I think I should know way more about how to use Power Point than I do just because it is a Microsoft Office product and I worked in administrative roles for so long. But I don't like Power Point just like I don't like the charting features of Excel and Word. No pie chart or power point slide has ever provided a significant benefit for me in any meeting I've ever been in. Do people really sit there, listening to the information given by a speaker and then, upon seeing a scatter chart or whatever, think "oh, wow, I get it now"? It has always struck me as a tool to use for when you have to present to lazy old rich dudes who make the decisions so that they have to do a minimal amount of thinking in order to be persuaded to agree to a project or grant or what have you.
I am wrong in this, obviously. If I weren't these things would not be used so pervasively. And, if anything, I'm clearly the lazy one because I don't want to create graphs, charts, or Power Point presentations to go along with my data or reporting. I mention all of this because Power Point is something that is used a lot in my new job so I ordered one of those "Dummy's Guide To" books about it. I also ordered a book about Agile methodology because that is what my new company follows. I'm actually a fan of Agile, even though I do not understand it fully and have not worked in it for years so I'm looking forward to studying that. The history of it is pretty cool, if you are interested (just to be clear, I'm a business analyst who works for a company that develops software solutions for our clients, not a developer or engineer of any kind. I say that for those who might actually click that link and see that Agile is a method for software development and might get the wrong idea).
I started the new gig this past Monday and I'm really jazzed about it. The building is gorgeous and has all kinds of awesome things in it like a faux Starbucks, a deli, free fountain drinks, and a gym. And if you don't want to eat at the deli, two restaurants come every day (I think they are rotating) or you can walk to a couple of places near the office. It's also just really well-maintained and CLEAN. That shouldn't be a selling point but my previous office was filthy. Cockroaches climbed out of the coffee machines and were occasionally seen strolling about. Dust and grime were everywhere and whilst the facilities department claimed that the carpets were fully cleaned once a year, they weren't. I don't think they were even vacuumed with any regularity. I swear, that company pays for the bare minimum in custodial care and the bathrooms were a horror show. So yeah, the new building being so clean is a huge plus. Oh! And there is a parking garage that I may one day be brave enough to use!
The people are grand, too. I told The Russian that everyone was so nice and welcoming that I mused for a moment that maybe I'd joined a cult. They are really enthusiastic and one of the most reassuring things is that so many of them have been with the company for years. I've learned about the project I've been assigned to and whilst I do not quite know what my specific role and duties will be, I'm looking forward to it and understand the scope overall.
So yay job!
I've also broken up with SA (finally), paving the way for better things in 2020. That sounds mean and I want to make it clear that he is a fine man with some great qualities. We are just completely incompatible because I want more than he is interested in offering. We make fantastic friends with benefits and if that's what I wanted, life would be great. But I want a partnership, a shared life, and someone who opens his arms wide to welcome me into his world. SA is just not that guy. I won't be dating any time soon I don't think. Maybe not ever. I don't know how to meet people other than through online sites and, as anyone can tell you, that is an absolute nightmare and I'm certain that if Dante Alighieri had lived in the 20th and 21st centuries, he'd definitely have incorporated it into his Divine Comedy. It isn't that I think all men are terrible or that I'm jaded, I'm just tired and lazy and have no interest in rooting around in that mess to try and find what I want. I'm also 39 so it's a lot harder (so it seems) to find a guy in his 40's who has no children and doesn't want them. Guys who show interest in me on rare occasions are all in their 20's and I just think "oh lord, please say I don't look like some desperate middle aged spinster who wants to pounce on the young".
Being single doesn't bother me and being alone has never been an issue really. I don't like having people over to my place because it's my place and I like my privacy. I have always been good at entertaining myself and possibly a little too OK with my own company. I will miss spending time with SA and the good things we had, as well as the sex and affection. But I've tried doing the casual thing with him and kept getting attached and wanting more so that won't work and if I'm going to be with someone, I want to at least have a chance at my happily ever after. So for now I'll just try to fill my time with things like cooking and cleaning and forcing myself to get out of my apartment from time to time.
I fell out of my routine regarding cooking and the positive attitude and productivity. It happened because I went to Arizona to visit my mother last weekend and I didn't keep up with my routines and stuff. I'm not going to go into things with my mother because I've decided I want to keep my family out of this but I will say that she's doing well and it is really, really, really lucky that Eldest Brother is out there. He is fantastic with her and great at taking care of her appointments and stuff. So we'll just leave it there.
