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April 19, 2007

Forget Rain - When It Shines, It Shines Brightly!

***MASON ENTRY***

*I wrote this entry yesterday (Wed,) but didn't want to post it until I gave notice at the B&B where I'm currently working - which I just did*

I'm sitting here on the back patio feeling numb and like I want to throw up and I still have the shakes. Before you start to worry, it's a very good thing. Here's how my day went today (so far.)

5:05am - I wake up 20 minutes late to shower and get ready to take our buddy Mikey to the airport. Keep in mind that he's still asleep, I need a shower (because I work at 7am) and his flight leaves Toronto for the US at 7:00am. Our plan was to get him to the airport at 5:30am. The airport is 30 minutes (pushing it) from our house. SHIT!

5:30am - After making poor Mikey late and out of a deep sleep (of only about three hours) we sail out the front door and head to the airport.

5:50am - (Yeah, 20 minutes!) I pull up to Terminal Three and drop off my dear friend with a hug and a goodbye that left me feeling very empty - sad to seem him go and way to swift that left me wanted just one more warm hug goodbye.

6:30am - I arrive 30 minutes early for my shift at the B&B and start the day

10:00am - With a kitchen full two workman, my boss and a co-worker and a guest needing to be served breakfast my cell phone rings. It says "Withheld" on the caller ID which means it's either Nick calling from work or it's Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. Want to guess which one? It was the Toronto FC person calling to tell me that "I absolutely blew them away with my audition last week and they'd love to have me be part of the team!" I about dropped the phone. I'm now the official stadium PA announcer for the newest Major League Soccer Team Toronto FC!

10:01am - Nick is my first phone call to tell him the great news about the Toronto FC offer!

10:15am - The workman, my boss and I are now on the road way the hell to North Toronto to pick up some tile and hardwood flooring for a construction project at one of the B&B properties.

11:00am - While waiting forever to get the materials, my cell phone rings. This time the caller ID says "CTV" and this one I knew exactly who was calling. "Hi Patrick! ... "Yeah, I'm picking up tile and hardwood flooring with my boss because that's the great kind of employee I am...doing anything for my boss!!" After we laughed and joked back and forth, he said those words that I've been waiting nearly two weeks to hear:

I'd like to offer you the job as Sales and Promotions Marketing Manager!"

As if the call just one hour prior wasn't enough, I get this one from Canada's Comedy Network. The emotional stress and flip-flops in my stomach just doubled as I stumbled out something along the lines of "I was hoping you would be saying those words - of course, I accept!" and we talked a bit more about details and his wanted me to start April 30th! The money is good, there's a bonus structure and I'm sure there's plenty more, but we agreed to talk more tomorrow.

11:01am - As I am standing next to my boss I send Nick a text message telling him about this call - my hands and fingers shaking as I'm typing each letter into my phone!

11:05am - 4:05pm - I spent five hours pretty much glued to my boss's hip while we ran all over town picking things up in my Explorer. The whole time bursting inside with all this information - I'm surprised I have been able to function all day without throwing up or passing out. I was able to find time away to call Nick several times to give him updates and I must have text messaged the news so much that my cell phone battery finally died about 4:30pm right in the middle of a conversation!

5:47pm - I'm now at this point of the post - the dogs are running around like crazy in the backyard - the sun is shining (but it's still a tad cold, but it's a beautiful day and they're loving it as much as I am right now. My stomach is still churning - I've been on the verge of tears all day - I'm probably in a weird somewhat state of shock and trying to process all of this as best I can. I'm scared - I'm thrilled beyond belief - I'm nervous - I'm excited.

Despite all this excitement, I do have a sense of dread for that moment tonight or tomorrow morning where I have to give notice to the B&B that next week will have to be my last week working for them. They have been so incredibly supportive of me and it has been a wonderful experience and I'm going to have to mourn leaving this job. I am going to miss my morning subway commute downtown and daily walks through "The Village". I'm going to miss my co-workers and bosses and meeting the incredibly diverse and interesting guests each morning. I think I'm actually even going to miss scrubbing the toilets, but Nick did tell me not to worry about that because there's still one here at our house!

I have so many questions and thoughts and emotions spinning in my head I'm surprised I'm not curled up in the corner of the house rocking back and forth, but there are still several hours left in the day today! Nick's working a bit later tonight and then we'll be going out for a celebration dinner (if I can actually eat tonight.) I've since made my way back into the house and the livingroom and I'm watching the CTV News and it is starting to sink in - I now work for that family of companies and the soccer team just featured on the sports report.

Wow - Just Wow.