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India Fetes Bride Who Said ‘No’ to Dowry Demands

She even had his butt tossed in jail. :)

Not happy with what they’ve got, looking for something that doesn’t exist.

I seriously wonder if I will ever find someone that can just take me AS I AM.

If I can keep up the pace I had today, I should be able to have my desk completely cleared off by Friday, I think. Problem is that on Friday, boss wants to learn Costpoint. (our accounting software)

That kinda ticks me off. For two reasons. One, we have a Deltek/Costpoint “guru” in the Herndon office - I don’t understand why he isn’t doing this. (This guy supposedly trained Deltek’s current director of support). Second, I’ve got a few time constraints here folks!!

I loathe saying “It’s not my job” - we have enough of that around the office, but wow, we really DO have someone else for whom it IS their job, and they do have the time for it.

But, I’ll do it and I’ll make sure he knows how to get to all the documentation online as well. The one thing I don’t have for him, which I should have thought of a while ago (as in, months ago) is a written training package on the software. Just simple instructions on how to do stuff. But I didn’t even think about the fact that they wouldn’t care if he knew the software or not. You get to a certain level and that type of thing doesn’t matter in the hiring decision.

He’s out in Herndon tomorrow, so I’ll have the whole day to continue working uninterrupted. Our corporate tax department is going to get a boatload of stuff from me - things I just don’t know how to do and no one else is left that can help. This is kinda pathetic… They are things that Mark G & Mark W did. Then Mark G left. So, it went to Mark W & me. (Much, much, MUCH more him than me. I was more in a “moral support” role.) Then Mark left. Now, it’s just me and a bunch of forms talking to myself about how much those two suck for up and leaving me, LOL.

Have to remember to NOT get distracted tomorrow towards the end of the day - gotta leave on time for the movies.

Weird thing towards the end of the day. The grapvine/rumor mill works overtime around this place. Word is filtering back to me from Herndon that people think I am actually somehow going to be available for the book close. (As in, come over on my lunch breaks to help.) I am wondering if I am going to have to have a quick talk w/ my new boss to make sure we’re all clear on the concept of “quitting”. However, I am pretty sure this all goes back to Bob giving me such a hard time last week, and the fact that the people that work for him take his word as the gospel, no matter how absurd. (We’ve come to refer to this phenomenon as ‘drinking the kool-aid’)

I may still mention it to my boss just to be sure that there are NO misunderstandings.

Well, this has gotten much too long already, and I’m tired, so I am thinking it is time to hit the rack. Sweet dreams, everyone.

Completely plowed through a TON of stuff today - about half my desk is cleared off and it seems a little more possible that I’ll be able to have it all cleared off before I leave. But, my brain has gone into a bit of vapor lock and I don’t think my productivity for the last hour or so will be quite as good as it was when I started. :)

Need to make sure I leave on time tomorrow. Matrix Reloaded at 7 PM. Might not be a bad idea to just get in early. HAHAHAHAHA! Well, I’ll try.

Boss is out in Herndon til this afternoon, and I have been able to get a bunch of stuff done for a change. You can even SEE part of the top of my desk!!! 3 piles - needs action (thankfully small), needs filing (*ahem* a touch large), and pass off to someone else (not nearly big enough) - and the rest goes in the trash. So far, about 80% of it is hitting the circular file.

Another day in which to excel! Or at least, try to get people to leave me alone long enough that I can actually get some work done.

Seriously, I have got to have some quiet time to accomplish things and it just hasn’t been happening. Right now some Saturday work is looking highly likely.

First thing today: Alexandria Business License. GOTTA get that done, no matter what. We only just got the data mining done for the paperwork last week. (The people that used to take care of it are long gone, so it fell to me.) Next on the list is the property tax filings (again, data miners gone).

That in and of itself isn’t so bad - it’s the fact that they want the balance sheet all reconciled before I go (I finally managed to convince them to tell me which accts are most urgent, I do have limited time), as well as GET MY DAMN DESK CLEANED OFF.

