It seems like my online presence is directly proportional to how stressed I am in my mundane, day-to-day life. One of the criticisms my last college writing instructors leveled in my direction was that I “made my readers work too hard,” by assuming that they would just connect the dots between A and Z.
Are you telling me that you all aren’t mind readers???
My husband and I have decided to take the leap and move from Oregon to Austin, Texas. We’re doing this at the end of August, and yesterday I handed in my resignation to my boss. It’s a long lead time, but since I have so much responsibility (and experience), I wanted to make sure that there was time to hire someone who will not just take the reins from me, but someone who will be superior. My boss laughs when I tell her this, but you’ve got to set the bar, right?
I manage a college bookstore, and graduation is upon us (next Friday). Between caps and gowns, talking down stressed students, buying books for summer term, preparing for fall term, installing a new security system, adding a new exterior entrance/exit, training in new systems, and constantly updating the operations manual I wrote for the store… well, it’s been a bit hectic at the Cave. Perfumes, during this time, are of pivotal importance—and we are NOT testing new fragrances right now! Comfort scents of all genre’s, reliable, calming, fortifying scents are what I’ve been reaching for.
For handing in my notice to the woman who took a risk on me: Puredistance Antonia, with a refresher spritz of Chanel no. 19 EDT after lunch.
For feeling insecure about taking the first steps of a major life decision: Chanel Bois des Iles.
For a 10-mile Sunday hike to keep me sane: Comme des Garçons Kyoto (thank you Tara!).
For a good nights sleep: SSS Champagne de Bois.
For balance on days when there’s more to do than is physically possible: Tauer Reverie au Jardin.
For embracing the unknown: Frapin 1697.
I feel particularly grateful to Anne-Marie during this time—she’s been sailing this ship solo for a few weeks—thank you Anne-Marie!
And, it’s my privilege to announce that you can look forward to a guest post from… Marie! One of our favorite Danes will be reviewing Chanel’s Egoïste (a personal favorite of mine), for your reading pleasure.
beauty on the outside 
Those morels are cool! Wow! Was it the fruit of a 10 mile hike?
I am happy for you to make the move you need, but oh, just when I’ve found a perfume friend….. 😉
Olga, that picture is from several weeks ago, when we went on a mushroom hunting expedition— and they are delicious! I made a soup with the big ones, then dried all the little guys. And now I have a lifetime supply of dried morels…
We need to organize a June sniff trip! I’ve missed you! 🙂
Dearest dee, sorry to hear all this stress has got you retreating further into the cave at the moment, hope things get easier. If it means anything I’m sure you’re doing the right thing, Austin sounds like just the COOLEST city and for two music fanatics like you and Mr. H it will be perfect. Hope it’s good for perfume too!
Glad Kyoto gave you some calm, I think it’s an extremely meditative scent. I think that BdI parfum is definitely in order though! Looking forward to Marie’s guest post. Big hug x
P.S. How anyone can look that good while cleaning mushrooms I don’t know!
You are the sweetest person Tara, your words feel like a warm hug! 🙂
I think that long term it’s a good decision for us (graduate school opportunities, lot’s going on musically as you said), but we’ve got a cozy little spot here (and I have a nice salary), so it’s scary pulling out of our cozy little nest!
The good news is that several people I know in the “industry” (LOL) have connections in Austin, and are paving the way for me with introductions, which is invaluable. I’m a very lucky person to be able to make a move like this!
Kyoto was perfect—just the right amount of wafting to create a peaceful atmosphere without intruding on my meditative state. 🙂
HA! Obviously you didn’t zoom in on the picture. Uhhh, nope—there’s not a zoom option…
LOL.
It’s always scary moving out of your comfort zone and taking a risk but this sounds like a very well calculated one and sure to be the best for you in the long-run. I also admire the way you are taking so much care over the position you are you leaving (many people would not bother). Any new employer in Austin will be extremely lucky to have you. I have a job vacancy at the Charity I work for right now – wish you were moving to London!
