Bow Out Gracefully

My D.C. hat trick fell a little flat. The program continues to proceed with challenges and complications due to a total lack of planning on my boss's part. It's been an extremely stressful couple of weeks. While in D.C. I had a very long-winded phone call with the boss and told him that once this program was done, I was finished. He actually hung up on me! Later he claimed a dropped call, but I've witnessed his hang ups with others over the past several months. I'm certain it was no 'dropped call.'  

So my plan was to turn in my formal resignation upon his arrival back to Seattle on July 1st. Much to my dismay, he called the office and told the interns (not me directly) that he wasn't returning until after the 4th of July. Sheesh, I can't even quit this job! 

Confiding in #8 proved to be a further exercise in frustration. "You need to get a good job first. Have you been looking?" Have I been looking? Did he completely miss the part where I'm working 24/7 keeping my head above water getting through these programs? When would I be looking for a better job? Yes, in an ideal world having a job until finding another job would be the thing to do. However, I haven't had a moment to myself in the past month. How can I even job search, no less go on interviews? 

My plan? Resign as gracefully as possible without totally burning the bridge. Bridge burning is just not my style. Temp, pet sit and continue banging my head against the wall trying to figure out what the heck I'm going to do next. 

One thing I plan on doing .... enjoy every minute of this amazing Seattle summer weather we're finally blessed with!

 

Pulling Rabbits Out Of A Hat

I'm currently in Washington, D.C. running a program for work. We are hosting a group from Egypt here for training on educational reform. My genius of a boss was to be organizing this program as I'd been working on another one for a group from Russia. In true Boss Genius form nothing had been set up and I'm here in D.C. (sans the BG) about to embark on one of my most embarrassing 'career days'. I will have to perform a hat dance or juggle knives in order to distract the participants from the fact that the program planning was a flop.

I hope I have a good hair day.

Gifts From The Men In My Life

This just gets better and better. A couple weekends ago #8 takes me out for a nice Saturday afternoon/evening. It was a rainy start so we poked through some antique shops, then hunkered down in a tea house near the market. We sipped yummy fresh teas and played scrabble on the cozy sofa. Contrary to the belief that I've become an old teetotaler, it was delightful and slightly romantic (it was #8 after all). When the sun came out (around 6 pm) we strolled the market festival, and then worked our way up to the theaters to have a bite and watch a movie. After the movie, however, Eight announced his early morning guard duty and dumped me off at the front door of my building with nothing more than a peck. Something about how he'd like to come up for a 'quickie' but having to get all re-dressed afterward to go home... Yeah yeah....whatever. I'm getting used to the sexless routine with this guy. 

Next day he shows up at the my apartment with a DVD player. Having noticed that I'm still operating with a VCR (yes, the 12:00 flashing and all), he decided to pick up a DVD player at the military base store. Okay, that was really thoughtful and sweet of him. However, after hooking it up, we discovered it didn't work. So off he trotted with my new gift to test it at his house to see if it was the player or my TV. That was over a week ago. He did call a few days later to let me know the player worked just fine at his house. 

Now my boss. Last week, as I mentioned previously, was hellacious. My two hour Saturday duty turned into a full day of work. By Sunday I was ready for a day off. At eleven in the morning on Sunday my boss calls from California. He's supposedly working on a project down there. He calls me while driving down the highway in a rented convertible with the top down, the wind blowing through his gray hair and he's bragging about the 80 degree weather (is that so smart?). He tells me I should treat myself on the company dime to a nice spa day and massage. Well, that is awfully generous and kind. However, as it turns out, it's impossible to 1. find many spas open on Sundays and 2. find one that is open and has an opening for a massage or any other spa treatment service. I also have two dog walks and a cat to feed that day, so not like my afternoon is wide open. I finally give up the idea. Nice thought, but just a little too late. 

Today, while holding down the fort and working like crazy again, I decide I AM going to go have that massage/spa treatment. I call a few places this afternoon, but come across the same problem. It's just too late notice. No one has an opening for me. I decide to just go downtown after work and walk into some spas and see what they can do for me. Maybe if I show up looking haggard and worn out, they'll have pity on me and take me under their soothing wings. I go to a couple with no luck. I decide to try Gene Juarez as a last ditch effort. Sure enough, they are open until 9.00 p.m.  The fellow at the front desk asks me what kind of treatment I'm looking for. 

