Thankful yet Bitter

I am very luck today in that my boss is cool about letting me work from home. My plan was to be here for the small window the A/C people said they would be here 8 am - 10 am. When it got to be 10:30 I called wondering why I didn't have someone at my house yet. Oh he's running late it will be another 45 minutes. I have a training session my direct report is doing at noon and I'd really like to be there.

When 11:45 comes around I call again - no answer. I left a voice mail asking if they'd be there today or if I should just call someone else. 15 minutes later the guy finally calls to say he will be there once he finds directions. I got a bit miffed though when he asked if they could do it tomorrow. I said more than no :). I give him directions and for whatever reason - I imagine lunch - he gets there at 1:45 pm. Now what is worse than a repairman running almost 4 hours behind? The fact that there is not one of them but two! Yes two repairmen and they can't get here on time.

I am a bit bitter at this point and the only saving grace is that the home warranty I got with this place will cover the repairs. Actually I have to pay for it, but I will get reimbursed. So I do have central air again! It was actually this wonderful fall like day and I wanted so badly to go for a bike ride but alas in waiting for the repairmen, having KK tonight, and being wickedly productive working from home there just wasn't time. It was one of those fabulous fall days that makes you want to rake leaves and play in the pile. No leaves turning yet though.

Oh and there was much drama surrounding my direct today. I have to wonder how long she is going to be there at this rate. I have to decide if I want to play nice or dirty. This would normally be an easy decision but I have beyond had it with her.

Balance

Why is it that once one thing goes correct something else goes poorly? So I finally got my laptop working on my new wireless router ( thanks **Dave & Margie) so then I swear no less than 10 minutes later my central air gave up the ghost.

Hi my name is Jackie, and I am a wuss that can't sleep when she is hot. Add to this KK has a cold and it was a very trying night. I gave her the one fan I have. Note to self: buy at least one more fan.

When Extraverts Work From Home

I did something today that I have never done in my professional career before - well two things actually. The first was to beg the lady sitting next to me to come to my desk and ask me for help to get me off the phone. I called to have my password reset and over a half an hour later when she was telling me about her husband's mother's husband that she married but refused to live with but married in secret. I am as chatty as the next person but could you please for the love of all that is holy tell a happy story? She was recently diagnosed with a pretty horrible disease. I know more about that woman and her family than any stranger you have never talked to before should. I tried unsuccessfully six times to get off the phone. This is why extravert's should not work from home.

The other thing I had to do was deliver a verbal warning to someone. I never had to do that before. I felt much better about it after she told me today what my job was and why I was hired. Its a sucky part of the management gig.

Oh and my big news -- I am going to go back to school and get my masters degree! I am going to start with one night a week and see how horrible I am after so long out of the game. Well that and with softball on my other off night it's all I have time for now :).

Busy

So tonight I had plans with Angie, and we had a good time. We had a good dinner and then did a bit of necessity shopping. I had a lot of fun but I don't want to say too much and ruin any surprises.

Lets see I have had a busy couple weeks. Softball is starting up again on Monday! Hazzah! I have something else that is probably going to take up my Wednesday nights but again with the ruining surprises. There's a few people I want to tell first :). It's part of my quest to be a more understanding person.

KK turned two yesterday and is very much in love with a story reading bear that her grandma sent her. I had to make her chose this morning between the bear and the baby. I was very relived that she chose the baby. I didn't realize the second she turned two she was going to be into the terrible twos. I am really hoping it is that she is teething.

I decided to stay at my current company and not jump ship. Things are finally feeling like they are going well -- pretty well except for my direct report, but I am hoping that will turn around.

It must have been the suit.

I had meant to tell a few Houston stories but I got distracted by things. I was with my boss and her boss. She ( my boss without hers) one night at dinner told me the story of how the last time they were there and all went out to dinner that everyone ordered what the VP ( my boss's boss) did at dinner. I must not have manners that way because it seemed crazy to me.

I was informed that the trip was business dress which to me means wear a suit. I am always afraid that when I do a bit less than that, I slip more into business casual. I had a suit for each day of the trip and one day I was dismissed during a meeting which was really cool because I didn't want to be in it in the first place. So I went to find some people I could learn from, and ended up inviting that person to lunch. I knew that the rest of the Denver people were tied up in meetings for the rest of the afternoon. He normally goes with another guy so I said to invite him too.

We went to a fish place and I ordered first. Yes I ordered swordfish but I was close to a coast right? Then in order both of the guys ordered the same thing I did. It took me a minute or two to realize what had just happened. I flat out asked if they ordered what I ordered on purpose and they both fessed up to it. I then informed them that I wasn't important enough to deserve that behavior from them and they should feel free to order what they wanted. I offered to call the waiter back over but they didn't budge.

It was a strange experience for me. I'll admit that I haven't worn a suit since then. I have noticed that people treat you differently when you wear a suit -- don't believe me? Try it.

Decisions Decisions ....

So I get this email today notifying me that my boss at my old job just quit. Now three or perhaps even two weeks ago, I would have already turned my resume back in and see what happened -- now though I really have some evaluating to do. I just this week started to feel like I am really getting things and have got tons of praise this week from the upper management ranks. Why does everything have to be so hard?

Although my boss did tell me this week she is considering sending me to Houston again. Dear goodness I hope it can wait until later in the year :).