Expanding the mind to hold all the new stuff in

Today was day two of orientation for the library job; sixteen hours of new facts, figures, procedures, policies and demonstrations under my belt. That’s on top of the seven hours of on the job training late last week at the book store new job. The two positions are somewhat alike, and yet totally different. My mind is becoming tired from being forever alert, trying to absorb everything like a sponge without letting any of the valuable information leak back out. I think I will like the work in each place, but hope that I can manage to juggle them both without becoming a burden to either of the schedule makers. Other people do this, juggle two jobs, it can’t be impossible. But it seems pretty difficult at the moment.

And I’m tired. I’m not used to being attentive for this many hours, this many days in a row! After a summer of no employment, it’s been a shock to find myself an employee in two places at once. And gee, what’s all this about having to look appropriate? Six months of slovenly wardrobe choices has made getting dressed in real clothes somewhat of a chore. I can’t wait to get out of them and back into sweats as soon as I get home. And another thing about having a job….no one is doing the vacuuming or laundry while I’m gone. What’s up with that?!

Tonight as I pulled into the grocery store there was a wave of relief that washed over me. I wondered why that was, given grocery shopping isn’t that high on my favorite things list. Then it hit me. At least I know what I’m doing when I’m grocery shopping. I haven’t felt like I knew what I was doing for several days now and it felt good to do something familiar. Now that’s sad!

About Dawn King

I'm a long time banker, having started in the business at sixteen as a co-op student filing checks in a bank bookkeeping department after school. After 26 years in banking I made a scary decision and went back to grad school to become a librarian. Now that I've graduated and worked at a library for a time I'm facing unemployment again; economic times have created shortages in most of the communities near me. So what's next? Hard to say...stay tuned to find out!
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5 Responses to Expanding the mind to hold all the new stuff in

  1. Cathie T. says:

    It’ll get easier with time. But I know what you mean–having to make an effort with your appearance. I still take plenty of shortcuts, though.

  2. Beth says:

    From banker to student, and student to librarian, this IS a new dawn!

    If you are expanding your mind, to hold all the new, are you at risk for getting a big head?

  3. Erin says:

    I know just what you mean. I have 2 different cash registers to work, and it gets quite confusing. I’m just glad I only answer the phones at one place…

  4. Dawn King says:

    I haven’t started answering phones yet but I can tell it’s quite likely I’ll answer each one with the other’s name. Not to mention the library system I’m at as a “roving” library assistant has 19 branches, and odds are good I’ll NEVER (for awhile anyway) get the name of the correct branch inserted into the telephone greeting! But I’ll try!

  5. Sherri says:

    Where are the cleaning fairies when you need them?

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