I've started getting back into my routines and made myself shower and get dressed about an hour into my workday today (I'm working from home) as a jumpstart. I also make myself putter around and clean to try and spark that desire for productivity again and I think I'll be back to my giddy, enthusiastic, rah-rah self soon. I'm reminding myself that this is the perfect time for that attitude because I've started a new chapter. I've shed my old company where I was going nowhere and just stayed out of complacency and laziness and shed my old relationship which was basically the same. Time to be my best self and live my best life. In with the new.
I am wrong in this, obviously. If I weren't these things would not be used so pervasively. And, if anything, I'm clearly the lazy one because I don't want to create graphs, charts, or Power Point presentations to go along with my data or reporting. I mention all of this because Power Point is something that is used a lot in my new job so I ordered one of those "Dummy's Guide To" books about it. I also ordered a book about Agile methodology because that is what my new company follows. I'm actually a fan of Agile, even though I do not understand it fully and have not worked in it for years so I'm looking forward to studying that. The history of it is pretty cool, if you are interested (just to be clear, I'm a business analyst who works for a company that develops software solutions for our clients, not a developer or engineer of any kind. I say that for those who might actually click that link and see that Agile is a method for software development and might get the wrong idea).
I started the new gig this past Monday and I'm really jazzed about it. The building is gorgeous and has all kinds of awesome things in it like a faux Starbucks, a deli, free fountain drinks, and a gym. And if you don't want to eat at the deli, two restaurants come every day (I think they are rotating) or you can walk to a couple of places near the office. It's also just really well-maintained and CLEAN. That shouldn't be a selling point but my previous office was filthy. Cockroaches climbed out of the coffee machines and were occasionally seen strolling about. Dust and grime were everywhere and whilst the facilities department claimed that the carpets were fully cleaned once a year, they weren't. I don't think they were even vacuumed with any regularity. I swear, that company pays for the bare minimum in custodial care and the bathrooms were a horror show. So yeah, the new building being so clean is a huge plus. Oh! And there is a parking garage that I may one day be brave enough to use!
The people are grand, too. I told The Russian that everyone was so nice and welcoming that I mused for a moment that maybe I'd joined a cult. They are really enthusiastic and one of the most reassuring things is that so many of them have been with the company for years. I've learned about the project I've been assigned to and whilst I do not quite know what my specific role and duties will be, I'm looking forward to it and understand the scope overall.
So yay job!
I've also broken up with SA (finally), paving the way for better things in 2020. That sounds mean and I want to make it clear that he is a fine man with some great qualities. We are just completely incompatible because I want more than he is interested in offering. We make fantastic friends with benefits and if that's what I wanted, life would be great. But I want a partnership, a shared life, and someone who opens his arms wide to welcome me into his world. SA is just not that guy. I won't be dating any time soon I don't think. Maybe not ever. I don't know how to meet people other than through online sites and, as anyone can tell you, that is an absolute nightmare and I'm certain that if Dante Alighieri had lived in the 20th and 21st centuries, he'd definitely have incorporated it into his Divine Comedy. It isn't that I think all men are terrible or that I'm jaded, I'm just tired and lazy and have no interest in rooting around in that mess to try and find what I want. I'm also 39 so it's a lot harder (so it seems) to find a guy in his 40's who has no children and doesn't want them. Guys who show interest in me on rare occasions are all in their 20's and I just think "oh lord, please say I don't look like some desperate middle aged spinster who wants to pounce on the young".
Being single doesn't bother me and being alone has never been an issue really. I don't like having people over to my place because it's my place and I like my privacy. I have always been good at entertaining myself and possibly a little too OK with my own company. I will miss spending time with SA and the good things we had, as well as the sex and affection. But I've tried doing the casual thing with him and kept getting attached and wanting more so that won't work and if I'm going to be with someone, I want to at least have a chance at my happily ever after. So for now I'll just try to fill my time with things like cooking and cleaning and forcing myself to get out of my apartment from time to time.
I fell out of my routine regarding cooking and the positive attitude and productivity. It happened because I went to Arizona to visit my mother last weekend and I didn't keep up with my routines and stuff. I'm not going to go into things with my mother because I've decided I want to keep my family out of this but I will say that she's doing well and it is really, really, really lucky that Eldest Brother is out there. He is fantastic with her and great at taking care of her appointments and stuff. So we'll just leave it there.
I've started getting back into my routines and made myself shower and get dressed about an hour into my workday today (I'm working from home) as a jumpstart. I also make myself putter around and clean to try and spark that desire for productivity again and I think I'll be back to my giddy, enthusiastic, rah-rah self soon. I'm reminding myself that this is the perfect time for that attitude because I've started a new chapter. I've shed my old company where I was going nowhere and just stayed out of complacency and laziness and shed my old relationship which was basically the same. Time to be my best self and live my best life. In with the new.
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