Donna Hates Loud

No matter where I end up in my career, I would like it to be next to someone who does not mind when conversations occur in their general vicinity.

Donna is a legal secretary who sits ten feet (possibly less) away from me. She works for one of the managing partners. God must really hate her to position someone like myself so close to her. Other people in the office seem to flock to me to talk about nonsense. Never anything important regarding a case or along those lines, but more so "My husband and I went on a vacation and it was lovely" or "This guy won't call me back but I think I am in love with him" or "What does this skin rash look like to you".

While Donna loves to talk about her feline companion and the process of neutering to anyone who shows the slightest of interest, she does not look kindly upon those who hold conversations that do not include her. She will interupt curtly with a "Do you mind? I can't concentrate with all of this noise," as a co-worker is almost whispering the happenings of their weekend.

My cell phone rang today and I about sprung out of my chair, dove over my desk, and summer-saulted in mid-air to silence it as to not disturb Donna. Donna hates loud. And I hate Donna when Donna is around loud.

Did I mention Donna is a fan of matching patterned outfits? When she walks into the office, it is a wall of purple, or lillies, or whatever glorious couch material she decided to make her ensemble out of today. Every now and again I have the urge to say "Do you mind? I can't concentrate with all of this noise," while gestering to her outfit. Its visually disturbing.

But I don't.

I am sure that deep down inside, Donna is a lovely person who doesn't want to yell at everyone. Deep down inside she probably likes to sip tea while reading a lovely book on a sunny afternoon... possibly in a park. And this job is keeping her from doing so (much like its keeping me from my family and loved ones). I guess I would yell at the young college grad who thinks she knows everything, too.

But I don't.

Perhaps Donna should take notes.

Two. More. Weeks. Ten. More. Working. Days.

Two more weeks of this?

I don’t know if I can take this. My cup runneth over with discontent.

I understand that the two weeks notice is for the employer, but doesn’t giving two weeks notice really mean that you were done with the position three weeks ago? Ya know – when you started looking for another job?

The more time I spend here the more attached I get to my Salem life that this horrible place known as Kell Alterman and Runstein is stealing me from.

So today’s path is now as follows:

Get my MSW from PSU. Go on to Law school, OR become a school counselor.

Its been awhile.

If "Leslie Davis" were an entry in a Thesaurus, it would have the words "indecision, unstable, driven, intelligent, naive, gullible, contradiction" following it.

I have switched jobs again after working in Portland for almost two months. While most of me is excited to remain room mates with Krista, a small part of me wonders if this is a failure. Is Salem really where I am meant to be? I feel as though it is this sucking force that no matter how hard I try to pull away from it, I always remain right back where I started. My heart feels as though Salem is where I want to be, but the dreamer within me says "bullshit".

This job in Salem is better pay, closer to those I love, and gives me the opportunity to fully invest myself in the Chamber and Salem Alliance. I am sad to say that my relationship with God has seemed to take a backseat since I have been commuting and couch surfing. He will take priority. I am joining a small group and I hope that I can get back to where I was a year ago today.

My biggest fear is that I investing time, energy and emotions into a relationship with someone who might not be heading in the same direction I am. I always had four different directions I wanted to take my life in (still do) and had the plans lined out on how to do each one. When I talk to Kaleb about what he wants to do, he has no idea. Not an inkling. Kaleb and I are so different. Yet, I can't imagine not having him near me. He makes me laugh and takes such good care of me. I feel at home with him and while this is all fine and dandy, I don't want to end up with someone without a degree or direction. Direction without a degree is one thing, but an absence of both is dangerous.

On a bright note, I get to live in a town with my sister, brother and nephew babies in addition to Nicole, Krista and all the other lovely people I have met in Salem.

Great things can be done wherever you reside because the drive lies in the person, not their location... right? Right.