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A HERO'S SPARK: the final book in the Wicked Women series!

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Learning to work and play nicely with others.

Good morning!

After a couple of false starts, I belive Bossman has finally hired me an assistant that isn't worried about a job cutting into her Unemployment benefits. That's the good news.

The bad news is, the assistant is a young, former cheerleader, dance teacher, high energy self starter who doesn't read. (These are the facts she laid out to me yesterday when I suggested she bring a book for the slow times in the office...and there will be slow times.) She's working here the day after Thanksgiving, one of the three days a year I refuse to come in the office. She's told me she's going to completely rearrange the office so that it's more streamlined.

Yes, but how am I going to get my steps in if things are streamlined? Besides, if she moves things, I won't be the only on who knows where everything is.

So I'm spending the next week thinking up ways to keep her so busy that she can't think about things like finding projects to do that will make the office nicer. (Seriously...that perky little overachiever needs to settle down!)

Don't get me wrong, she's a lovely girl. (A term I've started using for anyone under 30, now that I'm firmly planted in the 40's thanks to a birthday yesterday.) It's just that when I'm at work, I don't want to be bothered with things like chit chat about kids, husbands, what not. I realized yesterday, after squelching a deep desire to scream "SHUT UP" in her general direction, that after working alone for three years, I've lost some of my social skills.

Of course, losing those social skills is what's given me the concentration and drive to actually finish and market books! So, I now have a bit more time at work because of Miss Chipper Butt, but I'm expected, due to to societal rules, to make conversation, which cuts into my writing time.

Am I too old for small talk? I'm starting to think so. I used to be able to hold a conversation with a complete stranger for long stretches of time. Now, while I'm talking, all I can think is, "If I weren't talking to you, I could be reading or writing something."

But, Chipper is here to stay, at least for now. Bossman has already been inappropriate with her, record time for him, really, but she hasn't run screaming out the door. Instead, she brought in a big bowl of candy.

Hmmmmm....maybe she's not all bad!

Have a great day!

3 comments:

  1. Hmmmmm...this promises to be entertaining.

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  2. Have to love the cow-orkers. Of course you realize this makes me: a) question whether you've been burdened by any of our past conversations; and b) want to call Tom and have him switch the silverware and junk drawers in your kitchen.

    And didn't you post somewhere in the past about using these trying experiences as positive writing inspiration? Accidentally running one of the industrial staples through her temple? Watching her suffocate inside a Tyvek mailing envelope?

    When you say "doesn't read", is that a choice or a deficiency?

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  3. You guys kill me! Elliott, she said "Doesn't read." She is physically able to read, just chooses not to! And yes, I'll be using this in a book! (Must stop, she's telling me about swim lessons now.)

    ReplyDelete