Good morning!

In fact, in the nine years I've worked since I graduated from college, I've had one day job -- and I volunteered to leave that to take a 3-11 p.m. shift because I could absolutely not be at work by 7:30 in the morning and function like a rational human being. I had to take naps in my car in the parking lot.

I didn't drink coffee then.

Actually, now that I think about it, nearly every job I've had since I was 16 -- I started as a hostess at a Bob Evans in Harrisburg so I could pay to keep my 1985 1/2 Escort, which cost me $1,250 and which I named Baby, in running condition -- has been night shift.

But in this brave new world I'm entering, I'm working 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. I discovered yesterday morning, as I hovered around the coffee machine, waiting for some stay-awake juice, that people actually say, "Good morning!" to each other.

I thought that was just some crap those happy, sunshine-y people made up to tell us vampires.

Anyway, here's the coolest part about my new schedule: I get to see my kids in the morning AND at night now.

Like yesterday, I saw Sammy and Noah in the morning, took them to my sister-in-law's house, came to work, left on time, got home, played with the baby and listened to Sam's detailed descriptions of her day at an animal park (that's another blog post; stay tuned), got Sam ready for bed, read her stories, tucked her in, kissed the baby goodnight, actually spoke to my husband face to face, and went to bed around 10 p.m.

Oh, yeah. Now I also get to get all of my sleep in one chunk, rather than breaking it into 3- to 4-hour chunks twice a day. That'll take me at least six months to get used to, I'm sure.

It also means that, when Sam goes to kindergarten in the fall, I'll be able to get her on the bus in the morning and help her with homework at night.

I've been a night owl since I was a baby (just ask my mom, who used to have to iron at 3 a.m. because I was wide awake and ironing was the only chore she could get done because everything else, like vacuuming or baking, woke everybody). In college, I was always the last person in the bathroom at night, and I deliberately chose classes that started after 10 a.m. -- after noon, if I could swing it.

But I think it's time for me to join the normal people of the world. I'm feeling awkward and out of place -- and, frankly, sleepy -- but I feel good, too.

Then again, ask me in three weeks how I'm feeling. I could return to flashing my vampire fangs at any time.