Okay, so I got my first paycheck today ^_^ yay Besides making me feel all offical (even more so than when I got my very own stapler, pens, paperclips and other desk supplies) it brings to mind all the things I've deprived myself since I've been out of work. Okay, I didn't deprive myself that much. I still managed to pick up my box of comics at the comic store (4 weeks of Rajin, Shonen Jump, Super Manga Blast, Animerica, Animerica Extra, Spiderman, and whatever else interesting things are out there that they want to stick in my box). But there are things that I really, really wanted to get and couldn't. Bunches of manga tankbutons (that's probably spelled wrong, I should just say graphic novel, thats what they are). And dvds of Fruits Basket, Spirited Away, Laputa (sorry, Castle in the Sky) and Kiki's Delivery Service! On DVD! Subbed even. I want. I want. I want. I want. I want. I want. I want. I want. I want. I want. I want. I want. I want. I want. I want. I want. I want. I want. I want. I want. I want. I want. Sadly, if I bought EVERYthing I wanted right now I'd spend my paycheck, which I can't afford. The problem being, in a nutshell, Tokyopop. They keep coming out with SO MUCH STUFF!! They are killing me. Now it looks like Viz is going to get into the picture with it as well. They've got HYD (one of my all time faves) and now they've got two issues already up for pre-order on some sites. AUGH. I will never be out of debt this way!

So the thing about working a regular job that I'm not used to yet is the regularity of it all. I work everyday, (mon-fri) from 8:15-4:30. I have every weekend off, every evening free. Wow. That is so impossibly cool. You have to have had a full time retail job, or something like a watchman's job or a nurse to understand how very neat this is. For the past 7 years I never knew when I was free. I never knew if I'd have a weekend or a night off, or if I was going to be able to use the vacation days I had off. Oh! Vacation! I actually get to take a vacation! and it doesn't HAVE to be centered around a holiday 'cause *gasp* I get holidays OFF. Wow. Before I could be working from 9 to 5, 5-1 am, I could be working all weekend, I could be working all week. I could be working 50 hours, I could be working 4. You never know. You think you know, you get a schedule and you think ah, thats what I'm going to be working. Then someone calls in, or business slows down, or someone gets sick or some huge project comes up and your schedule goes to hell. But not any more. YAY! And I'm getting enough used to my regular schedule that I'm not exhausted when I get home anymore. I'm not falling asleep at 8 and waking up at 3-4, I'm going to bed at 12 and waking up just fine at 7. It's very cool. Soon I'll hopefully have enough energy to re-pick up my hobbies.