November 15, 2006
Instead, I sucked it up, took spiritual bathroom breaks where I prayed, and tried to deal with the following:
- Discovered I had left my make-up bag at the restaurant where I had dinner with my son the night before, forcing me to look like a pasty white ghost even though halloween is over.
- Forced to deal with a stopped up toilet that overflowed just as I was leaving the apt. for an early morning mtg in one of my best suits. Forwent picking up breakfast because I was too grossed out and running late.
- Upon greeting some of the advance team of Birds for tomorrow's conference, we began to talk and I realized he was an acquaintence of Rick's, who had served in Nam with Rick and who could not stop talking about him. I was missing my friend and mentor, and didn't participate in the conversation for fear of crying. This conference was started by Rick almost 10 yrs ago and was one of the things he was most proud of. Instead I spent the entire hour doing controlled and focused breathing while making sure my eyes did not betray me.
- Was humiliated by a woman in a meeting, who was trying to impress a man she's been trying to date for over a year. I knew I was in trouble at the start of the meeting when she turned around just in time to see the object of her desire mouthing the words "call me" in a seductive way as he winked at me from across the table. What she doesn't realize is that the handsome former Marine is gay, and he does this to drive her crazy. That's 2 dinners he says he owes me. I could do without the dinners and use a lot more respect.
- Was humiliated by yet another woman during a different meeting in which she referred to the analysis I presented as: sub-par, baseless, and full of erroneious assumptions. She got away with it because I was too tired to fight and felt the documentation spoke for itself. It seems the attendees chose to believe her because she was young, pretty, blonde and had pert knockers. It also didn't hurt that her uncle sits on the Board of Directors.
- Discovered in the late afternoon that my beloved cell's screen had been smashed and cracked. Even though it was inside a protective case inside my purse all day. Hmmmm, I wonder how that happened. Yes I am sad and bummed out as that phone is such an important part of my life. But there's worse things in the world than not being able to Treo Blog, comment on other's blogs and read the funny comments you guys leave me. Now I'll never be able to win any of Richmond's Brain Benders. Sigh!
- Was not able to eat a thing all day until 3:00pm, only to have that meal interrupted due to issues that required my attention with the conference I'm running tomorrow.
- Got stuck on the train on my way to pick up my son and discovered he had refused to eat at the sitter's because he wanted to have dinner with me. We normally eat dinner at 6:30pm and it was 8 o'clock by the time I got to him. That forced me to stop at Burger King - a place I hate with a passion - to get dinner. Unfortunately I only had enough money for his dinner because I never got to go to the bank. It's now 11pm and I'm just too tired to eat.
- After a 14 hr day I decided a nice hot shower was in order. When I got out and looked in the mirror I noticed not only did I still have lipstick on, but now it had darkened to a sort of purplish color. In checking the packaging I noticed several warnings none of which I heeded or read in my hasty quest to look human. Folks, when Loreal says Stay-on color they color stays on and it can only be removed by an industrial strength lip remover which only they sell. Not even mineral oil has removed the color off my lips. Hopefully it will wear off by tomorrow morning or I'll be thinking like Lucy Ricardo.
The best part of my day: was getting some really nice messages from 2 bloggers, and getting a really big hug and a big kiss from my son, who said to me I really, really missed you mommy and I waited to have dinner with you.
With positive incentives like those, I'll go to bed in peace hoping tomorrow's a better day. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to apply Industrial strength Motor Oil as cream to my face to soften my skin and hide the puffiness and dark circles under my eyes from sleeping only 4hrs/night for the last 2 weeks. Before I apply I will pray for no more life complications or color shifts, otherwise I'll be booking myself as tomorrow's entertainment as Bozo the clown.
