Another Pros & Cons List

Good Afternoon Ladies & Gentlemen,

Well, as promised, some possibly HUGE news. There's a new job opportunity that has come up that has great potential for growth & a significant pay raise within the company. The catch is... that it's in San Francisco. I know what you're thinking. "$teve, you love Tahoe. You love your job. Why the hell are you even considering it?" Well, you're right. I do love my job... very much so, even if they may not pay me what I'm worth, I really enjoy the people I work with, the responsibility that my job entails & the experience that I've gained from it. I do love Tahoe... in the summer. I don't have all the details yet, so this is still preliminary... but I just thought I'd give you the heads up, that your boy Dr. Mookie Love may be taking his talents to South Beach... er, San Francisco. There's quite a number of steps between here and there though... so let's break it down. As usual, when I have a possible life-changing decision, I do two things: First, I make a list of Pros & Cons. Second, after doing some research, I contact my Board of Trustees (family & friends) and see what they think about the idea.

Bubbles told me about the opportunity on Monday, so she's obviously in favor of the idea. Or as she put it, "We'd be like peas & carrots again." Obviously referencing one of my favorite movies. The Wingmans, JL Clyde, K-Fish, Lilie, all seem to be in favor of the idea, thinking that the city would appeal more to my social nature... and I really don't like being snowed in for half the year and barely making ends meet financially. My mom really liked the idea too. She's obviously a little scared of her baby boy in the big city and everything... but I'm sure she won't mind visiting from time to time... any time of year. I even talked to Boss Man K... and he was very supportive of it... even when he knows the amount of work that he would be taking on, especially in the short term until he found someone (or four) to replace me.

My dad was the first person to tell me that I may be f**king crazy. I actually didn't tell him about the idea until late last night. He response was pretty much what I expected, which was why I wanted to have information first... but since it was early on, I didn't want it to be an all of a sudden thing. So I told him. "WHAT? SON, NO!!! Sigh... where is this job?" "San Francisco." "WHAT? Are you f**king... WHY?" So I told him about the job opportunity, that I already knew about the cost of living differences, the details were coming & it was just a thought, blah blah blah. "You know... you get like this everytime that you get snowed in. You know that, right?" Well, to look back, moving to Denver was after a futile 6-month search in Vegas at the beginning of the recession. Then the reason for moving back to SLC was not having a job for me in Denver. Then moving out here was because I didn't like being on the bottom of the totem pole again & I had an opportunity to open an office here in this paradise. He's not a huge fan of traffic & large numbers of people... and San Fran has that. He's also scared of his man-child in the big city. That's just the way parents are. He also REALLY doesn't want to help me move... and I can understand that. The thing is... I've grown up in Utah, lived in Denver, I'm not a huge fan of the snow. In Utah, it wasn't that bad... but it gets ridiculous sometimes here... and ice is even worse. If I were a skier & loved that stuff, then this would be perfect for me... but that's not the case. I've been out here a year. I absolutely love the summers, but I find myself tolerating the winter (mainly because of white gold & it's why I have a job here) and it's awfully lonely. I have a few friends but... it's mostly families out here & all the young'uns are matched up. So in the end though, "Son, you know I love you... and I'll support whatever you decide. Get the details, let me know what you decide, and we'll work it out." He even made a joke, "You know, my leg's all healed up now so I guess that means it's time for you to move again." Referring to when he decided to put a hole in his leg helping me load the LAST THING into the moving van when he helped me move here last year.

So yeah, now comes the list of Pros & Cons for this new opportunity / adventure. Here's how I have it broken down, but feel free to make mentions of other things that I might've missed.

Pros - Going to San Francisco
- Great job opportunity with advancement possiblities
- City of culture, excitement & lots of bridges
- Always something to do at any hour
- Single Women!!! - It seems like Alaska here sometimes
- Bubbles - It's always good to have good friends
- Family & friends will visit often & year round
- Three int'l airports with 45 minutes (and a cruise port)
- Public Transportation (less gas expense)
- I can bike year round (and play basketball & stay fit)
- B**ches... by which I mean beaches
- Napa, Half Moon Bay & Napa are less than an hour away
- Monterey & the Redwoods are two hours away
- Yosemite & Tahoe are three hours away (for summer)

