The last time...

...that I see this view from the office window. I turned in my key to the office manager on Friday after going in one last time to check for voicemail messages from straggler clients needing to come pick up their files last minute, and packing up my hand sanitizer and lotion and a few keepsakes from my desk. One final glance around the little office that had come to mean so much to me and I was on my way.

The city I work in, Sioux City, is a very industrial town, as one might conclude by looking at the picture and its slight lack of luster. It was originally an important trading post because of its convenient and functional location on the Missouri River, a window to the west. While in its early days the downtown was thriving and filled with action, nowadays, mostly the only action is during the workday where businessmen and -women, who work at the many law firms or banks downtown, mix with the unemployed or "temps" who are in and out of the different temporary job agencies looking for short-term work, or people stopping through the bus depot.

While the downtown has kept some of its speciality shops like a yarn and chocolate shop, as well as some furniture stores, consumerism is all but gone downtown. The last department store reluctantly shut its doors for good after its counterparts all made their way safely to the mall. Malls provide warmth in the winter, air conditioning in the summer, free parking and a shield from the wind, but they certainly lack the charm of shopping outside, downtown! (My opinion, anyway. Obviously many people here prefer malls).

The recently-renovated Orpheum theater is the highlight of the downtown and gives the impression of a palace with charm and history. We play our symphony concerts in this building and it always feels like we're back in the 1920s with its collection of old fashioned dressing rooms and gorgeous chandeliers.

Sioux City has huge stockyards, where livestock are brought in to meet their demise. It is common to be driving on the highway to Sioux City and pass a livestock trailer filled with pigs or chickens being driven to the stockyards. And when you see a little pig snout peeking through the breathing holes, you can't help but feel sorry for that little guy who will soon be on the shelf of the grocery store. Unfortunately the stockyards create quite a pungent smell which, accompanied with the smell of the Chinese food coming from the restaurant below my office, made for some not-so-fresh air when I'd open the windows and try and air out the workspace.

Now that everything in the office has been organized, boxed and labeled, and I have said goodbye to the little office in its charming old building downtown, with its questionable, but endearing view of the Chinese restaurant, I will make my way to my new office in a newer, less-charming, but quite stylish building just over half a block. Until that point in two weeks, first I have my audition (tomorrow) followed a little trip my parents and I are taking to visit my younger sister and brother in Eastern Iowa this coming week. I'm looking forward to the mini vacation and will finally be able to relax when the audition is over!

When I get back, plan on some pictures of the little "village" (don't tell people here I called it that!) I live in, 25 miles north of Sioux City. Until then, take a look at this adorable baby bunny who got stuck in our window well last week! This picture was taken before my mom heroically rescued the poor little chap (with gloves on, of course) and he hopped away, slightly confused by the all the trauma. He was just so cute!