Sorted Lives

Tomorrow afternoon will find me heading northeast on I-4 and then north on I-95 to Jacksonville. I am heading to a conference with 300 other managers, bosses, and poohbahs.

Of course I am taking my own car. I certainly do not want to be held prisoner to anyone. Now, I am all about going to break out sessions and meeting up with the leadership team to discuss what we plan to implement. BUT, after 5:00, it’s my time.

The managers who are going were all talking about going out and doing this and doing that. Yeah, that is NOT going to happen, at least with this camper. I will socialize with them Tuesday evening at our “Social” with the sponsor of the conference, but Wednesday and Thursday evening belong to me.

I plan on meeting up with this handsome blogger one of those evenings. It’s been way too long since we have seen each other and the last time I was in Jacksonville was for Sheryl Crow in April 2008. I want to go out and see what mischief I can find!

I was distraught this week to learn the struts of my 2007 Volvo were shot. I purchased my car some three years ago and I was and still in love with my baby.

I was in Sarasota when I found this out. I tried to get my car in to the dealerships in Sarasota, Tampa, and even Ft. Myers. I was told by all three dealerships that with the number of snowbirds going back north, I had a better chance of seeing God than getting an appointment at their dealership. I was upset, but understood. I called the dealership in my Metro area and got an appointment for the next day.

I found myself on the road Wednesday morning. Thursday morning found me at the dealership dropping off my baby. The dealership told me I was still under warranty and it probably won’t be ready until Friday. I was okay with that.

I had everything I needed Thursday evening. And, if I needed anything, I have wonderful neighbors who would be there to help.

I had my neighbor Shelly drive my sorry ass up to the dealership Friday afternoon. My car wasn’t ready when she dropped me off, so I found myself at Winter Park Village just relaxing. It was wonderful.

I walked back to the dealership just in time for my car to be released. “Lou” was kind and thrilled to see my Volvo was all better. The best part was this:

I am thinking Volvo has me for life. I am okay with that.

Sorry for the lack of posts. Life and lack of anything worthy of posting kind of got in the way. So, what have my few readers missed since mid-February;

– During my last post, I was involved with my worker-bees preparing them for a competition against 5 other locations in my region. I was thrilled that our location came in first place. We came in first place last year. I was proud and thrilled to beat one particular location I worked at 2 years ago.

– Shortly after that, I came down with the worst case of bronchitis. I was laid up for 2 weeks and I was miserable.

– I finally met my lanai neighbor. She moved in back in November and other than a wave here and there, I kind of kept a low profile. She’s an absolute hoot and now chat daily. She, like me, loves her wine. We have had numerous evenings on the lanai just enjoying the weather and wine.

– I’ve worked way too hard. Finally had a week’s reprieve. I drove to Sarasota this past Monday for, what was suppose to be 5 days of rest and relaxation. On Wednesday, I went for an oil change. I found out my shocks are shot. LITERALLY. No wonder The Volvo was driving funky. I called Volvo of Sarasota for them to take care of this as my car is still under warranty. The earliest appointment, next week. I then called Volvo of Tampa and Ft Myers with no luck getting an appointment this week. I finally called my Volvo dealer where I bought my car and they had an appointment for me Thursday morning. I decided to leave my folks (after having a blast) so I could take of this problem and while I had time.

– Since this is April Fool’s Day, I woke this morning and opened my twitter account. I wondered if anyone had anything to say. I found out about this:

My friend Crazy did this at 12:01 a.m. I laughed my ass off when I saw this. I would not expect anything less of her. Of course I used this to my advantage today as I left my car at the dealer, and Crazy was there to pick me up. My car won’t be ready until tomorrow afternoon and I made her cart my sorry ass all over Winter Park, Altamonte Springs, and Orlando.

– I spent the afternoon with Crazy and her son, “Little Man Tate.” We had a blast watching The Blind Side and hanging out. As Crazy drove me back to the fifth floor tenement, I was reminded why people come into your life.

Life has been crazy this last month. I would not have changed a thing and I think that is nothing less than fabulous!

I always thought Carly did not like me. I guess I was wrong. Carly is the person who also interviewed for the same position I did back in November and was the chosen candidate. I was okay with her receiving the position as the two of us were the most qualified for the position.

Last week, the department I work closely with at the corporate level sent out an e-mail looking for people to be apart of a Spring writing team. I really wanted to be a part of this team and after getting the blessing from The Boss, I was told I could apply. I was thrilled.

The deadline to apply was today (Thursday) at 5:00 p.m. My goal was to get it completed and sent to Carly (she is the go-to person) Monday afternoon, but that did not happen. Wednesday afternoon rolled around and an e-mail reminder from Glenda late Wednesday morning, I was determined to get the application completed.

I did.

I sent it to Carly in an e-mail with this e-mail;

From: Lives, Sorted
Sent: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 2:53 PM
To: D****-W*****, Carly
Subject: Writing Team Application

Sorted

I did not expect a response.

I was surprised this morning to open my e-mail to find this.

RE: Writing Team Application
D****-W*****, Carley
Sent: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 7:47 PM
To: Lives, Sorted
Attachments:

Carly

All I can say is, “Wow!” I never saw this coming. In the 9 months Carly and I worked together, I NEVER thought she liked me or respected my abilities in our field.

I guess I was wrong.

I was doing my rounds this morning to find this worker-bee crashed out. Apparently, he had a rough night. I was told by someone he slept 10 hours last night. You would never know it. I showed his “someone” the photo and she thought it was priceless and gave me her email so I could send her the pic.

He is an awesome worker-bee and reminds me why I love my job.

dumb asses, but La Quita takes the cake.

