My New Job

Well, I started my new job at TigerPlace this week and I love it! I was pretty nervous going into it because I had gotten used to staying at home and was afraid that I would not adjust well to going back to work full time. I also was concerned about how the people there would accept me. When you are replacing someone who was well-liked, you always wonder whether they will like you, or hold it against you that the other person left. However, all of those fears were for nothing. All of the staff and residents have been wonderful to me. They are a very friendly bunch and easy to talk to and get along with.
I can already tell that I am going to gain weight as my meals are free and Casey, Rhonda, and Alicia (the weekday cooks) are amazing! It is taking me a while to get used to the freedom I have at TigerPlace. Most anything I want to do, Chuck (my boss) tells me to go for it. If it works, great. If not, try something else. I am still working on getting all of the names of the residents down. We have 34 people living there along with 2 cats and 2 dogs. They have all been very patient with me. I am starting to figure out who the cantankerous ones are and who will come to almost everything we do.
We went on our first outing today. Five ladies came along for a tour of neighborhood yards and gardens. I was very impressed that we had that good of a turnout since everyone kept asking me if I was going to drive the big van (a 14 passenger handicap accessible van). I don't think they thought a "little girl" like me could drive it. I was very pleased that I completed the entire trip without hitting any curbs! While I feel that the first half of the trip was kind-of a bust (very few flowers and kind of boring), we ended up at the Shelter Gardens and that was a hit! Andrew came along with us and Katie, one of the girls I work with, came also to help out. I will have to try to find ways to get more of the people to come. If anyone knows of any interesting places to visit or eat around the area or in St. Louis, Jeff City, or Kansas City (or places similar in distance), please let me know as I am always looking for new ideas.
Next week is the first week that I really have anything planned, so hopefully it will go well.