Posted by: Michele at
10:59 PM
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November 08, 2006
Needless to say it was a morning where there was little dialogue between my son and I because things had to get done & he had to help, plus he was going to vote with me for the first time. When I layed out his school uniform and asked him to get dressed he kept delaying and then tried to negotiate out of his uniform, or so I thought. I gave him my no-nonsense look with the "no back talk or negotiation" warning as we had a very tight schedule and he'd be in big trouble. Resigned he put his school uniform on, quickly ate breakfast and off we went. My first group of 9 Seniors were the first people in line. I voted quickly, though angrily, when I saw that for some offices 1 candidate was running on the Republican, Democrat, and Right to Life Party simultaneously. Where on earth is democracy there? At that moment I definitely would have voted for myself via written ballot just out of my constitutional principal, but I was on a time schedule.
On our last shuttle ride home my son said he had a request. I asked what that was and he said, "since there's no school today can I wear my regular clothes". Oh, I felt like such a heel and I apologized profusely while hugging and kissing him. Trying to push my guilt to his advantage he asked if he could also have a popsicle stick when we got home because he was thirsty from all the running around. "Sorry Mr., not a chance.!"
In the hour I hosted daycare I had a total of 12 kids. My day began to peak when a cute tiny 5yr old that I adore walked in and kept staring at me while his mom and I talked. He kept staring at me even as his mother was trying to say goodbye. Finally I squatted down to his level, and with a smile and gentle voice asked why he was staring at me so much, did he like my choker or my earings. He shook his head and finally worked it all out in his head and said to me: "You're pretty!" with such a sweet sincerity that I just had to give him a big kiss on the cheek for starting my day off right. He then ran away from me to the children's table as he wiped the kiss off his cheek. I sighed and reflected on how yet another man was running away from me.
By 10:00am I was back at my desk working like mad. On my way to the copier I passed a collegue who stopped to stare at me forcing me to look at the front of my blouse to make sure my buttons weren't open. Finally he says to me, "You look faaaantastick!" To which I asked in a sweet voice and with a slight smile on a straight face: "As opposed to the rest of the time when you don't say anything because I look like crap?" He was speechless and turning beet red. Me I was laughing on the inside because I knew my point had been brought home. He had gone over board with the exhuberance so he definitely wanted something from me which now he couldn't ask because he realized his charm didn't work on me.
At 1:30 my old boss, Mr. Global IT Director for Division 1, called me to go upto his office for a chat. It had been over a year since I had left him. I didn't really want to take another position, but leave I had to just so I could have my life back. When working for him I worked at times 18 hrs a day. While in his office we chatted for awhile about changes in the dept. structure, personnel and technology. We caught up on the global projects I had managed and on our personal lives. Then suddenly his tone changed. It was the tone that he used during my annual performance reviews, when he cleared his throat a gazillion times trying to find the right words to convey his message. While he's doing this, I'm wondering what time it is because I have to pick up my son at 3:00pm and by now I know I'll be cutting it close.
Suddenly from his mouth I hear: "I think you would be perfect for this new position in London. I'm hoping you'll consider applying for it as you'll have my full support." Then my mind starts racing with questions and objections, and I'm thinking could I raise a happy, healthy, sane child and have a normal life doing RSM's job in London. That's when my cell phone began to go off like crazy and I realized I had 5 min to get into the elevator go down 40 flights, run through the huge lobby & out into the street to pick up my son.
So as calmly as possible I interrupted him, thanked him for the offer, letting him know that I had to leave immediately to pick up my son and asked if we could continue the conversation tomorrow. Luckily my son was late which gave me a few mintues to let it all sink in: living in London, working again in IT, working for one of the best bosses I've ever had... as I sit here writing this all I can muster to think or say is... WOW. And I know the feelings will be short-lived because I don't have enough information to wrap my head around it. Still, it's like finally being asked to the prom. I was never asked to go to the prom, but if I had been asked, I bet you it would feel like this - faaaaantastic.
Anyway, I gotta go to bed. I can't think about this now 'cause I'm dog dead tired!
Posted by: Michele at
01:29 AM
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