Finally working

Well it's been a while since my last update and I thought it'd be time for an update. So the last time I wrote, I still hadn't started my job, and I didnt have cable or internet in my apartment. Like I said I was supposed to start work on that Monday, however, we had a cold front down here and it snowed on that Sunday. It was the 2nd worst snowfall theyd had here in Atlanta for awhile, a whopping 4 inches. It was too cold and there was ice on the ground still, so I didnt work Monday. I started on Tuesday and worked Tuesday through Friday, 7 until 530 with a half hour for lunch. Four 10 hour days of solid work after not really doing much physical activity really wore me down. The jobsite I'm at is the Atlanta Botanical Gardens and they added on a whole new addition with a parking garage, visitor center, fountains, and irrigation and landscaping around those new structures. I've been doing a lot of the irrigation, digging trenches, laying pipes and wires, and covering them back up. I have also done some cement work and masonry work. After being there only two weeks, I already love it, and I love the weather but not the ridiculous farmers tan that comes with it. Last Friday at lunchtime I sat on a bucket to have my lunch and apparently there was something in there that ripped my jeans because when I stood up after I was finished, I felt a cool breeze that wasnt there earlier. I duct taped them up for the rest of the day. I had an opportunity to get some overtime last weekend working in Columbus GA, which is 2 hours away. I got up on Saturday at 4, got ready, got in my car, but decided I was too tired to drive 2 hours and didn't want to risk falling asleep at the wheel. I talked to my supervisor and he understood so no harm was done. And since I had ripped my jeans the day before I thought it'd be a perfect time to go exploring and shopping for some new ones. Later Saturday evening I went to dinner with my friend Megan who goes to Georgia Tech and some of her friends. After dinner we went and saw the movie Watchmen which was really good. Other than that, my weekend was pretty relaxing.
This week of work was good, I did more of the same that I mentioned above and the weather was perfect, getting into the mid 80s on Tuesday. The forecast called for rain yesterday, so we worked later each day and so when yesterday came, I only had to work 3 hours to get my 40 hours in for the week. It was nice to get off early. Yesterday was also payday, so that made it even better. I started off the weekend by coming home and taking a nap, and then I went and got a massage. It was desperately needed. After my massage I watched the second half of the Illinois Michigan game where Illinois obviously won. I'm watching them play Purdue right now and its not looking good. Today has been pretty relaxing, watching basketball and cleaning my apartment. My parents are coming next weekend with the rest of my stuff, so I need to get it cleaned. haha.
The cable and internet guy finally got here last Thursday, May 5th so I now have something to do when I get home from work. I've been meaning to update for a while, I've just been too tired when I get home from work. I still need to get some pictures but my digital camera was not packed with the stuff I brought so hopefully it'll be coming next weekend. Other than that, not much has been going on. I've just been kind of hanging out, relaxing after work. Once my parents come with my stuff I'll be doing more on the weekends like fishing and biking and golfing.
Thanks to all of you who have called/emailed/sent me mail and packages, it's greatly appreciated. Im going to watch the rest of the Illinois game and then make some dinner. More to come this coming week.

Quick Update

So it's Friday February 27th and I still havent started my job. I have been patiently waiting all week to watch a safety video before I could start working. Unfortunately the company was waiting for the video to come through the mail and finally after 3 days, they finally received it today and I was able to watch it and am now going to start working on Monday. When I went in to the main office I received a sweet ValleyCrest baseball cap, ValleyCrest hard hat, teeshirts, 2 pairs of glasses, ear protection, and a bright yellow safety vest. I look pretty cool all decked out.

Anyways, I've been waiting for my cable and internet to be connected in my apartment, but the service rep I had the number for called me today saying that Comcast no longer wants him working for them....sketchy. Anyways, I'm sitting at the Dunwoody Public Library using the internet to check emails, make updates, etc. etc. Hopefully I'll get internet soon, and once I do I'll be sure to update everyone with news and pictures. Thats all for now, my time on the computer is running short. I'll talk to you all later.