Just 6 more days….

Another 68 cents after taxes.

So, I ended up spending 4 hours out in Herndon, and another hour on the road going back and forth. The meeting had really good information - frankly, we should have had it about six months ago - that was when we REALLY needed it. We’re only having it now because the Ice Queen has insisted that Bob actually *share* some information.

Now, while the information was good - it was only good if you’re staying around and closing the books. If you’re leaving in 7 days - a colossal waste of time. If I didn’t have anything else that needed to be done before I leave, it wouldn’t have been a big deal, but I lost most of my day. There was no reason I needed to be there.

Very happy news - Andy’s wife had their baby this morning!! (Yeah, I know you probably don’t know who he is, but we’re very happy for him!) So, he’s out for the rest of the week.

So, I’ve still got more tax stuff to hit this week, reconcile the entire balance sheet (*snort*), and get my desk cleaned off between now and next Wednesday.

of this job and they are doing their best to drive me insane. Yes, I had to leave early yesterday, new boss knew about that, I tried to find him right before I left, to no avail. I get a call this morning, they want me to go out to Herndon - they tried to let me know last night before I left, but… (Hey, I even told them *when* I was leaving.)

Something to do with trying to figure out how to get the books closed - jesus people, it’s not THAT difficult. It’s a PITA, and corporate will drive you nuts during the process, but it’s not that freaking hard. Besides - Bob knows EVERYTHING - just ask him!

It wouldn’t be quite so bad if I didn’t have other things that need to be done, and the new guy KNOWS THIS. So, I lose a good chunk of today that I could have used with actually being somewhat productive. Instead I get to spend who knows how long with a bunch of people that I don’t really like very much at all…

As much as I say I wish I couldn’t care about what is left to do at work Stan was gracious enough to point out that pride in one’s work isn’t such a bad thing. :) He’s right.

It’s still not getting me into the office at the crack of dawn, but you can’t have everything, you know?

Is definitely a keeper.

- 30 minutes start to finish. (Granted, single root, but still quick in my book.)
- Didn’t leave to work on other patients halfway through (all my others have done that)
- For the first time in several years, I didn’t burn through the novacaine halfway through the work
- A little bit of pain w/ the first 2 shots, but not bad. Rest were easy.
- Absolutely NO pain during the work - not even a twinge. (Lots of pressure, but no pain)

I have another appointment next Monday for some more minor things, and I have no doubt that it will be fine. In the meantime, I think it’s time for a nap to sleep off what’s left of the novacaine.

Yo-ge, a German shepard, is shown in a Bloomfield Hills, Mich., yard, Friday, May 9, 2003, with a stuffed toy rabbit. Bill Gillette has been known to pick up strays, but Yo-ge is the first that’s cost him $1,500 just to get home. The Army Green Beret rescued the abused shepherd while on a tour of duty in Iraq (news - web sites). While Gillette will remain overseas for at least another couple weeks, Yo-ge already is getting all the care he needs right here in Michigan. ‘Bill just fell in love with the dog,’ said Chris Cornelius of Royal Oak, who is caring for Yo-ge while Gillette finishes his tour of duty. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

*Yawn* *Stretch*

Getting 8 hours of sleep when it has a 2 hour break in the middle just doesn’t work as well as 8 straight through it would seem.

I am completely incoherent this morning. Dentist at 3:15. Found my portable cd player. (Yay!) Right by the stereo - go figure. Big guy must have put it there, cause I would have put it in the fridge or something. Just have to stop at 7-11 this afternoon and grab some fresh batteries for it.

Well, off to try and tackle corporate tax again today…

That I am supposed to be in that meeting w/ Bob and the Ice Queen tomorrow. No idea when, but I guess I’ll find out. While she’s not exactly my favorite person, she is MUCH smarter than Sideshow Bob is, and well - the enemy of my enemy is my friend and all that good stuff. So, it should be good entertainment if nothing else.

