How do you feel today? v. 3.0

[Sorus]

Glad things worked out okay, Peter.

Thank goodness it all turned out okay.

And yes -- it's Friday. I need to rent a truck today so we can spend tomorrow getting rid of the furniture that doesn't fit in our new apartment. It's all little stuff except for an antique dining room table that the girls' stepmother bought from a neighbor and *insisted* that MagickMaker take -- even though MagickMaker didn't want it. Right now it's sitting in a storage unit that's costing me $168/month. It's pretty, but it's heavy and it needs refinishing -- and I already have a dining room table. And my kid has made zero moves to dispose of it herself. So it'll cost me $20 plus mileage to solve the problem for her.

Of course, it's supposed to rain tomorrow, too.

Yuck. My landlord is always trying to give me random furniture because I don't have much furniture and he doesn't seem to get that it's because I don't want furniture. Fortunately I have gotten really good at saying no. The couch was already here when I moved in, so I'm stuck with that, but the cats use it, so it's not a total waste of space.

It's supposed to rain tomorrow here too, but weatherpeople are lying liars who wouldn't know rain if it hit them on the head.

[Damelon]

My dad turned 80 yesterday. Aside from some foot problems, he's still in pretty good health. We had a party for him Thursday. He had a good time with all his old cronies.

As for myself, I'm starting to get ready for a trip to Cancun next month. We're celebrating a friend's round number birthday by going out there for four days.

[peter]

The joy of kids Ali - been there, done that!

[aliantha]

Have a great trip, Damelon!

So here is the rest of the story about the stupid table: We cleaned out the storage unit and got everything loaded onto the truck. Took the load to Goodwill. They sorted through what we had and actually rejected a couple of things -- including the table! "We can't take anything that's not assembled," the guy said. "Take it to Salvation Army on Little River Turnpike."

So we drove over to the Salvation Army donation center -- and they wouldn't take it, either. "It needs refinishing," the guy there said. "Goodwill will take it."

"They sent us here," I said.

So we drove back home, stopped at the trash area in the first floor garage, and unloaded the rejected stuff there. Including the table. Which is sad, but at least I won't be paying $160/month to store it anymore.

The good news is that the rain held off, mostly, and we got the truck back in plenty of time. And we got Peruvian chicken for lunch.

[Sorus]

Have a great trip, Damelon - and a belated happy birthday to your father.

Ali - perhaps someone in your building will rescue the table and give it a home. It's funny how those things work out sometimes.

Or maybe they'll rescue it and foist it on an unsuspecting relative and the cycle will continue.

[Avatar]

Safe travels Damelon.

Glad everything else appears to have worked out for everyone.

*sigh* Monday.

--A

[I'm Murrin]

I have arrived in Bergen, Norway. Nice weather, nice city. So far I've just walked around a bit and eaten some incredibly overpriced fish and chips. Actually seeing the sights tomorrow.

[deer of the dawn]

Norway sounds really great right now! Have fun!!

I had a migraine, third one this year. This is not good as I used to go one or two years in between. Also, I'm kind of psycho when I'm having one. Okay, that is an exaggeration but my stress level is so high from the bizarre symptoms that I can't handle things with the kind of grace I would like. Report cards were due, the computer program was not cooperating, and let's just say I almost quit my job. Not proud, but there it is. Thankfully I did not have a hissy fit in public or anything, although I did throw a mango at a palm tree.

This morning we were rehearsing the elementary school kids for their concert, and one of my students got pulled out. A few minutes later, I was told that the girl's mother had just died. I feel so bad for her. It's hard losing your mom when you're a grownup, but she is 9. I was told she wants to go to school tomorrow and I just know I'm going to lose it at some point. I will be the one to tell the classroom about it, although some may already have heard.

Tomorrow will be long day, ending with the concert in the evening. Gonna need me some Jesus to get through.

[aliantha]

Looking forward to your travelogue, Murrin.

Ali - perhaps someone in your building will rescue the table and give it a home. It's funny how those things work out sometimes.

Or maybe they'll rescue it and foist it on an unsuspecting relative and the cycle will continue.

I like Option B a lot.

We actually talked about driving to MagickMaker's father's house and leaving it in his driveway. It would have been a fitting payback for the times he's gotten mad at the girls, put the stuff they had at his house in trash bags, and dropped the bags on my doorstep. Alas, we didn't have enough time to get there before we had to have the truck back.

[Avatar]

Nice Murrin. Tell us about it.

Deer, that sucks.

Me, I feel like I've got a lot of work to do and I don't much feel like doing it.

--A

[Sorus]

We actually talked about driving to MagickMaker's father's house and leaving it in his driveway. It would have been a fitting payback for the times he's gotten mad at the girls, put the stuff they had at his house in trash bags, and dropped the bags on my doorstep. Alas, we didn't have enough time to get there before we had to have the truck back.

Totally would have deserved it. Though I've spent most of the past month with 'Don't stoop to their level' as my personal mantra. It's not very satisfying.

[Avatar]

It's a matter of attitude. I usually find it pretty satisfying myself. Usually.

So I'm sorta house-hunting. *sigh* The GF has been hassling me to move for ages, but I tend to resist it, because the rent is so low.

But now one of the cats (the more domestic one), has taken it into his mind to start crossing a very busy road. Which causes us a lot of stress (damned cats), so am looking for a new place. (More stress.)

Moving with one semi-domesticated and one semi-wild cat isn't going to be fun either.

Ah well.

