So this is traffic?

Today I travelled my normal route to work. Rocking out to some Chicago, still trying to figure out Jim's car, and absolutely still confused that the signs say "Green Bay" vs. "New York".  I got on  the highway and accelerated to a nice 65 mph. And Boom!  Brake lights!  Holy crap, traffic does exist. It wasn't a dead stop like rt 80 or the GWB. And it was no where near as bad as the dreaded exit 7 on the turnpike. However, the lights were red and cars were going slower than normal. People got off the exits as fast as possible. I decided to stick with the highway and see how terrible it really was. 5 minutes later everything opened up. Why might you ask?  The reason for the "traffic" was the state trooper driving in the right lane. lol. 

Now I know this state will have its fair share of traffic, but I will take this over NJ/NY typical state trooper/construction/accident/rain/sun/ don't know how to drive traffic any day!!! 

So you think you can drink?

Growing up by the New York/metropolitan area, a drink could cost as high as 15.00 bucks for a shitty mixology. For a long time I was worried I was hurting my liver. Not that I drink a lot, but you always worry what you are putting into your body. However, here what almost killed me, was a heart attack. Happy hour prices are AMAZEBALLS. That's simply because the prices to begin with are very inexpensive. Maybe that's why every person in Wisconsin seems to be professional drinkers!  So you think you can drink?  I seriously challenge you to drink with a Wisconsinite. It won't end well for you. I promise. 

This whole weekend (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday) a bunch of people celebrated my coworker and new found friend Anita's birthday. There were many drinks, tons of laughs, a sick amount of dancing, youngens everywhere, memories that were had, and a bunch of bar hopping. Sure this brought me back to my college years (epic- miss my ladies)  but it also made me realize that you are only as old as you feel. Why the hell not try multiple bars?  Why the hell not try new foods and restaurants?  Why the hell not start your night at 9pm?  And why the hell not show those twenty year old college students who owns the dance floor?  

Sometimes life takes some side roads!  This past weekend mine travelled up and down college avenue!  

What's my password?

I have been in my new role at Georgia Pacific for one week already. I can't believe how time flies. It feels like yesterday I was crying in front of my boss and friend Michelle giving her my 2 weeks. And now BOOM!  I already got paid and got my signing bonus!  

I can't help but compare the two companies side by side. I am extremely grateful for everything Mondelez provided for me. I got to see the world. I created some delicious confections and I was able to meet my second family. In my new Research Scientist role, I am able to create, innovate, and develop a new consumer brand from scratch.  It might not be food, but it is still pretty interesting and less fattening. 

Some key things I have noticed with my first week: 

- I keep putting in my old password from Mondelez into my computer.

- Not only do I have an office, my office is in a high traffic area where people tend  to stop and have a conversation. It's like a bigger version of my Mondelez cube. 

- I was told I need to vacuum my own office and if I need my garbage to be thrown out, I need to put my garbage can outside. I guess my office will be spotless. Unlike in the past where my cube had a Halls melted into the carpet next to the crumbs from the snacks that was never picked up from the cleaning crew. 

- No free coffee at GP!  That's ok. We can have coffee pots in our office. One whole pot I coffee just for me! 

- People know that I stock my shelves with snacks!  But now people knock on my door for some Oreos instead of just walking into the area and taking what they want. Give it time though. 

- Colleagues book flights the day before a meeting. Lol. This isn't the Mondelez travel policy. Hahahaha

- International flights?  If you consider Atlanta international!  Lol. 

- Chaos!  Guess things never change!  

Wisconsin's definition of delicious!

My friends all know I have a slight addiction to coffee and diet Mt Dew. While many people love coffee, I never really met another female who loves the diet dew as much as I do... Until now!  Just about every female I see in the cafeteria drinks the dew and has more than 1 during lunch. I am HOME! 

I do however notice that in Wisconsin, everything has cheese on it. And yes, I know the state is known for cheese and dairy, but please tell me why melted cheese needs to be on top of chicken dumplings?  Apparently, cheese and butter is a what a badger constitutes delicious. The dairy state in my opinion got one out of two necessities right!  

It is a nice, refreshing sight to see people not afraid to eat. I am actually the one getting the weird looks by brining in a lean cuisine. It is only a matter of time before someone asks me "Are you going to put cheese on that?"

A day of firsts!

Today was my first day at Georgia Pacific  and the first anniversary my mom had to celebrate without the love of her life. 

My excitement felt like it was Christmas morning, but with a heavy heart as well. I knew mom would be strong today, but undoubtfully sad and I knew she would be upset if she realized I was worrying more about her than my new chapter. So, today I dedicated my first day to my mom and dad - the two people I look up to the most. With that, I seriously dove head first into the unknown. In the end, I can honestly say I made a magnificent splash!  

Leaving my family was the hardest decision I had to make, especially on days like this, but today's accomplishments, encouragement and excitement was reassurance that I made the right decision. GP is a great company and my job is pretty much as amazing as it can get. For a Research Innovation Scientist, I couldn't as for much more....Maybe and office?  Yep!  Got it!  Ok, maybe there is more!  More fantastic opportunities ahead of me!  

For all those out there, if an opportunity presents itself and it is something appealing, don't be afraid of the what ifs. Just be afraid of not saying why not. 

Dad taught me a lot when he was alive and with his passing it taught me that life is too short. Make the most of every second. I am glad I did. 

Happy anniversary mom and dad. 

