Back to the Grind.

So Monday was my first day at work. After sleeping oh about an hour total Sunday night, I got out of bed, shaved, showered and headed out the door to my first commute in 6 months. This commute was different. Heading in the opposite direction than most of Chicago, my commute is a quick 20-30 minutes by CTA train to the North. My quiet empty CTA car was a welcome sight in the morning sun. Clear skies and sunshine greeted me on my first day to work.

Switching trains at the Howard station, I soon arrived to Evanston City Hall. The mountain of paperwork they gave me 10 days prior was filled out, so HR was a breeze then it was off to my floor. Evanston Civic Center is an old Catholic girls school, so while it sounds nice and historicy, in reality it creates a lot of chaos for a government. So my office space is a little 7'x9' space carved out of a larger room that is the community development department. I get a window and all that goes with an office, desk, chair, guest chair and drafting table. File cabinet and shelves are there for added decor. This is my space, and it's organized. The most organized office in city hall as far as I can tell! The former General Planner was very meticulous I have a big order to fill in that department, so I am at a good start as it is, lets hope it doesnt get too wild on my part!

I settled into my new space as good as I could (dropped bag, found pen and paper, logged onto computer...) and then was paraded around the city hall to meet every person in every department. Let me say, everyone I have met at the City is super nice, but I will not remember their names, heck I dont even remember my secretary's name (the department shares a secretary...) right now, hopefully i will get that down this week...

Anyways, the job is good, it's slow right now, but I think I will do great in Evanston, I have to remember this job is a job that doesnt have a timeline, the last person was there 6 years... I can build a career out of this one and slow down a bit. The slowing down part is the hard part!

With you,

Craig