August was the Month

August was the month that I went from really liking what I do to just having a job. The job itself didn't change, but the office dynamic did.
Our office is located in an apartment building. We have a one-bedroom apartment that has been made into two offices for three people. The director had the private office (bedroom) and M and I shared the outer office (living/dining area). Most of the time this worked because all three of us are part-time employees. Sometimes on Wed and Thurs, when M and I overlapped, it was a little loud and crowded, but it didn't keep me from being able to work. Apparently it bothered M, who complained about it to J, the building manager and "wondered" if our storage space down the hall could be turned into a third office. J sent a blanket email stating that the cost to make the space functional was prohibitive, especially since we do not pay rent. (yes, you read that part right). She suggested an alternate configuration, which made sense, but the whole thing was overstepping her bounds as far as our office management goes. D, the director, made a passing comment on this fact, but obviously took it under consideration. It was decided that D would take my desk, since she is in and out of the office the most, M would keep hers, since she is the office manager, and I would move into D's office so I could have space to spread out my projects. It feels a little weird to be the low man on the totem pole and still get a private office, but it really does make sense.
Prior to this, I had made arrangements to be out of the office for a few days. This also apparently bothered M when one day at lunch I referred to my upcoming vacation. She bristled, and said we don't get vacation. You could tell she was annoyed from then on. When J asked me about it the next day, I stopped her and said "There has been some clarification. I am taking THREE DAYS OFF and my kids can call it whatever the F*** they want." No one really discussed it after that.
Knowing that I was about to be out of the office, I worked hard to get everything done that I needed to do before I went. Then I came in on Wednesday to find that M had spent Mon and Tue rearranging the office. Her space was nice and organized, D's space was ready to go, and my office was full of boxes and equipment! In spite of wearing a skirt and heels, I spent the day rearranging furniture, locating the most important files and items, and crawling around hooking up computers. M made a few comments throughout the day that seemed a little passive-aggressive, but I smiled and worked through it. By the end of the day Fri my office looked a whole better and I felt like my absence was going to be okay.
Fast forward to yesterday, when my pay check was "adjusted" for my absence. While no one said it in so many words, I probably shouldn't have been surprised. Really surprised wasn't the word for it as much as aggravated. I knew that those days would need to be made up. I also thought that D and I had agreed they would be made up in the next month as we prepare for the convention. What frustrates me is the less than transparent way it has been handled, leaving me feeling a little blindsided.
So now I feel the need to document everything, which I didn't before. If the new policy is going to be getting paid strictly on time in the office, then that is how I will proceed. But my pissiness about documenting my time isn't really about recovering the lost wages. It's that now I no longer feel compelled to check my work email from home on days I don't go to the office. Now if I bring work home I will feel like I am being taken advantage of, rather than doing a little extra now to make work go more smoothly later. Now it's just a job.

But if there is some latent passive-aggressiveness in me, it will surely take pleasure in the fact that I can show up at the office on a day M isn't expecting me. My very presence will undoubtedly irritate her, but what can I say? I believe it's called a benefit :)

Like a Boss

Right off the bat, let me mention that I found B's stash of porn DVDs. Not what I expected to find, and really not sure yet how to proceed. For now, waiting to see how he reacts when he notices they are missing.

Second, I (re)discovered that minimum wage customer service employees do not usually get their jobs because of their customer service skills, but because of their minimum wage abilities. Long story short, the roof guy had left some sample boards at his MIL's place of work because it was a convenient place for both of us. When I asked about them, it took several tries between two employees and myself to sort out that I did not expect them to unlock the pharmacy and give me drug samples for shingles, but that I was there to pick up some samples of shingles I was considering for my roof. Why they were locked in the pharmacy is mystery number one. Why employee number one thought employee number two was any smarter is mystery number two. Why they put a guy who keeps repeating that he suffers from short term memory loss on the cash register is mystery number three. If I will EVER get the roof redone is mystery number four, but that is a separate issue.

Third, trying to figure out why now, after a very long time, I cannot get someone off my mind. I didn't dream about him, but I did have a series of crazy dreams that kept waking me up, and when I did wake up to stay, there he was again. It's not a bad thing, thinking about him, just trying to sort out why now. I did a mental check of "triggers", but I could not care less about March Madness, I can't remember the last time I had a drink, and I am not feeling particularly vulnerable or melancholy.

In fact, while I am not exactly iron-clad, I am kind of rockin' it. I am getting more done around the house since I got put in charge. My new job is turning out to be pretty great.  I also have two contracts now for freelance work. It looks like spring might be on its way to stay. Other than the young son with the beginnings of an adult-sized porn collection, I am doing ok as a de facto single parent.

On a sad note, L seems to think the DVDs might have been John's. Can't return them to a person who no longer exists. Likewise with Jodie. What a strange winter, to have two peers almost my exact age pass away. We'll save the list of things that really suck for another day.

#selectivecaring #likeaboss @pollyanna

Holiday Letter, a little bit late

Just realized how long it has been since I posted anything. I think I didn't think anything worth writing about was happening, but looking back all sorts of stuff has happened since I last wrote. Therefore, in Christmas card, form letter fashion, here is the run down:

Family - B had a really awful 1st semester. Second semester is off to a better start, although he has quit playing the saxophone, messed up his chances for off-season football, and could definitely have better grades. On the plus side, he is actually going to school instead of cutting, his attitude is much improved, and he seems excited about all of the getting ready for high school business. He is taking his course selection very seriously and is looking forward to some more challenging electives. We are still tracking him via his phone, which is sad and funny and unfortunately necessary.

The twins are the same as ever - hilarious and smart and adorable. D is signed up for baseball and can't wait to be old enough to play something besides t-ball. L has settled for soccer again because the dance class she took before is no longer available. Their grades are awesome and they growing too fast.

L is still driving a truck. I could write a whole post on how I feel about him only being here some of the time, and then not always fully present, but I will save it for later.

My parents came in October. We did Christmas Day here because it has been awhile since we did that. Then we went to OK for a couple of days and came back to K's house for an immediate family thing.

Her kids are both walking disasters. My nephew is in and out of jail and quite possibly has an HIV-related illness. My niece is on the upswing right now, which probably means her next fall will be any day now. They are both past anything we can offer them in the way of help. I pray a lot that my kids never become addicts.

Work - the new job is different, to say the least. One of my coworkers is resistant to any change, which means my assignment to come in and do just that is going very slowly. The other one just started and I don't really know her. But I am only there part time, the pay is decent, and I get to do whatever I want, so OK that my only complaint is that I can't always do it right this minute.

I also have one contract with ACH to plan an event for them, and a proposal pending to do another with a related group. I am excited about these not because the are very lucrative, but because they keep me in touch with many people I used to work with, and help me add to my resume for freelance work.

House - we are waiting for a bid on the relocating the furnace, and then we are ready to get a new roof put on the house. This is long, long overdue. If we don't blow our whole savings on these two projects, I have one other biggie, and then it will be warm weather and time to get serious about a lot of the things I can do by myself. Very excited, but trying to stay real, because my experience has been that every time things get going too well, we are promptly brought back to reality in a big way.

All that to say that while things are going really well in general, I am cynical enough to be looking around the corner for the next bit o' pain or drama. Really can't complain though.

Speaking of woe, I saw this quote the other day. I laughed, but immediately quit, because while funny, it was also sad and completely unnecessary.

"My sex life is like a Ferrari. I don't have a Ferrari."

Yeah, I didn't get one of those for Christmas either. But really, I'm not complaining. At least I didn't blow the Super Bowl.