My first week findings

Well, it has been about one week since I have relocated to the Midwest, and though I will always be true Jersey, there are some fantastic attributes the Midwest gives you. I can't say that I am relaxed or moving at a slower pace. The complete opposite actually. I was at Walmart today and I literally heard the woman say to her husband "She looks unfriendly and in a hurry!"  NO LADY!  I am not in a hurry, you are just slow as molasses. And I am friendly, but after I said hi to the first 49 people at Walmart who said hi to me, I am a little tired and still have shopping to do. So excuse me if I don't look directly at you, smile, tell you to have a wonderful day and then proceed to tell your 15 kids the same thing. Instead, please get out of my way, comb your kids hair and let me shop. If that happened, I might just go out of my way and say a general how are you to you and your football team. 

Ok, enough bitching. The NY/NJ will never leave me, and I know the locals realize this. I do stick out, but the Wisconsonites are welcoming so that is encouraging. I will try to relax a bit, but all I can do is promise to try. I can't guarantee I will try hard or even for a long time, but I will try. Lol. 

So after a week, here are some insights I observed regarding the Midwest/Wisconsin

#1 Nicest People

There are some really nice people here. Workers, strangers, neighbors. Just extremely outgoing, thoughtful and obnoxiously sweet. It is a little unnerving. I really don't know what to do with myself. Don't get me wrong, I too am outgoing and cautious of other people around me, but the people here are just too much. I have not met one sales person who has not crossed the line of compulsive niceness. It is almost to the point where I have to turn to the sales person and politely ask them to stop following me and telling me about their life story. It makes me feel extremely awkward. I make eye contact, I say good morning and then I simply state what I am looking for. Case closed. I don't need to know about your car trouble, what you had for lunch or if your kid should get braces. (I am not making this up!)

#2. Driving 

Going 5 miles over the speed limit, I noticed I am flying past people in the left lane. The drivers here pay more attention to the minimum speed limit posting then the max. However, I can see why they drive slow. Apparently Wisconsin hasn't heard of street or highway lights. But what Wisconsin does have an abundant amount of? -  ROUNDABOUTS!  Good grief!  These are not like a typical circle. No, these roundabouts are mazes!  Plus, I am already over pumping my own gas. 

#3 Cheap Beer 

There is beer everywhere and it is inexpensive. Everyone in NJ who thinks you can drink, has not hung out at a Wisconsin bar. It is pretty AMAZEBALLS. But the coolest thing ever???... A thirty pack is about $11.00 dollars cheaper here. Actually, just about everything is cheaper here. 

#4 "Warm" front 

When I went to South Africa, I was the one telling the locals that their winter was mild and the upper 30's wasn't frigid. Now I am the girl who needs to get talked to. Wisconsin last week hit an ideal temperature of 73. Girls are walking around in tanks and shorts. However, my blue fingernails and goose bumps are making me wear North Face attire and pants. I am screwed. 

#5 Dunkin Donuts

A couple days ago, I went to a DD. So excited that these delicious chain coffee suppliers are located in my area. Currently, the DD to my temp living is 2 minutes away. As I placed my first Wisconsin DD order, I was literally drooling and emotionally excited. I asked for a pumpkin flavored hot medium "CAUWFEE" with a little skim milk. Then, the lady asked me "How many pumps?" Jim and I stood there with a blank look. I simply said "I'm sorry!  What did you say?"  She then asked me again, ".How many pumps?" Still with a confused look on my face, all I kept thinking about was fistpumping!  Was she making fun of my accent?  Nope. She was referring to how many pumps of skim milk I wanted in my coffee. Um.. 1 I guess?  How about this? You call Malum from the Hasbrouck Heights DD, and he will tell you how D drinks her coffee!  

This was my first 5 days of observations and encounters. This should be an interesting relocation and blog!  

Road trips are awesome.. For the most part

Jim and I decided to take 2 days to drive up to our new home. We drove one day to Sandusky, Ohio where we originally was going to have some significant fun at Cedar Point and then see the newest member to the Tsao family. Well, unfortunately Cedar Point is closed on the weekdays since the summer is over (though summer really still has about 2 weeks left). So scratch Cedar Point!  Let's now have dinner at a local restaurant with the cousins and the baby. Well, majority of the restaurants in downtown Sandusky were closed since it was Labor Day. At this point, all I kept thinking was that I was happy to see Lee, Wendy and baby Sebastian. Who needs food?  In any event, we did find food and also had ice cream with a small serving representing the size of a baby bear! It was delicious, but Midwest serving sizes are a little confusing. A kids size should not be a medium!  Lol.

Speaking of sizes, driving up to Appleton, we noticed a significant amount of triple tractor trailers. Those trucks are huge and haul ass!  We "spied" 36 out of 50 state license plates, made fun of many city names especially in PA. I mean come on - PA just adds ville to anything. (Ex. Limestoneville, Lordville, White4doorfordfusionville j/k). Also, Ohio, are you serious with Fangboner?  Lol!

While driving, we also noticed that the term EZ - PASS changed to I - PASS.  Both Jim and I were hoping that the two were transferable.  They were, but that would have been a huge ordeal since majority of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin's E-Z pass lanes still have gates.  There is no drive through at 15 MPH.  Instead, you pull up and wait 15 seconds for the gate to open after your ez-pass has been accepted.  Could you imagine that on the Turnpike or Parkway?  It is bad enough with traffic as is.

All in all we had a good trip.  There was little to no traffic and a very easy drive to say the least.  We went through major cities, farm land and lots of nothing.  Jim only had one moment of pure NJ hit him and that was in Chicago.  Other than that, we stayed calm, tried to just go with the flow and drove as CLOSE to the speed limit as possible.