Where I work, every is under contract. Your contract can be annual or professional. New managers have to work for 3 years with effective evaluations and then, if your boss likes you, grants you a professional contract. Having an annual contract allows the boss to let you go at the end of the fiscal year without reason. Most managers get their professional contract after their 3rd year of service. Once you receive it, getting fired takes an act of God. I kissed my bosses ass and made sure I went above and beyond to receive my professional contract. And, after 3 years of doing this, I received my professional contract.

Now, back to La Quita. LaQuita thinks she is all that and knows her contractual rights. She uses the contract only to her advantage takes what little power she has and uses it to the nth degree. To myself, I call her a spoon. Someone who stirs the pot.

Anyways, today we had a staff meeting. I always walk in late and leave early as I have other things to do during this time. The Boss is okay with it because I am doing my job.

Today was no different. I walked in late to see everyone, except La Quita involved with the staff meeting. La Quita was in the back of the room on a computer doing “paperwork.” I was floored. I tried to pay attention as I had other things on my mind. I did take some notes and while writing something down, The Boss addressed La Quita about being with her managers and not doing “paperwork.”

I could not hear what they were talking about, but after The Boss left, La Quita continued with her “paperwork” and did not participate in the meeting.

The Balls!!

I left shortly after the confrontation. I had an issue to deal with. I spent the rest of the day wondering how someone who is on their 3rd year with an annual contract could act so recklessly?

I know La Quita is looking for a location closer to home and will not be at our location during the next fiscal year.

I have to wonder what boss would hire someone who will not be granted a professional contract after 3 years because I know my boss, and I cannot imagine her re-hiring this spoon.

My only guess is a Stupid Boss.

For those who don’t know, I live in a condo. We have one main door and there are 4 units inside. I have always had a good relationship with my neighbors. My first neighbor across the hall was Peggy. We hit it off well and eventually I gave her my key to take care of my cats when I traveled. Then there is Laura. We hit it off a year after I moved in. My last neighbor is Marianne. She was kind of strange and never got involved with any of the neighbors. I was always polite and chatted with her when she felt like chatting.

The first five years were great. After hurricane Charley, Marianne moved away and sold to Tara and David. They had 1 child and 1 on the way. In 2009, Tara and David are still living here, with their 5 children. Peggy sold in 2007 to a very strange family. Again, I was always polite to them in the hall.

Things were “what they were” until 2009. My neighbors across the hall were evicted when they could no longer pay the mortgage on their condo. The taxes raised their mortgage some $350 according to Laura. They moved out last March.

Last Saturday, I had to work. I came home around noon to find a stack (about 4 feet) of flattened boxes under the stairwell. I was curious to find out what was going on.

Monday morning found me running into Laura at 6:15 a.m. walking her rat dogs. I asked her about the boxes. She said that Tara and David were moving back to Lakeland next weekend. I wasn’t surprised. They’ve wanted to move back (they’re from there) for a bigger home and to be closer to their families.

I passed a comment after Laura told me about Tara and David leaving. I said, “I guess it’s going to be just you and me.”
She looked at me and said, “No, I plan on leaving for Connecticut in April and won’t be back until November.”

FUCK THE WHAT?

She explained she needs a change and will become a snowbird.

It really hit me an hour after being at work.

I will be alone in the building. I won’t have anyone to run into coming or going, I can’t go downstairs and borrow a spice or something that I need when I cooking, or just having a neighbor to shoot the shit with. What I will miss the most is Laura checking in on me. I rarely take sick days, but if she sees my car in my spot during the week, she climbs the stairs to see if everything is okay.

I thought 2010 was going to be a great year. Let’s hope the vacant unit and Tara/David’s unit gets filled. I really don’t want to live alone.

…always greener on the other side. Today, I attended the Specialist quarterly meeting. I usually arrive a little early so I can chat with the Lead Specialists. If you remember, I applied for a Lead Specialist position and did not get the position a few months ago. When I found out who the 5 candidates were, I knew it was between Carly and me. The manager who works across the hall from me was a candidate (no worries there) and two people who were not within the company (they never get selected).

Anyways, Carly walked in and came over to say hello. Carly held my position at my last location so we know each other very well. I congratulated her and she thanked me. She had things to do and said that we would talk later.
During the sign in process, I happened to recognize my first intern from 1999. She is doing great and we spent our free time and lunch catching up on the last decade.

After the meeting, I caught up with Carly. I told her when I found out she was one of the five, she was my only competition. I also said she deserved the position. I kind of knew she wanted out of my last location and she wasn’t thinking down the road. Her comments about her being burned out and all the shit she was doing (same thing I am doing) was enough to make her apply for the position.

I told her I understood. I told her since she took my job, I would be going another route as that particular department is what I was looking to work in and positions rarely open.

She shocked me with, “You never know?”

Fuck the What?

She continued telling me she now realizes she belongs at a location and not the Ivory Tower. I am thinking she is regretting her decision.

Unlike Carly, I applied for the position because it’s something I wanted to do, not to get out of a miserable work environment. Yes, my job is stressful and I am asked to give 200% every minute. But, I also don’t apply for positions to get out of the situation I am in. In fact, this was the first position I ever applied for mid-year because I felt I could serve our 120 locations with my expertise.

So, time will tell. I also realized she felt like a fish out of water during the meeting. I asked her if she was attending the Saturday meeting and she said no. I am guessing that telling the Sr. Director during the interview, “No” to working on Saturday would get you the position. During the interview, I happened to say yes and I have attended the last 5 Saturday events and it should be expected from a Lead Specialist.

Driving home, I started to wonder when the position will be posted again. I am not sure what I will do. I plan to just enjoy what I do and let time take its course.