had to put them a little to the side for the time being, but I should be able to get back into the swing of things.

Oh.  And my mother has informed me that Hey!  I’m doing Thanksgiving!  You know - ALL of it!  Guess it’s good I’ll have time to clean, huh?

See you tomorrow.

I’m very proud and elated to announce that Vineyard Virtual Services has launched, and is open for business!

Please take a look around the site, and be sure to let me know if I can help YOU.  Etsy owner getting mired?  Freelance writers and bloggers getting stuck?  Small business entrepreneurs spending way to much time on paperwork?  Then I’m your woman.

With 17 years of assisting under my belt - with the last decade at the executive level - I’m the qualified person to get you out of the muck, and back to working on your business growth.

Vineyard Virtual Services ~ Assisting you so you can flourish…

I am insane.

I’m going to be doing NaBloPoMo.

I’ve got a few things going on.

November 1st is the launch of my business.

November 4th is the election.

November 13th, WOTLK comes out.

November 14th is my last day at my day job.

November 21st is the kids’ last day at daycare.

November 27th is Thanksgiving.

Then there will of course be the aftermath of the election, the resulting chaos of figuring out how to be home, the aftermath of figuring out my business.  I figure there will be plenty of blog fodder to keep me going.

But this may just be a case of my truly being insane.