teresa

like a Kulesza woman scorned.  The first employee that I ever hired quit today.  I didn’t fully understand Pete’s “they’re dead to me” philosphy with employees who chose to leave our company, but now I understand.  Its interesting I just read the book the 4 Agreements.  Number 2 is don’t take things personally.  Well, have one of your employees leave and try to not take it personally.  Its pretty personal.  We packed up our shit, left Elliott’s family, our friends, our first home, our life to move here to make it work out here, don’t take it personally, its pretty personal.

Since leaving the office today I have been adding explatives to my every comment, moments ago Elliott told me I need to calm down.  Right, that helped.

I was as nice to our now ex-employee as I could muster without giving him the satisfaction of thinking I was even the least bit understanding.  He said he was willing to stay on and finish our project, we decided to let the shortimer go.

He had lots of good reasons that I won’t share in such a public arena.  Some of them even sounded believable.  None of them however matter.  I think it almost would have been better if he said I am putting in my notice, I no longer want to work here, you are a horrible manager, you picked out ugly furniture, Elliott smells funny, and your projects suck.  If I ever quit I am telling Pete straight out its because I don’t like him.  (Mom to answer your question from a previous blog comment no I have never given anyone at work my blog address so I highly doubt Pete is reading this right now, if he is, Pete - I like you just fine, I am still working for you right?).

I am now one glass of wine into what should prove to be a decent evening afterall. Some how my cursing convinced Elliott to make dinner.  Dinner of course then got to be Elliott’s pick which was mac & cheese (the Wild Oats versionm, free of high fructose corn syrup and partiall hydrogenated stuff of course) and chimichangas.  I’ll take what I can get.

The next step after fury is to learn from and move on.  I have already written the job posting as part of the moving on.  As for the learn from I have reflected quite a bit and it will definitely change the way I do things.  In the meantime I will let the fury and wine fight it out.

Our excitement for this week, not fireworks, not the Danville Parade, no real anything to speak of on my favorite holiday of the year - the 4th of July - except sleeping in and working as well as seeing a car on fire…  We decided to walk to work on Wednesday as part of our pursuit of looking good in a bathing suit.  As we came upon the TGI Fridays we saw a dark plume of smoke, low and behold a car was on fire in the parking lot, horn blowing and everything.  I had the urge to run over to the car and rescue whoever might still be inside, Elliott was not as motivated.  Instead we called 911 from a safe distance away.  Interestingly our 911 call on our cell phone was incorrectly routed, to a call center 50 miles away.  A representative called us back to say - that emergency that you are glad you weren’t dying over was incorrectly routed, an error that is apparently common with mobile phones - scary.  That was the extent of our fireworks show.

I should back up, the highlight of this 4th of July was going to Las Vegas.  Elliott and I had a great time visiting family and catching up on our couch time with Mom (which was much needed).  We accomplished our only task, to see Live Free or Die Hard which after watching the first 3 movies in preparation was a special treat.  A new family movie quote should be - I skinned my knee and my asthma is acting up but I am ok - OR - alright that’s enough of this kung fu shit.  Aside from being like 5′ away from the screen the movie was fabulous.  We also got to see Gwen Stefani with Kathi and Krista - that was b-a-n-a-n-a-s!

So to the old people.  I have to say mom and dad are rather hip for their age.  Dad spends more time on the internet than Elliott does researching how he can improve his blog and mom has better video game technology than I do, considering I still have the old school nintendo with the original tetris.  The one thing that I have noticed though is going to a restaurant requires being a translator between the waitress and your parents.  I don’t know what it is, maybe its the background noise and they can’t hear, but its seems like everywhere we went either mom or dad didn’t understand something the waitress said, and then they proceeded to look at them with this look of disgust, like - what are you talking about.  That was followed by me explaining, mom do you want your tea sweetened or not?  Dad at one point responded to the waitress’s question - how do you want your burger cooked -Umm medium or well done, whatever. Whatever?  I guess that goes along with Dad’s mantra, NM… nothing matters.

Mom don’t take offense to the old people part, just something I noticed and wanted to reflect on, and plus I needed a catchy title.

Speaking of old people, Elliott and I joined the old ladies this morning for a brisk walk in the park before work - remember the bathing suits.  Elliott and I both remarked how you wouldn’t really admit to anyone that you are a walker.  People often say they like to do yoga, run, bike, no one really says I am a walker.  Elliott and I are going to make walking cool.  It really is great, low impact, decent workout and it really clears your mind.  Its interesting while walking you are thinking but its like you are thinking on a different level, the level closest to you your mind is clear, taking in the scenery, the birds, the trees, the shadows, watching your step, looking at the other walkers, just relaxed, not many worries, no thoughts of work or frustrations - its peaceful.  Walk on…