Pizza and a whirlwind

Pretty much a description of my first day at MPHI. Pizza and a whirlwind. First off, I must explain that I am working my old job at MSPEmornings for the next two weeks, and MPHI after lunch. No problem. Of course, yesterday my computer at MSPE melted down twice. I learned a valuable lesson from this: never rely on the clock on your PC if you really want to know what time it is. My clock said 12:30. The actual time was 1 p.m. Enough said. So I called and told them I would be a little late (mortified, as this was my first day) and went about 90 miles per hour all the way there. If you've ever done 90 miles per hour in a 1989 Eagle, you know that it isn't fun. SO I arrive there at 8 minutes after 1, and immediately am swept in a monstrous tour of five buildings and a million offices, all arranged in little mazes and zigzags. I met about 140 people, and was given an idea of all of their jobs. That was the first hour: the whirlwind. MPHI is funny, because they rent these office buildings in Okemos, where they basically build you a big brick shell, and put the restrooms and kitchens in place, and then they let the MPHI staffers design where they want the walls to be. So the facility ends up being designed by about 50 different people from different departments working independently with no previous design experience. Each little area has a completely different floor plan from the one next to it. For example: My current office has big glass french doors opening onto the multimedia library (to which I have no functional relationship), another smaller door opening onto the Sysop's computer bank, so that he has to go through my office to get in there, and a hallway that goes out to the backyard (where I will never go). I act as an assistant to the Director of Technology whose office is on the other end of the building entirely. Happily, we will be moving to a new building in May, and apparently I will be responsible for designing our department's area. I hope I can at least do a somewhat more predictable job.

So after the whirlwind, I finally get to my work space, and discover that the three gentlemen with whom I will be working have been beside themselves for days. It seems they had been asking for help for a few years, and I was finally coming. I felt like the Messiah coming to set them free. They were so excited that they lumped all their respective budgets together and spent a really lot of money to get me a beautiful (huge) new desk and chair, a new computer and printer, and a lump sum to spend on sundries. They were all very eager to make me feel at home and talk to me. I wonder just what miracle I will be expected to deliver? By this time I am starving, because while I was driving 90 mph to get there, I didn't have time for lunch. My new coworkers (who turn out to be pretty nifty) are a nice bunch of techies, and were very happy that I could understand their techie-speak. They got a pizza and fed me! I think they have won my heart forever. (Or at least until I am starving again.)

I got a look at one of their budgets, and it all seems pretty straightforward. Today I have a meeting with them at 1, and then hopefully will see the human resources lady so I will have a key. Then on Friday I hopefully will meet with the lady who will show me how to do their book keeping. It's pretty crazy, and people are very eager to give me work.

I went home at five and was completely overwhelmed but happy. I think it will be okay. My Man-pet was very kind to me, and rented me a movie to lose myself in so I wouldn't think too much. He knows me so well! We watched Mercury Rising, which is a completely non-thinking action movie. It was fun. I recommend it for all lovers of bad action and consipiracy movies.

MSPE has asked if I will continue as their webmaster. I think I will, since I can do it from home at no expense. A little extra cash is always a plus.

On a seperate note (speaking of worrying too much) I hope I can get my munchkin into her school day care center. It's sort of the middle of the year, and they only have afternoon slots available, which is fine, but they would prefer to have a kiddo who would be there full time. I think I will call around and see if there is anyone else nearby whom they recommend.

What a week, and it's only Wednesday. I think I'll try to go to bed early tonight.