We've gone from Honeymoon to Kindergarten...

I guess it's just too tempting,,, The idea of a fresh ear, the possibility of swaying someone over to your side. Now that I've been there a few days, and people are getting used to me,,, it's been fun to see who would pull me aside next... I'm getting the scoop on who I should make sure I stay on their good side'cuz their really important', the scoop on who gets along and who doesn't, the scoop from the HR rep who thinks she'd really coy, but almost always ends p revealing more information than she should. All the 'political' stuff I just politely listen to, thank them for letting me know,, and then reserve the right to make up my own mind...

It's the stuff from within my own team that has me stumped... There's one girl in particular who has been eager to point out the short comings of my supervisor and her partner, and how this is effecting her work performance.... I've tried to take the encouraging stance, of how it's all point of view, it's all perception, and if she continues to look at things with the 'look at what I'm not getting' as opposed to 'what can I do with the information I've been provided',,, that it will eventually effect everything she does, approaches, and her general mood, and whether she wanted it to or not it would be visible to others...

She seemed to listen, but for all I know she is now repeating everything I said with 'who does she think she is' after every sentence... We were all talking yesterday about how working from home isn't always as easy as it's cracked up to be,,, but I tell ya,, after dealing with stuff like this it looks very appealing!

I personally don't know where these people find the time to be so worried about everybody else and what they are doing and not doing,,, The new has definitely worn off as evidenced by my email in box today !! I guess I'm just going to continue to try to cut it off at the knees, tactfully let them know that I really don't want to be involved in it, at that I simply don't have patience for it... See if that solves it,,,

Hey,,, did anyone notice that tomorrow is New Years Eve?!!?! How did that happen????

Let's back up and talk about moving day...

Do you see anything a little odd about this picture?? At first glance it just seems to be a bad picture of a coffee table and curtains... Which it very well could be... I ended up not leaving Saturday, as previously indicated,,, I just couldn't get it together, I kept adding things to the pile that needed to be added to the car,,, then I kept thinking of things I needed to do last minute... I kept counting down based on what time I might leave and when that would get me to Florida...

It got to be about 4:00 and I decided to give it a try,,, rounded up the cats,,, well two of them,,, couldn't find the third... So I decided to take some final pictures,, realizing all of the sudden that this was not the same as when I moved to SC and it would be months before I came back to my home... So I went from room to room snapping pics to capture what I could... and then I found the third cat, Sophie... I laughed out loud when I saw it... She has NEVER done anything like this before,, but how cute is it??

When I went to pick her up, she actually tucked her head in, like a kid playing hide-and-seek... I felt so bad for her! But she came along,, I loaded them up in the car,, and left. Made a stop at the drug store and realized how completely wiped out I was... So I got some take out, went home, unloaded the cats,, and went to bed early...

I ended up leaving about 10:00am on Sunday morning... I had figured it would be about an 8 hour drive... I was wrong! Ended up being about 10.5,, and the youngest cat only cried for the first hour and a half! boy was that a long drive! I got here at 9:30, had to unload the car and then had to be at work by 8:00 the next morning... I wasn't even thinking of Thursday being Christmas,, I was thinking how much I needed a day off!

But I made it,,, again, ventured out like a nomad in search of the next item to sustain life... To me on one hand it seems like no big deal, this is kind of how I have lived my life. But on my last day of work, one of my co-workers was telling me how brave I was. How lucky I was to be able to go where I wanted, when I wanted, and that she hoped I realized what a strong woman I was... It wasn't until them that I realized envy can go both ways... I guess the grass is always greener,,, especially in Florida!

Honeymoon's are wonderful!

So I started the new job on Monday... I'm cautiously optimistic, but I'm trying to remember,,, this is the honeymoon phase,, where it all seems good. But it sure is an improvement over the last few months!

I have peers,,, actual peers who want to share information. The girl that will be my partner on projects is great. She just wants to learn, and is eager to share everything she knows about the clients,,, it's such a switch. We have already been able to identify strengths and weaknesses we both have, and how we will balance each other out...

It's nice to want to go into work... It's nice to be appreciated... This is such a new group, it's a little daunting, but I have already been able to contribute to some of the projects, and the help has been eagerly accepted... Pretty much the job is mine to define...

They all think I'm this quiet person,, but in actuality, I'm sitting back a little and observing... Observing the woman who thinks she knows everything and thinks she runs the show, the one who thinks if she acts innocent enough, she can get anyone to do anything,,even look up phone numbers for her?? She came in at 8:30 today, took 2 hour lunch and left at 3:00... and spent most of the day reading the paper... VERY hard worker :-) .... That's my competition...hmmmm...doesn't sound too challenging...

I'm not sure what I'm doing for Christmas... I was supposed to go over to an old friends house,, but I haven't been able to hook up with her,,, So I may just have a quiet day at home.... Which would be OK... I'm still trying to catch up from getting here at 9:30 Sunday night (after a 10 hour drive) and having to be at work at 8:00 the next morning!

