Oh, so that's what a weekend is!

I feel like I'm cheating. I get off work at 3:45, and I only have to work Monday through Friday. I get two days off... in a row! It's unbelieveable. A major blessing. And besides that, I really do like what I'm doing. Granted, I'm still learning right now. My boss is pretty great, and she's really encouraging (when she's not teasing me or cracking herself up with weird New York accents). Today she gave me this pep talk, telling me she's so excited that I've come so far in only two weeks, yada yada... It really does mean a lot when your boss/manager/supervisor remembers to say positive things. I know it can be so easy to take the achievements of others for granted, but they'll probably burn out fast if you don't remember to say "thank you" and "great job."

I leave Sunday afternoon for Southern California for two weeks. I'll be training with several other new hires. It's supposed to be so hot that they officially changed our dress requirements to "business casual" (whoo hoo!). I'm pretty excited, but that is a long time to be gone. I'll definitely miss church, and am super bummed that I'll have to miss Tyler and Lindsey's wedding :( Adam, I hope you'll be there, video camera in hand!

I know I already asked for prayer regarding the 21 year old I started with, but I'd like to ask for your continued prayers in that matter. Her foul mouth and prideful attitude are really starting to get under my skin. Today she started bad-mouthing Mormons (quite loudly) in the breakroom, and one of our co-workers confronted her about it. Turns out, you guessed it, he's Mormon. I felt bad for the whole situation, but secretly hoped it might help to simmer her down a bit. I'll give her a little credit, though. Yesterday she blurted out "Jesus Christ" (only probably not in the worshipful way I might have hoped) and then turned to me and asked, "Does that offend you?" When I affirmed that it does offend me, she said she'd never say it again. I told her it was just fine to speak of His name, just please not in that context. :) Le Sigh.

Not wanting to end on a sour note, I'll tell you what I plan to do with my upcoming weekend in SoCal... We'll definitely be cruising the streets of LA (you know, Rodeo Drive, the Walk of Fame, etc) searching for famous people I most definitely won't recognize (I could seriously run smack dab into Britney Spears and not know who she was). Another big event is the trip to Ikea, since we'll be missing the Oregon store's grand opening. Beyond that I'd really like to visit Universal Studios, but I'll have to convince everyone else of that first.

I probably won't have much access to blogs and that sort of thing while I'm down there, so I'll try my best to keep in touch. May your days be blessed and fruitful!

The Job

First off, I can't believe I no longer work for Starbucks. Seriously. Maybe when I go back there and hand in my keys and aprons it will seem real? I was supposed to do that today, but forgot to grab them in my anxious frenzy heading out the door for my first day at the new job...

I panicked for at least a week over what to wear. I had been to the office twice already, but never quite got a feel for what sort of dress code the other women were adhearing to. Some wore full-on suits, while others wore frumpy getups reminiscent of the librarian of the 1980s. So, logically, I bought two suits, a few pairs of pants, some blouses, and a couple of basic button-up tops. Okay, maybe I overdid it a bit in my excited "I love shopping and I can finally afford to" state of mind. But I swear I'm done. For now. *cough*

Once I had the perfect outfit picked out for my first day, I promptly changed my mind. Then, when I really had the perfect outfit, I worried over whether to pack a lunch or just bring money. I didn't want to be the weird kid with the lunch pail full of yogurt and PB&J. No one would want to sit by me in the lunchroom! I decided it was best to just bring some cash and hope to get to know a fellow co-worker over lunch out. Next, I deliberated over bringing my personal planner. I've got the big pretty bubbly spiral-bound number they sell at Borders every year. It's so cute - and functional! But, not business savvy, I'm afraid. I just prayed they'd have some paper and a pen for me to use if there was anything that required note-taking.

I was finally ready to go, and in the car on the road at 8:10, leaving me plenty of time to get to the office for my 9:00 start time. Hmm, no traffic. I arrived at the closest Starbucks at 8:25. Ick, why did I actually pay for that? I took about three sips, and watered the plants with the rest. Poor plants.

Once I was safely assigned to my team, got my desk and computer station set up, and figured out how to use all my passwords and security badge, the day was wonderful! My boss seems really great, and I felt very welcomed by my team. Yay! I can't wait to learn how to use my computer with its fancy double screen and multi-faceted software programs. Ooh, and tomorrow I get my "ergo eval" so my workstation is adjusted perfectly to little old (and I use that term very loosely) me.

If I could ask for your prayers, however, I am starting this job with another woman who just turned 21 and is a little too excited about our trip to California and the bars. Eek. I will need the Lord to cover my relationship with this woman, personally and professionally, and the two weeks we will spend together in California (likely as roommates) for training later this month.

That's all I can really think to write right now. There's so much more, but honestly I don't want to look at a computer screen any longer at this point. My eyes are bugging out of their sockets. Yeowch. I've gotta learn to get used to this, I guess.

I hope y'all are happy and well and totally blessed! Don't forget to wear sunscreen if you dare to venture outside in tomorrow's estimated 100-degree weather. Blech. I hope you all have AC or at least really large fans.