The poor woman is not going to be happy tho - Laura works for her, and quit on Friday.

I understand that Bob left her a voice mail letting her know that I am leaving, but I doubt that she even is going to realize who I am, so she probably listened to it and wondered why he was bothering her with it.

The bad part of it all is that I really need to get the corporate tax stuff finished and this is going to cut into that time. (Not that I am really that interested in the corporate tax stuff, but I am the only one left that knows enough about it to be able to get it done. That seems to be a recurring theme at the moment.)

Now, here is the question of the day: Why on earth do I care?

Let’s face it - the place is a disaster. Of the original financial management team, all but one person has left or put in their notice. Two of these people didn’t even have new jobs lined up. That should say something about the place! And yet, I am still sitting here fretting over getting everything finished up neatly and tied in a bow before I go.

OK, I am really going to bed now. A good week to all!

A Painted Lady butterfly eats nectar from a daisy inside the Roger Williams Park Botanical Gardens education greenhouse butterfly pavillion in Providence, R.I., Friday, May 9, 2003. The botanical garden is hosting a butterfly pavillion named ‘Flowers in flight’ May 10 through June 29, featuring thousands of free-flying butterflies. (AP Photo/Victoria Arocho)

And not so much as a card from the cats. Little ingrates.

Went over and had dinner at Mom’s, found a nice basket of plants/flowers to take her as I now realize that what I thought was a combo Mother’s Day/birthday gift from all of us, is in fact a b-day gift just from grandma and we’re on our own for the rest of it.

Note to self: Find birthday gift for mom.

Came home with a slight headache - went for a snooze to let it pass and crashed *hard* for about three hours. Headache still there upon waking, have downed some Advil and it’s helping nicely. Back to bed shortly.

The antibiotics the dentist gave me are doing a real number on me. I feel fine, but my stomach is making noises you can hear from a mile away.

Tomorrow is the root canal. Still not feeling nervous about it. Unsure if it is just that I feel that good about this dentist, or am just that happy to get out of the office for half a day.

Back to bed here in a few. I’d love to think I could wake up early enough to get in early and get a little more done before I have to go, but well - I just don’t care that much, LOL!

The answer is 42! The answer is Madagascar!

Going for round 2 of carpet cleaner dropoff this morning. Except that I can’t find the small one. It’s not something that you should be able to lose - it’s not *that* small. Decided it may be best to have a cup of coffee first and then take another look around.

Grandma got in safe and sound - we got to the airport 20 minutes before her plane was supposed to arrive to find the board saying that it was “on ground”. Ack!! As it turned out, they had *just* gotten in, and had to taxi around an extra time because the gate still had a plane waiting on pushback.

Carpet cleaner drop off again tomorrow, then Mother’s Day dinner tomorrow night.

I think I am then free until next Friday evening.

Dinner again on Memorial Day weekend - along w/ B-day for Mom. I am in charge of the cake. Now that I think about it - I will be off work by then - I may try and see what I could bake myself rather than getting something from the bakery.

Grandma was glad to hear about the new job, but given that he absolutely despises computers, she doesn’t exactly grasp my enthusiasm for it.

OK, there is definitely a noticeable difference in the speed on this computer when ripping mp3s. Bunny fast!

Only 8 more workdays to go. :) Truth be told, I may offer to stay until Friday the 23rd - I will see how things are going on Monday the 18th.

Spent about 2 hours with my boss this morning trying to just dump as much info on him as I could. Moderately successful.

Monday morning I have go tell him that he basically simply *can’t* get anything from me for a while - I have got to get some corporate tax stuff taken care of and completely out of the way. Then the afternoon is the root canal - told him I would NOT be returning to the office after that one.