--A

[aliantha]

We actually talked about driving to MagickMaker's father's house and leaving it in his driveway. It would have been a fitting payback for the times he's gotten mad at the girls, put the stuff they had at his house in trash bags, and dropped the bags on my doorstep. Alas, we didn't have enough time to get there before we had to have the truck back.

Totally would have deserved it. Though I've spent most of the past month with 'Don't stoop to their level' as my personal mantra. It's not very satisfying.

That's basically what stopped me. Well, that, and not wanting to spend any more time or money on the thing than I had to.

Av: Good luck with house-hunting. I kind of enjoy looking for a new place to live; it's the part where you move to the new place that stinks...

Deer: You and I must have posted at the same time, or nearly so, and I missed your post. I just read it. Now I feel like a jerk. So here's a belated hug, and I hope your head is better and your day didn't suck as hard as you thought it would.

As for me...this week is the anniversary of my realization that I wasn't getting the job in Denver, although the boom wasn't officially lowered until mid-June because they needed me to stay out there to help train the people they hired instead of me. Anyhow, I found out late last week that I'm getting a big award for all the stuff I did to help launch the Denver office.

The other two secretaries who went out there to help are getting the same award, and one of them stopped by my desk to chat after we both found out. So we were kind of going "Yay!" together, but I don't think we were obnoxious about it. More of a than a -- you know?

So after she goes back to her desk, the secretary who sits next to me said, "You know, not everybody gets the opportunity to do the kinds of things that get you an award like that." And I said, "I know," and dropped it. It didn't occur to me that she was being cranky because she didn't get one -- and I wasn't going to let anybody make me feel bad about it anyhow because I freaking deserve it for what I went through. And I don't say "I deserve X" very often.

Anyway, she turned in her resignation yesterday. I doubt the exchange with me was the catalyst -- there was more going on with her situation than just "nobody gave me an award" -- but it did give her comment some context.

[Sorus]

Moving with one semi-domesticated and one semi-wild cat isn't going to be fun either.

Moved with 3 semi-ferals a few years back. It wasn't as bad as I had expected. Catching them is the hardest part, and then there's the inevitable 'sky-is-falling' phase because they don't like change, but they adapt quickly.

As for me...this week is the anniversary of my realization that I wasn't getting the job in Denver, although the boom wasn't officially lowered until mid-June because they needed me to stay out there to help train the people they hired instead of me. Anyhow, I found out late last week that I'm getting a big award for all the stuff I did to help launch the Denver office.

I'm glad they're recognizing your work. I know it's not what you wanted, but at least they remember everything you did for them. Perhaps that will lead to something in the future.

I somehow missed Deer's post too. (Sorry!) Migraines are the worst. I can't function when I have one - just want to curl up in a dark corner until it goes away. Hope you're feeling better.

[Savor Dam]

Despite the temptation to view the Big Award as a consolation prize for the job and transfer that you really wanted, the interaction with the resigning secretary gave your the perspective to see that while you are not where you aspired to be, your lot is not so bad as some.

Kinda in a similar space here. I think I have mentioned that the mentor who brought me into my present organization left last year and the management changes (and some health issues) have left me in a unenthused and amotivated state. A less-than-stellar annual review from a manager based on another continent did nothing to improve this syndrome...but I refuse to just swirl down the drain of this oh-so-competitive company.

Ever trying to bring the nose up and correct this dive, I actually had a semi-productive day today. Lots of good content written and more active participation in some meetings that I've been hanging back in for several months.

Maybe just a manic Wednesday, but maybe I'm turning the corner...

[Avatar]

...I'm getting a big award for all the stuff I did to help launch the Denver office.

Cheapskates.

Moved with 3 semi-ferals a few years back. It wasn't as bad as I had expected. Catching them is the hardest part, and then there's the inevitable 'sky-is-falling' phase because they don't like change, but they adapt quickly.

Catching them won't be much of a problem. It's the keeping them in and getting them to accept a new territory that I'm going to struggle with. Here's hoping it's not as bad as I expect.

...maybe I'm turning the corner...

Good luck with that. trying to get / stay motivated at work myself.

--A

[aliantha]

...I'm getting a big award for all the stuff I did to help launch the Denver office.

Cheapskates.

Well, there's a luncheon and a bonus to go along with the tchotchke, but yeah.

SD -- good for you for tackling the attitude self-adjustment. I know how hard it can be.

[Avatar]

Ok, the bonus eases the sting a little bit.

At least it's Friday. Mixed blessing, have to go talk to the bank to find out how bad they plan on screwing me if I decide to buy instead of renting.

--A

[deer of the dawn]

Speaking of awards. Every year there is recognition for teachers who are leaving the school. I begin my tenth year teaching there this August. I have never seen them recognize people who stay, and there are several who have been there much longer than I have. I said something years ago about it, but it being my 10th year it would look "somehow" (as they say in Nigeria) if I spoke up now. Oh well....

[Sorus]

Catching them won't be much of a problem. It's the keeping them in and getting them to accept a new territory that I'm going to struggle with. Here's hoping it's not as bad as I expect.

Not something I have experience with, since mine don't go outside. I'm not sure if there's any sort of trick to resetting their 'homing signal', but I suspect they naturally gravitate towards where they know they get fed.

...maybe I'm turning the corner...

Good luck with that. trying to get / stay motivated at work myself.

--A

Yeah, it's been a week. My minion was out for the first half having surgery (which was scheduled well in advance, but no one bothered to tell me). Now he's back, but he can't do any heavy lifting, which is most of his job. So I'm trying to ask him how much he can safely lift, trying to tell him to be careful and to ask for help if he needs it, but I really can't communicate with him at all. Ended up doing most of his job in addition to mine, and no idea how long this is going to last.