There’s a new lady in my life…

… and her name is Memphis.

No, not April Lancaster, Miss Memphis 2006, I mean the city of Memphis, home of the blues, the Grizzlies, and the coolest radio station ever, Soul Classics 103.5. (not to mention a hard-to-find Apple Store).

Last weekend I travelled to Memphis for a job interview for The Commercial Appeal, the daily newspaper of Memphis, TN. I made it up there Thursday night and stayed over with Lindsey and Phil.

On Friday, I made the interviewing rounds at the paper. Maybe I’m just new at this sort of thing, but their interviewing process is ridiculously long. I arrived at the Appeal at 9:00 a.m., and didn’t leave until 4-4:30 p.m. I did a quasi-interview once for a paper in Shelbyville where I worked for half-a-day, so they could make sure I knew what I was doing, but this was far more involved.

I talked to 7 or 8 editors/future co-workers during the day, including managing editor Otis Sanford, who shares my newfound love of ’70’s soul, fellow leftie (handed, not political persuasion) Chris Peck, and Dennis Copeland, former photo editor, currently head of online team at the Appeal. This guy, despite only living in Memphis for 7-8 years, seems to have ties to practically every famous person to ever come out of the town. (He has Jerry Lawler’s phone number if you ever need it…)

Apparently I left an impression at the Appeal. I received a phone call today from Scott, my main contact at the paper during this whole process, that I have a job at the Appeal, pending a drug test. (Since it’s finals week and all, I hope excessive levels of caffeine isn’t an issue…)

I’m ecstatic. Despite a few bright points, I’ve pretty much hated everything about Murfreesboro over the last 6 months. I’m ready to move on. I had a great time in Memphis last weekend, and look forward to many more fun times in the near future.

Unfortunately, I’ve got a lot to learn before I get there.

I’m going to be seeing much more of this…

I’m going to have to appreciate this guy a bunch more…

I’m going to have to lay off the “Selling Memphis to Arkansas to make both states better” jokes.

Somebody’s going to have to tell the Nashville is Talking kids that I’m not going to reside anywhere near Nashville anymore.

I’m going to have to get over my aversion to pink