Since my return to the states just over two years ago already, I've been trying to live clean and simply. No car, month to month rent, minimal incoming bills (the electric bill and my T-Mobile bill). I have not hooked up cable, a land line, or anything else that would feel like I'm a permanent residence of this place. I have a few pictures hung, but for the most part, the walls are bare and the pictures are leaning against them on the floor. I have been here much longer than I had anticipated, but I still want to be able to pack up and fly whenever the time suits me.
My boss is aware of this, although he is in denial. I talk about leaving Seattle regularly. Daily even. It's no secret. It drives him crazy. Last week he advised me to order the Clearwire device so I can have Internet at my apartment. He seems to think showering me with electronics and other toys will keep me around. Obviously, he is unaware of the true troglodyte he is dealing with here. He bought me a new cell phone when I started the job (nothing was wrong with my old one, mind you), he bought the Vespa for me to ride, he gave me a Bluetooth for a Christmas present (is he kidding me?), he bought a new MAC notebook for the office and then sent me home with it, his daughter gave him a new Blackberry and he tried to give me his old one. To this I had to throw my hands up and refuse. I just can't become one of those Blackberry users. Enough is enough. And now the Clearwire. The thing is none of these things are incentives because I've been happy enough to live without them. It's not money saved to me because I wouldn't spend my money on these things. I'd spend it on travel.
When I ordered the Clearwire, I put it under the boss's name and paid for it with the company credit card. He was furious that I put it under his name. He wanted it under my name. MY name? Why? It isn't mine. I'm just the user. When I leave the company, I'll give it back. I don't want anything in MY name. He said he didn't either. I told him I don't want any bills coming to me, any advertisements, I don't want this on my credit report, zero, zip. So we had a little heated discussion about this transaction which ended with him mimicking me in a high pitched voice, "I don't want anything getting in the way of my parachute when I pull the rip cord!"
At least I know he's been listening.
2 comments:
Oh my goodness, "the boss," whose name I won't use, is SO ridiculous.
I applied for some Seattle-based jobs yesterday and put both him and you as references. I know you'll be fabulous, but I hope sticking his name on there doesn't come back to bite me in the bum. :P
In personal news, Boy and I had a conversation last weekend where he said that he'd go wherever I want to be, job-wise, after graduation. Eeep. I think this might officially make us serious. (!)
If you really do jet off to Guatemala, I would totally come visit you! :)
I miss you around here, Rachel!!
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