If anybody's checking in,, I hope you have a great day tomorrow, and safe travels....

Moving Day... Round One

The day is here,,, I should actually be on the road as we speak,, but alas, true to form, I am running late!!! Still have a list an arm long to get done, but I'm shooting for Noon... Sure would be easier if I could pick up the whole house and take it with me!

The old boss, Little Napoleon, was true to form, didn't speak to me all day, had my access to all my systems turned off at 4:59... Poor, poor little man.... But I took it all in stride, smiled through it all...

Let's pray for safe travels, cats that don't get freaked out by a 10 hour drive, and a good first day! I may not have internet access for a while....hmmmm....will have to work that out!

Vodka-rita's, Margarita's and laughing so hard my cheeks now hurt!

I have lived in SC for just over two years,,, miserable most of the time. Just as things started moving with this whole job thing several months ago, i was invited by of all people, my dental hygienist, to a Bunco party... Yes I said Bunco, a silly dice game for bored house wives...

I mustered my courage up to spend an evening with a dozen women I didn't know, and low and behold, some of them were actually pretty cool! There is one person in particular, who it just seems as though we have know each other for ever !! We have only gotten together a few times,,, but oh my,,, it is non stop laughter the whole time,,, It doesn't happen often that you meet people who actually 'get you'...

So we got together tonight,, for Vodka-rita's and Margarita's and many, many laughs,,, yes, my cheeks actually do hurt... and as we said good-bye, I couldn't help but think how odd it was that after all this time here, it wasn't until I find my way out that I find some people that actually make me happy...

I'm a firm believer that certain people come into your life at certain times for reasons beyond our understanding... As we touched on this topic, (after a couple drinks) it was nice to find out that we were on the same page... I'm not someone who lets a lot of people in my tight little circle,,, I have built some pretty high walls, to have found another person, who has put in the effort, and sees that value in friendship the way I do was an unexpected bonus... It has actually made me a little bit sad about leaving...

but I have a feeling this is one of those friendships that lasts,,,, regardless of geography, for that I am thankful...

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To do list...

Hopefully I'll be more successful at my list than this guy was!!!

SO.... Now that everything is finally moving forward,, I am completely overwhelmed! I don't even know where to start! I am flying to FL Mon night for a 20 minute meeting Tuesday morning with the Condo Board of the place I'm renting. My last day is Friday the 19th, and my first day at the new job is the 22nd! Not much room for transition! I have to:

1. Stop hiding under the covers and get my butt out of bed!


2. Complete a list of about 20 items at work(which my boss has kindly added on the last day of the review period to my actual review, so if they aren't completed he gets to mark me as does not meet)


3. Pack 3 suit cases to take with me Monday, why waste the trip


4. Figure out what to take in those 3 suit cases!


5. Get my house 'Show' ready, in the middle of packing and trying to keep things the way they are once I've done it!


6. Clean out my office...


7. Do about 10 loads of laundry(will now actually have to use quarters to get clean clothes,,YUCK)


8. Did I mention clean my hose? Forget getting it ready, everything in just the right place, I actually have to CLEAN it thoroughly too!


9. Oh, last but certainly not least... Change my attitude!!!

Changing gears, as I have been reading through other peoples blogs etc... I have noticed a common thread,,, everyone seemed to be in a good mood??????? Where did my good mood go? I realized I have let the bad work environment spill over into my personal life(even though I don't really have one)... And by spilling over I mean like spilling a pot of molasses over everything,, get the picture? bad attitude gets on/in everything and no matter how hard you try, you just can't get it off. It wasn't until the last few months that I have actually met some people that I can now call friends, and that is because I let the job take everything out of me....

Note to self.... Do it differently this time: remember to get a life when I get to Florida!

And the Saga continues,,,,,unfortunately...

Yes, it continues, continues, continues... I'm trying to maintain a 'positive' attitude about the whole thing... I beleive the 19th will be my last day and the 22nd my first day at the new job... HOWEVER... Little Napoleon has now decided that he gets to decide when my last day is... I think the man is crazy!! He keeps adding things to my 'To Do' list,, the most recent... To document and review ALL softcopy information on my company computer. Yes, that's right he wants me to catalog and review all items on my PC,,, 2 years worth of work... I'd be here until June if I had to do that!! HR agreed that this (among others) are unreasonable requests and to Not do them...

So let's see what today brings!!

Happy B-day Sunshine!

This is the sunshine that came to my office today !! The pic is a little blurry cuz I took it with my phone, but you get the idea!! I'd love to tell you they are from some man who gives James Bond a true run for his money,,, But alas they are from my Mom and Dad.... They smell WONDERFUL!!

More on the days events tomorrow, I don't want to spoil the mood!

