that's "mister meter reader" to you

today i started my new job


it rocked my face off


in case you didn't know, i am now an employee of the portland water district as a water-meter-reader (i love the way that rolls off the tongue: watermeterreader. it should be all one word, it flows so well). so far, here's my list of what rocks and what doesn't about the job:

What Rocks:

• i get to drive, walk, and generally traverse the greater portland area all day, every day
• hours: 6:30-2:30. plenty of time to run errands, nap, surf, or just do whatever in the afternoons
• they supply uniforms. oh sweet heavens. check out the sweet t-shirts they gave me to get started:
  
• not only am i supplied with rain gear, uniforms, sweet orange vests, and a happening ID badge, but i also receive a $90 boot allowance per calender year. um, hello, is this heaven?
• outdoors, all day, every day
• near complete autonomy; i leave in the morning, gas up my truck, and don't come back until the end of the shift. they trust you to stay busy and be productive in the meantime without any cumbersome oversight or meddling
• i'm part of an elite crowd of service professionals: just like the mail men, utility workers and the like, i get friendly waves and pleasant greetings all day long

What Doesn't:

• being outdoors every day, all day means you encounter the worst that the weather gods have to offer. fortunately, i've already seen the worst, and i know i can handle it
• some dogs have a hard time distinguishing between "menacing predator" and "friendly meter reader." hence the cane of mace we get issued. it does say on the can that it's "effectiveness against trained attack dogs has not been proven." let's hope i don't encounter any of those
• tired, worn out jokes, such as "hey, don't bother reading my meter, i didn't use any water this month." hahahashutup.
  
• once again, i'm working a job that has absolutely nothing to do with my major. is this the sort of job a 25-year-old with a college degree should be working? absolutely not. but am i excited about it anyways? you bet. that may or may not be a good thing

so there you have it. i'm sure more details will follow in the weeks to come as i learn more about the job. as for now, i have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in my hands that is in desperate needs of being eaten. seeya