Old work, new tricks

This week and next, I'm filling in at my old office. It's been an interesting experience so far...

First, almost as soon as I left, tons of people quit as well. Therefore, I still remember a lot of people, but there are a lot of people missing, too, and new people to meet.

Second, a couple of weeks ago, the company moved into a new building, and I have to say, it's gorgeous. The cubicles are all new, the building itself is beautiful, and there are fresh ideas for the facility all around, like lounge areas, a mail room, etc.

I don't miss the old place as much as I thought I would - but it is certainly strange to see familiar faces in a new environment. They even set aside a desk for me to use this week...aww!

I was worried I'd have forgotten how to do a lot of the basic tasks - like the keystrokes for the database - but really, I remember almost all of it. It was only four months ago that I left, but I guess it feels like longer. (I've also stuffed so much law into my head that I was afraid it had pushed out work-related information.)

More than anything, I feel glad that most everybody I used to work with is genuinely glad to see me. I feel special - and I feel missed - and that's worth coming in on my break.

I'm not sure how much longer Dave wants to carpool with me, though - we have fun talking, but I think my back-seat driving annoys him, haha.

Anyhow, tonight or tomorrow, we're heading down to spend Christmas with my family. We were supposed to go to Dave's family this year, but because Dad is in the hospital, I didn't want to leave.

Speaking of which, Dad seems to be doing great. I saw him two nights ago: his spirits are up, and his health is as good as can be expected after massive doses of chemotherapy and radiation. You never know what you're going to see when you go to a hospital, and I was happy to see that Dad is doing well. We brought him the first season of Monty Python's Flying Circus.

No matter how well Dad looks, however, you really do appreciate the gravity of the situation when they make you practically hose down with envirochem before you enter his room. We had to wear face masks, as well. He's really in isolation, but it's for his own benefit. He likes his nurses and staff, and that's all you can really ask for.