Do I really have to go ???

I'm sitting here trying to figure out how I am going to make it through the day today.

Although HR has told me not to worry about it, I am still very anxious about what the ramifications may be from Little Napoleon's actions... Is it possible that the new hiring manager could pull out of this altogether? If so, realistically what does my future here hold. I obviously can't continue to work for this man.

I can't help but have my eyes well up when I think about the potential impact his actions could have on my future. If he had pulled this with an external position I would have cause for a very good law suit, as most of what he has said and done are now things that, as managers, we are strongly warned against for exactly that reason.

Last night, while talking to my mom, she kept asking me what I was doing tonight to celebrate... I finally asked her what about the current circumstances warrents celebration? to which she replied,,,, tomorrow's your birthday...

Happy Birthday... Do you think my boss will remember?! :)

And so I am Left wondering...

What is it about me that sparks such contempt from the people I work with? If you have read any of the previous posts, you know, I haven't been a big fan of my boss lately. He is a 'manager' who feels the best way to manage is by fear, intimidation, micromanaging, condescension and demoralization. Other than that, he's not a bad guy. We have had our differences, but I have always thought we have ultimately resolved those. He periodically does things to remind me 'he's in charge and can do what he wants cuz he's the boss',,, which I tolerate and play along with because let's face it, he is the boss.

SO one of my biggest struggles with this man is that he refuses to ever acknowledge any type of accomplishment. And when I say any, I mean any... I have considered the idea of changing jobs purely on the basis of self preservation. Let's face it, I already lived through one bad marriage, I don't intend to put myself through that again. If I don't get out of this situation, I will end up believing that I am as incompetent at my job, in every aspect as this man would have me believe. The accomplishments of my teams, and the progress we have made can not be denied. The point of conflict was that I didn't approach it the way he would, surprising how goals were still achieved with this approach!

And you are wondering why the question about contempt in people I work with??? I went in Friday afternoon to notify my boss that I had been offered and accepted a position with another division,,, as expected the man went stone faced, told me he needed it in writing then said 'well good luck' and that was it... Well, let me clarify, that was it to my face. He then proceeded to contact every HR rep our business unit had ever worked with, wanting to know how I could post for a position without his knowledge, and that that fact alone somehow invalidated the whole process all together. My new boss ( well I think he's still my new boss) and one of the HR reps called me to let me know they were going to call him, as a courtesy, but that regardless of that I had been instructed to not talk to him about anything other than production and operations, if he asked anything about the job, refer him to HR, as he was looking for loop holes... Nice...

I make it through the afternoon, even though the joy of my accomplishment has been stomped on( He also told me there was no need to tell any of the supervisors, among other things implying that I would just not be here one day, no advance notice to my employees, hence stealing from me the celebration and congratulations I know people would want to share). While driving home I get a call from my hiring manager, letting me know that they did have a conversation with him. Apparently in this conversation, my boss, whom I fondly refer to as Little Napoleon for a reason, proceeded to tell this man that it would be in his best interest to reconsider his decision to hire me. He felt that the new boss would feel differently about me once he saw my last review, which he then emailed him. OK, now pick your jaw up of the keyboard... Yes that is what he did... The new boss indicated he had not read it yet, but that he wanted to give me an opportunity to share anything I felt he should know before he read it... I didn't even know what to say, frankly I couldn't even speak for a moment, literally, I was shocked. He did tell me that I had been highly recommended by two people that he respected and trusted, and so he was more inclined to view Napoleon's comments as doubtful.

I dug out my review later that night and reread it... Not really sure what Napoleon thinks he is achieving by sending it, as it wasn't a bad review. In fact my review of myself was predominantly harsher than his; on top of his admission that he had set me up for failure, and I was still successful...

He was then seen pacing in his office, loudly arguing with his boss about how he had to have someone in that 'Operations Manager's' position,,,,that it was critical to the success of the process etc.. etc.. etc.. so apparently I am not as indispensable as he would have me believe. I was also told later by HR that apparently New Boss and Napoleon have a 'history'... And I should not worry one bit as he know the source and how the source is... Which probably contributes to the sting.

So after a night of crying, fearing that I have just had a huge opportunity ripped from my hands, as well as feeling completely betrayed by someone who although I disagreed with him on many things I never imaged he could be so spiteful, I think I'm pulling myself together... I have to go into work on Monday and be above all of it... Take the high road at all costs. Let him be his own demise. His actions all stem from the fact that this process has been in the works basically since August, and no one has told him,, the man who likes to think he knows everything,,,,

I thought I would relish telling him,, and having my little 'so there' moment... But knowing that his actions come from pride and fear of how his business unit will be affected, how he will be affected in the end just makes me feel sad for him... and probably worst of all is that I have lost all remaining respect that I had. I can't imagine even on my worst day treating someone, and attempting to do to someone what he has done..