Since ramping down on the old job and starting the new job I haven't had much time to get on the internet lately. I was at work my last day working until 6:20pm! On my last day at other jobs I worked maybe a half day or at the latest 3:00pm, but there were things I had to accomplish prior to leaving and I worked all the way to the end. Afterwards they had a going away party for me and we went out. It was a complete blast. I didn't get home until 3:00am! Those folks sure know how to have a good time and are quite serious about having fun. It was very nice to go out with them and the turnout of people was a very nice surprise. Some people I never imaged showed up and it did make me feel good.
I had a few days off and then started the new job. What a massive difference in environment! There isn't a lot of turnover at the new job and some employees have been there for 20 to 30 years. That says a lot about the company and I completely understand why after being there a few days. First off, my cube is more like an office. I even have a plant in it. Everything was completely organized and ready for me to start. I had several meetings scheduled with various employees to learn more about the company. I have a laptop and my desk chair is oh so comfortable. It even has a footrest which looks like a triangle that you put your feet up on in an incline and I love it. Coffee machines are everywhere with REAL coffee beans that you grind prior to making coffee. They actually have liquid and flavored coffee creamers. When you walk around the office you don't feel a huge sense of stress emanating from the employees. If anything it's like a second home. It's obvious that they want to set you up for success and I am pleased as punch to be there. At my last job my feet sat on computer cables and wires all the time and there was no room to even extend your legs!
Where I'm working now is downtown, which I love because it means it's easy to walk around town for some exercise or a quick lunch. People who I worked with years ago are there and it's absolutely wonderful to work with them all again. They are excited that I'm there and it makes me feel good.
There is one thing, though. OF COURSE I had to get sick when I first started. I woke up the night before I started with a horrible sore throat. My daughter had been sick a few days before and it started with a sore throat for her. I went to work the first two days hacking and coughing and feeling terrible. I took a lot of over-the-counter cold medicine and continued to get worse. It finally got to the point that I was having high fevers and could hardly talk without coughing. I went to the doctor and got antibiotics. My new manager was also sick and I never saw her the first week. She called me after I had left several voicemails for her saying to rest up and not worry about missing work after just starting. She said that the way I sounded was terrible and she would rather me not come into the office like that. She was really nice about it all, but damn it, why did I have to get sick when I first started the job?
It reminds me of years ago when I was in my early 20's. I started a job and was sick as a dog on my first day of work. I didn't want to call in sick and went to work anyway. As my new manager was showing me around the office, I felt like I was going to vomit and quickly asked where the bathroom was. As she told me, I felt the bile force itself up and started running down the hallway towards where she said a bathroom was located. I ended up not making it to the bathroom and throwing up all over my hands (as I tried to catch it all), my clothes and the carpet. I almost passed out afterwards from being so sick. I was deathly embarrassed and the manager ended up driving me home because she was scared for me to drive myself. It was terrible.
For some reason when I start a new job I always get sick the first day or two. I never put two and two together until calling my Mom about being sick now and she said, "Why do you and I always get sick when we start a new job?". I then started remembering other new jobs and she's right!
Now, I have to tell another story that I just remembered and this is quite gross, so stop reading if you get grossed out easily.
A few years ago when starting a new job I had been there for a day or two. I had a Yorkshire Terrier dog that slept with me. One night I woke up to this horrible smell, turned over on my pillow and something rank and quite indescribable coated my lips, side of my face and hair. I jumped up, cut on the light and you will never believe what was on my pillow. Diarrhea from my dog! For some reason he got sick in the night, did not jump off the bed and got sick on my pillow. It was all in my hair, face and MOUTH! I threw up from it and afterwards became violently sick for three days. I couldn't eat or anything. It was terrible. Shit is not something you want to taste, let me tell ya.
I feel sick now just thinking about it. I still can't believe it happened.
I have been in bed all weekend with upper respiratory infection/cold junk. I've been taking antibiotics, stuff for congestion and cough. The fevers are what have been getting me. They just tire you out. Today I am finally feeling better, but feel I need just one more day to rest. The weather is completely nasty here. Dreadfully cold and wet. They are calling for three to five inches of snow tonight. The local schools have already sent announcements that they will be closed tomorrow. My daughter is so excited and is spending the night with a friend tonight. I can't believe the schools have already said they will be closed when we haven't even seen one drop of snow and only rain. I actually hope that it does snow like the meteorologist says so that my office will be closed tomorrow and I can rest one more day. If not, I will go into the office anyway. If it does snow I hope the office will close because people don't know how to drive around here with a little ice. I remember one year when there was a 20-something car pile-up while sleeting.
Ohhhh...let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!
