Well, last night was my first shift at the library. It went pretty well:

+ They actually DID have a “welcome party” for me! One of the first things that we did was have a little bit of food and chit-chat before my new partner actually started training me. That was a nice ice breaker, and prompted me to say, “This is the best first day I’ve ever had!”
+ Everyone is sooooo nice. Thank goodness!
+ The lady who is training me is very knowledgeable about the job. She’s going to work the same shift as me for the next two weeks and hopefully that will be enough time for me to learn this stuff!
+ Turns out that I likely will only be there Monday - Thursday evenings with Friday and Saturday off, then every other Sunday, once training is over! yay I get Saturdays off!
+ Even though I’m only part-time there, I still get federal holidays off with pay. So this upcoming Veterans Day, I’ll have it COMPLETELY off, from both my jobs. oh hallelujah!

- There is A LOT of information to remember. I actually took home the procedures manual so I can look it over this weekend–yikes, there’s so much to learn!
- When I came home at 9:30 last night, I was really, really tired. My brain just felt like mush after trying to absorb all the info…it was basically information overload. I know this will pass with time, but man, it was a lot for my poor little brain.

So overall, there are way more positives than negatives…the newness of the job, as always, is a little overwhelming but it will pass, hopefully soon. Once I get my first paycheck, I’ll remember why I’m doing this in the first place! And last night after coming home, the first thing I did was go over and give my doggies some love. They’re the REAL reason why I’m doing this.

I start my second job in about an hour and a half. I’m still nervous, even though it’s only a 4-hour shift and I’ll have someone showing me around–and the head librarian called me last night saying something about a “welcome party”–still, I’m all jittery! oh well. The worst thing is the unknown, and in about 5 1/2 hours, it’ll all be over with.

Last night I watched the Ghost Hunters Live Halloween special, but only till I fell asleep around 11 or so. I recorded it, though. The funniest thing was opening my DVD recorder box to set it up, since it had been sealed since I moved back to VA in March–and I found 4 or 5 books hiding underneath the recorder! I thought I had given them away, but nope, there they were–my makeshift packing material. So now I find myself with 2 copies of Yarn Harlot’s Knitting Rules!, because I bought it again a few months ago when I thought I’d lost it. I might put the unread, new one on Ravelry for sale, or if no one buys it, I’ll do a giveaway here or on one of my Ravelry groups.

oh! And today marks 3 MONTHS sober on the no-buying-yarn diet! Go meeeeeee! Though it didn’t help to receive an email this morning from Blue Moon Fiber Arts, saying that there are spots open in the 2008 Rockin’ Sock Club and would I like to join? It was mighty, mighty tempting, but I’m pretty sure I’ll pass. That’s a lot of money for yarn, especially when I still have plenty (did you see how many miles I realized I have?)…

(Also, I’m currently the high bidder on a thing on eBay, even though I probably won’t win the auction, I’d rather pool my money toward that, honestly. I’d get more use out of it right now. What’s this thing, you ask? You’ll find out, if I win the auction. )

Wish me luck for tonight! I hope I don’t say anything stupid or mess up on my first day!

I just had a realization about my impending second job, which I start on Thursday. I’m going to have soooo little free time. (I know, duh.) I will make time to knit, of course–I already do that in the mornings before work and during lunch break, if I’m not reading–but I’ll be coming home at night around 9:30, at least, and if I want to get any sleep I won’t have much time to do stuff at night before bedtime. Maybe check email or blog or whatever. Which means I’m going to have even LESS of a social life than I have right now. Granted, my current social life is practically non-existent anyway, but it’s going to be officially non-existent pretty soon here.

I keep reminding myself that it’s the big picture I need to focus on–getting out of debt and saving up enough money to move out on my own–but I feel so frazzled about all of it right now. I guess I’m wondering if I can handle the extra stress.

What’s really surprising is that I work with a girl right now who is younger than me by several years and not only is she working full time and taking FIVE classes (I nearly keeled over when she said that), but she also is married and has a child under 3. Good grief!! And here I am whining about working two jobs. It could be worse, I suppose. I could be working two jobs AND trying to go to school (which is soooo not happening in the near future, though I would like to finish my degree sometime before I die).

