What You Need to Know: Day 1

The lack of posting in almost a month is not due to lack of interesting things to say. It's due to lack of time to say it. Here's what you need to know:

• I got the job. In fact, I start on the 20th. Better yet, my last day at current employer is Monday. You got it - three business days.


• We pack our belongings into a truck on Tuesday. We will begin driving across country on Wednesday with a rental van and two very kind friends. Right now we have shit loads to pack or purge, despite very valiant efforts on our part prior to this month. Damn houses...big fat vacuums for tons of stuff.


• Currently we have no place to live. Apartment search has been difficult and slow. We're information gatherers, so we used the awesome, stupendous Portland maps site and can tell you everything about every neighborhood we've considered. (Enter this address to see what Portland has online: 6421 SE 52nd) We're now on the path to some lesbian-owned property management companies and we might be heading in the right direction. Who can answer the question: Will we have a forwarding address on the day we drive out of town?


• Mr. Man was promised an unbirthday party with his friends before we left. It happens on Saturday. We invited 15 5yos to a chaotic free-for-all amidst boxes and packing tape. We told their parents to drop their kid off or bring a lawn chair and earplugs. You'd have to know these parents to appreciate their expressions reading the invites. What a hoot.


• Today Ton Ton left Seattle on his preferred method of transport, the train, and is on his way to us to help pack and load the truck and drive back to the Pacific Northwest. Today is the beginning of the journey.


• Tonight Mr. Man said, "I'm excited to move to Portland."

Holy Shit

I've been anxiously awaiting my itinerary to learn more about what is in store for me on Sunday and Monday. I was not prepared for what I learned tonight. The person handling my travel arrangements assures me that he tried to find the most comfortable arrangements that were within the budget. I'm sure this is his way of apologizing for the fact that I have to fly out of Detroit and take a redeye back Monday night. No worries, he says, because I'll arrive in Portland around 1PM PST and will have plenty of time to check out the city and get a good night's rest. I'm sure the good night's rest won't be a problem, as I'm staying in the Heathman Hotel. If Conde Nast Traveler believes the Heathman is one of the "World's Best Places to Stay" and Travel + Leisure feels it's one of the "500 Best Hotels in the World", who am I to argue? Perhaps I'll just appreciate the fine art, including pieces by Warhol and mirrors from the Waldorf Astoria or browse the library for some light night reading. If I have any trouble, I'll simply contact my personal concierge, as all hotel guests are assigned a personal concierge to attend to their every need. I'm sure sleep won't be a problem, as I have a bed and pillow menu from which to select.

I'll find out how the Heathman food service is at 8AM Monday morning when I meet the hiring manager for breakfast. After our meal we'll retire to the company's downtown headquarters (which by the way are valued at $47.7 million). At 9:30 I'll meet with my HR contact and we'll presumably discuss my life history and hopefully handle every pre-employment detail as I'm with her until 11:45 when I meet with someone new. Following the 11:45 meeting, I meet two more individuals for lunch at the University Club of Portland. When I'm sure I can't possibly smile any more, I'll catch the Max back to the airport for my evening flight and arrive in Detroit at 6am Tuesday morning. And no, I'm not in first class.

Questions of the hour: Any bets on whether the white male privilege at these establishments will totally overwhelm me? Can I pull off six non-stop hours of interviewing? Am I really all they seem to think I am? And, if so, will I get the pleasure of dreaming of my start date on my redeye back?

The Suit

Tomorrow I receive my intinerary for the paid trip for the interview. I never expected any company to pay my travel costs. It's still a bit of a blur. I purchased a suit tonight to assure that I come off appropriately polished. Having worked in a casual office for the last 7 years, I'm out of the habit of buying professional business clothes. Paying over $100 for a suit takes my breath away. One thing I hope for in a new employer is a beautiful workplace. Working in the "garden level" of a dingy office building for 7 years has me yearning for a classier environment. This suit sets that tone. And if I land the job that requires me to relocate a division into new offices in ground-level prime retail space on the transit mall, there's no doubt I'll be buying more business clothes. That would be fun.

And an Hour Later

The assistant calls me to schedule the in-person interview and book the airfare. I'll fly in on Sunday night and fly back on Monday.

A job offer by my birthday doesn't seem so unreasonable after all.

Quote of the Interview

"So if we were to buy you a plane ticket and make you a hotel reservation, would you be willing to come out here and meet some more people from this division?"