Idiosyncrasies Meet Raw Indomitability

I completely understand people’s idiosyncrasies, and I understand that people don’t always have the same level of ambition; but there should be no reason why people have to exert their attitude on others.

I come into work on time every day. I normally eat through my lunches if I decide to eat, and I’m always available when people need me. I take on more work readily. I meet all of my deadlines so far as I have control over. I make it to all of my meetings on time. I ride that delicate balance between having fun and getting my work done.

So what is the deal with the person in the office that can’t seem to do any of it? He doesn’t come in on time. He take his lunch late and then comes back two hours later. He takes four to six smoke breaks a day, each at least ten to fifteen minutes long. He doesn’t have any projects assigned to him anymore because he can’t get anything done on time or remotely correct.

Where did those projects go? You’ve got it. Me. I get to receive ten different calls a day from Chase Morgan to notify me that the control totals from the day before still have not been called in. I have to sift through those ten calls to see if any of them are valid. That’s just the start of it.

To add insult to injury he corrupts my temp. So now I have a mouthy temp who doesn’t think he has to do anything because this particular guy does crap and still gets paid…gets paid to search on eBay all day and smoke. What a life huh? Is it any wonder the temp wasn’t offered the full time position we had?

I tell you what. You can slack off all you want. You can sit on your ass and let everyone else work hard around you. You can decide that dedication is only for those who want something out of life, but you don’t have to take action because you are coming to the end of yours. You can think that since you are close to retirement you can bad mouth others behind their backs and walk around calling the woman you work with derogatory names.

You can do that if that’s what make you sleep at night; but do not waste my time. Do not point a finger at me when you screw something up. Do not cry in the boss’ office that I am unfair and a cruel hearted bitch. Do not get in my way as I work up to the top. Some day I will be your boss (if you hold out long enough old man) and you will want me on your good side.

Do not underestimate the determination of this chica.

Early Morning Phone Calls and Still No Ballet Date

It isn’t often that I am not able to find someone to do something with…but I think I might have met my match.

I simply cannot find someone to go to ballet with me this weekend.

It’s supposed to be a great ballet, and I have third (or fourth) row orchestra seats! Those are great seats! Why someone wouldn’t want to take me up on my offer just for the seats, I don’t know. It will be a great way to spend a Saturday night. It’s like going to the Opera; everyone gets dressed up and time seems to pause. The only difference is that I don’t have to search for someone to go to the Opera with me.

I find this very ironic; everyone wants to go to the Opera with me, but no one wants to go to a ballet. I get tickets every season to the Washington Opera from my Super-diva Mom; and people fight over my extra ticket like it’s the Hope Diamond. I just don’t get it.

So in the end I will be at that ballet, even if I’m by myself. I’ve done it before for the Opera, so I’ll do it again. Heck, it’s the Kennedy Center…I’m bound to run into someone I know.

Oh yes; thank you, to all of you men in my life, for blowing up my phone late last night. P, you must have missed the memo, I did not hear from you. Beware gentlemen; I’m going to start charging by the minute after 2:00 am. Perhaps some of you can wake up your girlfriends instead? Silly me, then I wouldn’t be Katharine who keeps her phone on and beside her bed for just such occasions.

Infinite Relief in Habitual Respiration

I feel so unmotivated to do anything productive today. All I really want is to sleep in a perpetual warm hug knowing that I’m not expected to do more then inhale/exhale exercises.

Wouldn’t that be great?

It is great for those of us who know what it's like to not be able to do that. Hugs always make breathing easier.

Hugs make EVERYTHING better.

Popping Up More Than a Daisy

I think it’s getting closer to my gardening season. I want to make sure that there will be no more freezing nights, so I might wait a couple more weeks yet. I’m very excited about this season, except for the fact that I don’t get direct sunlight on my balcony; I think it’ll be a great year. I’m planning on planting the normal violets. They are one of my favorite flowers…other than bulb flowers of course.

I might have to replant my hyacinths; I will dig up my bulbs in a few weeks and make sure they are not rotten from all of the water they drowned in this last month or so. They popped up very early because of the spring-like weeks we had right before all the snow, so of course they died back and never bloomed. This puts a serious damper on my spring. I was looking forward to coming home to some very beautiful hyacinths, but alas there are none.

