Whitt-astic

This week has been good so far. After getting back from NJ, I’ve been very busy at work getting some projects in motion, as well as continuing projects that my predecessors left. The learning curve has been steep, but it’s been challenging in a good way. I’ve also had time to get to know some new people, and with the visit of Nathan from Chapel Hill, spend some time with old friends as well.

Nathan got in Wednesday morning, and did some sightseeing with a friend while I was at work. We met up at my library and headed up to Russian Hill to eat here. We grabbed some drinks in Nob Hill after with a new friend, and then grabbed a cab home. I’ve discovered that cab drivers like to complain about cyclists – it’s a good icebreaking topic. Our driver was chatty and friendly, and I swear the ride home was cheaper than it should have been.

Thursday, I went to work and Nathan went to Berkeley and the Asian Art Museum(it’s on my list). After a quick BART ride home, we attempted to go to Cha Ya for dinner, so Nathan could sample fine vegetarian Japanese cuisine, but the proprietors were away on vacation. Instead, we went grabbed some cheesesteaks here. After a pitstop to grab a beer, Nathan was off to the airport to go to a wedding in Chicago, and I settled in to watch Top Chef and do some laundry.

The weekend is promising. I’ll be going to San Jose for work on Saturday, and hope to make it down to this park for the first time. I’m also hoping to spend some time with friends and relax a bit, since work is hectic and I am way out of practice.

Tim-i-di-tay

After being on my own in SF for about a month, and after two weeks of work, I took my first vacation and…flew back to NJ. Mako had her wedding this weekend, and I wasn’t about to miss it. I booked the flight ages ago, once I accepted my job and had the date of the wedding. So, a redeye flight out, and a Sunday evening flight back made for a very quick 36 hour stay in NJ.

I (foolishly) thought the redeye out would not be booked solid, but it was. Thanks to a very, um, energetic 3 year old kicking my chair the entire trip, I got only a couple of hours of unrestful sleep. My dear friend Bill, who was my ride, overslept a bit (my arrival time of 6:20 a.m. EST was frightfully early), but once he got to the airport and picked me up, it was off to breakfast, and then onto his couch for me, so I could sleep a bit. Happy to sleep the entire morning and early afternoon while Bill ran errands, cleaned, and did who know’s what else, I awoke to Dee arriving at Bill’s place to get ready for the wedding. Crunch time was actually pretty efficient, as showers were had, fancy clothes were put on, and faces were made up.

The ceremony was nice – Mako looked gorgeous, as did her bridesmaids. Her (now) husband John was definitely game for Mako’s insistance on wedding perfection. Bill had a reading as part of the ceremony, and the title of this entry was taken from some of the more humorous practice readings enacted by Bill earlier in the day and his struggle with the word “timidity” – he pulled it off perfectly during the ceremony, however.

The reception was beautiful as well, as we filled up on yummy appetizers and champagne. The dance floor opened up pretty early, and it was a hoot to see certain friends’ parents getting down. Way down. We ate, drank, danced, and had a great time. The afterparty was brief (thanks, Montclair liquor laws), and after an ill-conceived, 3am trip to the diner, the night was at an end.

Sunday was a post-wedding and birthday brunch for Mako. Later, Bill, Lauren and I went into Manhattan to meet up with two of my friends from library school to watch the Jets game at this fine Italian eatery. You would be surprised at the struggle to find an honest-to-god sports bar, at least in the Village area of Manhattan. Too shortly after, it was off to the airport for me to catch my return flight to SF. The airline gods must have some beef with me. This time, I was seated next to a screaming infant and her grandparents. I still somehow managed to finish my book, watch an in-flight movie, read a magazine, and doze intermittantly.

Trabajo

I started work this week. It was a (very) long time coming, as I had applied for the job in February, had my phone interview in April, my in-person interview in May, and accepted the job in June. A summer to finish up my internships, tie up loose ends (estate and personal), liquidate my personal property, and move across the country was was necessary before starting on my first truly professional venture. So far, work is good. The library is very forward-thinking and encourages collaboration, research, and professional development. Additionally, the job duties of the librarians are varied and grounded almost completely in teamwork.

I’ve settled on the BART as my commuting transportation. I just prefer the subway train to the haulting, jerking nature of the bus, even though I add a few extra minutes on my commute. The weather here has been superb – I’ve been very comfortable wearing lightweight sweaters (my favorite article of clothing) in the morning and evening, and during my lunchbreaks I have enjoyed taking the sweater off in the mid-day heat.

Sorry this post is so boring…I’m attempting to watch tennis, read about my different work benefit options, and eat my new favorite snack, dark chocolate covered pretzel bites from this place. They are massively addictive, I have discovered. Before bed, I’ve been enjoying the second season of Weeds, which I only saw a few episodes of last summer. It’s quite enjoyable.