sigh...

A breath of relief...

First day down.  Not to imply that the first day was a "breeze." Not even close.  To be honest, OVERwhelmed is an UNDERstatement.  I was expecting this, so it's not like I'm surprised...

but...

we're not in Hope Kitchen anymore...

I've officially traded in my apron and spatula for pant-suits and Outlook Express.  I'm staying on the strong side of positive, though. It is going to drive me crazy until I get the swing of things and get good at the tasks they want me to do. I know that I am going to do amazing at this job; I've just got to be patient and be flexible and adapt...  I was a little discouraged after work because it's hard for me not to be able to be good at something immediately but realize it's going to take a lot of work.  So Ashley [my temporary roomie] was very encouraging to me for where I am in right now.  Mom was (of course) encouraging to me as always; Dad, too. It is very surreal to literally be in a cubicle office! My own computer, my own little space of the world.... 

'Mommy, WOW, I'm a big kid, now!!'

Got lunch at a place called The Barking Dog. A pretty standard soup/salad place.  The chicken orzo & turkey club sandwich combo was tasty, but not outstanding.  Worth a stop by if you're wanting a reasonably priced sit-down lunch in the Murray Hill area.  Checked my phone at lunch and later on after work & had close to 20 call-backs on apartments I had called over the holiday weekend.  I'll tell you what- I'm entirely too worn out today to go out looking at apartments in the east village all night.  

Instead, I decided to take a stop off at Times Square for a quick minute:

Then picked me up the dinner of champions...

LAST THING: keep my brother, Morgan, in your thoughts and prayers tomorrow morning.  He is getting surgery on his knee.  After tearing his ACL & MCL in the Baltimore Ravens game against the Cleveland Browns Christmas weekend, he continued to play three quarters of the game through the injury & pain.  TO SAY THAT HE IS MY HERO IS TO SAY IT LIGHTLY. I can honestly say that I've been blessed with the greatest family in the world, and my brothers are coolest cats on the block. 

One of my favorite articles about Morgan & his injury:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/peter_king/01/02/week-17/2.html?xid=shareFB

He's done an outstanding job as long-snapper this year, and I'm excited to see what God has in store for him next season. Just to say for the record... I think I look pretty good in purple. And I just got a 46 jersey from Morg for Christmas. So I better be able to wear it next season. Or we've got issues, Harbaugh. Keep that support up for our Ravens on January 30 when Billy Cundiff, Morgan's kicker that he snapped to all season, plays in the 2011 Pro Bowl (a huge honor!).  That is, of course, if we do not make it to the Super Bowl.  I would love to take a weekend trip to Dallas for the Super Bowl if they make it, but I personally think Morgan deserves a nice little trip to Hawaii for the Pro Bowl.  Little rascal.

Now let me get back to my comfort food....M&M's & Coke Zero.  Hollaaaaaa!

p.s. - I'd love suggestions on my "going to work-subway playlist."  I'm working on it this week, and I'll probably post my favorite MOTIVATION songs by the end of the week. If you know any good ones, don't hesitate to let me know.  So far I've got...(to the tune of Eye of the Tiger, via the starbucks commercial)...

"gen's a girl, goin to work. got a job, got ambition..."