I WILL BE WORKING NEXT WEEK!

Only for two days, but then perhaps four the next week. Wahoo! I’m incredibly excited, although I did just have a semi-reality check about the work I would be doing. Writing. In an office. Wearing “business casual” clothes. Different!

Sara and I talked about my salary requirements. I had to endure that moment of terror when you say what you’re asking for, wondering if it’s totally off base. Luckily for me, she said that my suggestion was exactly what she had been thinking. Wow! That’s impressive, considering my inability to judge myself.

See, here’s the deal: I’m a relatively confident person, but I really have no idea how others view me. Am I smart, pretty, skinny, funny? No wait, I’m dim, ugly, bloated, and irritating. Er, no, perhaps I’m academic, somewhat cute but not gorgeous, well-rounded, and amusing? Oh, I don’t know. I never have any idea how others view me, but frequently, my assumptions about what people like are sadly off. For example, I’ve always thought my eyes were my best feature, and hated my lips, since they reside below a birthmark and over teeth that are still crooked despite $3k of orthadontic work. However, I get the most compliments on my mouth and crooked smile, and no-one ever says a word about my glittering green eyes. Huh.

The moral of the story is that at least I’m good at valuing myself appropriately in regards to my career. I may not know if I’m funny or just irritating. I may not know if I’m pretty or just sort of tolerable. I may never know if people view me as personable, or just sort of weird, but at least I know that a year of my time is worth $45k!