Back to Work, YAY!

Well, well, I am pleased that I have something to write about besides just cancer today. (I'm sure you are, too!) That's because I finally returned to work this week. First time back since February 9. Wow!

That's, let's see, about six weeks that I was away. I think the last time I had that much time off, I was in grade school and it was summer vacation. Yowzas.

Anyway, I went into the office on Wednesday, and was warmly greeted by the best co-workers on the planet. Seriously, I can't imagine a more awesome group of people to be around for eight-ish hours a day. Several of them had actually cleaned my desk for me the day before I came in, and had decorated my cube with streamers. Awww! Another bought me a cake from Porto's. Yet another gave me the biggest box of chocolate Pocky I have ever seen in my life. All of them had pitched in in various ways on a couple different care packages that they sent to me while I was out. And one after another came up to give me a hug yesterday and a "welcome back, we missed you!"

I didn't get much actual work done, but wow, I had a great day!

Today was good, too, in spite of a lingering stomachache, fickle appetite and tiredness. I did some writing for a client project, and then in the afternoon, a couple co-workers and I snuck out for a quick walk up the street to NBC, where Obama was scheduled to arrive for his appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. We thought maybe there'd be an interesting crowd thronging the studio, but when we got there they had already let everyone in for the taping, and the few people left outside seemed mostly normal, unfortunately. Well, apart from the guy dressed in a rather sparkling and sequiny Uncle Sam suit, with his arm thrown around a large cardboard cutout of Obama.

Then again, this is LA, where I once saw a man in a dog suit on an overpass, and another time a guy with a cat balanced on his shoulders biking down the street. The definition of "normal" here is refreshingly elastic.

When we returned to the office, we discovered that we had not been all that good at "sneaking" out. Our sharp-eyed proofreader had been looking out the window to see if there was anything to see (like Obama's motorcade, maybe), and recognized us as we crossed the intersection. Of course, she announced it to the whole office! Oh well. I had taken a short lunch earlier in the day, so it all balanced out.

Plus, I have cancer. That's the "Get Out Of Jail Free" card, baby. (Hey, it's gotta be good for something.)