The daily grind

I've been in my new job for 3 weeks now, although I've barely begun to perform any of the tasks in my job description. Just when I am relieved to have unpacked what appears to be the last box, my supervisor the nun asks if I can please drive pick her up at the convent on my way back from lunch so that we can bring more boxes. I have learned that we still have approximately 15 boxes in her garage. Happily, we have unpacked most of the uber-important office-things and we finally have internet, so we are getting ready to jump into some sort of routine.

Last week I went to an Italian potluck at a friend's house and tried my hand at making tiramisu, one of my all time favorite desserts (hard liquor, coffee, and cookies...really, how can you go wrong?). I told Sister that I was going to try to make it, and she had the idea that we could have tiramisu at our open house--and I could make it. In all of the business of unpacking and settling in, I hadn't heard much about the tiramisu and hoped that perhaps she had forgotten...that is until one of the other Sisters expressed her excitement about the tiramisu that I would be making for them.

Speaking of things that are not in my job description, I was volunteered to teach computers 2 days a week. In college I was the resident techie of my household of 4 girls. The only reason that I was credited with having any computer knowledge was that the internet modem and router stayed in my bedroom, and my dad (who actually knows what he's doing) was only a phone call away. Needless to say, I don't actually know much about computers, although I am able to perform most of the tasks that 5th graders would probably need to be doing. However, I am not sure the objective of this "class," nor do I know what age the kids will be (I was told that I can have whatever ages I want). Additionally, instead of operating Windows, these computers run Linux, which I have very little knowledge of--and half of them are set to Spanish. I was supposed to have already begun my classes, but fortunately they were postponed when the person in charge realized that the computers do not have any programs installed. Safe for another week!

A Series of Unfortunate Events

In response to the demands of my fan base, I have decided to create a blog to chronicle the ridiculous scenarios that inevitably make their way into my day-to-day life (as well as other thoughts and happenings). It's also a great opportunity to do some non-academic writing, which I haven't done in a very, very long time.

The first week of my new job was mostly spent unpacking and getting our office set up, with the exception of a more eventful Friday that included the worst Office Depot trip ever, and getting lost taking my boss to the bus station, thanks to napkin directions that were like a bad game of telephone (the exit for FM 2222 changed into "exit 222" and "Shepler's" turned into "Staples"). Additionally, I was late on the first day thanks to a horrific traffic jam on Mopac, I almost got into a wreck with my new boss in the car, and then took her on an accidental tour of southeast Austin when I tried to take an "alternate route" from the bank back to our office.

This week will be devoted to convincing her that I am, in fact, a competent human being.