I survived my first day!

I'm happy to announce that I successfully navigated the Metro by myself this morning (sans Jessica's public transportation expertise). She showed me this awesome app called "HopStop" and it's my new best friend. It's like MapQuest, only it tells your entire trip directions via public transportation. It saved my life.

Well, that and my new "little person" commuter buddy named Chris. He lives in my apartments and has the same work schedule as me. I'll get to him in a second.

Back story- Our apartments have a van that takes us to the Pentagon Station Metro Stop every 30 minutes. I made sure I was down there 15 minutes early this morning (7:15 since the shuttle comes at 7:30) because I didn't want to miss the bus on my first day! Well, I'm not doing that anymore, because I stood there along with 5 other residents staring at the shuttle parked across the street, shivering... he was just waiting for 7:30 so he could come pick us up. Of course I look around to try to strike up conversation with anyone standing outside about how annoying it is that I'm staring at the damn van... just come pick us up! It's 30 degrees! But I quickly noticed everyone had in really cool headphones, were reading the paper, and were all wearing hats, scarves, and gloves (like most normal DC residents, I'm sure). I was so nervous about missing the shuttle I forgot!

Note to self #1: Get cool headphones, bring reading material & warm gear, and go down stairs at 7:28.

So the shuttle FINALLY decides to drive across the street to rescue me from the cold, and I jump on first in the front seat. I then notice everyone who got on after me moves to the back, and they gave me funny looks.

Note to self #2: It's proper etiquette to move to the back of the bus. [totally appropriate and necessary] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjRPBrmu1WQ

So I was in the front row, minding my business, and the last person hops on and sits next to me. I look over and notice he's a little person! Obviously there's nothing wrong with that... I just wasn't really expecting to see a little person hop on the shuttle at 7:30 am and sit next to me, so it stuck out in my mind. He was one of the regulars, though, and had headphones, a book, and was bundled up, so again... I minded my own business.

We make it to the Metro Stop in 15 minutes, I hop on the Metro, ride 3 stops, go up the escalator, and BOOM! I'm at my new office! Yay! 30 minutes door to door. Here's a pic from across the street of my newest office to add to the collection.

Today was great. It was 8 hours of Powerpoint Presentations, but they kept it really interactive and fun. And I got to wave at the CEO! His office is right by the training room, and it's tiny! His walls are all glass, and his sign on the door is a big green piece of paper that says TIM-CEO. And it's taped to the glass door with blue paint tape. Now if that doesn't say "easy going", I don't know what does. I'll take more pics of the office tomorrow, but I didn't want to be a creeper on my first day. We just moved into this building 3 weeks ago... the office I interviewed in was across the street and they were busting at the seams.

So fast forward to 4:45, we are dismissed, and I take the escalator down to the Metro. I use my nifty "HopStop" to get the route home. Crap. It's telling me to get off at a different stop! Where the hell do I go?? Then, like an angel in the subway, I spot the little person from my shuttle this morning! I hesitated on wether or not to approach him... I couldn't remember exactly what he looked like, but let 's be honest... what are the chances?

So I politely asked him "Excuse me sir, do you live at the Halstead?" to which he replies yes and looks at me strange. I explained to him that this I just moved into the apartments and recognized him from the shuttle this morning. I'm sure he wanted to say "Well no shit, I'm kind of hard to miss", but he was very polite and told me to follow him. GOOD THING- because I would have had NO clue where to go! The shuttle picks us up a a different spot than it drops us off. We chatted the whole way home... he was so nice! And it turns out he's an IT Programmer for the Government and his contract is ending soon, and he knows who Zeke's company is, so he wants to get in touch with Zeke to see what they have open. So it was meant to be :)

On a less chipper note, I'm still sick and feel like crap. I've been working on my "homework" for training, which is researching 30 prospects in each of my cities tonight, so I'm taking an unusually long time typing this because my eyes were going crossed making spreadsheets. Hopefully I feel better tomorrow, we have out first team HH after work. Although, judging my my chills and worsening cough, I think they might have to wait for the next HH in 2 weeks to meet KMFJ. I guess being "Kate the elbow licker" is just as good for now.

Thank you all for your sweet messages and texts for my first day... much love!