Things I learned my first week at my new job (UAB)

UAB Rocks!
 
If Taylor had had to come here for a kidney transplant, she would’ve been going to the hospital that does more of those than any other in the country.
 
Campus Ride is cool – it’s for employees. If you have business somewhere else on campus and don’t want to drive or walk, call Campus Ride. They’ll pick you up and drop you off. Call when you’re done and they’ll take you back to your office. I hear there’s a nice little place to eat right next door to the administration building.
 
Children’s Hospital Cafeteria, which is across the street from me, is actually quite good! But if you have to choose between baked fish and baked chicken, go with the chicken. I needed a knife to cut the fish. Granted, next time I’m faced with those two choices, I may learn to go get a burger or salad instead.
 
Readjusting to cubicle life is interesting. I don’t really care to hear the person next to me talking (loudly) to whoever it is she’s on the phone with. Whoever’s opening that chip bag needs to just open it and be done with it. And I need a mirror for my cubicle … my back is to the entrance and it’s driving me crazy every time someone walks past.
 
I must pace myself on all these training classes! There’s so much I want to take RIGHT NOW, but oh yeah, I’m supposed to work somewhere in there too. *sigh*  I am currently signed up for classes in Oracle, Access, EndNote (an end note writing program … go figure!) and Excel – starting April 3, going to the end of May. I’m keeping an eye on the Photoshop classes – they sometimes offer it after hours and I’m not sure I can justify it for my current job.
 
I’m actually getting to use some of what I learned in college! I have a bachelor’s degree in Music Therapy. I did practicums and an internship in hospital settings. A lot of the terminology is very familiar. And, geek that I am, I’ve offered to help on manuscript preparation. It involves reading journals, studies, and the like. Apparently the other secretaries aren’t really into reading those …
 
When deciding to walk to another building, get your bearings before heading off in the wrong direction and walking 2 blocks before realizing it.         
 
My parking deck is between 16th & 17th Streets South and I MUST enter on the 16th Street side. The other side is VA Parking. Trust me, at 8 AM, you don’t want to be trying to turn around and leave the parking deck. Oh, and from the north, neither 16th nor 17th Streets go straight to the South. They both stop at Morris Avenue.
 
Trying to avoid 8th Ave South (aka University Dr or Blvd) and Red Mountain “Expressway,” I decided to turn just before it onto 21st Street (aka Richard Arrington Jr Blvd). Heading south, it stops at 9th Ave N. Beyond that it’s one way heading North and there are big “Do Not Enter” signs. Once you turn onto 9th Ave N, if you don’t turn left or right at the next stop light, you’ll be on the interstate (thankfully I saw that one coming – didn’t actually do it).
 
There’s an awesome route from 19th St South heading north – gets you to Gardendale in roughly 20 minutes. Just pray for your car not to break down and for no trains to be coming through any of the 3 gateless crossings. (Disclaimer for parents: I have no real proof that the neighborhoods are dangerous. I saw nothing honestly indicating that they would be – they’re just unfamiliar. And I stopped at all 3 train crossings)
 
When entering the parking deck, don’t let the keypad fool you! Just wave your badge at it … it’ll let you in.
 
I am a UAB employee … really. Don’t let my Children’s phone number, Children’s parking deck permission, and the fact that there’s a playground and pediatric clinic downstairs from me fool you.