I have trouble with perspective. It’s so easy to get caught up in the world of me when things could always be much worse.

Having said all that, I am still nervous about the new job. I’m *always* nervous when I do something new–I’m not one of those people who goes into new situations with wild abandon and no fear, though that would be nice once in a while! But since I tend to obsess over things, I’m always worried that I’ll hate it, or the people will be mean, or something. (I’m a pessimist, what else can I say?)

I’m sure (at least, I hope) by Friday morning, I’ll be saying great things about the new job. But for right now, I’m so nervous and kind of scared!

This week was a loooong one. I had fun (the TAPS event), but work? yeesh. Let’s not go there. I try to take it one day at a time but it’s tough when the work crap from yesterday bleeds into today and tomorrow.

But let’s focus on pleasanter things!

I’ve been on a quest to destash, as you likely already know. Recently I’ve managed to sell several stash items via Ravelry, which is great! So far I’ve only swapped once since being on the yarn diet–I traded my pink RubySapphire yarn for some camel colored Louet Gems Opal, which arrived today. These will be perfect for future work socks. Other than that, I have not acquired any new yarn. I can hardly believe that I’ve managed to remain true to the yarn diet and not buy yarn for almost three months. I know I’ve saved so much money by abstaining (hehe) and that’s a good feeling. I wish I had destashed more to date, but when I look at my “tossed or traded” page on Ravelry, I realize how much yarn I’ve unloaded in recent weeks, so I’m not doing too badly.

I finally made it to the municipal center to fill out my paperwork for my second job at the library. Originally I had an appointment to do this on Tuesday afternoon, but the HR lady canceled that morning (which ended up working out really well because I was able to drive up to the TAPS event earlier than I would have, if I had gone to the appointment). So this morning before going to my regular job, I went down and filled out probably a dozen different forms–employee info sheet, W-4 form, direct deposit form, release for criminal background check, and several others I don’t even remember now. When I thought I was finished, I took them to the HR lady and then she said, “ok, now I’m going to send you down the street to the police station…”

Me:

“…where they’re going to fingerprint you…”

Me:

“…just so we can make sure you’re not an axemurderer!”

Seriously, she actually said that. Granted, she was joking, but wow…so after driving up and around and down the street no less than three times in attempts to find the police station, despite the fact that she had given me a map of the whole area, I finally found it, parked across the street, and walked to the police station (in the rain–drizzle, more like), where I was FINGERPRINTED. All ten digits, then the eight main digits (everything except my thumbs)…yikes! It was a little weird. I’ve never been fingerprinted AT A POLICE STATION, just for a job! But then again, it’s at the library, which is a city job, so…I understand. And now I can say that I’ve been fingerprinted like a common criminal or something, sheesh.

Then I had to go back to the HR building to finish more paperwork, yay. When all that was finally done, the HR lady said, “oh, and there’s one more thing…” to which I said, “oh…?” (mug shots, mayhap?) And then she said, “You get a shirt and a lanyard, as our way of saying welcome!”

Now that’s pretty cool. And it’s a nice polo shirt with the VA Beach Library logo embroidered on the front. sweet! Turns out that I’ll have to go back one *more* time to get my photo taken for my ID badge–I’m not sure why we didn’t do that today, but she said I would come back after I “get going” at the job. Maybe to give me a little bit of time in case they decide I suck at the job and they want to can me. phew! What a process, and I haven’t even worked my first shift there yet!

After that, I went to my normal job, which wasn’t too bad today. Maybe the people who usually bother me over email were relaxed since the weekend was near.

After work, I went to Barnes & Noble to use a coupon they emailed me–I swear, B&N owns my book-loving soul. They send me coupons once every week/week and a half, it seems. And actually, I think the more I shop there, the more coupons they send. Just the other day, they sent me a 50% off coupon (!), which I used to buy 101 Designer One-Skein Wonders for eight bucks! The way I see it, not only are knitting books allowed on the yarn diet, but I’ve built up such a pattern library that I have NO excuse not to use up my stash. I’m trying to be strategic about the yarn diet, really I am!

