Seventh day of work, first day of training.

Finally! I have an appointment at 1 p.m. with a person who is supposed to be able to tell me *how* to do all the things people keep asking me about. I've been waiting for this for a week. I'm usually not so excited about training, but I have felt completely out of control of things since I started my new job, and was beginning to stress out about all the things people wanted from me that I couldn't deliver promptly. It will be nice to at least know how to process the payroll sheets people will be handing me this Friday, so that we can all get *paid*. If I didn't do that, I think they might start to get a little bit upset.

Actually, I haven't felt entirely useless... I have been able to edit several grants, print minutes on a bunch of meetings, and a few other minor functions. I'm just missing some of the larger responsibilities.

On a seperate note, for the last three days I have been freezing to death all day, in the car, and everywhere else. Today, I got up and spent an extra half-hour bundling up in stockings, long-johns, a long slip and long skirt, a sports bra, a thermal long-sleeve shirt, a turtleneck, and my thickest wool knit sweater. Then I piled on my winter coat, hat, mittens and scarf, demonstrating my raw determination never to be cold again. Then at 8 a.m. when I walked out the door, I discovered that it was already sunny, 40 degrees and warmish outside! In the car my radio station's apologetic meteorologist informed me that temperatures are predicted in the 50s today. *sigh*

This is the epitome of Michigan weather's unpredictability. If you haven't been to Michigan for any period of time, you aren't aware that weathermen here can't predict as accurately as weathermen elsewhere, not because they are all incompetent, but because the Great Lakes surrounding the state have all sorts of inexplicable and unpredictable effects on the weather. Last winter when everyone in surrounding states had blizzards, we had ice storms. When we were supposed to get an ice storm, we had three days of sunshine and flurries. And this morning when we were supposed to be below 30 degrees, I am sweating in my long johns.

But I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. (Not for long, anyway.) I love Michigan. The big, sandy, rolling dunes; the hundreds of different kinds of forests; the chilly steel-blue clarity of Lake Superior; the warm, welcoming, soft flow of Lake Michigan; the sea-green, frothy spray of Lake Huron; where else could I find such variety and beauty? I've travelled all over the U.S., and never seen anything close. I can't imagine living in a state where the weather never varied and the leaves never fell, and everything always looked the same.

It's only 10 days until Christmas. I had better go make more money. Peace.