I might steal some cuttings from my Mom’s hydrangea bush. I wonder what color they would be with the potting soil I use.

I can’t wait to get outside and get my hands in some potting soil…I can’t say dirty since the get dirty regularly at the barn…

It Must Be Spring...

It has to be spring...everyone I know seems to be pregnant. It's kind of bitter sweet that my life isn't making it possible to join all of the blissful mothers-to-be.

I passed the family tradition of being married with one kid by the time I was eighteen, what more do I have to wait for?!

I think it's funny to imagine what my life would be like if I had married J from college. I'd definitely have a kid or two. I wouldn't be living in D.C.; that boy would have died before visiting such a huge city. I'd be very unhappy for sure, probably would be smoking like a broken chimney.

On that other hand it is very interesting to contemplate what my life would be like if I had a baby now. I most certainly would have different friends, but for a few. I'd still be working where I am now, living in the same area. I might be married, but if common sense had anything to do with it I would not.

Its interesting food for thought...just how much change having a baby brings to your life...

Coupés and Piqués

I had my ballet class last night. I shouldn’t skip any more classes. Every time I skip one I come back to find that I’m once again in the front of everyone for the recital. Trudged my way through Coupés and Piqués across the floor, trying to figure out why this was so hard for some of the girls to figure out… Chassé, Coupé then Piqué. That’s it; you do it twice in one direction, then turn and do it again in the other direction. Needless to say we spent 20 minutes doing this back and forth across the floor. Someone couldn’t figure out where to put their hands, so they were told just to put them on their waist for the time being. Someone else couldn’t figure out how to Coupé into a Piqué fast enough without sickling their feet.

It was all getting just a little old, but I was enjoying the workout until someone turned on the overhead fans. Why do people think it’s a good idea to turn on fans while people are sweating? Sure! Let’s freeze the sweat right off you.

We skip some of the dance to get to the end sequence. I finally end up in the back!! Woo Hoo, being a little taller than some of the other girls pays off! This is the Pirouette combination. I love it. I don’t care much for Pirouettes unless its part of a combination, just because turning in endless circles gets old after a while. I get to be in the back right; we are in this diamond-type circle on the floor. I love it! Of course the girl who is in the center front holds her hands like she’s about to do a cheer…but I’m NOT complaining. Let her cheer, I don’t have to be in the front!

We end out class by going through the entire dance as we have it choreographed. It isn’t bad at all…if only we didn’t have to dance to Vivaldi. Ugh, I’ve had enough of Vivaldi. I wish I hadn’t missed the class where they picked out the music…but that just goes towards the argument that I shouldn’t miss any more classes.

Oh yes, and I got new toe pads. Did I remember to bring them to class? Nope. Next time…

Oh the Quesadilla Choices!

I slept through my alarm this morning, so right off the bat I’m think today isn’t going to be so good.

I get into the office and go grab breakfast with M. Yeah, yeah, so I was an hour late to work…that doesn’t mean I have to skip my caffeinated liquid-breakfast does it? I get back to my desk and start sifting through 107 emails. 107! Just from Friday afternoon through Monday morning. What could these people possible want over the weekend?!

Most of them were from another stable that I take lessons at. I school with this fantastic dressage horse and instructor, but I have to say, the concomitant annoyances of schooling at a place that is primarily catered to children really bites! I’m not going to stop going there; the instructor is amazing. I just get irritated that I have to be copied on all of these emails going out to parents about this and that.

I think I need to get more sleep. I went out to lunch with my old boss and M, and it took me about 15 minutes to decide on a chicken quesadilla. 15 minutes! It’s Baja Fresh for God’s sake, how hard can it be?

I’m also working on this billing system issue at work, but the folks out in California and up in Connecticut just don’t seem to want to play nice. Why can’t they just admit that they might have screwed something up and get on with it. I just want it fixed; I could care less who made the mistake. So that takes up a giant chunk of my time right now…”No, you legally have to notify people of this…” “Yes, I think this is part of a binding contract…” “No, we still need these folks notified to be compliant with federal legislation…”

Oh Lord what a day…it certainly can get worse…but one can hope.