Reflection and announcement

You know...life's very funny.

While looking through my old LiveJournal entries, I've noticed how they've gone from extremely sporadic to very commonplace now. I've really enjoyed posting my thoughts here.

I ran across this old post from back in June 2003, the day that Steve initially contacted me about my current position at the Bristol Herald Courier. Looking back at the past 14 months, I realize how much I actually like my job here. Yes, it has its downs, but there's also a lot of happy moment. I look at myself back in June 2003 and see a very stressed out person streaming toward burnout.

I suppose then that it's only fitting that I make the following announcement while reflecting on what happened in the past.

I might be leaving here and moving to Ann Arbor, Michigan.

On Thursday, I was approached by Mark Thompson-Kolar, the design director at the Ann Arbor News. He was initially telling me about a news editor's position there, but once he realized that I only had two years of professional experience, he then began to pitch a copy editor/page designer position with them.

On Friday, I talked to him for about 30 minutes in the Visual Editors chatroom, then talked for about 90 minutes on the phone with him on Sunday. I sent my portfolio and resume via Express Mail yesterday, so it should arrive by noon today.

The position sounds fantastic. It's part of a universal copy desk, which means I can do anything from A1 to features to just plain copy editing all in a single day. I've heard a lot of good things about Ann Arbor and Newhouse, the company that owns the paper. From what I'm also being told by other friends is that it can also involve a significant pay increase.

It's a P.M. paper, so the shift would be 6:30 a.m.-3 p.m. unless I'm working Friday or Saturday nights to get the A.M. paper out for the weekend. All Sundays off. :) Oh, and the Borders flagshop store is one block from the newspaper.

I think I'm in love.

I'm extremely excited about the opportunity. So is Jeff. He's really the driving force behind my pursing this job. I wouldn't had thought twice except for that he refused to let me just toss something aside that would do wonders for my career. This really is a step up for me, he said. Make the most of it. He'll follow me.

So, after I talked to Mark, I told my family about it. I told Steve about it on Friday and I have his support as well. So, we'll see where this takes me. Fifteen months ago, I never realized that I would be in Bristol or being with such a wonderful man. I know that God is looking out for me, so I have my faith in Him. He'll place me where I am needed most.