There's No Place Like HMO

After Monday's all-day orientation, yesterday was my first day at my new desk. So far I've been given cookies and scones, a cyclamen, a free Flash drive (!) and carte blanche with the office supply catalog, so I think I'm gonna like it here. And no one has said "lift up," but they have provided me with materials and scheduled training specific to the job I will be doing. This is a novelty after the last place I worked.

There are several people in my department who are in my age group and seem to share my sense of humor, which is great. The photos of CNE on my desk remain the cutest baby/kid pictures in the whole office.

One of my new colleagues is also named Kim, so we're trying to figure out who gets called what. Neither of us wants to be "Kimmy," although she's less resistant to the idea than I am. I'm sure one of us will acquire a nickname pretty soon, and of course I'm always willing to answer to "Your Grace" — but "Kim-chi" seems more likely with this crowd.

Turns out I pass the other Kim's apartment building on my way to the office. When the weather is nice, we and one other woman who lives nearby might try walking to work together. It's just under 2 miles for me.

This building houses a cafeteria (to which I'll be going soon because I remembered to pack a teapot and Earl Grey this morning, but forgot to pack a lunch) and a small convenience store. There are also small, vividly upholstered seating lounges scattered throughout the building.

My cube is one cube from the wall of windows that look out over the condo construction site next door and the river farther to the south. I didn't realize how much I missed seeing signs of nature, even suburban nature, outside the office window until I worked downtown for a few months. The difference between the grey of the concrete jungle and the grey of trees and water preparing for winter is huge.

This HMO employs nearly 10,000 people in its various clinics and other facilities. I think all of them park at this building; the lot is vast and full.

With a November start date, I have 3.25 PTO (paid time off; combined vacation & sick leave) days available between now and the end of the year — just enough for my trip to Missouri in December. The company also offers me either one additional day or the monetary equivalent of that day. I'm taking the day. Don't know what I'll do with it yet, but I'm sure I can think of something.

If I read the orientation materials right, I'll start the new year with 19 PTO days available, plus the option to take 5 more days or their monetary equivalents — and I could purchase more days on top of that if I wanted to. I'm still picking my jaw up off the floor! What in the world am I going to do with 19 paid days off? Oh yeah — go to Italy. Did I mention I'm going to Italy in 2006? I am. Viva Italia!

Payday is every other Friday. This Friday is a payday, and I'll get a check for this week's work. No waiting. Cool!

So . . . Many thanks to all who have sent me good wishes on my new venture. I think they're working.