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silveradeptThe things I have learned in my first few weeks of work and living here are as follows:
1) The weather here is moist. Thus, finding condensation on the outside of your car window is not something to be surprised about. Nor should I be surprised with light rain being a companion in my days.
2) I will not be surprised if, on the second day of working at my library branch, someone who teaches French stops by and I am thus able to exercise a language that I thought I would not speak again past the time at university. Speaking in halting, conversibile, and inelegant French is still apparently enough to impress my co-worker.
3) My co-workers get my humor, are unafraid to fire first, and will respond if attacked. This creates a fantastic working environment. Similarly, my bosses do not require nooses nor full suit and tie as required dress for work. This also contributes to a fantastic working environment.
4) I will not be surprised when, after a week, I have been handed three projects and have likely volunteered for two more. I will also not be surprised when a critical piece of information useful to the current project was not communicated because, frankly, I didn’t ask and they didn’t say.I will also be very aware that other projects that look alluring may also waylay me in the alley and steal my free time. I will resolve to ensure that my work stays at the office.
5) There will always be choice phrases uttered within hearing distance, such as “I don’t want any of those books. They’re too historical.” I will ensure that those sayings are chronicled in some manner so that more people will be convinced that libraries are not dull and stodgy places. I will also note that the lure of free knowledge, once sufficient, has been supplanted by the lure of being able to access one’s MySpace page, and adjust my persuasion tactics accordingly.
6) Living within a short walking distance of a hippie grocery store, a chain grocery store, and a video game retailer is a really cool thing. If I stay here for another a couple years and the new construction project goes according to schedule, I will be living across from work, which is even cooler.
7) I will not be surprised when the hippie grocery store checkout person asks when I’m listening to, asks which game when I say “Video game soundtracks”, responds “Really?” when I say “Super Smash Brothers Melee” and proclaims that Castelvania: SOTN is an excellent soundtrack, and that The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is also good. (He recommends playing Metroid as good Wiimote training first, and then Twilight Princess as a nunchuck trainer.)
8) The concept of space has been so foreign to me over the last six years that I have a slight “whoa.” moment when I find out that between all the stuff that I brought with me and the material that I’ve purchased all fits in my living room. (And some part of my kitchen). The bedroom’s space is still mostly available. What I’m lacking now is not space, but storage units to put it all in. And a desk. And a chair. But those things will wait until I have some money in the bank account.
9) Knowing people in the area you’re moving to is a big plus. Even more so when you can meet them and get mauled at board games soon after you arrive.
And finally,
10) Being able to do one’s laundry inside the apartment is a fantastic thing. Maybe at some point, perhaps if I ever have enough dishes to warrant its usage, I’ll even consider running the dishwasher.
All this in only a little while. We’ll have to see how many other things appear just within the first year.
1) The weather here is moist. Thus, finding condensation on the outside of your car window is not something to be surprised about. Nor should I be surprised with light rain being a companion in my days.
2) I will not be surprised if, on the second day of working at my library branch, someone who teaches French stops by and I am thus able to exercise a language that I thought I would not speak again past the time at university. Speaking in halting, conversibile, and inelegant French is still apparently enough to impress my co-worker.
3) My co-workers get my humor, are unafraid to fire first, and will respond if attacked. This creates a fantastic working environment. Similarly, my bosses do not require nooses nor full suit and tie as required dress for work. This also contributes to a fantastic working environment.
4) I will not be surprised when, after a week, I have been handed three projects and have likely volunteered for two more. I will also not be surprised when a critical piece of information useful to the current project was not communicated because, frankly, I didn’t ask and they didn’t say.I will also be very aware that other projects that look alluring may also waylay me in the alley and steal my free time. I will resolve to ensure that my work stays at the office.
5) There will always be choice phrases uttered within hearing distance, such as “I don’t want any of those books. They’re too historical.” I will ensure that those sayings are chronicled in some manner so that more people will be convinced that libraries are not dull and stodgy places. I will also note that the lure of free knowledge, once sufficient, has been supplanted by the lure of being able to access one’s MySpace page, and adjust my persuasion tactics accordingly.