Oh man, I wish I was moving to London too! (except for that little thing about the rain 😉 )
Running this place is like running a puppet show—there are a lot of strings, and many people depending on those strings! Thus the long lead time. My boss has promised to write me a glowing letter of introduction to take with me… it will probably be much smoother a transition than I anticipate; I’m one of those people who gets a headache and then discovers on WebMD that I have a tumor, LOL!
By the way Tara, you are my fragrance guardian angel, I think. With the exception of Visa (haha), everything that you have sent to me has resonated with me in a powerful way. Thank you!!! 🙂
So, SO pleased about that, dee!
Hi dee, very best wishes to you as you embrace the future. I’m glad all those wonderful perfumes have been helping. I’m wondering about a perfume to go with surviving a period of stress, or the relief of having made a tough decision. Something that sings. Diorella springs to mind for me, and maybe Chanel No 5 EDP, which I wear in happy times.
I’m very much looking forward to Marie’s review of Egoiste. I’ve been wondering recently if any the masculine Chanels might suit me.
Thank you so much Anne-Marie! It’s been a nerve wracking time, but I’m also filled with hopeful anticipation. BoTO is going Texan!
AM, do you have any Champagne de Bois? It sings an embracing tenor for me— I will send you some if you don’t have any! 🙂
Egoiste is so lovely! It doesn’t last on my skin as long as I would like, but for the few hours that it does it’s a plush delight (and not masculine at all, IMO).
Marie has such a strong voice; it will be fun to hear her take 🙂
Even though making such a big move is intimidating, especially when you’re leaving a job that you love and that is paying you well, it’s also quite exciting! Looking forward to hearing all about it, once you get down there this summer. Austin has always intrigued me (especially for its music scene…I love that show Austin City Limits!). 🙂
Congratulations on making the big decision!
Thank you Suzanne! I’m going to blog the hell out of the adventure, no doubt you’ll be sick of hearing about the trip and Austin in general by the time September rolls around, ha! 😉
Dee,
It is a Holiday here today, which means no computer for me, so I couldn’t comment sooner, but I thought about you all day. It is such a brave and good decision you are undertaking right now, it’ll be an exiting time. I am glad perfume is helping you and especially that Frapin is on the list. It is such a powerful mood enhancer, that is what I enjoy most about fragrance. Sending many hugs your way,
xoxo
B., I never feel neglected by you 🙂
I do feel very brave. Bravery is doing something even though you’re terrified, right?
😉
Exactly! 🙂
“my online presence is directly proportional to how stressed I am”…oh Dee, I understand!!
Funny how working at a university, you end up doing much more than your described duties…like you soothing those freaking out about convocation, I help lost and confused students find thier way around campus, fix the jammed photocopier and look up words in the dictionary. What’s funny is I work in an office, hidden away from the library stacks, but the kids grab me on my way to lunch or the bathroom. I guess something about me says “yes I work here, ask me anything”!
How exciting that you are moving to Texas! I hope you find a wonderful home there. I’m with Suzanne-I love Austin City Limits. I wonder if you can get tickets to a taping?
Egoiste is a long time favorite of mine. It was the signature scent of an ex, but I reclaimed it!
LOL, just a minute ago, I had a student complain to me that her juice was stuck in the vending machine. Ha! I sent her to the right people, but it’s a good illustration of how students think that anyone with the college has ALL the answers.
Texas is such a neat place—it’s got a lot of personality, as far as US states go. Everything is bigger in Texas!
Austin City Limits is something that I have not heard of… is it comedy or music?? Must investigate!
Glad you were able to re-claim Egoiste! It would be such a shame to lose it.
Hurrah! Congratulations on the move and, even more, for having the guts to do it. And this means we can do perfume meetups during SXSW, right?! 😉
YES! A perfume meet & sniff is an absolute must! 🙂
Congratulations! I hope that the move is everything you could wish for, and a smooth transition to it. It’s hard to leave the cozy nest, but I’m sure that the chance to fly awaits you.
My sister moved from VA to Ft. Hood earlier in the year, and is getting the wimwams from all the honkin’ big bugs in TX. Also, I think the heat is getting to her (not that it’s all that much cooler here, actually)…
Thank you Mals!
