Week One

This week is crazy!

I'm done with my first week of work, and I'm wiped out.  So many new things... I thought picking up in a PD office wouldn't be so complicated, but everything is new.  Everything takes effort: every acronym, every new face, every time I need to find the bathroom.  But everyone at the office is incredibly warm, and I think I'll feel at home in no time.  I did a few hearings this week, and I feel more comfortable every day.

The person training me to do his old job has been unspeakably generous with his time and is much more patient than I would be with someone with so many inane questions. One colleague is allowing me to stay in her home and borrow her car for two weeks while I dog-sit for her. A large group of people came out for happy hour Friday, and it was an easy group to relax in.

I'm quickly getting acquainted with the favorite PD coffee shop as well. But every time we want to go on a coffee field trip, it is a huge ordeal!  Someone sounds the call from the hallway, and all of the sleepy PDs come crawling out, slowly robing in coats, scarves, gloves, and hats.  Then we all trudge out in the snow for a cup of coffee.  But today, just as I started to feel sorry for myself, I saw a puppy wearing mittens!  I tried to take a picture of him, but he was pretty quick.

I was lucky enough to have one Alaska contact before moving.  I emailed a law school professor to let him know about my new job (and to thank him for the extensive help he gave me on a scholarly writing article that contributed to my procurement of said job), and he responded by letting me know that his nephew lives in Anchorage! He was kind enough to hang out this week, and it was refreshing to already feel as though I have a friend here.

I found an apartment as well!  It's in an adorable community called Bootleggers' Cove.  You can see the water (and the sunset over the water) from my living room window!  I'm excited not to be homeless anymore, and even more excited to have a dishwasher for the first time in my adult life.  Email me for the address if you'd like to send me a present.