Back to Boston, 15 year reunion and running

My 15 year high school was last night. It was strange to see everyone after all this time. When I lived in Somerville (Davis Sq area) after college I really didn't see anyone from my high school. I was removed enough. I did go to my 5 year reunion in 1999 though. That was a small gathering at a hole in the wall bar somewhere downtown. This reunion was more organized at a function hall called Mosley's located on the Boston line in Dedham (my hometown). It was good to see everyone, but I wish more people would have shown up. Some I definitely wanted to see. (photo on right is Kerry, Danielle and I with Ms. Clement our 5th grade teacher).

I just couldn't really identify with many people there. I'm not raising a family and I don't have kids. I think being the only gay person in my entire graduating class (or at least at the reunion) has made me feel this way. I was never an outcast in high school. I wasn't really picked on. I was athletic and the captain of the tennis team. I sort of blended in. I'm sure people had their suspicions though.

As I progressed through my 20s, something inside of me wanted me to leave and go very far away. I had an overwhelming urge to do this once things in my professional and personal life just weren't sitting with me well.. I never had the desire to stay close to where my family lives for various reasons. Maybe if my upbringing were a bit different I would never have moved. I couldn't picture myself living in the same place for my entire life. Some people are content with that. There's certainly nothing wrong with that, but it just feels so foreign to me. I think people like to put themselves in very comfortable surroundings and I can see why. I needed to branch out, see other areas of this country. I really loved California since the first time I visited on a work trip in 2001. I fell in love. I told myself then that I would move someday and I did. I never looked back.

I feel down today though. Maybe it's because of the weather. I have realized that Southern California has changed me. It has spoiled me. But it's just not the weather. It's so much more than that. Being back in Mass has made me reflect on my life. I've realized that I have never really followed my passion in a professional sense. With the marathon running I have followed my passion. I set goals, achieved them and feel at peace.

My career is not where I want it to be right now.  I've never stuck around at a job long enough to really get into a higher level at the position. Since 1999 I've had 8 full-time positions. That wasn't a misprint. Now, I wouldn't say I am your typical Generation X job hopper, who is always discontented with job after job. There have been various reasons why I didn't stay at each job. I've only been laid off once (this year), so basically I have quit 6 jobs. Some I quit just to escape an impending layoff. So I was perceptive enough to read the writing on the wall. Others I quit simply because I just wasn't interested in that particular job (insurance, inside sales, journalism).

It took me a while to realize that I want to work in marketing. But am I truly happy? Some days I feel ok with everything. Other days, I just want to drop everything an open a chocolate or gelato cafe. I think it's in my blood that I have always wanted to work for myself. My dad ran his own business for 20+ years before he died.

I'm in Boston until Dec 2. I decided to come home for two reasons. First, I was FORCED to take vacation time at work. We can't carry over our PTO (Paid Time Off) to 2010 due to cost saving measures at my company. I guess it's better than taking a pay cut or being laid off. So I was able to book a free trip with my American Advantage miles.

This is the first time since I moved away in 2004 that I have been to Boston during a cold time of year.  Boston has crappy weather most of the year if you count heat, humidity and rain, in addition to the cold, snow and ice of the winter months. Anyway, Friday felt like Seattle with cold, windy and rainy conditions. Yesterday was colder, drier and windy and I went running 6 miles. It was a struggle to keep a decent pace of 7:05 per mile. Dead brown leaves everywhere with broken branches all over the streets. Nothing is green. Green makes Anthony happy. Brown does not.   

My mom and I drove down to Cape Cod on Thanksgiving evening, directly after I flew into Logan. I do enjoy the townhouse condo in West Yarmouth and have fond memories . We had great summers here as kids. My parents bought the place in the summer of 1980. It's depressing to be there in the winter months since many places are seasonal and closed from mid-Sept to mid-May. It's a ghost town.

I'm headed to the OC it seems

Today I'm in NYC and headed up to Boston on the Megabus to see friends and family up there. Back to Boston on Monday and then I fly back to San Diego on Tuesday afternoon. I got here on Thursday (4/23). While I was on the plane I received a voicemail from the Irvine software company's recruiter. I got the job as a Marketing Programs Specialist! I had the interview last Tuesday and met with their VP of Marketing. It went really well. I talked to her for over 90 minutes and it just flew by. I went into this interview thinking I was going to be interviewed by an up-tight 50-something woman. I was surprised when I saw a woman in her upper 30s or early 40s who seemed young and vibrant. The entire vibe of the interview was warm and welcoming. It must be because she has toddlers. I was not nervous at that point once I started talking. 

I think I hit the home run when we started talking about social networking marketing. They were starting to do that and I mentioned a book by my former VP of Marketing called "The New Rules of Marketing and PR". I had read the first 3 chapters before going into the interview for ideas. I knew it was important. Actually 2 years ago when I was job searching back then my old VP (David Scott) gave me the PDF of the soon-to-be-released book. It is now a national best seller. Anyway, she said that she read this book, David's blog and bought this book for two of her employees. So we were on the same page and she seemed very impressed. I walked out thinking I got the job. I was conflicted though. 

At that point I didn't know if I got the LA job that I really wanted, I still had not heard. I knew the LA job would "BREAK THE CYCLE" of me getting these marketing jobs at tech companies. If I got the job I would finally be able to gain experience within another industry. I sent an email to the woman that night since I had not heard yet. The next afternoon (Wed, April 22) I got an email from her that said: 

"I wanted to update you that I made an offer to one of the other candidates and that person has accepted. You had some very relevant experience were a pleasure to meet and interview, though you are actually more senior than the position really requires. If a position comes up again on my team that can benefit from your great knowledge of email and direct marketing, I'll be in touch. Thank you for interviewing with me. I hope you find the perfect job soon." Obviously I was very disappointed. I guess she did have a point. I was a little too senior for the position but I thought my obvious enthusiasm for the company and sheer passion were going to overshadow this fact. I really pictured myself working and living in LA. So that was a huge disappointment. 

I am more at peace with it. On the plane to NYC before I even knew I got the Irvine job, I read about half of the "The New Rules of Marketing and PR" and became inspired. I told myself I would suck it up and throw myself into a marketing job at a tech company, something I have not really done before. I gained a lot of confidence reading this book and gaining new insights. When I got the VM with the offer I was thrilled. I was able to talk to the recruiter yesterday (we played phone tag on Thursday) and the offer was 2K less than my last job. I was able to get 1K more. At this point I don't care so much. I will just deal. they are performing the background check now with references and then I will get the official offer next week. In the mean time I am apt searching. I have isolated Costa Mesa and Newport Beach area as a place to live that is both close to work and a nice neighborhood. I have found several roommate situations that are affordable and not much more than my San Diego rent. I'll figure it out. I'll be starting the job on May 19, after I get back from Italy. I will most likely commute up there for a few weeks until I can get a place, but I am looking at renting mid-May or June 1. I already told my roommate I need to move out so he has plenty of time to get a new roommate.