Distracted Story About My Hair & Other Important News

My mind is distracted this morning. So much so, in fact, that I put body wash on my hair this morning instead of shampoo. When I realized my mistake I rinsed out the body wash and then put shampoo on my head. Apparently, however, I did not rinse well enough because I ended up with an unprecedented amount of lather on my head. I had nothing short of a giant white afro. After repeated rinses—a lengthy rinsing—my hair felt like straw. So then I did something I never do. I put conditioner on my hair. My hair is stringy and oily most of the time. So much so that I must wash it every single day to control the oil. And I never condition because that only intensifies the stringiness and oiliness. But this morning I did. So I am sitting at work looking like I just stepped out of the shower. I could probably fry up some chicken with all of the oil I have on my head. Nice.

Okay, so that was a long ramble about my hair. See....distracted. So why is my mind so distracted today? I received an email from my previous co-worker—the one who turned me onto the job I recently interviewed for. She said that her managers “loved” me and that I would be receiving a call from their recruiter next week with an offer. She actually used the work “love.” She didn't say “tolerated” or “resigned themselves to.” No, she said her managers loved me. So apparently, to my utter dismay, I am being offered the job. I simply have to wait to hear from the recruiter to negotiate salary and all the of logistics. I haven't officially accepted the position as of yet.

Needless to say, I am excited. After six years of scheduling furnace maintenance appointments on a part-time basis, I am excited to be starting a new chapter in a new job that actually utilizes my brain. The job is with Optum, a division of United Health Group. The position is the lead position on a team of sixteen people, working in the appeal department for a medical insurance company. I worked for years in the insurance industry prior to having my twins. I have a lot of experience. It can get quite complicated, as insurance is a highly regulated industry. So it's challenging work, but work that I find rewarding and enjoyable.

My only concern is that I will be coming onto a team in the midst of a shake-up. The managers are making fairly large changes and I have been told that some people on the team may not make the cut. They are looking for “new blood' and “positive attitudes” to energize the team. To create a “power team” (their words, not mine). I have been warned that I—as a new person coming into a leadership position—will likely encounter a lot of distrust. At least initially. But I have also been told that I will have the full backing of the management. So....though I am incredibly excited and energized about the prospects, I am also a tiny bit weary of what I am stepping into. Change is tough, but necessary to be successful. So we shall see. All in all, I am thrilled and ready to get started on a new challenge. I am feeling thoroughly positive about the whole thing.

The best part of the new job? I get to go shopping. No longer am I going to be shlubbing off to work in the morning looking like a slob on the way to a tailgating party. No, I am going to look like a professional again. I actually have occasion to buy a suit again. Maybe two...or three of four.

Woo-hoo!