2002-07-05 - 12:06 p.m.
A bit of shock and an Independence Day summary.

OMG. Well, I can't say I didn't see it coming, but this is something of a shock.

I think I've mentioned that I had one real friend here in the office, a woman about twice my age a couple of cubicles over that I occasionally went to lunch with and stopped to chat with from time to time. She was nice and friendly, but a little too happy with the doing of things not in her job description. (i.e., being on the 'Net all the time, sending lots of non-work-related emails, wandering around the office a lot, taking credit for stuff not hers, etc.)

I warned her once or twice about the 'Net thing -- they *can* track the sites you visit from the server, and the volume of email you send. She waved it off as being something her boss allowed, and didn't change a thing. Now, I know her job was new, and she didn't exactly have too many duties, but she filled her excess time with nonsense to the point that *lots* of people noticed. I maybe don't work as hard as I should, but at least I know about my problem, and it's not blatant. I get stuff done.

Anyway, I guess she got her ass fired. I noticed first thing that her desk is completely clear, and an email just went out to everyone with the message that "we no longer have a Quality Assurance manager." I wonder what was the detail that tipped her over the edge? Because there sure wasn't any warning. She was here Wednesday, cheerful as usual, asking me if I wanted to go to lunch. I told her No, I was leaving early for the holiday, and now it's Friday, and she's gone.

... I just went to check the printer, and something she was working on just before I left Wednesday is still sitting there. Ugh. I'm getting stress/upset vibes just thinking about it. If I needed any more evidence that this is not the work environment for me, that just provided it. I better ramp up my story production. The sooner I can write my way out of an 8-to-5 job, the better. I'm just not cut out for a demanding desk-bound cubicle job, and that's all I'm qualified for.

Um. Anyway. On a lighter note, I had an excellent 4th of July. I hope everyone else did too ... at least, everyone who's an American. =) And hey, no terrorist bombings or anything, that's a major plus. The fam and I set off loads and loads of fireworks, played the Oldies station at full volume, ate lots of snack food, and tried out two new drinks: Strawberry Blonde Lager, and Cranberry Hard Lemonade.

I'm not a big beer fan, so I'll give the lager a pass in the future, but the cranberry lemonade was good stuff. Made me nice and blurry around the edges, a little giggly. I'd probably be a pleasant, mellow sort of drunk, but I have no desire to find out; one serving's worth is enough for me on any given occasion. I really dislike the idea of losing control. I might occasionally do reckless things, but I like my mind 100% present when I do so.

I also read books 2 and 3 of the Harry Potter series yesterday; "Chamber of Secrets" and "Prisoner of Azkaban." I'm reluctant to buy "Goblet of Fire", since it's still in hardback, but so far I'm liking the series. It's not as dense and heavy as LOTR, which I've heard it compared to (oh, please!) but it's enjoyable and compelling and sucks me right in.

It reminded me that I've still got to finish that Philip Pullman series -- I bought "The Golden Compass" and "The Subtle Knife" awhile back, but I just got "The Amber Spyglass". It's a bit more angsty and complicated than Harry Potter's adventures, but richly imagined.

Between the two series, I'm starting to wonder just what other good children's literature is out there that I've missed. I leapfrogged right over most of it -- I went right from Dr. Seuss to Trixie Belden and then by age 11 directly, Do Not Pass Go, to the adults' section of the library. Sci-Fi/fantasy, westerns, spy stories and mysteries; I ate them up and never looked back. Anyone have advice?

Anyway, better sign off. Blessings!