Anyway, I’d been wanting to read The Celestine Prophecy, so that’s what I used my 10% coupon on today. One of my sisters read it years ago and recommended it, plus I’d heard other good things about it, so I figured I’d give it a shot.

I know I should patronize the library instead (maybe once I start working there I’ll actually use it?), but I must be one of those people who has a “thing” for new books. And not just the smell of them (though new book smelling is definitely one of my quirks).

Speaking of books, can anyone recommend a good reference to start reading up on existentialism? I found one at B&N (it’s cheaper on Amazon) but I’ll check if the library carries it before I buy it. I’ve been on a quest to read up on that, but am unsure where to start. Wikipedia isn’t really helping me much.

This week has been so rainy and autumnal, but still warm most days. I’m waiting for the weather to turn completely and be cool or even cold. Even so, the rain is a nice change…it’s challenging to drive in, especially on the interstate–I passed yet another accident today on the way home. But I think this weekend, as it’s my last “free” weekend before my second job begins, I’ll spend it relaxing inside, re-watching my Ghost Hunters DVDs and The Number 23 which arrived from Netflix today (kc, have you seen it yet? I remember you mentioned you wanted to!), working on my Secret of the Stole (I’m behind one clue–I think #4 was posted today but I’m barely into #3), and just kicking back!

As you can see…I was just hired for the library job! SQUEE!

I’m scheduled to start November 1, though we still need to work out the details of when I’m going to be trained since I’m keeping my day job. (Which, apparently, the head librarian didn’t understand until now. I thought I had made that clear but now I think about it, we must have had a miscommunication.) She said not to worry about it, though, that we would get it sorted out between now and the 1st…phew!

I’m so nervous!! And kind of in a daze. Come the 1st, my free time is going to be non-existent, at least until I get into the rhythm of my new schedule. oh boy.

But yay! Thank you for all the good vibes…they totally worked!

Now here comes the buzzkill…how the heck do I tell my parents that I just got hired for a second job without them having double heart attacks?

Well, the interview is over. I showed up at 7:45 and the library doors were locked–eek!–even though I had been told they would be open. Luckily, I saw one of the librarians going through the back entrance so I walked in with her.

She ended up being one of three (three!) ladies who interviewed me for the position. We had a bit of a late start since the head librarian had some other things to take care of first, but I think the interview went pretty well.

I’d had a similar interview several months ago when I applied for a job at a local university–I guess it’s a city policy or something, but they use this pre-written questionnaire with all kinds of questions intended to pick my brain, so I at least had some experience with that.

I think I did well, though of course I was nervous and had hardly any sleep last night (about 3 hours maybe). I’ll find out in a week or so whether I got the job. They did tell me that the hours would be Monday-Thursday, 5 to 9 PM, with alternating weekends. 24 hours per week. I’m trying not to be too hopeful, in case I don’t end up getting it, but the extra money would definitely help get me out of debt (and, subsequently, out on my own, which is what I so desperately need).

And I keep preparing myself mentally, just in case I do get it. Working 8:30-4:30 and then turning around and working from 5-9 is going to take its toll on me. I hope I’m ready for it, should I get this job. We’ll see.

I am SO nervous about my job interview Tuesday morning. I’ve been thinking about it all weekend, ever since they called me to schedule the interview.

And I finally got some smarts (ha) and decided NOT to tell my parents about the interview. I figure, if I don’t get the job, no harm and no foul. I don’t need them telling me their opinions if they are moot anyway, like what happened last time. If I DO get the job, well then I’ll tell them. But for now, they are on a need-to-know basis with me. And that’s the way it will have to be.

But man, I am soooo nervous about tomorrow! My interview is at 8, so I’m going to get there about 7:50. I’m sure the interview won’t last too long, but I have to be at my regular job at 8:30, so I think it will work out. The interviewer already knows I have a day job, and was clear that this position is evenings and weekends, exactly what I’ve been looking for. But my nerves! I keep telling them to calm themselves, but it’s not working.

I always stress over things. Important, and not-so-important. If I get this job, it would be REALLY, really, REALLY good for my future. If I don’t…it’s back to the drawing board. ack!

Have I mentioned that I am nervous??