the world is a stage

the new job is great. i take a bus downtown in the morning, look nice while answering phones (with an hour lunch break in between), and bus home. i'm awake in the morning and tired at night, working all week and relaxing on the weekends. i finally feel like i'm in a groove. i work with nice people, and i'm making money.

and there's free coffee.

i can't help but feel a sort of shock after making such an abrupt transition from the service industry to the downtown 9-5. the atmosphere is different. the people are from different worlds. i've gone from socializing in a dark, basement restaurant with the night creatures of chicago to having coffee with the fresh-pressed, white collar crew of the office. i work with fellow office-folk as well as attorneys and salespeople. i'm an actor before i'm a receptionist, having to spend the transition time pretending i'm already one of them. and they're accepting me very quickly. on friday night i had a happy-hour vodka tonic downstairs with three others. i was the only one who didn't ask for top-shelf vodka.

still, looking around the italian restaurant at the bottom level of the high rise at the sea of corporates all behaving the same way, sitting around square tables in their suits and sipping martinis, i can't help wonder if i'm the only actor. somehow i don't think so.