Cons - Staying in Lake Tahoe
- Great job with people I enjoy working with already
- Fresh mountain air
- Less likely to get hit by a tsunami (I like the high ground)
- The Lake is gorgeous (but the ocean is in San Fran too)
- Cost of living is lower (but moreso are the wages)
- I don't have to move (that's a big one)

I'm sure there are many more for both sides that I'm just not typing fast enough or something... but that's a good start. So you see the dilemma, I take it. I like where I'm at... but I don't love it. Is it time for a new adventure? Already? Well, I'll keep you posted on events over the next few days (as much as I legally can) but I'm starting to get a little excited at the idea (except the moving part) but again, not all the details are in quite yet. There has to be enough force to break this ionic bond that I have to this place... but the lowering temperature probably helps with the threshold. Anyway, have a great evening everybody!!! I've got some thinking to do...

Be It, Don't Dream It

Good Morning Ladies and Gentlemen,

I've been looking on the worldwide web for the next gig...and it's both reassuring and saddening all at the same time. There are some great jobs and opportunities for me out there...but it requires going even further away from home...and with the Media's assault on people who partake in luxury goods (which is my career expertise) who knows what will happen to these other offices in say...six months. It could be like Deja Vu all over again. That's the life that we live though. Nobody knows what's going to be one moment from the next. For example, a year ago, I was in Vegas with my brother and sister-in-law celebrating their 1st anniversary...and helping Bubbles look for apartments...and in essence beginning my own journey towards Vegas. Six months ago, my career took a sharp turn from steadily pointed toward Sin City and instead went to the city a mile high in the sky and had a kick ass Going Away Party. Three months ago, I was back in Vegas ringing in 2009 with Bubbles. A month ago, I was in the heart of Mardi Gras spending the late evenings with Southern girls. Now, I'm plotting where I'm going to be a month from now...whether it's back home in Utah, here in Denver writing the next great American smut collection, or elsewhere. A month from now, I'll be turning 28 years old and sexier than ever. Three months from now I could be anywhere doing anything. A year from now, I could be returning home again after spending a few months in Hollywood until the Big One hits, then moving to New Orleans just in time for a Category 5, play basketball for a few months in China before they turn to cannibalism and have a hankering for white meat, and make it back to the United States by working on a pirate ship full of porn stars. I guess my point is...anything's possible...and we just have to be there for each other and enjoy every moment of this wonderful life that we have...because things can change drastically and suddenly.

As promised here's a quick rundown of some of my prospective destinations. Any feedback from locals or people in the know or random comments would be greatly appreciated.

Denver, Colorado
Pros

• My apartment, I won't have to move
• Great city that I was just starting to enjoy...and it was in the dead of winter
  

Cons

• No real job opportunities
  
  

Synopsis: I'd love to stay here...but there's nothing over $10 an hour...and if I have to move out of my apartment, then I'm moving to somewhere that can afford me. I've become a bit of a pompous, conceited ass having been an incredible employee for about 15 years now...but I think that I deserve it.

Salt Lake City, Utah
Pros

• Home Sweet Home - Family and Friends abound
• Great job at fairly decent pay with friends
• Movie Nights / Homecoming Party
• Don't have to register my car in another state?
• There's a lot
  

Cons

• Not progressing in my career, actually kind of taking a step back
• No apartment on the 34th floor? Did I mention how much I love my view?
  
  
  

Synopsis: Looking like the #1 contender right now...but we shall see. The search continues.

Las Vegas, Nevada
Pros

• Vegas, baby!!!
• A few friends like Bubbles, Barbie & Keanna
• The Wingmans are two hours away
  

Cons

• No real job opportunities
• Just in time for the summer too
  
  

Synopsis: Still love Vegas like a fat kid loves cake...but again, I need to go to a place that can afford me...and I've already heard the horrible stories from first-hand accounts about the layoffs going on down there. Visit Vegas y'all. Hmm, maybe I'll have to do that to let off some steam in the next month or so.

