Udates on my professional life

Greetings friends!

It has been several months since I last posted. Needless to say much has happened. To start out with here is an update on my professional life - it is culled from two postings on Facebook so if you are a friend there this will look familiar.

I really want to thank everyone for their support. The past two years at my job have been unpleasant to say the least.

What started as a boss being passive/aggressive and not speaking to me for weeks on end turned into her false accusations and a security investigation. The investigation completely cleared me - but did nothing to compel her to work thing out with me. Her passive/aggressive behavior continued through my departure when she again refused to speak to me.

On February 1 I started a new chapter in my working life. I still feel a little numb. There's a lot to take in at a new job - a lot of decisions about benefits (the benefits are great - btw). It will take a little bit of time for me to feel actually settled in the new job - but the folks there are great. Certainly I will miss the wonderful friends I made on my last job - but now is the time to move on.

My friends who have heard the details of the last couple of years have been wonderfully supportive and I cannot thank you enough. A few of you know first hand of some of this. It is great to have third party confirmation.

The people at my new job are friendly and welcoming. Orientation took two mornings, but a continental breakfast was provided and on day one there was a free lunch!! yippee

The Library staff did much to help me feel welcome. They already set up my network and email accounts and my telephone. I continued to meet people and learn about library procedures etc.

The biggest challenge for me was realizing that this agency isn't like the rest of the federal government. I say goodbye to my govt. retirement plan (I'll still get the money when I retire), and start paying into the agency's own retirement plan and 401K. As I looked over the fine print, I learned that it takes 5 years to be fully vested and then I'll have just one more year until I'm eligible to retire. So this is my last federal job. I wasn't exactly ready to make that move - but here I am.

Then we got some snow and I had a forced holiday for almost a week. But I'm back in the office. I am continuing to get things set up and learning what I'll actually be doing. I'm learning more of the work environment and the corporate culture here (which is actually more like an academic culture.)

Yesterday I learned that my work day isn't quite as long as I had thought and an hour for lunch. And did I mention that my new boss isn't a sociopath, bi-polar, crazed, lying whack-job?

A Fabulous Friday

Hi Folks - it is a beautiful day in the neighborhood...

A lovely day - a frabjous day even! Okay - not sure why I'm so profoundly happy today. Like Scrooge at the end of the book - I'm as giddy as a school boy.

In part - there's the anticipation of seeing family tomorrow for the big party at the Lawyer/Carroll/McBee homestead in Berkeley Springs, WV.

Last year after my mother passed away one of my cousins suggested having a big get-together before we sold the homestead to celebrate again the many years (114 or so?) that our family has lived there.

So tomorrow I'll gather with my sister and brothers and nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins and friends to toast the happy memories. Maybe we'll shed a tear - but mostly we'll enjoy the stories that we've grown up with.

Lots more going on too. It is official that in October my friend Diana's former pastor and his wife will travel to Iona Island in Scotland to scatter some of Diana's ashes. Diana passed away in March.

I used up all my frequent flyer miles to book my flights. I arrive in Glasgow on October 5 and will attempt to drive a car to Iona and stay there two nights. Then on my birthday I will take the train to London. It seemed like a good idea at the time - but I'll get to visit with a friend from band who lives there now. Then back to DC on Friday and a concert on Saturday. Good thing I'm taking the following week off.

That will be a somewhat solemn trip - but one that will help in many ways.

Hope you have a good weekend too!

Nostalgia - Back to school

On Sunday I was looking through the newspaper and the advertisements and saw the first push for the Back to School sales.

Years ago I realized how much I like Autumn - in part because my birthday is in October. I find that things begin in Autumn - my life began, school starts, concert band practices start up. All very good things. I love the colors and the cooler weather.

But I also miss the preparation for Fall and school. Shopping for new clothes. Buying new pencils, pens, notebook paper and a notebook. Everything was crisp and new and clean.

Sometimes in mid-August when I have been driving to visit family in West Virginia, I'd see cars packed to the roof as kids were heading off/back to college. I was envious - I miss it so much. You got to see your friends whom you didn't see over the summer and hear what folks did. There were new friends to meet and get to know. There was a new schedule and maybe new teachers.

These days the closest thing to that is getting back to Concert band after the summer break. I'll take that - First rehearsal is August 3.

Joy is my Strength and Friends are my Comfort

I was feeling a little down, but because I chose to take some positive action I am feeling better. And there has been some positive action. The boss is actually making a schedule for the Reference Desk. It isn't so much that I need to be on the Reference Desk - it is a matter of principle that I am included along with the other librarian on staff. And the book truck that was purchased solely to place in front of the window in my office to block my view of the entrance and to hide me from the view of patrons as they enter has been moved. So even less need to be on the Reference Desk - but again - the principle.

Not sure if we'll actually have a facilitation meeting, but that will only reflect badly on my boss. So far I'm getting something of what I want.

No other job prospects at the moment. I passed on one because the boss there is reportedly as bad as mine. The other job was one that was a bit beyond my interest.

And so much to be grateful for. Over the weekend I went with friends from the band to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to march in a parade and then on to Hershey Park. I had a wonderful time. Saw lots of friends - talked w/ my roomie Blake (who is a reader of this blog) and major time w/ fellow trombonist - Rob Heim.

I did go on one ride at Hershey Park and that was enough to confirm that I was not getting on the super-fast, upside down, 80-foot drop rides. Even though I think there's a really good cardiac unit at the closest hospital.

Sunday was spent napping and reading the paper. Last evening I met up with a new group of friends for a potluck dinner. Really nice group of people - really positive energy -- I needed that!!!

God is good!

No happy dance - back to facilitation

Well - no happy dance at this time. I got official word that I wasn't selected for the job. I was sensing this, so last Friday I sat down and wrote up what was on my mind.

My continuing issues with my boss have deteriorated from a mild improvement. I was ignoring it because I was looking for another job. But now I have to face this mess. Maybe that's the real lesson here - to face this rather than leave.

This morning I sent off my missive to the boss and the facilitator. I'd post it here, but that would probably work against me. We'll see.

I remain an optimist and as the saying goes - Don't let the bastards get you down.

Friday update - still no dance

Gee - good thing I didn't prepare my acceptance speech or choreograph the happy dance.

A week ago there was still no decision so it is still possible. My challenge is to prepare for the worst. And I have done that. I have a plan. If nothing else, it will give me something to do.

Tomorrow is a big day - lots of friends and family in town to celebrate George's 50th Birthday. So that is the focus right now.

Have a good weekend. Be safe and be kind.

Advice from Oscar nominees

Years ago following the Academy Awards a nominee said that the reason winners don't usually have a prepared speech is because if you don't win - you have that speech rolling around in your head for the rest of the evening.

So I'm waiting for a phone call - hoping rather for a job offer, but I cannot let myself get too far ahead of myself. No happy dance until I get the call.

I wonder how chickens feel waiting for an egg to hatch?