700

this is my 700th post! i had hoped it would be something deep, and soulful, but it's early early, and diva woke up on the wrong side of the dish, so she's all fussy and whining, so it is what it is. today i start stopping again. smoking that is. 3rd time's the charm? or is it 3rd on a match? either way, i will (again) give it my best go, and would appreciate any prayers you may feel inclined to send up. i figure Good Friday is as good a time as any. although "catholic" is not one of the many religions i've followed, i figure it can't hurt. someone somewhere has to be right, and if it's the catholics, then God is in a great mood right now, with a higher than average church attendance. my husband is catholic..."non-practicing" he says. like, he doesn't go to church, but don't even think of serving sloppy joe's on friday during this time of year. yes, my office is open. a fact that has our mostly geriatric demographic appalled. i want to point out that if we weren't, they'd have no one to call and complain to, but let them know that we employ non-easter people, so they are somewhat mollified thinking that it's the jews and muslims manning the phones. *sigh* I think if i were an employer, i'd give a ton of holidays off. i mean, the work will get done. the cube farm will buzz and wheeze with activity, and being that it's all deadline sensitive, the worker ants will find a way to get the stuff done in time, and probably whistle while they work, knowing they will have the solstice off. or Frida's birthday off, or some vague and unheard of holiday that appears on my Pema Chodron calendar. i like to bedevil my manager by pointing out that it's such-and-such a holiday (somewhere) and that i am once again working under protest of the oppression. when she first joined the company, she thought perhaps i was serious. but when the Remembrance Of The Water Buffalo day came around, she got an inkling that she may have been put in charge of the Island of Lost Toys. it happens. sometimes you leave the security of a 6-figure income with a soft landing at 65, but a boss who's only purpose is to insite creativity in homicidal dreams...you reach for that shiny new promise, and before you can get your paperclips in their swanky new mesh desk organizer...BAM...you realize you've made a huge mistake. but we've all settled in nicely, and soft edges have formed around each of us, fitting the soft edges of the one next to us. except the new girl who can't seem to make it to work. who will be off again today, despite the fact that 2 others will be off. today - i will be the department. just me. so i guess i was telling the truth about the easter people being off. anyway, the caffeine has hit my fingers before my brain, and i'm rambling. so whatever holiday you celebrate, if it happens to be this weekend or thereabouts, i wish you a happy / solemn / peaceful one - depending on your beliefs. me? we will be celebrating Valspar. the holiday of painting the bathroom and hallway. followed, no doubt by Miranda, the holiday of having your rights read to you and yellow tape being stretched across the crime scene. some people just don't play well together in tight quarters, each having Very Strong Opinions over everything from workflow to brush selection to actual color of paint. although, given the pre-paint decisions that need to be made, it is doubtful that color selection will be attained, and we will be celebrating divorce - the holiday of choosing whatever damn paint color you want. happy spring y'all!