While I’m At Work… in Open Diary 2001-2018 (Pre-Prosebox)

Got to work early this morning with the help of the time change and the fact that my car was parked in a loading zone and I was going to get a ticket if I didn’t get it out of there by 7am. So here I am at my desk going through my e-mail and getting ready to file away all of the paperwork that I left on my desk after Friday’s presentation.

Not really a lot more to say about the dog and pony on Friday with all the heavy-hitters except that Boss #1 (who is now simply Boss….Boss #2 got a demotion last week…more on that later) told me to try to cut my presentation short as the other meetings had run long. So of course, I was frantic at the last minute trying to figure out what to cut. I felt very frazzled and rushed during my time. The only saving grace was that as I spoke, CEO et al were nodding their heads in agreement and even interrupting every once in a while to interject. Which was fantastic! They were getting it! But of course, I still beat myself up afterwards for not being able to say everything I wanted to because of time constraints.

[Aside: I know I’m very vague about the specifics of my job/life simply because I want to stay anonymous in this format. I suppose you have to understand that what I do is considered “fluff” to many who are not directly linked to me on the org chart. Especially numbers guys. What I do involves a lot of research and reporting back and providing recommendations and ideas to my teams. It’s the team’s decision as to how they want to use the information that I provide. So it’s not easy to put a bottom-line number to my work. And numbers guys want that, of course.]

So you can imagine how good it made me feel to get an e-mail from the president this morning thanking me (and the other three people who gave presentations) for a job well done and saying that what we presented on Friday will have a very positive impact next year. That doesn’t happen very often…especially in times like these when business is tough and everybody’s thinking about the layoffs that are supposed to happen this Friday (Halloween–how scary is that?).

I’m just very glad it’s over. No more stressing for a while. And I’ve decided that if I do get laid off on Friday, then it was meant to be. I’m not worried any more. I have money saved that could last me over a year, so financially I’m fine. And I could live pretty much anywhere in the country, so moving wouldn’t be an issue. And frankly, I just don’t think it’s gonna happen.

So. On to bigger and better issues.

The football game last night was an absolute blast. I’m so glad I went with Dan and Carolyn. Not only are they just an all around great couple, but they are hilarious. We got into the parking lot three hours before kick-off–early enough to attend a couple different tailgate parties. They even helped me pick up a stalker along the way (long story involving some guy finding us allllll the way on the other side of the stadium). I sampled five different kinds of chili and drank red beer and bloody marys. Did not get drunk. Yay. But you can still imagine the state my stomach is in today.

And speaking of the football game, I’ve gotten a few notes regarding the lie I told Speed Dater #1, and quite honestly, I’m humbled. You guys are absolutely right. Wasn’t it me who was crying just a few entries back about guys and their honestly? Didn’t I beg for someone, anyone to tell me the truth about why this one didn’t want to see me again or why that one blew me off? Yes. That was me. The same girl who outright lied to avoid hurting SD #1’s feelings. I’m ashamed. And I owe him a phone call. Of course I’m scared to do it, but I think it just might cleanse my dating karma a little bit. At least I hope.

Now. As for MM. I’m confused about him. I did get an e-mail from him on Wednesday afternoon telling me that he had a great time on our date, but that he was feeling kind of out of it lately. No sooner did he send me that e-mail than the original e-mail that I’d sent him on Monday got kicked back to me. It was never delivered! I didn’t quite understand that because I did have the correct e-mail address, but whatever. So I sent him a note back asking him if his week was finally going better, and he e-mailed back a few hours later telling me that he’d had an accident with some machinery and almost lost his thumb! Not only that, but he’d driven himself to the emergency room and then had to have his car towed because it wouldn’t start and it was stuck in the emergency drive! And he had walked home.

I was pretty concerned at that point, so I picked up the phone and tried to call him to see if he needed any help with anything. His e-mail had been barely readable and I could tell he was pretty distressed. But he didn’t answer and his voice mail never kicked on so I couldn’t even leave him a message.

So I e-mailed back telling him I’d tried to call and asking him if he needed anything. No response.

Days went by.

I sent another e-mail yesterday, thinking that maybe he never got my earlier ones, and again asking him if he needed any help with anything.

Finally he called last night while I was at the game and left a message. Oh, is he in a funk. Apparently, the accident got him thinking about what he’s doing with his life and the meaning of it all, and it sounds like it sent him into a severe depression spiral. I could just hear it in his voice. He did apologize. He did mention getting together for dinner sometime this week. I haven’t called him back or e-mailed yet. But I’m sure I’ll end up getting together with him at some point. Poor guy. I just feel so awful. I’m not sure what to do because I don’t know him well enough to know how to deal with him.

But anyway. That’s the latest on MM.

Other messages last night from well-wishing birthday greeters: Super T, LDL, Brad (Prom Date Guy from entries long past), Best Bud and her hubby singing the best birthday medley….EVER, and Mom and Dad. And several e-cards as well as a birthday card from my brother. And all of you guys! It’s so nice to be remembered.

Oh my gosh…I was sitting here at my desk, and everybody here in my area of the office just brought me a birthday cake and sang to me! They’re taking me to lunch today too. Sweet!

So with that, I’m going to continue to celebrate. And then maybe get some work done while I’m here at the office. Might as well…