This morning, I called my dad on the walk to work, like I have a few times a week for the past year and a half. He always asks, “You walkin’?” And I always reply, “Yup, I’m walkin’.” And we continue on to talk about whatever’s on our mind that day.
Yesterday morning, he said… “You walkin’?” “Yup, I’m walkin’.” Beat. “You walkin’ somewhere new?”
And I said, “Yup… I’m walkin’ somewhere new.”
Monday was my first day at my Shiny New Job. I was so nervous in the morning, I gagged while brushing my teeth, and had to brush them again. My stomach was so jittery I couldn’t even drink coffee, never mind eat breakfast. I made it to the building, took a deep breath, and pressed on inside, having absolutely no idea what to expect.
And it was great. REALLY great. Everyone I met was intelligent, kind, and thoughtful. They expressed gratitude that I was there (No, really, thank you), and the assistant who is training me was born to teach. AND, he’s really smart. And mentioned quite a few times how glad he is that I’M really smart.
God, I love smart people.
I’m sure the sparkles and glitter will wear off a bit eventually, but at the end of the day, it’s still such a totally amazingly superbly much, MUCH better sitch than I was stuck in before. In fact, it’s (knock on wood) positively lovely.
There was perhaps one teeny tiny, barely-on-the-radar, teensy weensy little hiccup…
(Oh, you just KNEW it was coming, didn’t you??)
I may have been a wee bit eager to prove myself, and when the copier wasn’t working correctly, Trainer & I diagnosed it was in need of a toner cartridge change.
“Can you handle that?” Trainer asked, as he was engaged in a conversation.
“OF COURSE!!!” I boomed, chest out (in the proud superhero way, not the buxom come-hither way) and strode off towards the copy room to Solve The Problem.
I quickly opened the printer, pulled out the empty cartridge, replaced it with a fresh one, and closed the machine. While it calibrated, (or thought really hard!, as I like to call it), I tried to figure out what to do with the old one, forgetting that one side of the tube was a BIG HOLE that JET BLACK INKY TONER POWDER would totally fall out of if I turned it upside down by accident.
So I did.
All over EVERYTHING.
I stood there, grateful my pants were black, and surveyed the Black Snow Storm I had created in a corner of the copy room. On my first day. Before lunch.
Whoops.
(Sigh.) I’m sure I’ll do worse, before the week is over…
{ 33 comments }
Who hasn’t spilled toner all over the copy room? Well, maybe not on their first day. But look on the bright side: now everyone knows who you are.
Here’s to a less tonery second day.
HA! I did that there! Those toners are a pain. So glad you’re enjoying it. One of the things I loved the most about your current place of employment is the people. They really are amazing.
Having had a truly crappy job only prepared you for this one. Now you’re able to appreciate it. As to the toner, shit happens. Hmmm…how will you out do yourself on the second day?
Whoopsies. It happens.
I think copier machines are my natural born enemies. A former coworker of mine, who sat within earshot of our copier, once told me he was secretly composing a tragic-comedy about my epic battle with our copier. I had been there a long time and I had no problems with swearing and kicking that thing in front of everyone. And I did…OH I DID.
Well, at the very least you’ve earned yourself some sort of nickname for the rest of your time there. That may not seem like such a big deal, but remember that your first nickname is the one that sticks, so when you do something later like burp or fart accidentally, you’re still going to be “Tonergirl” or something similar.
You’re pretty.
LiLu – I totally dig you. Sometimes I think we might be the same person – at least on the doing something stupid scale!! Thanks for the good laugh this morn!
Oh and there’s something for you over at my place!
Oh, no! That’s awful. Very lucky about the black pants, but I bet that was quite a mess to clean up.
Yay for having a nice new workplace and cool co-workers!
I screw up our copier all the time. One time I actually had to call the service people because I screwed up the staple cartridge and it wouldn’t work at all.
it’s NOT TMI thursday! you’re early!
Foggy: I’m not even going near it today.
Jo: The people are definitely my favorite thing so far- everyone’s been wonderful.
Miss Scorpio: I can only imagine…
Lemmonex: A la Office Space! I love it.