"Anything," I reply. "Anything that involves, skin, touch, relaxation. A facial, a massage, a wrap, an eyebrow wax. I don't even care at this point." Okay, I think my haggard, wasted look and pissy attitude is working on the guy. He gets me into a "Tranquility Massage" and highly recommends the ultra special shower treatment afterwards. The massage isn't for fifteen minutes, but he suggests I check in immediately to get into my robe, drink some tea and start the relaxing process pronto! Clearly I really was a sight. 

The experience was lovely. The plush robe, the fancy slippers that massage your feet as you pad around the tranquil, fountain filled spa, herbal tea while your feet soak in a soapy bowl of warm water. Aaah, I'm feeling better already. The massage was fabulous. I've only had one other massage in my life which also was a gift from my friend, Lucky Mom. Not sure why I don't do this more often. I'm sure it has something to do with finances. But wow, this is nice. After my treatment, I am lead to the shower for an incredible experience of jets, shower, steam, fancy bath products and super bath sheets to envelope my jello-like limbs as I step out into the lounge. Yes, yes, this is all working really well. I hang out a while longer, enjoying the relaxation room, quenching my thirst and re-hydrating, yet standing next to the warm fireplace. Ummm. Perfect. 

I finally get myself together and walk out into the main area to peruse the products. I love products. I don't purchase any this visit, but it's fun to look, test and sample. 

I walk up to the counter to pay. I hand the cashier my company credit card which my boss had instructed me to do, and low and behold, it's DENIED! So now I'm immediately tense, humiliated and down $125 that didn't have in the first place! Thanks for the gift, Boss.

What's the Plan Stan?

"Sh*t or get off the pot." I've always rather found that phrase a bit too crass to find humorous. But I do believe, it applies to me at this stage of my life.

After the day (week) I've had, I need to take the 'life bull' by the horns and actually make something amazing happen. It's been two years since my return to the states. Two years I could have been going to school, building a business, or doing most anything more productive than the fiddling around I've been doing while I attempt to "figure things out", all the while awaiting some fabulous opportunity to just land on my lap in a nicely foil-wrapped package. I'm a fairly lucky person, but not that lucky.

I know that I need to take action to make something happen. Movement equals movement. Stagnation most definitely does not equal movement. As a matter of a fact stagnation equals paralyzing, lethargic confusion, loss of confidence and further stagnation.

Before you know it you're in a go nowhere job working like a beaten dog for a ridiculous man, semi-dating a man you barely have anything in common with, and complaining about the weather as if it mattered. I have never complained about the weather so much in my life. The weather never used to affect me this way. Either it's gotten worse (Global Warming?) or I've gotten old and cranky. Or maybe- just maybe- it's the stagnation getting to me.

I've either got to actually DO something about my situation or shut up (i.e. 'sh*t or get off the pot'). My friends are going to stop calling and I love my friends. Without them, I got nottin'!

So maybe, if I write something down (or type it in my blog) where people (ehem, me) can see my commitment in print, I'll feel more dedicated to the cause. More apt to 'prove' I can do this. I can make a change by golly! I won't make some pie in the sky goal. But a reasonable goal. By this fall, I will be on my way to .... somewhere. There, a time frame set, but a broad enough goal to give me options!

Capitol Hill

Wow, I've been out of town and unable to post. Spent last week at the NAFSA: Association for International Educators conference. It was very interesting and eye opening. Although I networked like a madwoman, trading business cards like I was in the pit at the stock exchange, I didn't meet anyone who offered me that amazing high paying job in a sunny, palm-treed climate....yet. I did, however, make contact, rub elbows, develop report (Oh, those are such great shoes! Let me give you my card so you can offer me a job soon!) and learn a lot about the possible direction this international education stuff could take me. So we shall see.

In addition, I made new friends, enjoyed WARM, lovely weather (I didn't even take a coat on this trip. Not even a lightweight jacket.) and ate some delicious food.

The conference was much too busy to actually have an opportunity to enjoy Washington, D.C.-seminars, presentations, exhibits, evening receptions, dinners. Here I was in the museum capital and I didn't get to visit ONE. I saw the outsides of them as I was racing off to the conference center every day. I observed the Washington Monument from afar and walked down The Mall one evening between my last session of the day and my dinner engagement. But that was it. An entire week in D.C. and I barely saw it.

I will be going back again in two weeks and plan to do some sight seeing and museum hopping. The weather ought to be getting to that unbearably humid stage by then. I can't wait!