It has been pointed out to me that I haven't updated in a while, which, while not especially surprising given my record, is certainly true. To make up for it, I'm kicking off another post-a-day week to encourage me to catch up.
We'll begin today with work, which is of course part of what's been keeping me busy this past month. I've been settling in, and am just now starting to feel at least marginally useful; there's been a lot to get up to speed on and acclimated to. The work style I have now is so different than what I've been used to for the last couple of years that it's taking me a while to get used to how to structure my time. Not having the bulk of most days' work determined by events I have no way to predict seems strange and magical.
There is of course also the adjustment to being the new guy. I'm still figuring out where I fit, which can be hard, since it means I'm not really having much of a positive impact. But I know that that's just what happens when you are the new guy, and that it will pass—besides, having a lot to learn means that I'm learning a lot, which is something I enjoy. I definitely still believe that I made the right decision.
And then there's adjusting to the snacks. Working near a convenient supply of M&Ms is indeed a test of my willpower, and as I feared it's not a test I'm particularly well-prepared for. I tend to be good at resting buying snacks, but bad at resisting eating them once they are there. That model had been working well; we don't buy too many snacks, so I don't snack too much. When I lose control over the part that I'm good at, it's a whole different ball game. (Although I at least do avoid the M&Ms in favor of slightly better snacks. Mostly). But hey, I did say I like learning new things, right? And hopefully I can spin the snack-guilt into motivating me to start excercising at the almost-as-conveniently-located gym, especially since I need a regular excercise routine more than ever now that I'm not biking to work...
...which brings me to my last recap for today's installment: my new car! Having one car stopped working so well when I needed the car every day, so we finally broke down and bought a second car. I looked at a hybrid Civic and a Prius (if you are going to be commuting every day, at least try not to be evil about it, right?), and am now the very happy owner of a 2007 Prius. The civic felt smaller, its CVT was noticiably less C than that of the Prius, and, frankly, the Prius is just plain awesomer. Having a car that unlocks when I touch the handle almost makes up for the fact that we still don't have the flying cars we've been promised for so long. I finally collected the last requisite box-top to be able to send off for my HOV lane stickers, which should make me love having a Prius even more every morning and evening as I shave a substantial chunk off of my commute. And really, what's the point of having a Prius if I can't enjoy a smug sense of moral superiority as I blow by SUVs stuck in gridlock?
(I am also starting to look into actually carpooling too, in continued pursuit of non-evilness—I'm just kidding about the smug moral superiority thing. Mostly.)
Category: Life
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