66: I can live with Tonergirl. It’s definitely better than anything related to gas…
Frecks: And thank the lord for that.
Nothing Fancy: You are wonderful! Thanks for the love.
Zandria: At least, I think my trainer was the only one who knew it was me, so hopefully I’m not “That Girl” just yet.
Maxie: I’ve destroyed a lamanating machine. WIN!
Fairy: Oh, just wait. My TMI this Thursday is probably going to lose me more readers than it gains…
…do you have my stapler???
I’m sure you and your trainer will look back at that moment and laugh and drink and laugh and drink some more. That’s how work relationships should be.
Oh, that’s nothing. I think you can do better than that.
J
http://adventuresinvoluntarysimplicity.blogspot.com/
Congrats on the new job.
Remind me never to let you hold anything.
Good job! My TMI Thursday post is going to totally kick yours ass. Why? Because it’s TMI AND involves a 1st day at work.
Ps. You are totally smart, because I still haven’t figured out how to change the toner, other than calling the help desk and begging.
I would have totally blamed it on Trainer Guy.
Brett: Is it a red Schwinn?
…. No.
Jack: I think you’re right. Just wait til the Holiday Party next week.
Arjewtino: Just put away the babies, good china, and Chinamen, and I should be all right.
Doug: CHALLENGE. I really don’t think it will- I’ve got a DOOZY this week…
Fearless: And THIS is why you make more money than me.
Hahaha, I totally did the same thing yesterday. Except I got none of it on myself, and no one knew it was me… But there’s a big black circle in our copy room floor now. Ooops.
I thought the inside of a copier looked like a Keebler commercial. You know, hollow but full of color-coordinated elves and their schemes to make delicious cookies and such, with the occasional output of printed paper to keep the conspiracy hush hush.
Translation: I know nothing about such large machines and probably would’ve managed to spill that ink into an ear, an eye or something that definitely would’ve required medical attention.
Congrats on the new job! You sound so positive about it. I wouldn’t worry about the toner – I think everyone who has ever had any experience with office copiers is well aware that they are all EVIL.
You know, it’s sort of in keeping with your bottoms up mentality…Is that helping? Even a little bit? Darn.
I was banned from using our company copy machine after I amde it explode.
Ink went flying everywhere.
I was set up.
You should have smeared it all over your face, Rambo style.
Then you'd be the office trend setter instead. However, one of the reasons we are biffle-miffle-buds is that we are lovably awkward, and generally people just want to pet us pitifully and say "aw….you're < /i> pretty < /i>"
Very small, in the scheme. I’m glad you like the new job.
Beach Bum: Our copy rooms are twinsies!
f.B: Now I want a cookie. Thanks a lot.
Connie: Welcome! I’m glad everyone is aware of the inherent evil residing within copiers. I am not alone!
Katherine: I don’t even know what you just said, but I like it.
rs27: You win
FattyLumpa: Pat, pat. Did I get it?
Btw, I am ROCKING lovably awkward at the new office. (I hope.)
Lisa: Thank you! I’m sure you’re right.
Now you’ve got a great story to make new people feel better when you’re all established.
I hate you.
now that is some good shit for a couple of reasons.
1. i call my mom when i walk to my car in the morning.
2. congrats on the new job!! they’ll forget about you busting the copier by the holiday party
so glad the new job is going well! copier snafoos and all.
Kristin: True story! Thanks.
FattyLumpa: I LUFF YOU!
Alexa: How did you know I was planning on stripping down and dancing on the tables at the Holiday Party?
Brookem: Snafoos! My fave new word of the week!
LiLu: re bottoms up. You know, we both subscribe to that theory. Everything is better upside down, yada yada. Well, you bottomed up the ink cartridge which was not so much a gaff as a statement?
Um, yeah. I’ll take my nonsensical self over to my corner of the blogosphere and just shut up now.
Congrats on the happy new job! Wise move on the toner dump–it’s good not to look too perfect and make people worry about being upstaged by the new kid. Way to go!
Katherine: Somebody needs a drink.
LET: That’s a good way of looking at it! Thanks chica.
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