(TAP TAP TAP) is this thing on?

Hello world, checking in from a crowded Starbucks for my first blog post. I know, I know, welcome to the 21st century, right? Hey, better late than never.

For my first post, I think I'll bring you up to speed on what’s going on around here lately, in hopes that you’ll understand my future musings. The past few weeks have been filled with wondrous change and Operation Relocation from Michigan was a success. I find it hard to believe we are coming to a close on our first week back in the Lone Star State.  We're in a new city, in a new apartment, surrounded by new faces (as well as some familiar ones) and gorgeous weather. It’s rather heavenly. After only little over a week, I somehow feel at home in Austin despite my constant reliance on a GPS (or getting lost, pick your poison) and fists shaking in the reflection of my rear-view.

I'm happy, if not relieved, to be back in Texas after a 4-year hiatus. Throughout my travels and living 4 states in 4 years, Texas was always home. However, I’m not so sure about my dear friend unemployment, who came with this deal. Yes, he’s back and camped out at my place, taunting me each weekday morning as the employed prepare for work, off to accomplish the day’s tasks. Dang it all, wasn't he just here? As you may know, (actually, it's rather unlikely that you would know the daily ins and outs of my life, who am I kidding), after 8 months of searching in the doldrums of Detroit, I had a promising account executive job offer. FINALLY. And in the same beat, my fiancé was offered a killer job in Austin, a place we both wanted to be. So, I was faced with a tough choice: accept the position to the determent of our bank accounts and sanity or to decline in hopes for better opportunities closer to home. And if you've read this far, you know chose the latter. Definitely no regrets here, I am confident the right decision was made for us both and the future is bright.

Now, we are unpacked and somewhat settled in, I find myself back at square one, unemployed in new city and in search of opportunities. This week my days have consisted of trolling the job boards, agency websites, social media and apartment mailbox announcement board (kidding, sort of) for leads. I’m constantly checking and re-checking email and voicemails, sure that today is the day I’ll hear from someone. Nothing yet and I sort of expect this to be the norm for awhile, (but I do like surprises!) Nonetheless, I am hopeful and confident in my decision. I can do this, just as I have many times before.  Unemployment may hang around for awhile, but I think I’ll nickname him Opportunity, in attempt to reclaim my sanity. Webster defines opportunities as 'favorable circumstances' and that's exactly what I have. A promising job market, killer experience, lots of coffee and the drive to make it happen. Yep, I'd say the circumstances are favorable, alright.