I’m out. Deliberately Avoiding Your Call.

I made the featured confession on the “True Office Confessions” Website! Woo hoo!

Yes, I know. I need a life. It’s still exciting.

But I finally received my first performance review at work. Of course, two weeks ago I noticed my pay had increased, but thought it might be a cost of living “adjustment.” Nope, it was a raise. 4% to be exact. Not bad. Could be better, but I’ll take it.

I’ll admit, when she first told me to schedule time for it, I was nervous. I don’t get much feedback, positive or negative, from her. Performance reviews are always an anxiety ridden event for me. I know I do a good job. In fact, I know I do a great job, but I’m always the one to notice things that could be done better, or faster or more efficiently. So instead of patting myself on the back, I usually am pretty critical of my shortcomings.

So imagine my shock when I got the most glowing review I’ve ever had. And I do mean EVER. I’ve never had a bad review, but this was so incredible, I couldn’t stop smiling. We talked for a while and she told me how appreciative she was for all that I do around here. We gossiped a bit (boy, she’s a first class gossiper) and then talked about a development plan. She is encouraging me to learn other areas of the bank and I’m on board with that, although I told her that right now I’m just starting to feel comfortable with the day to day operations of our area and would like to just continue to get more familiar with this before starting to learn something new. I even went so far as to say most of the time I feel like I’m faking it. She responded by saying I was a master faker. Now I don’t know what to think of that, but she followed up with the reminder that I should look into other areas to see what I might be interested in, so I think it was a positive compliment.

So even though I feel like this is the most boring job in the history of all jobs ever, I am pretty happy with how things are going right now, so I won’t be complaining about work too much…for now.

Ever since Joey brought up the topic of his life being too monotonous, I have been thinking about how mine is the same. Every single day is the same: get up, go to work, come home, make/buy dinner, watch t.v./play online, go to bed. Except Thursday’s when we go downtown for trumpet lessons. Woo hoo! Not. Even the weekends are spectacularly boring.

Last night, Joey and I began our yearly “Band of Brothers” series marathon. And while I sat there watching, it occurred to me how much I rely on electronic forms of entertainment. How my life is nothing but computers and television. Even at work. I’m on a computer all damn day. In fact, I recently went to the doctor because I can’t feel my ring and pinky finger on my right hand. She said it’s carpal tunnel syndrome and sent me to a physical therapist, who then told me that because of my continued use of a computer and sitting at a desk all day, I have much more than carpal tunnel. My shoulders have rolled forward to the point that stretching exercises are painful. When the hell did this happen? I actually looked at my posture in the mirror after that and I am appalled. Appalled I tell you.

How did we, or more specifically I, get to a point where I felt like I could not function without a cell phone? Without a computer? Without a television? Without an iPod? How did I become so reliant on technology that I cease to use my own brain power and creative juices? It’s staggering really.

Does anyone use a real map anymore? Or does Mapquest and Google Maps make it to easy to just jump online to find directions? When was the last time you sent a “hi, how ya doin?” letter to someone that wasn’t an email? What about family games? When did you last break out a deck of cards or Monopoly to just have some good old fashioned fun? And what the hell is up with DVD’s in cars? Can you not talk to your family or children on road trips anymore? Is it so hard that you have to appease people with DVD’s?

Now, all of that ranting has lead me to this: I gotta get the hell out of office work. I’m pretty sure I said that before, but now that I’ve seen what it’s doing not only to my mental health, but my physical health as well…it’s gotta happen. With quickness.

For about five years, I’ve been researching the Bed & Breakfast industry. I’ve always thought it would be a great retirement plan, but now I’m thinking I may want it sooner rather than later. It’s going to take some major financial work on my end to make it happen, and it will probably be another five years or more before I can even consider looking seriously at property, but it’s a goal I’m looking forward to achieving.

I’ve started an additional blog to track the progress I’m making. I know, I know. After the rant I just gave on technology, you would think I wouldn’t do something like that. Just shut up. I know already. If you’re ever interested in seeing how things are going, or find out what kind of progress I’m making, hop on over to Getting Inn.

And, in the interest of my physical health, I’ll be going back to limiting online time, television time and signing up for water aerobics and yoga at the local community college. Because a B&B won’t do me any good if I’m nothing more than a contracted mass of skin.

You probably don’t really care but I’m going to tell you anyway. If you read earlier this week, you’ll know that Corporate America and I started off on the wrong foot this week. Usually, incidences like this are few and far between. However, it seems as if all the stars were in line causing cluster fucks left and right. If you’re interested in the details of my week, keep reading, if not…have a great weekend. Read the rest of this entry »

The week in review:

Monday: My sisters birthday. Shit. I didn’t get her anything. I sent her a text message. I know it’s not the same, but really, what can she possibly use at Ft. Leonard Wood that I would send her? Nothing that’s what. So now I don’t feel so bad.

Tuesday: Joey comes home with the announcement he’s going to Stockton and he’s also competing this weekend in two events: Lincoln/Douglas debate and performing a duo. He had just gotten his duo script that day. Tuesday night is spent memorizing lines. Fun stuff.

Wednesday: The boss is gone so I can work on mundane things that need doing but are impossible to do when she’s in the office. That night, Joey comes home with his LD statement: The death penalty ought not be used by society as a form of punishment. Lovely. So we’re up until 12:30 working on an affirmative case.

Thursday: Computer problems at work. An obscene phone call from our support technician Darth Vader who promplty deletes all of the bosses personal folders. Ooops. That made for a really wonderful afternoon. 4:58 p.m. message from Joey: “Mom, I told Ms. R. that you and Sarge would volunteer to judge this Saturday. Love you, bye.” Joey stays at school until 6:00 working on his duo then promptly goes to bed. I can’t sleep because I’m worried about his debate. Ugh.

Friday: Computer problem is finally fixed and all folders are magically restored (THANK GOD). 1:00 p.m. The boss and I head downtown to see a drag show performed by one of our very own employees. Quite a way to spend a Friday afternoon. Friday night was the Homecoming game which he had to play at. It was fun but fucking COLD! I froze my toes right off. After that of course was spent working on Joey’s neg case for his debate. Until 1:15 a.m., then practicing his duo a couple of times. Then of course ironing his suit for the competition. Ugh.

Saturday: 7:45 a.m. - 6:20 p.m. - Judging various speach and debate competitions. Literally the whole day was shot. It was fun, and I’m glad I did it. Sadly, I wasn’t able to see Joey perform at all. He didn’t advance in Debate because his second round he was given a by so wasn’t able to earn enough points to advance. And the duo performance he thought was great, but there were over 150 entries and only 6 made it to the next round, so his day was over at 2:45. He wasn’t too bummed since this is the first competition of the season. He’s also considering picking up either a prose piece or a humorous interpretation. I think he’d be great at both…but I’m his mom so I think he’s great at everything.

I’m exhausted! I don’t think I’m taking my jammies off all day!