Real Life

I've been wanting to post my work/traffic/LA musings on here for a while now. It was going to be really deep and clever but now it's just going to be a bunch of random spewing while I have the time.

First things first: "Ashley, where do you work?" I work at a law office in Tarzana. It takes me about 45 minutes to get there in the morning (it's approx 15.5 miles away) and, on a good day, about 30 minutes to come home. This actually isn't too bad. My job isn't necessarily for grown ups. About a minute ago I was pondering this and realized that the entire workforce there aside from the lawyers is probably under 30 years old. So... it's pretty safe to say that people move on to (bigger and better) other things after they work there. "What do you do?" I don't even think I want to talk about it. The job itself isn't really a problem- but "office life" is. Office life there is. I'm having to adjust to a lot of strict policies and a teeny tiny lunch break and other rules. I got sick in the first week and took a day off- scared to death what the notoriously tyrannical and fierce boss would do if he had a problem with it (because I'm brand new, I knew it was kind of a big deal to take a day off so soon). I was still sick the next day and even MORE sick today but I came in anyway... well today he called me into his office- my first time meeting him, by the way- and he told me I can't take any days off during my 90 day probation period without a doctor's note. So... yeah. Even talking about this is making me feel more sick and stressed. Done.

Traffic. I'm sad that I have to go out there and brave it every day. I'm developing a RATIONAL fear (if only it were IRrational) of getting into an accident. I would say that probably 1 in 5 cars around me at any given time have damage to their vehicles. I am more likely than ever now, to become a driver of such a damaged vehicle. It bothers me. I wish I had got the job that is just a few blocks down the road. ... For a few reasons :/ But at least I have the reverse commute (or whatever it's called) and traffic isn't as bad for me as it is for most of LA drivers.

I live a couple miles from the beach. Oh, pardon- I live THREE miles from the beach. That is sweet. HOWEVER... I was too lazy and dumb to go spend my time there for the whole month I was living out here without a regular job, and now I can only go on Saturdays. And no matter what the weather... parking is horrendous! :( Oh well. I found a spot the other day and had a lovely walk by myself with the waves at my side.

In the summer, I think I'll just walk there. Oh wait I don't get a summer break. Nevermind. You know... I think this will seriously be the first time in my LIFE that I don't have some sort of summer break! Don't worry- I'll suck it up.

Sorry this is all coming out so negative.

Yesterday was Presidents Day and I got a lovely free-day with Kimball. I was sick but it didn't keep us from doing what we wanted to do, thankfully. We went to Hollywood to the Guitar Center there

(<---this is for Lila) because Kimball wants a guitar, then to Amoeba Records where I went crazy for some used CDs (I bought 3 and Kimball bought 1. Next time we go we'll prepare by making a list of things we want. It totally slipped my mind to do that and it took a long time because I kept thinking of other stuff to look for every 2 minutes.), then instead of going to Griffith Park, we went to a hot dog place and...

"Thee Siiimmppsoooonss!!" (to the tune at the beginning of the show)

Kimball works on The Simpsons now. That is one of the things that makes him cool. He was cool before too when he worked on Beavis and Butthead and he was even cool before that when he was unemployed. ;D Anyway so he brought me up into the building and gave me a tour! Oh my goodness. I have to say... being in there made me realize I'm in the wrong business. Comparing MY work environment to what I see at The Simpsons.... aaagh! What am I doing? I'm grateful I have a job, but maybe more than anything, this particular job will help me realize I need to stop wasting my talents, time, and dreams and that I need to work for something that is more satisfying and personal. At the Simpsons, everything was a beautiful, creative mess. Looking in each cubicle, you could see the personality (and skill) of the person that sat there 40+ hours each week. And on the outer edges of the room there was a wide strip of black paint on the walls, even running across office doors- to write on with chalk! Even the chairs in the break area were cool.

(this picture is dedicated to Lila [and my bro Jesse] too- this is me doing my Marge "eerrr!" noise.)

CLOSING STATEMENTS:

(Did I just make a law joke?)

So this job thing... (realize I haven't worked a real job in over a year, and I haven't almost ever worked full time) while it's a hard adjustment, it IS helping me to see the rest of my time as a blessing. I hope I use that time well.