Aha, you’ve nailed it on the head: if you want to fly, you’ve got to leave the nest! I love that analogy 🙂
Hmmm… I’ll bet the bugs are big in Texas. Do they have cockroaches??? 😦
There’s even book on facing our fears called Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway. I think I know how you feel – that sense of not being quite able to touch the ground at alle times, those moments of cold sweats and a hear that races.
But you do sound like you know where you’re heading and why, and “you” are also two – it must be great to do something like this together as a part of a greater plan or direction in life 🙂 And moving with a positive motivation and not because we have to is always the better situation.
As I’ve said already and will probably repeat a number of times, I’m excited that you’re giving me this opportunity. I will do my very best to make you happy with your decision 🙂
LOL, I should be writing a book about the process, then maybe I won’t have to look for another day job! 😉
Moving with positive motivation is a good way to put it—I know that there are people who make big moves because they have to—I can’t imagine how stressful that would be! I’m blessed to have this kind of opportunity, but I’ll always be a hypochondriac, ha!
Oh, I’m easy to please; it’s my readers that have strong opinions 😉 I’m just teasing you a little, as I have a good feeling that you are going to feel very welcome!
And you’re more sensible in your perfume choices than I am when I’m under a lot of stress – I tend you branch out, wear perfumes I don’t know to work with the intention of distracting my attention from the stress, but I’m beginning to think that your strategy is the wiser on the days when you’re up against it. Familiarity is the wiser option on those days.
haha, the only branching out I’ve done recently is trying the Nazgul (Amber Narguile) that Tara sent—but as I said to her, an amber perfume hardly counts as new territory 🙂
I think I’d go off the deep end if I didn’t have such a reliable arsenal… you know how a scent can take you to a specific emotional place? Well, the place I’ve been looking for is cozy AND confident. Fragrance is like a drug, in that sense (Xanax, anyone?).
I came rather late to this party…but wow, Dee, hello-and-how-are-ya-and how-great-to-see-you-poke-your-head-out, too! 🙂
Moving anywhere is such a massively huge decision, but I’ve heard so many great things about Austin and I just know you’ll be a smash there! I wish you only the best in 24K luck! Besides, that means I’ll have not one friend in Austin, but two!
I’m sending you a massive amount of hugs to help deal with all the stress…and can’t wait to read all about your new adventures – in life AND in perfume!
As you said, courage, bravery, audacity – is all in doing it anyway even – or maybe especially if – you’re terrified! It’s only the things you didn’t do that you live to regret!
I should know – in August of 2000, I left DK and moved to New Mexico because I fell in love. Although the marriage fell through recently, it gave me a lifelong friend and fan, Spider-Man Jr. and something else very important – it made me a writer!
Sometimes, the only way to know…is to go! You go, girl!
XOXO
It’s never too late to party!
(said the hermit)
There’s so much here, but the thing that shouts at me most? You lived in New Mexico??!! Where??? I lived in New Mexico! Santa Teresa, to be exact, down there right next to El Paso. I also spent a lot of time in Demming, Las Cruces, and up north near Taos. What a bizarre coincidence! (This is a big country, after all).
I think it’s great that you followed your heart, halfway across the world; and what a wonderful gift to have come out of it, His Royal Adorable-ness, Spider-Man Jr.!
Sorry, I’m a little late to the party – it seems I cannot get to read anything in time these days.
What can I say? I applaud you. I’m scared even to read about the move now (though at some point of my life I’ve changed the continent 😉 ).
I hope it all goes as smooth as possible. Poor Cho…
Poor Cho! She’ll be the Queen of Texas by the end of the year! 🙂
The outpouring of emotional support from my fellow perfumistas has lifted my spirits, and is helping me focus on why we’re doing it. Stress levels are slowly going down (for now).
Gosh, If I didn’t know you had a blog I would never know what you’ve been up to. You’re moving in AUGUST?! Call your BFF please.
Hi best friend! 😉 Dialing…
What a cute picture! And how exciting for you! One of my top college choices, Rice, is in Houston. I often regret not having ended up in Texas during those charming Maryland winters. They say that Texas has great perfume shopping! 🙂
Thank you Ari! 🙂
We really like Texas, and taking a leap outside of our comfort zone, while frightening in some ways, will be good for us on so many levels!