McKenzie IM’d me first thing Thursday morning: “#Cliffhanger.”
And then a few minutes later: “Are you alright?”
Soon after, I received an email from Sheri: “It’s imperative that we talk about today’s post. Lunch?”
“WTF happened??” Tina’s message flashed up on Facebook. “Are you okay??”
Why was everyone asking if I was okay?
Continue reading Wait a minute. Strike that. Reverse it. Thank you.
“Oh my god,” McKenzie said, as I stepped up to her desk. “How was the party?”
“It was so, so fun,” I said.
“Aw, I’m so glad,” she said, then she pointed at the little pile by her laptop. “Thank you for the coasters.” She hadn’t been able to make it to the party because she’d had to go on a last minute work trip. This annoyed us both. So I’d left her some NQAC coasters I’d had made for the event, so she could feel like she’d been a part of things.
“You’re welcome,” I said. “They’re so cute, right?!”
“So cute!” she said.
“I didn’t put many out at the bar because I just wanted to hoard them for myself. Not a very strong marketing plan on my part.”
At first, I was too stunned to speak.
And then I almost said, “I’m touched.”
But that seemed inappropriate.
I tried out in my mind, “I’m flattered.” But that also seemed weird for a work exchange.
So instead, I just said: “Thank you. Thank you so much.”
Continue reading The More Things Change, The More They Stay the Same. Or… Part Two.
Lux was the last to arrive, breezing in and saying, “Sorry I’m late! Did you guys start already?” Naturally, we hadn’t. She settled into her chair, looking chic in her skinny jeans and high-heeled boots. Her blonde hair was perfectly styled. I bit my lip. Since my trip to Venice, I’d slipped back into some old habits. Well, okay, yeah, all of them. I’d been so busy writing, I’d stopped working out, was eating pizza for every meal and, I’m sick to admit it, even having the occasional cigarette. Okay, maybe not so occasional. I was also back to wearing my old uniform of ill-fitting dresses, black leggings and knock-off Uggs, as these renewed habits were doing no favors for my waistline. I couldn’t fit into my Sheri-approved outfits anymore. I just was so tired of trying to keep it all together.
I looked around the conference room as everyone was involved with chatting and laughing and catching up on company news. “Okay, guys,” I said. No one paid any attention. I cleared my throat. “GUYS.” I may as well have been shouting into the wind. I sat there for a second and shook my head. What a collection of characters. The Fun Committee, Emily and Anna were there, of course. As well as our intern, Tara. Archie was to my right, with our graphic designer, Lux, to my left. There was also a newcomer today, Lainie, who now worked with Emily on her team.
This, was my Social Media Marketing Team. Continue reading A Change in Plans.
“Match.com is for people who have to pay to get a date. And you, my dear, are better than that. Now it’s all about OkCupid. That is the site you will join.”
When my boss, Wade, said things like this with such assuredness, I knew I needed to sit up and take notice. He was perched on the exercise ball I keep in my office cube for visitors, drinking a protein shake with an peculiar green tint. He was the vision of business-casual perfection with his lightweight sweater of that certain shade of yellow that can be worn in any season and perfectly tailored pinstriped slacks. His shoes were, of course, unscuffed but not offensively over-shined.
“But I thought that was what made Match.com better, that if you’re paying then you are proving you’re serious about actually meeting someone. Isn’t OkCupid more like a hookup meat-market site?” I asked, as I surreptitiously began applying a floral scented lotion to my hands and arms as I was pretty sure I smelled like a frat house from last night’s overindulgence of beer and cigarettes. Clearly I was not handling this breakup well. Continue reading Wade Takes the Wheel.
Not Quite A Cougar 