Downstairs

Moved into my new (temporary) office yesterday. I like it! No one bothers me, I have a nice big window, I'm on the main floor. I think that's the best part. LOL. I'm right in the sales department now though. Damn those people are noisy...they never stop talking, and most of what they seem to be talking about is NOT business.

But I digress...

Still haven't had much time to start working on my new project. My replacement has had to jump straight into the fire with practically no training, and to make matters worse, she's got to do a job in one week, which she's supposed to have two weeks to do, because ...well, to hell with because. Happens too often to let myself get riled up about it. So because of the shortened time period, I've had to spend at least half of my time with her, guiding her along. She's never done this by herself before.

Still, I've had some time to set up a Yahoo group for the members of the committee I'll be working on this year. Getting organized, started looking around for some research material, bookmarked a few sites to read. Just little stuff so far. I'm hoping next week I'll be able to put my head down and really get to work on this. Plus, my old boss, who now runs the show one of our offices in Nova Scotia reminded me today that I had promised her I'd do a couple of small jobs for her, so that'll steal half a day from me at least.

It's difficult letting go of my old production manager habits. Whenever my replacement and I are together, I tend to jump in and answer questions that I should let her answer...she's the boss now, after all. I've learned to be in control up there, and it's a difficult habit to break. I think once she and I get through with this big job, and I stop spending so much time up there with her she'll have a chance to really take over and I'll get too absorbed in my new work to care what's going on upstairs.

And as for the home front, the packing is starting to come together. I've made it my goal to pack at least one box every day till I move. I can do that. Just in the last two days, I've managed to get all my dishes and glassware packed. If I can keep to that goal, I'll be finished by the time I move...probably sooner. I'm going have to throw a lot of stuff away...but I'll try and give as much as I can away too, so stuff doesn't go to waste.

And I don't remember if I've mentioned this on my blog before, but I'm going to have to give up my rats. I just can't take them with me...the trip would probably kill them. Both of them are almost two years old. Two and a half years is about the longest most rats live. A woman I work with who is also a rat-lover offered before Christmas to take them for me. I accepted, with a great deal of relief. At the time, I was just relieved, but I found out today how difficult it will be for me to give them up.

When I arrived at the office this morning, there was a wrapped Christmas gift and a card on my desk. It was from Anne...the woman who's taking the rats from me. The gift was a calendar filled with pictures of rats. Just a calendar, not a very expensively produced one. But the gesture was so sweet and so genuine, I had to fight back the tears. Had to wait a few minutes before I went upstairs to thank her, and as soon as I hugged her and told her how much I loved it, I lost it. Had to grab a tissue and sit down for a while to collect myself. LOL.

Most people would probably say it's ridiculous to get so emotional over a couple of rodents. And I haven't even been the most hands-on "mommy" with my little guys. They spend most of their time in their cage and I rarely play with them. But just having them is nice. It's nice to have someone to say hi to when I get home. A little life around the place besides me. And they're so damn cute. Believe or not, yes, rats are damn cute. Their sweet little hands and their round little bellies and their bright eyes. I really love them, and it's going to be hard to give them up.

I also have to confess that I have a huge guilt-trip about this too. I've never managed to keep a pet from when I get it to losing it to death. Well, one of my rats died, Rizzo, but he got sick and died when he was about a year old. I don't really count that. I've had to give up two cats, two dogs, and now two rats. I keep thinking my life has settled, and it's safe to get a pet, and then everything changes and I have to give them up again. So no more pets for me. I'll try and find a boyfriend who has a dog or something lol. Or maybe I'll get one of those mini-aquariums to keep on my desk at work. LOL. *sigh* Just have to accept that pets can't be a part of my life...just never works out.

Anyway...if I keep on about the rats I'll get myself all weepy again. Maybe I'm just PMSing. If so, I could be PMSing again right about the time I move...won't that be just ducky? Hmmm... 22 days from now. If I'm lucky it won't come on again till I'm safely in Nova Scotia and have too much to distract me to get weepy about things. Well, look at the bright side...at least I don't get periods anymore! LOL