Justice

I was more than a little upset when I was let go from my previous publishing sales job last November. It wasn't the biggest publisher, or the most interesting list of titles, but it was good and consistent and viable. The problem was that the Publisher and President was a complete nut job that drove off most of her talent. I was a casualty of "reorganization..." which meant that she wanted to cut payroll and she hired someone to take my place at half the salary.

The woman that originally brought me to this company had worked with me in other capacities and went to great pains to find me once she needed to hire a sales rep. She was demoted (read as "dumped") in a horrible fashion before I was "reorganized," and has been hanging on by the skin of her teeth since then. We, and then she, has had numerous supervisors in the last year and a half and has rode it out like a champ.

I talked to her for quite a while this afternoon, to find out that she has landed a phenomenal position at a great publisher. She's going to be the Director of Trade Sales, and will do a marvelous job. She's so excited, and I'm thrilled for her. After all that she's been through, and all of the inevitable torture that will come over the next few weeks at the hands of a woman that is not only unprofessional but crazy, her reward will come. I can't think of a better person for something great. Knock 'em dead, J!

As bitter and cynical as I can be at some times, this renews my faith in God and mankind. I understand that none of us are meant to have an easy or free ride. There are some people that have been dealt more than their fair share of horrendous stuff and it's so renewing to see that everything clicks for them once in a while. Perhaps God is watching us after all.

Long Week... And It's Not Over Yet!

We had sales meetings yesterday and today. Those damn things wear me out. Although, I must grudgingly admit that it was good for me to meet some people that I hadn't had a chance to meet in person yet. I worked at job # 2 tonight as well.

Today would have been much better had we not gone to a horrendous Southern "smorgasbord" for lunch. I should have just eaten plain lettuce, but I'd bet that even would have been disastrous. I haven't been in that much pain in a while, but I wasn't the only one.

Breakfast of Champions

I don't eat breakfast normally. I'm never hungry until about 10 at the earliest, and eating much before then makes me nauseous. So, the fact that I ate breakfast food before noon as intended is a pretty big deal for me.

I'm completely in love with the new Special K Cinnamon Pecan cereal. It's probably not the healthiest thing in the world, but I can live with that. At least I ate something! Now for some more cherries. Mmmmmm.

Climbing the Mountain

I'm so sad to hear of the people that have died while climbing K2. I don't think that I would ever attempt any summit taller than my stairs, but it's nice to dream about it.

Reports are mixed from everywhere right now. I just feel terrible for the families that have been waiting at home not knowing if their loved ones would come back alive.

Grocery Shopping

I loathe grocery shopping. It's always so expensive, especially now, and the stores are too huge. Main reasons:

1. I'm not good at clipping coupons. I try, but invariably forget to bring them. Or, I don't have enough time to go through the ones that I have thoroughly.
2. I always forget something that is actually written on the list, or forget to put something essential on the list. Yes, even if it's on the list, I'll pass it up.
   
3. I always forget to bring the reusable bags that are in the trunk of my car. Now I have 7 of them and I think that I've reused them once.
   
4. I'm not interested enough to actually shop. I only go in to get what I'm looking for, and never look at the shelves to see what is new. So, I always miss something cool.
5. If H comes with me, and I try not to let this happen, he throws all kinds of scary things in the cart that I don't even notice until the cashier is scanning it. Although, tonight he was pretty well behaved. And, he argues about coupons.
   
6. Kroger is the WORST. The store is dark, filthy, poorly stocked, and even more poorly managed. But, we can get 10 cents off per gallon of gas if we spend $100 in a month. We've gone there for the last few months, but I'm sick to death of it and we went back to Publix anyway.
7. See? Dammit. I just realized that I forgot to buy a chunk of cheese, even though I was in the cheese aisle for 5 minutes. Crap.
   

When I first got sick and was living with my mom, I used to pass out in the grocery store. I don't know if it was all the walking around or the stress of being surrounded by so much food, but it always did me in. I'd last for about 5 minutes and have to go wait in the car... even if it was only 5 degrees out. She was just so worried that I wasn't eating that she would buy anything that she thought would tempt me. Interesting, but that hasn't changed much.

Now, I hate going to the grocery store unless I have a buzz. H and I went to Applebee's first. Two beers and a salad later and I tolerated it pretty well. Plus, it only took about half an hour. I'm having Magellan gin on the rocks now to recover from the trauma.

I Really Missed Her

My sister just called to wish me a happy birthday. She talked, pretty much without taking a breath, for an hour and 15 minutes. Not bad for someone that wouldn't return phone calls a few months ago.

We've always had a difficult relationship, but it has been even rougher over the last few years because of some health issues. But, over the course of the last month or so, she seems to have turned the corner and is an entirely different person now. The change has been remarkable, and I'm so grateful.

It's been particularly tough because my mother and her sister are very, very close. We've all watched as E has drawn farther away from me, and has been rough with everyone else. But, the waiting seems to have paid off. I couldn't have asked for a better birthday gift.

Bless His Heart

I'm so amazed and so thankful that Patrick Swayze is doing so well. Stupid, I know, because my affection for him is based on a few horrible movies from the 80s, but I hate to think of anyone dying horribly from pancreatic cancer. You go, boy!