Gooooooooooood morning Rich wait, where am I?

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Welcome to my occasional reader, who must be going through convulsions after my latest vacation from blogging. Whoops ! I just spilled my sarcasm shake all over the computer. Sorry for that.

Honestly, a lot has changed in the last three days.

I got a new bed. I moved to an entirely different city where I know about two people (my roommate, who works all kinds of hours that can only be matched by a speed freak and his older brother). I woke up yesterday and thought I was in my room senior year of college for half of a second. I can now watch every single major league baseball game in high definition (only for another free week). Oh, and I started a new job.

In rare fashion, I’ll actually talk about my private life for once (I never intended this site to be, “Why Elliot Mann really likes cheese curds”). I made the decision awhile ago that I would continue in my profession because that is what I was destined to do. After interviewing for several jobs during the last two years – some great, some only with a better salary – I ended up with the best one I went after. I’m not sure how it ended up that way. Regardless, it reminds me of Rob Gordon talking about trying to get to third base:

Sometimes I got so bored of trying to touch her breast that I would try to touch her between her legs. It was like trying to borrow a dollar, getting turned down, and asking for 50 grand instead

Except that’s what I feel like happened. I asked for a dollar from a bunch of people and they all said, “Get a job hippie!” Then I asked this company for $50,000 and they seemed glad to do so. Things in my life don’t necessarily happen “the regular way” though, so I shouldn’t seem that surprised. Maybe I’m just giddy because I can’t wait to get started and I know that if I bust my ass, great things can happen. It’s a funny thing, ambition.

When I enter (insert new company here), I’m anxious, nervous, fidgety like a new kid in school, or how it always felt during basketball try-outs. I’m sure you’ve been there before; either at a theater, choir or spelling bee try-out. While everyone mulls around like a crowd of sheep, nerves run high, each kid looking at those close by to see how they’re able to keep calm. You just want to actually play basketball or read your lines – the one place you feel comfortable, to show your skills and prove you belong.

That’s how I feel in the newsroom. I actually start smiling like a got-damn fool in excitement of starting my beat and going to meetings and interviewing people. Someone actually told me they would be checking the ergonomics of my desk. Really? Checking the placement of my chair? Reviewing the height of my monitor? At my old job that would have consisted of putting a thicker phone book under the screen.

Yeah, I’m actually pining for the next school board meeting. I don’t think anyone has that listed on their E-Harmony or match.com profiles.

I’ll always have a spot in my heart for my previous newspaper and that city. I met great people who turned into unforgettable friends. But as my roommate asked me today, “How was the first day of the rest of your life?,” an answer came easily.

Can’t wait for tomorrow.

♫ ♫ ♫ ♫

Elliot writes for a daily newspaper, assuming he finishes orientation. Contact him here.

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