The New Girl
Well, I started my new job today (not yesterday as originally thought). I think it went well and everyone I met seemed pretty nice so that’s all good! I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to catch on although I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t intimidated. I guess that’s what new jobs are all about, right?
One big perk is that on top of the free water and coffee the office has, they also have vending machines full of free juice and soda. Now, considering how my last job slowly took away such privileges as complimentary tea and coffee in the time leading up to the firm’s demise, these beverages are all a pretty big deal for me. By the time the last firm finally closed, they had even removed our water coolers. Not surprisingly, we were all pretty much aware that we were circling the drain at that point. Get it? Drain.
Score!
Since this was my first full day of actual work in just over two months, my head feels like it’s going to drop off from my body and roll far, far away. It’s been so stuffed with knowledge of new programs, names of dozens of people, rules and regulations and general space layouts that I think it might just burst. This new company is housed on 12 different floors and each floor is its own particular maze of offices, cubicles, break rooms and kitchens. I managed to get myself lost once and since I had yet to receive my handy key card pass that allows me to move around the floors, I had to play the part of a little kid and ask a grown up to help me find my way to my office. Ah yes, it’s always good to be humbled.
Speaking of being humbled, I realized I need to up my game when it comes to my wardrobe. Gone are the days of me hiding in an office and not interacting with anyone – I need to be a little more professional. I took a pair of old dress shoes to the local shoe repair shop yesterday and the guy there laughed at me before telling me that I needed to go ahead and just throw them away because they were beyond saving. Then when I had my photo taken for my badge today, I realized that the sweater I was wearing was the exact same one I had on when I had my first day of work badge made at my last job – over 3.5 years ago. Whoops. Definitely time for an upgrade. Luckily I’m getting paid so I can afford some new duds!
All in all, not a bad first day. The girl I’m replacing will actually be leaving for good tomorrow afternoon and then I’ll be totally on my own so I’m still more than a little nervous. Good thing I can keep my eye on the prize – paychecks, new clothes and free Pepsi!
FRIDAY IS THE BEST DAY!
GOOD NEWS! I’m taking an impromptu trip out of town to visit some family that was planned last night before this good news happened today so I can’t write much because I’m about to leave BUT – I START A JOB ON MONDAY!! It’s a temp to permanent thing which sort of makes me nervous but apparently this company has a strong track record of hiring their temps. It’s with a solid financial investment firm and I’ll be supporting 6 bankers. It’s a big job and very intimidating but I think I can do it! AND I GET TO GO BACK TO WORK!!
I usually hate these things but well, it fits.
Guys, this whole unemployment thing is rough and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. It makes you feel worthless and lazy and like a crap member of society, even though it’s totally not your fault. I’ve had probably two dozen interviews in the last two months and while that’s a good thing, it’s a different type of crappy feeling when none of those quite worked out, for whatever the reason. But now I have a good firm that pays well and has actual decent benefits (all of the things that were lacking in my last job) and I really, really hope it works out. I’ll be spending the weekend enjoying my little trip while simultaneously freaking out about Monday morning but that’s better than freaking out about facing yet another week of unemployment!
Sorry this post is a little nutso but MAN I’m pumped. Fingers crossed it works out as well as I hope it does!
Obligatory (albeit late) Valentine’s Day Post
This year’s lovey dovey holiday was a day much like any other. I had a couple of phone interviews (which resulted two in-person interviews this week so fingers are crossed!) and I went to the gym. Not exactly exciting but Scott and I aren’t exactly in a position to buy each other fancy jewels and expensive dinners this year. However, we still managed to give each other something. I received some purple mums from Trader Joe’s and two bags of Reese’s Cups in the shape of hearts (by the way, so damn dangerous) while Scott got some non-generic shaving gel that he’d had his eye on. Yup, we’re crazy. And we ordered pizza, which was basically the most romantic thing ever. At least to me, because I sure do love pizza.
Not hard for the vegetarians among us
It would have been nice to get dressed up and go someplace out of the ordinary but the weather is still extremely miserable here, plus Valentine’s Day falls right on the heels of Scott’s Birthday, Christmas and my own birthday. I brought up the idea of celebrating Valentine’s Day in August so we could actually show some skin on our date and not have to worry about battling the masses for reservations, so that’s something we may consider. I should have a job by then, right?
Achy Breaky What
So Billy Ray Cyrus just released ‘Achy Breaky 2’, which is a rap version of his one true hit, Achy Breaky Heart.
Um, what?
Yeah he had to have been smoking something to think this was a good idea…
I’m not going to post the video here because the last time I attempted to post a video WordPress banned my blog and I got all scared that internet agents were going to show up at my door and steal my computer, but you can probably find it pretty quickly on Google if you’re curious. I will tell you that it features Larry King, aliens and so many girls twerking like Miley that it’s downright uncomfortable. Also, the entire song sucks and the video is ridiculous but given everything that’s come from that family in the last decade, it’s not hard to believe. That said, if you do choose to watch the video you can’t say you haven’t been warned.
And now my ears ache.
Aaaand I’m 30
Three decades…wow!
Growing up, I never really pictured myself as an adult. The whole big white wedding, suburban house with the white picket fence and 2.5 children running around thing was never something I had planned and mapped out at a young age. I’ve always sort of taken life as it comes and while a wedding/house/kids may be in my future at one point, I’m definitely not there yet. I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t had a few freakout “I’m-30-and-technically-unemployed-and-still-living-in-a-one-bedroom-apartment” feelings but for the most part, I’ve become content with where I am. I’m living with my best friend in a huge city that I love. I have hobbies that allow me to write creatively (and get paid for it!) and also hang out at the Field Museum on a regular basis (and sometimes get paid for that too!). I have a wonderful family and a ton of amazing friends. I’m healthy and happy and this whole turning 30 thing is like a whole new slate (thanks to my sister for that perspective).
On that note, here are some statistics from the last 30 years:
- I’ve lived in 4 cities across 2 states.
- I’ve held something like 15 jobs. I also once got paid $50 to watch a porno for part of a college psych research study. Additionally, I once earned $30 for posing nude for an art class.
- I loved college and earned 2 degrees in my 5 years there.
- The longest I ever stayed awake was 47 hours. I do not recommend doing that.
- I’ve had 4 cars, 1 of which was technically totaled 2 times.
- I’ve had at least 4 serious relationships and have dated both men and women. Along the way I’ve had my heart broken and broken a few in return but I’m absolutely happy with where all that has led me.
- I’ve only ever broken 1 bone, my arm. And technically my sister did that.
- I’ve only stayed in the hospital once, after my 2 tonsils were removed.
- I own 11 animated movies, which I still watch. In fact, I love movies from my youth so much that I made Scott watch Now and Then with me last night.
- I’ve traveled to 10 countries in the last 9 years.
- I’ve only been to 18 states.
- I was 21 when I carved my first pumpkin and 23 when I first had an avocado.
- I’ve been a vegetarian for 20 years. And just saying that makes me feel REALLY old.
- I’ve had 5 cats, 2 dogs, 2 mice, 1 bird, 1 hamster and 1 gerbil. I currently have 1 cat.
- I have what looks like 1 tattoo, even though I got it in 2 parts. The first part was when I was 17. I consider the whole thing a testament to being young and stupid.
- Regardless of the stupid things I did when I was young, I’ve successfully lived for 30 freaking years.
And honestly, if the next 30 treat me as well as the last 30 then I’ll consider myself very lucky indeed!
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