Okay, so I’ve been delinquent on the blog. I know that. But you have to understand – I started my new job this week. And already things are a hot mess.
Without an artful attempt to tell a full and interwoven story, I will opt for bullets. I apologize. I don’t like it either. But this is where my life is right now.
- Final Week
In my final week, I entered into a stage 2 depression. It wasn’t so bad that I couldn’t do anything, but I didn’t mange to do much. The highlights are that I made amends with a friend (not sure “amends” is the right word, but I don’t have the kind of time I used to for rewrites), learned that men are stupid enough to put their most senstive organ in precarious positions, cut myself severely (seriously, I contemplated the emergency room, which any one who knows me can explain – I fucking hate the medical profession), spent a fun-filled day with the LJ clan (we even had a near-miss on a bear siting – long story), ate lots of Chinese food in honor of MG’s 30th b-day (yes, I’m being generous on the age… and btw, anyone who wants to go to Peking Duck House in VA, I’m in), and made a gallant tho foolhardy attempt at cooking Indian food with AM (at least we had fun).
- First Day
After being told not to get to the office before 10 am because, you know, folks might not be in yet, I had a pretty darn good first day. Now, this might surprise those of you who know me well and/or have been through other first-days-at-work with me.
Ready?
I liked everyone.
I know. Shocking. It shocked me too. And on Day 3, it continues. I like my direct supervisor. I like her supervisor. I like the main boss-man. I like the district staff.
I know. Crazy. But true. These people are nice and helpful and thoughtful and funny.
Yes, I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop too.
- ID
So as part of this job, I needed to get an offical ID. For most people, this is not an issue. For me, this is always an issue.
For example, at the firm, I had to get an ID. The picture on the ID continues to be a soar point for me, but a source of seemingly neverending joy for those around me. Upon seeing my firm ID, I had co-workers and friends a like tell me the following:
“You look so… proud.”
“You look like you’re in a new suit.”
“You look like you just put on your Sunday best.”
“You look so… I don’t know… excited.”
The ellipses here should be read an uncontrollable laughter.
My other picture ID’s have had similar issues. G-d, just take a look at my current drivers’ license; it’s terrible. Frankly, I don’t photograph well. I think this is something that those of us who know that we look weird say to explain the fact that, well, we look weird. Whatever. It is what it is. (I hate this phrase, btw.)
Anyway, I’m getting distracted.
So I went to the ID place. Filled out the paperwork, stood in line, and got to the camera. Here’s what happened.
ID Lady: Stand in front of the white poster.
Me: (Fumbling to figure out where I should stand.)
ID Lady: Ready? Look at the camera. Smile.
Me: (Not ready, but giving my ID smile.)
ID Lady: Look at the camera. (Snap! Looks at photo. Looks at me.) Your eyes weren’t even open. Let’s do another one.
Me: (Relieved that this lady is even willing to do a Take Two, I smile.)
ID Lady: Ready? (Snap! Looks at photo. Displeased, to say the least.) Yeah, we’re doing another one.
Me: (Cracking up laughing, smiling uncontrollably.)
ID Lady: (With no warning, Snap!) That’s the one. Lord, I thought we weren’t going to get one!
The ID, which I try never to look at, is fine. But I’m sure there will be comments from the peanut gallery.
- Other Issues
It appears that I’ve forgotten how to work. On top of that, I have seemed to forgotten how to be busy. Because that’s what I am. Like all the time. Busy. Every time I turn around, someone is calling or emailing or requesting a meeting or something. When I talk to them, they have annoying things to say like, “I’d like your boss to co-sponsor a bill” when my boss has already signed onto the bill.
Or they are asking for a meeting when my boss has already done everything he can possibly do for these people and they just want to drop off materials and thank us. Um, what happened to the Postal Service? Mail that shit.
Or they want us to play referee on something that we have no business playing referee in.
Or they are Republicans who want to play nice with us because, you know, Dems are in power now. But they show up and say things like, “Well, my evil industry isn’t as evil as people say. I mean, we like help people and stuff. You know, we need to make a profit, so you have to pay for it. And pay a lot. But I mean, you should love us the way the Republicans do. Oh, and we need some appropriations help.”
Delusional, all of them.
Anyway, the reality for me is that I’m not too busy to respond to G-chats, email, calls, texts, etc. And that is unforgivable. Truly.
- Mid-Week Review
So far, so good. I like these people. I like this job. So far, anyway.
I don’t like that this job continues to threaten to bring me face-to-face with my old boss. Who I can’t stand. Because she is a horrendous human being. (Trust me, this isn’t just me talking. She’s horrendous.)
But all-in-all, I’m not repulsed by the idea of having to go back there tomorrow. I think this is what a job should be. But having never had this feeling, I’m not sure.
- Future Outlook
Well, I have to give comments at a briefing tomorrow on an issue that I don’t know anything about. Beyond that, Friday is rapidly approaching. And much to my delight, ALJ and JLJ will be meeting me for our regularly scheduled Friday lunch. Which is fantastic.
So things are good… for now.
Then perhaps I shouldn’t mention that I found your old D&P ID card deep in my desk drawer just last week and only then threw it out?
the bullets are cute.
[…] less than great in photos. (And that’s them being nice!) I draw your attention to the ID story in a recent post as Exhibit 1. So when I opened ALJ’s blog recently, I was came […]