Another Day at the Office in Open Diary 2001-2018 (Pre-Prosebox)

Office day! It’s been a whole week since I’ve been in the office. How time flies! And what a difference a week makes, eh?

The work is completely piled up on my desk, but I need to take a moment out to unshuffle the paperwork scattered in my brain. And then I can get down to business. But let’s update, shall we?

Last I wrote, I was getting ready for the BIG presentation to the firing squad. The meeting went pretty much as expected. The Prez proclaimed his dissatisfaction with the things that I expected him to, and I gave him the prepared explanations. The meeting dragged on for so long (FOUR hours!), and even my ever-supportive boss got sidetracked and started having a little nit-picky conversation with another VP. I stopped the meeting and waited for him to finish his whisperings, much to the delight of everyone else in the room. I was pissed. He sheepishly grinned as I explained and emphasized my point. Ugh. Nightmarish.

And yes, I did call in sick the next day (Friday). It was one of the better things I’ve done in a long time. The weather was amazing—sunny and in the 60s! I couldn’t have picked a more perfect day. Retail therapy does wonders. So does lunch on a patio with a glass of wine in one hand and a phone in the other. Talking to mom and a few other select friends helped too. So good to begin to put things back into perspective a bit.

I did something wacky on Saturday morning: there were tryouts for The Apprentice here, so I packed up some snacks, put on a business suit, picked up Q. (for pure entertainment value, and so that he could write a piece on it), and off we were pre-crack-of-dawn to wait in line with all the other suited-up Joe Schmoes.

Here I am, all businesslike (okay, with a touch of fishnet):

I am a dork.

I can’t tell you how much fun I had with Q. there. He made me laugh the whole time. We got to the place at 6am, and were among the first in line. I think Q. interviewed everyone in line, and also kept my place so that I could get coffee, smoke, pee, flirt with the other people in line, etc. etc.

The try-out itself was insane. I was actually in the first group being interviewed. 10 people at a time, 10 minute session. That’s it. So everyone wanted to scream over everyone else. And you know me, I’m not hyper-aggressive. In fact, I’m waaaaay laid back…especially compared to these freaks.

Long story short, I couldn’t wait to get out of that room. What insanity! It was all very odd and freakish. The casting director asked very controversial questions, just looking to create argument. And create it did. I couldn’t wait to get out of that room because my brain was bruised from all of the yelling and screaming.

Q. and I shared a great laugh over breakfast when the whole thing was done. I’m so glad he went with me. As jerky as he sometimes can be, he sure was a good friend on Saturday. We made fun of everyone, and then some. He even asked me about Movie Director and told me about some of his dating woes over pancakes and coffee.

Imagine my surprise when I actually got a call-back Saturday night! Pretty insane, huh?

I went the next day for an on-camera interview (at a top-secret location, I might add). It was all supposed to be very covert, and we weren’t supposed to talk to anyone that might be waiting around. Puh-lease. Put it this way. In “real” life, if I’d have had to wait for three hours in a hotel lobby for an interview, I would have hung out and flirted with that group (especially that one guy anyway). I would have gotten those glasses of wine. I would have hung out. So I did. It was all pretty funny!!

I wonder if they had a hidden camera going? If so, I’m surely out of the running. But you can bet your sweet ass I had a good time with it!

Oh well….there’s my almost-brush with my almost-fifteen minutes…

Monday, I left again for yet another project in Los Angeles. This time, we were scouting facilities in East LA, a part of the city I don’t often get to see, and I knew it wasn’t going to be like my normal Hollywood fun (is there such a thing as “normal Hollywood”?). And it really wasn’t.

It was an odd trip, especially since we had such a mixed bag of players this time. The women at my company are so amazingly catty. I can only imagine what’s said about me behind my back. It’s fucked up. But I play along because, well, because I’m a pretty good player-alonger. It’s just weird to get those high school feelings all over again in your late 30s, ya know?

I’ll say it right now: I despise some of the people here. I really do. I know it’s like this everywhere, but damn. You bitches are NASTY!!

For some reason, I was exhausted on this trip. I couldn’t seem to get my energy level up enough to make it through the day. I even almost passed out at one of the factories, and I’m wondering if there’s some hidden health issue that I’m having. I really, really need to go to the doctor.

I did get to see Airport Boy for about an hour. Sweet, sweet kid. He came to the hotel where I was staying (in Long Beach!) just to have a nightcap with me. I was pretty much asleep by the time he made it, and I was cranky and short with him at the bar. No, I didn’t invite him up to my room. He was a perfect gentleman, unlike all the other men in my life. How I wish I were 15 years younger.

Speaking of much, much older, Movie Director called me at 2am that night….in return for my phone call at 6:30. Nice. I’ve finally figured out that he’s pretty much a wack job. And that’s a bummer. But I guess it’s better to know now than to get all wrapped up in his drama. Especially considering I never even really wanted to get all wrapped up in his sex in the first place! I will admit, I was fascinated by his success. So not worth it.

Good. Another lesson learned.

Got home last night in time to stuff my face with more crap and then hit the sack. I love my life.

Better go. There’s so much to get done!!!