Wow.

For the first time in awhile I have worked (almost) an 8 1/2 hour day.

It's so weird.

That's not to say I haven't worked for 9 hours on any given day, I usually do in some form or another, but with my part time job and tours and stuff, it doesn't go together like this for me anymore.

Granted, I'm alone in my little office, sometimes my boss is here, but its pretty much just me. And a few things have struck me as I sit here:

1. What a long time we spend at work. I mean it's really all day! The days when I would work all day, then go home and work out and be ready to do what I wanted to do by 7:30-8:00 are a long time ago now. I am impressed that people get things done outside of work. Truly. But I can also see why I would get stuck. I can tell you tonight the last thing I want to do is go home and work on my own personal things. I just want to go home and hang with the man and watch a tv show or two.

2. I feel a little...child-like. It's not like I have to ask to go to the bathroom, but I have to tell someone. I didn't really get a lunch, I couldn't just go check my email for fear the boss will walk in, that kind of stuff. I mean, I'm damn close to 40 now and having to worry about checking my email seems silly, especially for the scratch I make here. I realize of course that not all jobs are like this, hardly any really, but it's weird for me.

3. How essentially quickly it all went. This morning 8 hours seemed like forever, sitting alone not really talking to anyone, but now at 4:30, it's like "oh, that wasn't so bad." That scares me, because...well...I don't want it to become easy or regular for me anymore.

4. How lucky people are who like/love their jobs. I still feel for that poor 23 year old kid who just started some awful job and has to sit there...now that I'm older and my friends are older, I know a lot more people who get great satisfaction from their 9-5 jobs. I respect that and I think that must be nice.

5. For me personally, the writing is on the wall. Man oh man I can see how the security of the same place to go every day for the same amount of money and hours per week, could lure me back in, but I don't miss it. I love coming down to the Loop for my part-timer, but I like living outside of the norm a bit, I'm going to try and keep it.

6. I miss my co-worker! I always thought I would like to be alone and working all day, but now that I have for even just a short time, I miss the Drop and am looking forward to the gossip of tomorrow.

7. I hope John is making me a "Working Girl" dinner!

And you know, I realize it was one day of work for as long as everyone goes to work. I'm not complaining, it just makes me think and remember what its like to be on the train with everyone, to get lunch with everyone, it all brings back the memory of what it was like...dude. I just want to give tours.