California...here he comes!

My best friend left for sunny Los Angeles on Sunday. We have known each other for 15 years and know each other very very well.
Mark was the second person that I met the day I arrived at UW-Superior. I met him even before my roommate, Miyuki. (Miyuki and I are another story...) I will never forget asking him where the RA’s were and seeing him sitting on his bed, playing his black Stratocaster, and looking like he was damn determined to be where he was and make the most of it. He was there in the moment. Looking back on it...Very Zen.
We have laughed together and cried together. He has been there for me in times that I couldn’t imagine anyone else could be there. He has been my rock sometimes, my cheerleader, and my sounding board. Most of all, he has always been a straight shooter with me. I find it the most wonderful gift of all that he can feel comfortable with telling me the honest truth and know that I won’t flip out on him about it. I feel so totally grateful to have a friend like that in my life. We both have shared two very close and very different circles of friends and yet the two of us have been a part of both circles.
We have drifted apart...life happens that way, but we have always known how to find each other.
He is a phenomenal writer. Think David Sedaris...think Chuck Klosterman...think “This American Life” on NPR. His essays are great and would give others a run for the money. I might be a bit biased, but if I get permission...I will post one here. He’s good
He’s also a great actor. His freshman year he played the lead in “Biloxi Blues”. No mind you...everyone relates this role to Matthew Broderick. He did it on Broadway and on the big screen and Mark had to go against this fact. The wonderful thing...he did just that. He made the character his own and I totally forgot that I knew the show. He owned the character and he was wonderful. He also is one of the very few persons in the history of UWS Theatre that got a rave review from the most scathing theatre reviewer in the upper midwest.
He’s a pretty shrewd judge of character too. Oh boy...between him and my sister...they can judge people pretty well. Almost scary sometimes...
And he loves music just about as much as I do. We can listen to tunes all the time and introduce each other to new music all the time.
He loves to drive and I love riding shotgun with him. I learned the fine art of riding shotgun from him....
He has given me so many gifts...tangible and intangible
We didn’t really say goodbye the other day...it was more like “hey, I’ll see you later...you know how to get a hold of me...” And he made me a mix CD - more like 2. ( You know how music is so important to me) It's a bit of a song cycle. He started out with the Replacements "Alex Chilton" of which the chorus goes..." I'm in love with that song." This is a huge phrase we have shared for the last 15 years, so it's not only personal but also ironic. He ended the 2nd CD with "God Only Knows"...I think one of my most favourite songs. The song goes "God only knows what I'd be without you..." It was a HUGE lyrical message to me and his way of saying goodbye. ( at least that’s what I took it as and it was easier to say “goodbye for now” that way.) And as I was driving down the road...I cried, knowing that I wouldn’t know what and where I’d be without my friend in my life and appreciating him so much more.
We have always been able to just look at each other and not say a word and know exactly what is said.We have gone through a lot together and it's that friend kind of thing. ( He's hoping to find an intelligent Barbie doll out in California. He said that after he first went there .."If I can have lunch with a catalogue model without even trying, I might be in luck" I said go for it... He deserves it.)

So Mark, I send this open message to you if and when you read this...I love you. I am very proud of you for listening to yourself and going with your gut and following your dreams. Not many people are able to do that and you have. You always know that you can come to Wisconsin and my mom and dad will feed you and take care of you and help you pick up the pieces if you ever need to do that. As for you and I...I’ll always be there for you. And damnit...sell that book and let me be your Kato! You will need a PA and everyone in LA has a PA! Become that famous fella and have other famous people call me up to surprise me and have a chat ...and you know who. Either that or fix me up with them. ( you know who I mean too...) Most of all...know that our guardian angel is watching over you. WWKJSD? I KNOW that someone is giggling and sending you good vibes and is very very happy for you.
As for the rest of you...I hope that you have a “Mark” in your life. Someone who is true and wonderful, makes you laugh till you cry and cry until you laugh . Someone that accepts you just for who you are. Someone that “gets it”. Someone that is there unconditionally, doesn’t ask questions until the time has come or when it is needed and then calls you on your shit. Someone that you can find when either one of you are lost. And someone that even if they are far away...you know that they are there - always.
And I know that he will call me and tell me that I’m the sappiest thing this side of the Mississippi - but I was like that 15 years ago and he knows it. I’ve just gotten a little more refined and eloquent with it.

I told you that I'd know by August 1st...