I'm Here

So I'm in Atlanta now, embarking on a new journey of my life. I am currently sitting in a Starbuck's because I cannot get wifi anywhere else. Anyways, the past few days have been filled with a lot of fun, excitement, and definitely new experiences. I started on my trip down here on Tuesday evening. Tuesday was a really hard day for me. Not only did I have to worry about all the stuff I had to finish packing, but I had to say goodbye(for now) to my family. I went in town Tuesday afternoon to say goodbye to my grandma Jackson, and she supplied me with a whole pan of delicious turtle brownies, half of which I ate on my way down here. It was hard saying goodbye to her because during my time at home in the Quad Cities, I was over at her house constantly, doing miscellaneous tasks for her. We would also go to lunch every once in a while and she always treated. She was sad to see me go as I was to leave her. I miss her greatly. My grandma and grandpa Bush left for Oregon I think on Thursday, so when I said goodbye to them, the reality hadnt really hit me that I was going this far away. I have worked along side my grandpa for the past several years, so I kinda got choked up when I said goodbye to him after I spent one last day working with him. I'm also going to miss my grandma's home cooked meals at lunch, I got really spoiled these past years. They were sad to see me go but were very supportive of me, so that helped.
I went back home and had to say goodbye to my parents. I knew my mom would get choked up and was going to be able to deal with that, but I never expected my dad to, so I obviously got choked up as well. We said our goodbyes and I pulled out the driveway and headed to Champaign. As I started down the road, the song that was playing in my car was Details in Fabric by Jason Mraz. Seeing how I was crying while driving, it really soothed me. The opening lyrics are Calm down, deep breaths, and then it goes on to say Hold your own, Know your name, Go your own way. I realize it's a song more for after you break up with someone, but I felt it was still very fitting. So I drove to Champaign and arrived at around 630. I went to the house to hang out with all the guys which was very bitter sweet. I hung out with them for a while, we huked and euched for a long time, then visited some other friends of mine, and instead of going out for one of the guys 21st, I had to be responsible and call it an early night. I woke up early Wednesday and took off for Atlanta. Luckily a lot of the guys were sleeping when I said goodbye to them so I dont know if they knew what was going on, but it made it easier on me because I know I woulda been a mess if we had a long goodbye. Nonetheless, it was still hard to think that this was really the last time I'll see them for a good 2 months. I know thats really no time at all, but still its hard. I said goodbye to my other friends as well which was also hard, but hopefully theyll come visit me on their way down for Spring Break.
The drive from Champaign to Atlanta wasnt all that bad. I had to stop along the Illinois/Kentucky border to take a little power nap, but other than that it was pretty much straight through. Illinois and Kentucky were boring but once I got to Tennessee, the scenery changed and I had fun driving. I got into Atlanta around 730 eastern 630 central, and checked out Valleycrest, the company I'm going to start working for next week. It was dark, and the gates were closed, but it looked like a nice place with a big nursery. I called my friend who goes to Georgia Tech, and plugged her address into my GPS. We met up and went to dinner at local little Mexican restaurant, which was really good. After I ate, I was extremely tired and fell asleep at her apt/dorm.
Thursday I went exploring/apartment hunting. I just drove around mostly, but I stopped at a few places to check them out. The hunt continues however. I got to experience Atlanta traffic during rush hour, which one lady at one of the apartments said was 3rd worst in the country, so that was fun..... I went to a Panera to have lunch and get on the internet, because like I said, I cant get it anywhere else. I drove around some more looking at apartments and got a couple prospects that hopefully will work out. Later in the evening I went and visited the Delta Chi house on the GT campus and met a couple of the guys. I think I'm hanging out with them tonight, so I'll get to experience party life at GT.
Today was filled with more apartment hunting and filling out paperwork for my job, loads of fun let me tell you. I think I'm getting the hang of driving around the area, at least I think, so thats one plus. I have a two apartments in mind now, so hopefully I'll have a place to live within the next couple of days. There's a GT baseball game tonight so I'm going to go to that, then go over to the DCHI house. Anyways, I think thats all for now. Thanks to all of you who have called or talked to me online. I miss all of you. I'll keep you posted on my apartment search.

Moving

So the only other blog I've ever had was my xanga from back in the day. I decided to start blogging because it's a good way to let you guys know what I'm doing. For those of you that don't know. I decided to take some time off of school at the University of Illinois. I decided to do this after my fall 2008 semester. I wanted to start working to get a little "life experience" and to try and figure out just what it is I want to do for the rest of my life. I looked at jobs all over the country including Houston where I would have stayed with my sister and brother-in-law. However, I was offered and accepted a position in Atlanta, Ga, where I will be landscaping for a company named Valleycrest. I have been preparing to move down there these past few weeks and will be embarking on my journey tomorrow. I recently bought a new car which I am in love with and am actually looking forward to the 12 hour drive with. Other than that, I plan to get down to Atlanta on Wednesday and continue to look for apartments while I stay at the Delta Chi house at Georgia Tech. There will be more to come as I find an apartment and start my job.