New Orleans, Louisiana
Pros

• A few great job opportunities within the company
• Great step for my career
• Southern girls like me and I like Southern girls...and food
  

Cons

• The entire city seems like a ghetto - Great to visit but wouldn't want to live there
• I'm not Aquaman. I like to live above water...in the high country
• Hurricane evacuations...unless I have to stay, which I would with this step in my career
• All my possessions threatened to be washed away (or stolen) several times a year
  

Synopsis: As much as I love the city of New Orleans, I simply would not want to live there. Sure, Filly's there and I've met a lot of her great friends and it's just a beautiful mystical city...but it's also humid...because it's technically underwater...and I have a fear of drowning...and getting stabbed. Again, great place to visit...but I simply don't think that I could love there...though some of the salaries for the job opportunities there are nothing to sneeze at...especially when I live rather frugally.

Hollywood, California
Pros

• Beaches to the left of me and b**ches to the right
• Great step for my career...but may be a while before office opens
• Probably have apartments on the 34th floor
• Possible second job as low-budget director with plenty of local "talent"
• If sh*t goes down, we have the Terminator as Governor
  
  

Cons

• Earthquakes, Fire, Tsunamis, Volcanoes, Paris Hilton and other disasters
• A LOT of people...and unemployment around 10%
• I don't speak Spanish (but I can sing like I know it...and that's almost as good)
  

Synopsis: Is Hollywood ready for Dr Love? Reading about this office that's opening up literally at "THE SPOT" and thinking about all the celebrities and sports stars that would associated with this location, it's very intriguing. Also, the salaries of some of these job are ASTRONOMICAL by Utah standards (then again, the cost of living is also about double...but still). And yes Filly, I would prefer the threat of earthquakes, fires, volcanoes and whatever else over hurricanes. Why? Because I can swim on the beaches...and it's a little closer to home.

Other cities that have some interesting opportunities are Charlotte & Lake Tahoe...but I've never been to those cities or even really researched them quite yet. San Diego didn't have a lot of opportunities either...and they're hella expensive. So that's where I'm at currently. More research to be done obviously...and friends are looking out all over the globe for me...so no need to worry. Again, worst-case, I just end up moving back home to a decent job...or living like a bum for the next three months still getting paid & writing in the shade or something.

Last night, I watched a movie for the first time that I'm pretty sure that everybody has seen besides me...and that movie is...The Rocky Horror Picture Show. For that one person out there who hasn't seen it, this movie is the story of a young recently engaged couple (Barry Bostwick and Susan Sarandon) who get a flat tire and stumble upon a castle where there's a bunch of crazy sh*t going on. There's a Dr Frank N Furter, who's a transsexual transvestite from Transylvania (Tim Curry) and he makes a Creation...and there's frozen Meatloaf in the fridge...and some hunchback vampire like people...and another doctor...and a British narrator...and it's a musical. To be honest, I wasn't incredibly impressed...but then again, I wasn't really stoned or anything...and I'm told that's the way to see it by Enhancement Smokers...who I assume are the people that dress up whenever this movie is played at a local theatre or something. So yeah, it was okay. Now I've seen it.

I followed it up the only way that I knew how...with a movie from a completely different genre. Next was "Sukiyaki Western Django" which is basically a Western...but played with all Japanese actors...in this Old West town...but all the signs are in Japanese...and the director Takashi Miike is famous for horror movies...but wanted to branch out...oh and throw in a special guest star by the name of Quentin Tarantino...and you have this movie. It was pretty good...and definitely unique. Lots of quick cut editing, great fight scenes, imaginative story telling, and though the dialogue with a little off at times (English as a Second Language) it was still quite an impressive movie. I would recommend it. It's a new twist on the standard Western...like a Sushi Western instead of a Spaghetti Western or something.

Anyway, so that's where I'm at. Still looking for job opportunities and hopefully I'll know more by the time I leave for Cali in four days. It should be an interesting April for me...but it's like Forrest Gump said, "Yes sir, they shot me right in the buttocks." Oh wait, that's not the one. Sorry, it's been a few months since I've seen that movie. What was it? "I think I ruined your friend's towel." No, that's not it either. "Lieutenant Dan, you got legs." Oooh, strike three. "We was like peas and carrots again." "To do whatever you tell me, drill sergeant." No wait, I've got it. "Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're going to get." Things can change abruptly and completely...so you just have to be prepared for what may come. I want to thank all of you for being there for me (since most of you reading this have been there for me in one way or another) and I only hope that I can pay you guys back...even if just with a few laughs here and there. Have a great day everybody. "And that's all I've got to say about that."