diet coke for breakfast

these days i drink diet coke for breakfast. i wake up early, throw on jeans and a t-shirt, and head out the door to work. at my real life adult job. everyday. it's not optional like the glory days of attending only half of my classes in college. that doesn't fly now. i'm in the 9 to 5 world. actually, it's more like 9 to 7, and a real lunch break just delays my freedom.

don't get me wrong - i love my job. the people are cool and smart, the work we produce is cool and smart, our office is a cool place to spend 50 hours a week, AND i can wear whatever i want. or at least i think i can. according to lee, the forty year old gay PA for our CEO, i should dress for my next job (aka he wants to see me in heels and a skirt), but he makes his proclamation as he's wearing jeans and soccer sandals, so i take it with a scoop of salt. actually, if you saw some of my fellow BBHers on the subway in the morning, you might question their employment status. we are somewhat of a motley crew, with a few corporates here and there.

currently the name of my game is grunt work, but there is room to grow. already have in the almost 11 months i've been at it. i've learned way more than i EVER thought i would at work - things about myself, other people, the industry, etc. all this to say that if i have to work, i have a pretty sweet deal (but i think it goes without saying i'd rather not have to). it still baffles me how i got here - to the place where i work and have health insurance and a 401K (or that i even understand the latter).

i am definitely not a morning person, but once i'm up i enjoy it for the most part. the people i see keep me entertained, and my trusty ipod provides the soundtrack. i can see my office building from the roof of my apartment, but it takes me 30 minutes to get there. i try to get to work by 9, and the first 45 minutes are my favorite. i set my bag down, turn on my computer, and head for the amazing machine that spits out ice-cold diet cokes for free. i sit down, sip on my beverage, and get ready to face the day. i know it's not "normal" to have diet coke in the morning and people always give me hell, but it takes the edge off of yet another day where people expect things from me before 11am.