You Can Take the Girl Outta Texas...

...but four years later she'll run like hell to get back there.

Two weeks ago Sam and I made a visit to Austin for one purpose - to interview for jobs. Sorry to our friends and family who thought we were coming to visit you. You were an added bonus. A couple weeks before we left for Austin, I sent out about 20 resumes. Two days later I got calls requesting interviews. I was able to set up several interviews for the week that we were home to keep my busy while Sam was working.

We touched down in Houston and were picked up by Papa Stew. A quick trip to What-A-Burger and we were reunited with our three bouncing puppies. Fourth of July was somewhat uneventful. Grilling burgers, watching the boys smoke cigars, watching fireworks on TV. Saturday was spent with Brenda and family, taking the kids swimming while I crocheted near the pool.

Eran and the little Yaeli-fish

Eran and Yoni

We headed to Austin on Sunday and had dinner with Shelly & Joe. Monday consisted of hanging with the parents in the afternoon and then our one night only happy hour at Trudy's. I couldn't wait to get my hands on some chips and queso and the fajitas weren't bad either. It was so nice to see all of our friends and share with them that I would be interviewing this week. Everyone was so hopeful that we would make it home soon.

I had interviews on Tuesday and Thursday. Both went well and I was even asked back for a second interview for one of them. I was somewhat disappointed that no one offered me a job on the spot (don't these people know who I am?!) but I guess that was just a bit unrealistic. So, needless to say I returned to Brooklyn without a new job.

Being home for a week really increased our yearning to return to Austin. Not to mention that our renters are moving out at the end of their lease (July 31st) and we don't want to leave our house vacant again. We were so excited to see parking lots (laugh if you must), driveways, grocery stores, malls, and all you can eat BBQ at the Salt Lick. Oh how we've missed out by living in NYC. Ha!

So, fast forward to last Thursday. We'd been back from Texas for five days and I still hadn't been offered a job. I received an e-mail from one of the places that I interviewed wanting to know what our plans were to come home. I reminded her that our coming home was contingent on getting a job (duh!). However, I heard from two of my friends that they received calls from one of the places I interviewed with for references. That has to be a good sign, right? Well, it definitely was. Last Thursday I got a call from the place that I wanted to work offering me a position.

After a call to Sam to see if I could take it, I contacted the manager and was able to negotiate a better salary and accepted the job. My start date is September 2nd (or possibly September 8th given that they only start orientation on Mondays). This last Monday I resigned from my position as an overworked palliative care social worker. After thirty-three months it was bittersweet to tell them I quit. I couldn't wait to do it but then I felt excessive guilt and sadness because I felt like I was letting them down.

My last day at my job is August 15th and then we hit the dusty trail on August 20th. We're hiring movers for the big stuff so that we can drive the Red Rocket along with the cats, Lucky and Blue to Texas. We've already mapped out our journey and are really excited. We leave Brooklyn on Wednesday and will head 10 hours to Hickory, North Carolina to stay with Jen & James. Then Thursday morning we'll head 9 hours to the west to Memphis to stay with Mike and Alice. Friday morning will be our last leg as we head to Houston, Texas, to either pick up Sam's truck or a u-haul truck with our stored items at Sam's parents house and then off to Austin. That still gives us another week before I start my job.

This is so exciting that I can't even contain myself. As if we didn't already know that it was time to leave NYC and head home, this morning the Red Rocket was broken into, resulting in a smashed passenger window that I didn't find until early this afternoon (I was working from home this morning). Luckily there was nothing in there for them to take, but it was a little violating to look out the window and see my missing window and people just walking by it like it was no big deal. Luckily Sam came home and went with me to have the window replaced (which was a really nice experience).

So the countdown is on - only 3 1/2 weeks before we head home and we can't wait! NYC has been fun, but it's time to go.

A few things that we want to do before we leave (you'd think we'd have done these things over four years but alas, we did not):
MoMa
Top of the Rock
Bronx Zoo
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Brooklyn Bridge Promenade
City Island
Yankee Game
Fireworks at Coney Island
Phantom of the Opera

Wish us luck on getting this stuff done. We can always come back to visit, right?