I’ve been at the new job for a week now and I’ve learned a couple of things:

THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS A NORMAL WEEK

Week 1 saw my oldest boy home for two days with strep. It would be easy to blame any lack of productivity on him. So, I will.

But, looking ahead I can tell that there will be no such thing as a normal week. Next week is Spring Break. The kids get Friday off both weeks after that. I’m not sure why they get a week off and then two four-day weeks in a row. I can only assume that all the math problems have been solved so there is less to learn than when we went to school.

THERE’S A LOT OF LAUNDRY

The daydream version of being a full time author included an old home on the town square that I would use for my office. The reality is that my office is just down the hall from the washer and dryer. I don’t mind doing it. I hate folding it.

I DON’T MISS PEOPLE AS MUCH AS I THOUGHT I WOULD

I’m hardly a social butterfly, but I knew that I’d miss adult conversation. The dogs are great company, but they don’t laugh at my jokes. They also don’t leave the room when they have to let one go—something I’ve now learned to appreciate about people.

I really thought I’d miss people. But, after seeing the Harlem Shake video my former company posted on YouTube and passed around on Facebook, I think it will be a while before I say, “I wish I worked in an office again.”

So that was the first week. We’ll see how week two plays out.

-ben