So how's the new job?

Hello, bloggy-type-people! I feel like I've been neglecting you all lately. I guess that's what happens when you decide to move and start a new job and buy a car all at the same time. Not to mention hanging out with my parents while they were here and, you know, trying to write a book and stuff.

Anyway, life is really good. I LOVE my car. I know I said I wanted to go car-less, and I think someday if I ever live in a big city or a really small town, I might try it again. There were some definite benefits to all that walking. And it was nice how I hardly ever spent money because it would involve getting to the store and then trying to get all the stuff I bought home. It always seemed like so much effort that it was easier to just stay home and make do with what I had.

But yeah. Cars are good. I guess they were invented for a reason.

And my new one is a lot nicer than any car I've ever owned before, which is good because hopefully I won't have to pay as much to maintain it. But it's also bad because I'm so paranoid about messing it up or getting in a wreck or something. Also, I had to get a loan to afford it, and I hate going into debt. So that just makes me feel all kinds of blech.

It's okay, though. I'll get over it. Or pay off the loan soon. I hope it's the latter.

Back to the original question. My new job is great.

In case you missed it, I'm now an assessment editor at Western Governor's University. (You can learn more about the school on their website if you're interested.)

I really like the people I'm going to be working with, and I'm already learning a ton. Basically this whole first week has been training, which when you're an editor involves a lot of reading—or at least skimming—style guides. For the non-editors out there, a style guide is pretty much like a dictionary but for really specific things that would only come up based on the kind of thing you're editing. Most places follow a bigger style guide like Chicago, APA, or AP, and then they also have their own house style guides for specific stuff or for areas where they decide to veer away from the more generalized style.

Wow. How did I just talk about style guides for an entire paragraph? Ahem. Sorry. That was probably really boring. To be honest with you, even for editors, reading style guides is pretty boring but it's very necessary so that you know what's in there and can search for it later, when you need it.

This is all to say that while I'm really liking my job so far, I'm pretty sure I'll like it even better once I work through all my training and get to start actually editing. I've only done a little bit of that so far, but what I did do was good.

Besides the work, there are other things about this job that I already love.
1. I work on the sixth floor of an office building. That means I have a nice view and I get to ride the elevator every day. Multiple times a day. I like elevators.
2. There are lots of people to meet, and I'm enjoying getting to know my new coworkers.
3. I already scored some sweet WGU swag: a polo shirt, a cup, a mouse pad, a pen, and a little notebook. Pretty awesome.
4. The benefits are nice.
5. There's a gym in our building. It's under construction right now, but it will be available sometime in the future.
6. I've been eating lunch out on the balcony, which still has the great view and is nice and quiet. And sunny. Maybe I should take some pictures of the view to show you all. If I were a good blogger, I would've done that. But sadly, I am not.
7. They have fairly flexible hours, which means I can come in at 7:00 and leave at 3:30. I haven't actually done that yet, but I've gotten close. Yesterday I came in at 7:15.
8. It's nice being close to downtown SLC. Again, I haven't actually been downtown since I moved here, but if I wanted to get there, I could pretty easily.

I do miss my old coworkers, my friends from my old ward, and living in the Hidey Hole. I miss my super short commute and riding my bike, Daphne. But I'm really enjoying living with my grandparents for now. They have a piano, so I've been practicing on it the past few days. I forgot how terrible I am at the piano. Somehow I still enjoy practicing, though. They also have a balcony with a nice view of Salt Lake City. I ate breakfast out there this morning. That was fun.

Sorry this is such a long rambly post. I'm not really sure what the point was except just to update you all on the fact that I've mostly settled into my new life and I think things are going to be great.

Shout out to everyone who helped me move, went car shopping with me, let me borrow their car, and gave me rides before I bought a car. You guys are the best! I couldn't have made it through this summer without you. Seriously. You know who you are, and you know that I love you.

Happy almost-Friday, everyone! Here's to a great weekend!