Back again

Sorry for the lack of posts. I've really just had nothing to say. I think the holidays and the flu and business at work and planning and then hosting orientation for the new crop of MBAs has zapped me of any thought, creativity or interests. It's not that there's anything wrong, exactly, it's just that I'm kind of exhausted. But I appreciate all your messages, and I'm sorry I haven't written back. This lack of communication has spread to emails, phone calls and everything in between.

Orientation for the new folks went very well. They were all terrified and nervous and excited at the same time, and it brought back a lot of memories. It is impossible to imagine that only two years ago that was me. I'm a different person now. More confident, more capable, more intense...and it really moved me to see that glimpse of the old me. I was the lead orienteer, which meant I got a different colored t-shirt and had to talk a lot. I was seen as the alpha, which, of course, I enjoyed immensely. One team actually wanted me to come approve their work on one of the exercises like that somehow made their success more important. My friends Simon and Jeff, who were their team's leaders, quickly explained that this sort of sycophantic bullshit would not be tolerated. (Personally, I think they were just jealous.)

When we left on Sunday afternoon, it started to sink in that this really was the last time we're all going to be together for awhile. It's over. And though we won't miss the schedule and the late-night assignment writing and the stress and the general insanity, we are going to miss each other. A lot. I got three texts on Sunday night from melancholy friends and I sent a few myself. I guess we're lucky that the world is now our oyster AND we made some amazing friends that we can take with us for life, too. But that doesn't make the transition easier.

So now it's onwards and upwards. I have started my job search, and have put together a schedule for mandatory job research and application time in my evenings and weekends. Goal is a new job by April. Have contacted an agency in Chicago, am going to contact ones in New York and Seattle, and will handle London with both an agency and by myself. Plan to call the careers office tomorrow to get contacts at three consulting agencies here in the UK, as well, because I think I'd be a fab management consultant. It's time for the rubber to hit the road with this degree.

The other women from the MBA have now all decided to start dating. They are all planning on going to a speed dating/wine tasting thing in London next week and are demanding I attend. I'm not necessarily against it, but I just have no desire to date right now. I mean, I don't know where I'm going to be living and working in six months, I've just got my time back to myself, and it all just seems like a lot of hassle for nothing. I've told them to count me out for awhile so I can figure out what's going on.

Next on tap...figuring out in which European city I should meet my friend Brad for a long weekend in March or April (suggestions welcome), hiring a personal trainer to motivate me to move my lard ass and spending the £100 of gift certificates I got as a Christmas bonus at work. And blogging more. I miss you guys.