I have just been through a life experience that was pretty amazing. To me and my friends alike. My friends were thinking: OH man...her chain is being yanked long and hard. They are stringing her along big time. Me? I was just thinking: when is it going to end and I get an answer.
My experience...
landing a job.
I have been applying to this company since the first time I was unemployed... 9 months ago.
Well after sending my resume many times and mucho cover letters sent - I got a call to interview for an Administrative Assistant Position...I would shadow the seminar planners. So that interview ( #1) lasted 40 minutes. I got a call back for a 2nd interview...that was pretty good. I interviewed with the 1st interviewer and with her supervisor. ( #2) Well...that was a tuesday...and I got a call the next day to go and interview on a Friday with Tyler. (we are up to Interview#3 here people.... hence my friends saying that my chain is being yanked.) So as I was sitting there on friday...out walked the woman that interviewed me the first time. I gave a little wave and she looked suprised. Mmmm...I was wondering what the hell was going on.
I met with Tyler and he sat me down and told me that the people of #2 sent on my resume to him and that I would be better suited to being a seminar planner.
(Shit...that was what I wanted all along and what I first went for 9 months ago.)
We are talking away and he’s asking me questions and in the middle of my 3rd interview, he said: " Hold on...I think that we are going to schedule a meeting with the head of the Planning Department and our HR Manager before we even finish this interview. You've been here and we need to decide where we are going to put you. I'll tell you this now - you are qualified, almost too qualified for the Admin. Assist. Position. The Hotel & Locations department wants you, too and I feel that you would be stellar moving right into a Seminar Planner Position. I would like it if you could come back and sit down with the HR person and myself and my boss and make the decision. Now...I just want to find out more about you, because I want you on my team and I want the answers to my interview questions so I can go in and say that you're best in my department over the others. I can’t tell you how gracious you have been through this whole process”
WELL!!! Skip the secretary stuff and go right to my own larger cube! It's more money, and it's better suited to my abilities. I went home exhausted. But feeling good
So...along comes the 4th - count em 1-2-3-4...interview. I walk into a conference room and there were 3 women. The head of the planning department, the person that would be my supervisor ( not Tyler) and the head of the HR department.
They asked me tons of questions. Some pretty good and thought provoking and the rest were just plain dumb questions they ask to see what the hell I had to say.
I had to finally ask why the process is so intricate ( that's how I
diplomatically put it) and I was told that they screen carefully. Plus I
did a bit of research myself. They are THE #1 seminar planning company in
the United States. This I did not know until the day before the 4th interview.. I would be a part of this team. Wow. It ended positively...it went well in the middle and
the beginning too.
By this time I'm just exhausted. They gave me a tour of the WHOLE place and had me talk with a planner also. I also saw my "cube". Boy...some are decorated nicely and I would have to do some quick decorating or something good. No windows, but that's ok. Good salary and benes. What more can I say!?! At this point...I just want the damn job.
Now fast forward to Friday...I’m saying goodbye to my best friend and something tells me to check my messages at home. So I do...and I have to pull off on the side of the road. Tyler calls me back and asks me to give him a call...
So I call.
And he says “Hey Martha, where are you? You sound like your a million miles away” and I tell him “I’ve just said goodbye to my best friend who’s moving to LA and I’m on my way home. What’s up with you?”
And he asks...”I’m Fine - good ...So how would you like to come and work for us?”
I said...”well can I start to cry now or later...Yes..I want to work for you. I didn’t think I would hear from you guys for another week. Oh wow...”
So we talked about the job and when I need to start and all that jazz and I drove to River Falls and just showed up on a friend’s doorstep and started dancing in his living room to no music because I was so happy to be employed. He just stood and watched me and laughed and called me “Damn Cute”.
AFTER A MONTH LONG PROCESS...I GOT MY JOB!!! THE JOB I’ve WANTED FOR 9 FRICKIN MONTHS.
Now just showing up on a friend’s doorstep is not kosher...but I was so happy and I was so happy to see my friend, Davie, that we went to Perkins to have a Celebration Breakfast. ( mind you it is 4 pm in the afternoon!) We had a blast and he had great news to share with me too. So we celebrated over muffins and eggs. Funny thing...with my Superior friends, with my high school theatre kids, and sometimes with other close friends...we always end up at Perkins’!
I GOT THE JOB!!!!!!
I will be working for the #1 seminar planning company in the US as: a seminar planner. Gee, if you're going to go for it...go BIG! ( I will get an administrative assistant...mmm, me with a secretary ?!?!? She better not be from hell or I’m gonna have to wear my bitch heels and show her my Ice Princess side. Remember that photo I posted last August...the woman in a corset, panties and heels - pretty much half naked and in her lingere - really pissed and kicking her filing cabinet. She was being a brat. That’s gonna be me.)
I begin on Wednesday. YIPPEE!!
This is where I will be working and a bit about it...
http://www.lorman.com/aboutlorman.php
Now...my biggest dilemma...do I go with my paper Franklin planner or do I bite the bullet and get a palm pilot...I'll wait and see after I get into the whole routine of my job. I need a hair cut before that!!!
SO!!!
After 1 month, many phone calls, lots of prayers and well wishes, words of advice and 4 interviews...I’m so very employed. And I dont’ think I’m going to need a new job for a long time. I’m gonna be doing a “martha” thing. and that is “A good thing”

I’ve already been gifted a wipe off memo board for my cube. And I was handed an IKEA catalogue to decorate my cube...I gotta get me a USB cord powered Lava Lamp too.
To all of you...
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH for coming along with me on this journey.
And I will be posting here to keep you all up to date.