Thursday, April 27, 2006
Make up of a Manger
This morning I got to work to find a card sitting on my desk. I looked at the handwriting, really I was attempting to determine if the handwriting matched that of the article left earlier, but it was different.
I put my stuff down and opened the envelope. It was a beautiful card with a personal note from my former Manager. Not my direct manager, but two managers above. I read the note and teared up a little (I’ve been out late two nights in a row, I’m a little tired which makes me easily emotional.)
I made up an excuse to go and see some of my other new teammates, they sit on a different part of the floor. I wanted to see if they too received messages from our former manager. They did. I immediately thought, “that is what makes a good manager.” It didn’t cheapen the card for me, knowing she gave one to everyone else, it made me appreciate her even more.
I realized that this type of action is what makes a regular manager a good manager, the human touch. The fact that she took time out of her schedule to write personal notes to 15 or so people shows that she cares about what’s happened, shows that she appreciates us in a way that email would never do. That is the way my new manager acts as well. He always has time to listen, never rushes you (unless he doesn’t have a choice) and cares. I’m glad that I am getting exposed to people with such values.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Aggressively Competent
Someone left an article on my chair at work today. The subject was “Friends who become bosses often change in surprising ways.” It’s an article about people coming into “power” and becoming emotional and bi-polar in their re-actions to their once co-workers and now subordinates. I have no idea who left the article, or why anyone would leave this type of article on my chair. I am not a manager, nor do I anticipate becoming one anytime soon. I’m not manager material – I’m WAY to immature for such responsibility.
It is interesting that someone felt the need to copy the article, write my name on it and leave it on my chair. Especially after the discussion my mom and I were having about the passive aggressive behaviors I have been dealing with at work from certain people since I started. Though I feel that I have made huge strides in my professional attitude, I think some people are starting to feel a bit uneasy. Hence the article.
I think people are really feeling uneasy about me for another reason too. My group recently went through a re-org. Out of everyone in the group I was the only one who had a clear change. I was moved into the technology side of our business group, which is actually a very good fit for both my strengths and work ethic. I’d already been working for the group, spending over 90% of my time with them, so the switch was pretty logical. But I have a feeling some people feel threatened by the move.
The re-org happens to coincide with a very busy time for me. We’re in the process of rolling out a new software product and doing user acceptance training and testing. Both of which I am taking a very active role. Which means I am very busy. So busy that I don’t have time, nor the inclination really, to chat with people. I think that is where this article comes in. (See? The passive aggressive behaviors are actually working on me. Instead of being in bed, falling asleep, I am typing furiously at my computer trying to figure out what stupid game some stupid co-worker is playing on me now. Aurgh!)
Okay. To the point. I took the article home with me, not realizing what it was, and was reading it before my writing class. One of my fellow writers asked me what it was and I started to explain it. They asked me why I thought I got it and I repeated these lines, “But those who are newly promoted often turn out, despite their acquaintance with lowly stafferdom, to be drunk with power, variously brutal toward their erstwhile friends and whiny about the sudden incompetence that surrounds them.” One person asked me, “but are you surrounded by incompetence?” I said, “Yes!” They said, “well, perhaps you are being aggressively competent and that is the problem.”
By George I think they’ve figured it out.
Monday, April 24, 2006
Mac & Jack
Mac and Jack were two ordinary men, who one day decided to brew some beer. After brewing the beer, they decided to share it, thus launching a local micro-brew and assisting me in ending my weekend intoxicated. I had not intended for my weekend to end on such a note, but the Vanilla Porter they were producing was so good I took home a growler of it. Who knew?
The weekend started out nicely. The weather was great for the engagement photos we took. There were several very nice ones, and I am looking forward to seeing what the photographer got. We had a lot of fun with it, both my mom and Freeman’s mom were participating. We also picked up the invitations and the favor boxes. Yeah! And, last but certainly not least, we talked to the cake lady about the cake we (really I) want. The lady seemed very nice and her kitchen was fully equipped with all the necessary items to bake a lot of cakes. She was very excited about the cake I had chosen.
Wedding plans are coming along nicely (I think.) Mom says we are ahead of schedule and I wonder why that is any surprise considering the people planning it. Project managers anyone? It’s been fun. I know there will be a lot more work to do before the end – but so far it’s been great.
Friday, April 21, 2006
So many things…
I have so many things to share – and I want to share them all – I don’t know where to start. So, over the next couple of days I will attempt to get everything out.
Visitation:
A friend of mine from Colorado came up for a visit this past weekend. I’m pretty sure I rescued her for a few hours from her cousin, who seemed to be slowly torturing her with, well, slowness. First her cousin did not pick her up from the airport until approximately 5 hours after she had landed. Then she had them all go out for breakfast, to Starbucks. I’m not against Starbuck by any means, but Michelle does not drink coffee, and I wouldn’t be the first to say that breakfast at S-Bucks is nutritious.
Of course breakfast took place around 9am, very late for someone who is used to getting up at 5am Mountain time. Yeah.
I called her about 1pm to see where she was, as I was planning on meeting her in the city. They were just on their way to lunch. Okay, I adjusted my schedule to keep busy while I waited for her. Two hours later, when I left work, they had just finished lunch. We met up at Pike Place Market and slowly made our way through the fish and flowers. Finally her cousin gave up and let us out on our own.
We headed to Ballard and the beach, the locks and the Fremont Troll. We took her out for a great Mexican dinner (gotta love the Moose) and we stayed up talking. The next morning, early risers all of us, we got up and went to breakfast. Her cousin had informed me that they would pick Michelle up around 9am to go to the tulip festival. We got done with breakfast around 9:30 and not heard anything. We gave them a call to find they were just getting up. So we headed off to another beach, then off to Gasworks park. We called again, they were finally on their way.
At 11:30 we met up with them. Only two hours later than originally planned. Right as they left the rain started, I hope they had fun at the tulip festival! 
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
122 Days and Counting
122 days left. 122 days until I become a “Mrs.” Amazing.
The planning is going extremely well. There are a few things I have left to handle: rentals, flowers, food planning...but for the most part we’re ahead of schedule. I’m a little afraid of the “lull” that is coming. It won’t be a lull in acitivities overall, just a lull in wedding planning. A lot is happening this summer and it looks to only get busier.
I’m excited for every weekend. We’ve got something planned almost every weekend through August (and it’s only April!) It’s fun to look ahead and see who’s coming out, what acitivites are coming up, what I’ll be doing.
122 days and counting...it’s going to be fun!
As you wake in the morning
What do you feel?
Does a rush of happiness
wash over you when,
Suddenly, you realize you are alive?
