Now that’s a side street

/ May 21, 2016

Yes, the first week at the new job was busy.

And it went well, this new position as public information assistant at the Liverpool Public Library. Yes, I enjoyed learning my duties and meeting my new colleagues. My work hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. went over well, too.

With the 35-hour work week, that leaves 30 minutes each day for lunch.

I packed my own each morning, and sat outside on a bench to eat. Including the day I left it on the kitchen table. Then I hoofed it to Nichols, the supermarket down the block, and bought half an Italian sub, a half-pickle, and a bottle of diet root beer, and still had enough time to wolf it down.

By the end of the week I was brave enough to take a walk around the block.

Going out the side door.

Going out the side door.

And take out my iPhone 6 to take photos of the cool sight going down Tulip Street.

Nearer the corner.

Nearer the corner.

It got better the closer I got to the intersection.

I can see Onondaga Lake, I can.

I can see Onondaga Lake, I can.

And it got really great when I crossed over to the other side.

The Marina.

The Marina.

That’s the Onondaga Yacht Club down there, and its Marina at Onondaga Lake Park. I will haul my lunch down there when it gets warmer and take more pictures. I promise.

Would you bring your lunch every day, or try to get takeout every once in a while? How far would you dare to stray in your half-hour lunch? Would you just eat in the inside lunch room to relax?

Related posts

52 thoughts on “Now that’s a side street”

  1. I use to like getting out… But in my last job we all shared lunch together and chatted the whole time. Others would come join myself and my two aides… Cause we were the “happening” lunch crowd! Ha! Ha! Ha!

    Like

    Reply

  2. Oh, that lake is a draw — In the summer you’d find me in it! But I’m a lunch at the desk person. That lets me get out a little earlier. I usually goof off with blogs for 15 and then just go ahead and get my work done. And there is no lake nearby to draw me!

    Like

    Reply

  3. Looks like it’s going to be a good gig, Mark! You know the old saying, “If you’re lucky enough to be by the water, you’re lucky enough” 🙂 I used to eat my lunch while I worked, and then go walk the small pond where I worked at lunch when the weather was nice. I took my lunch a lot, though my building was next to the cafeteria – just depended on what they were offering. My last job had a few perks and a lot of flexibility, as long as the deadlines were met and meetings were attended 🙂

    Like

    Reply

    • As I learn my way through the gig, Sadie, I think there is some flexibility here as well, as far as Getting the Job Done is the No. 1 rule, as it was at your old place, with Making the Meetings coming in at 1A. 🙂 Walking around that pond must have cleared your mind for both, my friend.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    • Yes, I thought of you and your U.K. Liverpool when I took the job, Roy. Do you have a Liverpool Public Library there? 🙂

      Yes, I may have had lunch next to the lake already. Twice. Pictures to come next week …

      Like

      Reply

  6. Mark, congrats on being part of the fabulous LPL team! It’s a great place, always something interesting going on there. I go there frequently but will not talk your ear off when I see you as I did elsewhere 😂. Enjoy the quaint surroundings and especially the lake.

    Like

    Reply

    • If you see me in the library, Ermine, the only spot to keep the lips zipped is “The Quiet Zone.” Otherwise, the LPL is a place to communicate ideas as much as the store was. 🙂

      Like

      Reply

  7. Yes! Excellent benefit at the new job! Bring your bike and take a ride before or after work, too😊 I had a random summer when I worked retail that it was clear almost every day I had off. My son and I spent almost every clear day at the park and then we’d hop on the tram, just for the view.

    Like

    Reply

    • I’m no longer a bike rider, Lisa G, but I surely plan to walk before or after work hours some days. 🙂 And get my dear wife Karen up here to join me, too, for the refreshment of the park and the village. The tram ride sounds like a great idea. 🙂

      Like

      Reply

  8. If I only had half an hour worked near water like you do, I would definitely go eat by the water during nice weather. Fortunately for me (and please don’t hate me), after I got sick I negotiated a 1-1/2 hour lunch period by agreeing to come in half an hour earlier each day (our basic lunch period is an hour). This way I can go home every day at lunch time, put my feet up for half an hour and play with Cody, which makes the afternoon so much easier to deal with, and helps avoid some of the stress that triggers my UC symptoms. My boss may be an AH most of the time, but he does come through when it’s really necessary. And, of course, he has the benefit of an employee who is a little less cranky and worn out during the afternoon and thereby able to produce more work.

    Like

    Reply

  10. Glad you enjoyed your first week Mr. B. I’ve been wondering how it went. Don’t forget you have that other grassy park, Johnson Park, across from the library on 2nd St. and do try Cafe at 407 for sandwich or soup. It’s run by a non-profit. Like others here I also get outside and sit in my car for lunch. Cicero Library is out in the country, so no restaurants nearby. I love to listen to my audiobook. It can be hard to tear myself away if it’s an exciting or turning point in the story! Keep on bloggin!

    PS: Johnson Park has those free music concerts Mon and Wed at 7pm in the summer. But you probably already know that! 😉

    Like

    Reply

    • When I was at the store before this move, I was much closer to you up in Cicero, Annie, but not out in the country, obviously. Still I chose to eat in my car to listen to the radio.

      Yes, I know about Johnson Park’s activities. 😉

      Like

      Reply

  12. Yay for.liking your new job. Lunch is technically an hour but generally taken at desk and with meetings. I don’t pack one and that’s due to lack of time management on my part. Thank you for taking us on your walk, with pics. The sky is beautiful.

    Like

    Reply

  14. Since I have a 6 hour workday, I just eat at my desk but I do go outside for a 10 minute walk around the block, just to refresh. I used to work in a really nice neighborhood in Sherman Oaks but now we are in an industrial ghetto in Van Nuys and such incidents include getting harassed by men in cars and having a rat scurry under my sandaled feet. I’ve had a lot of people tell me to just stay inside but I feel so much better after getting out of the office…well for the most part.
    But enough about me…your block seems much more pleasant in comparison and I’m glad you’re enjoying the job.

    Like

    Reply

  17. Intriguing Mark – interesting neighborhood. Great looking lake. I played with that lunch hour question for my whole working life. I found that 1/2 hour wasn’t enough to comfortably go anywhere and return and have time left to eat. 3/4 of an hour was perfect and an hour was too long to be away from my desk. In summer,many employers around here put out picnic tables for employees. I used to either bring lunch or go to a local sub shop or supermarket and grab a sandwich,come back and eat it outside on nice days. I tried eating in a restaurant but I spent too much time worrying if I would get back on time – and often didn’t so I had to quit that. Although all my employers had lunch rooms, I found that eventually it was easier just to eat at my desk (or at picnic table in good weather) and use the extra time to go for a short walk to clear my mind.

    Like

    Reply

    • I agree, Paul, that 45 minutes would be perfect. But when I started, I was asked: half-hour or full hour? I chose 30 minutes so I could leave earlier. Let’s try that out for size. Agree. Restaurant-eating is too anxiety-ridden even with a full hour! Service can keep you from getting back to your desk in time.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  20. I’m generally a lunch-packer, and I’ve always preferred to dine away from work, because then it feels like a break. Teaching often meant dining in one’s car with the windows rolled down…Nice to get some fresh air and sunshine whenever possible. Looks like you’ve got a fabulous spot there, Mark! 🙂

    Like

    Reply

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.