I Care . . . Really I Do

It’s official: my inbox is almost under control. I have it down to half a dozen work-related emails and a whole lotta personal ones. So, if you are still waiting for a response to your note with the subject line “Merry Christmas,” you’re not alone. Actually, you’re in quite good company. Perhaps knowing you’re not alone will help you to not take it personally.

Not Exactly, but I'm Sure I'll Find it Somehow

Perhaps I Should Have Showed Up

Earlier this afternoon I ran into our CMO and he asked me if I would be attending the all marketing meeting today. I jokingly (of course it was jokingly, this is me) reminded him that I’m in business development for this rotation and I’m busy closing deals.

Fast forward an hour or two and I receive an instant message that says “Congrats!” I offer my thanks and then ask the obvious-to-me question, “Congrats for what?” As I discover through a series of IMs and emails, I received an award at the all marketing meeting. Apparently there were lots of nice things said about me. Lots of nice things that I didn’t hear because I had to be funny instead of asking if I should attend.

Let this be a lesson to you boys and girls . . . when people several pay grades above you invite you to a meeting, it’s best to show up. Trust me.

Maybe I Didn’t Really Want to Know

For all my complaining last fall about not finding out where I was heading, I think I may have been better off not knowing. Eight days ago I found out where I’m going next and it’s completely consuming me. My mind is spinning with plans and excitement, and I’ve entirely lost interest in my current assignment. Senioritis at it’s finest.

My first reaction was relief at finding out so early; I mistakenly thought that knowing would prevent any anxiety and allow me to focus. There may not be any anxiety, but I am anything but focused.

And no, I’m not announcing where I’m going quite yet. Call me a tease if you must, but I’ve been asked to keep it quiet for a bit. If all goes according to plan, I should be able to talk freely by month’s end.

Top Ten Things I Learned Over a Long Weekend

10. That Heathrow experience isn't all it's cracked up to be
9. I look like someone who might be able to offer directions
8. I do not sound like someone who can offer credible directions in London
7. All you need to see the entire city is an Oyster card and a good pair of shoes
6. You can die of painful starvation waiting for table service
5. When it comes to footwear, comfortable is not the same as supportive
4. I can't actually afford anything in Harrod's outside the foodhalls, even when I'm treating myself
3. You aren't lost if you want to be right where you are
2. When you're on foot, it's always farther than it looks on the map

and

1. You might be lost if you're not quite sure how to get to where you planned to go, and it's raining

Find a few pictures of the things I saw here.

This is What it Sounds Like When the Universe Laughs

Was I really so dumb as to announce that I felt that I had too much time on my hands?!? Oh, the foolishness . . .

The Good Thing About Working Way Too Much . . .

. . . is not what you think it is. (I wonder what anyone would suspect the benefit is.) The real benefit is the perspective.

Back in my crazy, workaholic days (i.e. two weeks ago), I averaged about seven hours a day to myself. That actually sounds like a lot of time. Let me assure you that it’s not. That seven hours included getting ready for work, commuting (not far, but every 15 minutes counts), doing laundry, checking the mail, eating breakfast and / or dinner, occasionally putting dishes in the dishwasher (although this usually wouldn’t happen until my roommate called from the airport to tell me she’d landed), maintaining some sort of minimal contact with the outside world (that kind of fell by the wayside), and, my personal favorite, sleeping. But I digress.

The benefit is in the perspective. I haven’t worked more than ten hours a day in more than a week now, and boy, do I feel like a slacker. I get home in plenty of time to take the trash out. There are other people around when I get my mail. I listen to the BBC World Service by choice these days, not just because no one’s talking on NPR. I have all the time in the world.

I think all this time on my hands is starting to make me a little stir crazy.