6) Living within a short walking distance of a hippie grocery store, a chain grocery store, and a video game retailer is a really cool thing. If I stay here for another a couple years and the new construction project goes according to schedule, I will be living across from work, which is even cooler.
7) I will not be surprised when the hippie grocery store checkout person asks when I’m listening to, asks which game when I say “Video game soundtracks”, responds “Really?” when I say “Super Smash Brothers Melee” and proclaims that Castelvania: SOTN is an excellent soundtrack, and that The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is also good. (He recommends playing Metroid as good Wiimote training first, and then Twilight Princess as a nunchuck trainer.)
8) The concept of space has been so foreign to me over the last six years that I have a slight “whoa.” moment when I find out that between all the stuff that I brought with me and the material that I’ve purchased all fits in my living room. (And some part of my kitchen). The bedroom’s space is still mostly available. What I’m lacking now is not space, but storage units to put it all in. And a desk. And a chair. But those things will wait until I have some money in the bank account.
9) Knowing people in the area you’re moving to is a big plus. Even more so when you can meet them and get mauled at board games soon after you arrive.
And finally,
10) Being able to do one’s laundry inside the apartment is a fantastic thing. Maybe at some point, perhaps if I ever have enough dishes to warrant its usage, I’ll even consider running the dishwasher.
All this in only a little while. We’ll have to see how many other things appear just within the first year.
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no subject
Date: 2007-09-17 05:42 pm (UTC)WORD!
no subject
Date: 2007-09-19 11:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-17 05:58 pm (UTC)What kinds of projects are they?
no subject
Date: 2007-09-17 06:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-17 07:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-17 07:43 pm (UTC)Is the hippie store called "Whole Foods?" EVERYONE shops at that place here, and I really don't see the big deal...
no subject
Date: 2007-09-17 08:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-17 11:08 pm (UTC)Loads of Vegetarian foods...so, uhm....keep that in mind in case you, you know, entertain a certain vegetarian... ;)
no subject
Date: 2007-09-18 04:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-18 07:18 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-18 10:40 pm (UTC)If you like Indian food, try their Indian Fare stuff. The Punjab Eggplant and Jaipur Vegetables are excellent. They sell good fresh (not frozen) naan in different varieties, too. One pouch of the eggplant and a piece of naan can be a whole meal. If you like basmati rice, that goes well with it, too.
Their white cheddar mac & cheese is good. The corn and the barley soups are good. Their beef stew is very good. Of the frozen food, the chicken, beef, and cheese enchiladas stand out. I like those a lot, especially as something cheap and easy to take into work for lunch.
They have a lot of different sauces and dressings and dips that you can use creatively. Most of it's pretty cheap, so experiments aren't too high risk. :)
no subject
Date: 2007-09-18 10:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-23 04:14 pm (UTC)I am VERY envious of having a TJ's that close. The closest one for us is Albuquerque (250ish miles away) or Tucson (300 miles away). Good for weekend trips, but not day trips. Well, very long day trips, perhaps.
no subject
Date: 2007-09-19 11:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-17 09:13 pm (UTC)and you haven't even met me, apart from when you were here for interviews... although i must admit, i'm not as good at board games (bored games) as i am at finding interesting, out of the way, and only slightly illegal places to hike and take pictures, even in the city.
unfortunately i'm not as familiar with tacoma as i am with king county in general, otherwise i'd venture a guess as to where you live. i'm very strongly suspecting that that's about to change, however, and it's not just because you live there... although that doesn't hurt.
no subject
Date: 2007-09-19 11:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-20 12:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-23 04:16 pm (UTC)Starting a new job is always interesting. Just Friday I won second place in a chili cook-off for our department and found where the City's radio shop is. Slowly I'm learning where all the City facilities are.
no subject
Date: 2007-09-23 06:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-23 06:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-23 10:02 pm (UTC)