Free Again.

Today was my last day of work. I didn't completely lose my shit like I did last time. (Although I will admit that I did completely lose my shit when I first found out.) Maybe it's because I didn't go out for long lunches with this team like I did the last, maybe it's because I didn't tell anyone I was leaving. (I think they all knew, but were told by the manager not to acknowledge it, like I requested.)

I'm super bummed, because if I had been hired full time at this place, the benefits would've rocked my world, and I would've learned tons of awesome stuff. (Annnd I would've been safely employed for a good long while.) But at the same time, I feel this guilty freedom, like sleeping through church on Sunday, y'know back when things like that mattered. I guess deep down I'm relieved I'm done. I know that my reading and writing skills went to utter crap because of the work I did. Every sentence I write now feels clunky and overcalculated.

I made my super awesome molasses cookies as a farewell. The woman who waters our plants once a week came back for another one and claimed that they were the best she'd ever had, and she's 60 years old! (She actually said this.) Some guy I barely knew but often forwarded mail to came back for thirds. I allowed myself to enjoy one, even though I'm usually sick of the smell after baking them. They came out perfectly. Soft with a well-defined chewiness, with a sneaky, spicy glow from the pepper and the fresh ginger. I analyzed the flavor the way some people concentrate on wine, and was completely satisfied with it.

Now that I'm not writing all the time for work, hopefully I can craft you guys some quality posts before I descend into the job search (again).

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How Unfortunate.

I'm still writing my damn cover letter. I'm almost done, but I'm not very satisfied with it. I think the most frustrating part is looking at my polite little paragraphs and recognizing how soulless they are. No personality at all. Even though I know it's safer to be more conservative, especially since I'm already too confident about my chances, I despise it. Sigh. I need to get back to something more creative. Or at least colorful. Maybe I just need to get drunk.

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Beginning of Week Three

At home, my current food obsessions include chickpeas flavored with parmesan cheese, lemon, olive oil and salt. I just started my third can. It's my after work snack. G doesn't understand how sour cheese with beans could be appealing.

My other obsession is peas or corn with mint. G got me into it. So when he has a bowl of ice cream after dinner, I decide I need more vegetables. With mint.

There's a chicken in the fridge, covered in salt, waiting to be roasted tomorrow. I'm getting better about actually trying recipes, especially once I realized I needed a simple recipe with easy ingredients.

It's getting darker, but I only notice when I get home and feel the urge to get ready for bed. Like right now, it's 8pm, but it feels more like 10 or 11. Makes me go to bed earlier at least. I've been googling, and I think on the shortest day of the year, the sun will rise at 7:55 and set at 4:20. Damn. I think I'll be in SJ for that though, so it won't really matter for me.

Work's going well. Still not doing much of substance, but at least I did something different today. Data entry and some email-based training. I have my own cube now. It's weird having so much private space after working in a Japanese school staffroom.

I'm looking forward to my second Thanksgiving in America, and actually being awake for it. Last year, I think I came back from Japan the day before.

(I miss you nutcases in Japan though, for sure.)

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Day Three: TMI

The catered lunches from the restaurant that I love so much gives me horrible gas. Oh well, at least that'll deter me from buying lunch. I also figured out that they save the fancy food (like perhaps their fancy health standards) for the real restaurant. Sigh.

More training today, nothing exciting. I realized that I'm glad I'm no longer someone's assistant. Don't have to route phone calls, order lunches, arrange meetings...I was looking at a job posting to see if I was missing out on anything, and I really wasn't.

I did a mail merge today and it made me think of my first office job where I did mail merges all the fricking time. (If you don't know what they are, trust me, it's trivial.) Aw, feeling affection for Microsoft Word functions. I really need to get out more.

It's stupid cold in the mornings, and I know it'll just get worse. My car barely warms up by the time I park, poor thing. I watch the bikers strain uphill on the way home, and I'm glad I don't have to put up with that crap anymore. Hooray for the health nuts, at least I'm warm and will be more protected when some crazy broadsides me.

Oh, whoops. Earthquake near my grandparents' home yesterday. I should email them. I always feel guilty when I find out about these things late.

Ah, and Happy Halloween. We celebrated tonight by making a baked mac n' cheese and lounging around. Three trick-or-treaters stopped by, and luckily I saw them as they were puzzling over the three doorbells. Kind of a letdown, but hey. My first American Halloween in four years!

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