I have a job.

I got up around 11:30 last night, made some dinner, then hung out here for a bit, then went and got my Friday papers.  Yesterday, the tranportation guy at North Clackamas Ed. district called me and told me that my training would begin today at 9 am.

The Friday papers came down at more or less the expected time, unlike last night when an inserter or press broke down and my Portland papers came down before my south route papers did.  I didn’t like, rush through the routes any much faster than I usually do, but I also didn’t stop to chat with anyone and just dropped my papers and went on to the next stop.

I finished about 5:45 and got home by 6, so after grabbing a bowl of cereal, I splashed into bed for an hour and a half of sleep.  Didn’t actually get that much sleep, but I did haze out for a while and woke up before the alarms went off (yeah.  Alarms.  I set the phone’s alarm and my clock by the bed)

Made some coffee, then gave myself a half hour to get there and took off, remembering to grab the health certificate that the district needs for my records.  I did forget my Social Security card and a voided check for the direct deposit (I LIKE direct deposit) I hadn’t paid enough attention the last couple of times I’ve driven down there, and was sorta surprised to find that it’s just over four miles from my apartment to where the buses are parked.  I didn’t need no half hour to get there.  I could even conceivably ride my bike to work.  I probably never will, but it’s nice to know.

I sat in the van a bit – don’t wanna show up too early when I got to the bus yard, and then gathered up my stuff and walked into the transpo office and met my trainer, Mary. 

But ya know, the most meaningful part was when they handed me the W-2/W-4 (can’t remember which, but it’s the one you fill out to tell them how much not take outa your paycheck) and had me fill it out.  That’s when ya know you got the job.  Up to then, it’s a question.  After that, well, after that ya gotta do the job, but since you’re gonna do that anyway, no problem.

Got my time card (no more punch card machines- barcode readers.  Card’s like a visa card) and got the nickle tour of the facilities; then it was out to a bus, to begin the pre-trip exam learning.  That’s really important.  You gotta make sure the rig is right before you go pick up kids.  Of course, you have to do the same thing on any big vehicle, so this is not greek to me.  New type of vehicle, yes; new procedure, not really.

I did make sure to say that I was not available September 5th and 6th.  It turns out that school starts the 5th, but that they don’t expect me to be carrying kids til near the end of the month, so it’ll work out.  And of course, that training time is compensated, as are all the fees I’ve had to pony up lately.

There is light at the end of the tunnel.  I know it’s not a train coming – hell, I’m almost in the light now!

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I can do this.  I am doing it.

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(since the boss is out of the country, I’ll have to deliver the Satuday papers, then just a few hours later, I have to deliver the Sunday first edition.  First time I’ve driven the stepvan since I broke my foot nine weeks ago.  I did not miss it.  I dunno if I’ll be online much tomorrow…. but, ya know, since I’m totally addicted, I probably will be)

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