In the next 8 workdays, I have to…
- Get the corporate tax stuff done and sent back to NJ
- Send out a round of letters to all the taxing authorities re: Sales and Use - all inquiries to go to Corporate tax department
- Business License filings
- Property Tax Data Mining
- Property Tax Filings
- Find all the reconciliations and get them in one place for the boss
- Try and get as many of the May JE’s in the system as possible before I go
- Get the purchasing card statements turned over to A/P
- Get all the old JE’s organized and filed
- Get all old sales tax check copies filed (there is a lovely stack of them in the corner)
- Get my desk cleaned off

The problem with this is that the new guy wants to know what’s going on (fair enough), but I have got to get this stuff DONE.

Next week is going to be a long one, no doubt. I’d go in this weekend, but there are family obligations that take precedence. So, it will just be some in early/out late days to get things cleaned up and cleared out.

Boss should finally have email up and running on Monday - so I can start sending him things via email as I go along - this will be a huge help to me in being able to get more done.

Grandma comes in tomorrow, Fran (the wicked step-grandma!) is trying to get up here around Memorial Day weekend, so I am really glad that I am going to have some time off to spend with them instead of just being fried after work and not much fun.

Target is off his appetite pills! I flaked this morning and totally forgot before I went to work. When I got home, he was hungry as a horse anyway, so I called the vet and asked if we could go ahead and discontinue those and just keep him on the antibiotic until that runs out. No problem!!

In the past couple years, I have been to several dentists, trying to find a good one. Two from my old practice. Not comfortable w/ either. Went to a place that specializes in sedation a couple months back, they wanted an obscene (and I mean OBSCENE) amount of money, up front, with no written treatment plan, and that was just to get me out of “crisis”. (Their words, not mine) I decided to just have them send me copies of my x-rays and keep looking.

Today, I went in to see yet another dentist, this one does heavy sedation upon request, nitrous for anything you want, and specializes in special needs patients and anxiety control.

I left with an appointment for a root canal on Monday afternoon and frankly, the thought of it isn’t even bothering me in the slightest. That has NEVER happened before.

I was talking w/ the receptionist as I was checking out and getting my next appointment scheduled and I was just completely dumbfounded at how comfortable I was with him. She said, “That’s because he doesn’t ACT like a dentist.” She is absolutely right.

The guy looks like Jerry Garcia, and frankly has about what I’d expect JG’s personality to be to boot. Just totally cracks me up.

When he came in and asked how I was doing, I had finally had the revelation that saying, “Oh, I’m OK” is just stupid. I told him I was a total train wreck so we could dispel any illusion of composure. He was very casual about everything, basically that all of this (while important) was really no big deal and that they could take care of it. He did ask if I thought I’d be better off just being completely knocked out. I do know from experience that if I am comfortable with a dentist, I can do fine with nitrous - and I think I can do that with him with no problem at all.

Also, they his schedule is such that I can get the work taken care of before I start my new job. (3 appts, looking at probably one a week.)

When I told him about the February dentist freaking out about how my bite was off and there was wear on my teeth and started talking about braces, he said, “Your bite is your bite. It’s just how it is. You have wear on your teeth. You chew. That’s life.” There is a small infection above one of my teeth. The February dentist said it would go to my brain and kill me (yet, did not prescribe an antibiotic on the spot). He said that this is something that he sees a lot, and that what they do is monitor it and most of the time, it just ends up staying static and doesn’t ever go anywhere or do anything, and there was no cause for panic. If it changed on the x-rays over time, then they would do something about it. (He also said that often, they just get smaller and eventually disappear.)

Looking at his bio on the website again, I think I have found the key:
He received his dental degree from Ohio State University. After completing naval service and residency training in anesthesiology at George Washington University Medical Center in 1978, Dr. Snyder founded this practice.

Must be the Navy thing.

Slept pretty well last night - crashed hard when I went to bed - amazing what a lack of stress will do for ya. :)

Lots of dreams, but all just silly off the wall things - nothing work related that I can remember.

So, I’m off to work, and actually looking forward to seeing Sideshow Bob and seeing what he has to say about all this… LOL.

Take this job and SHOVE IT!

Got the call this afternoon and I got the job. The offer was more than acceptable, and I am very happy!

She is in the office. In a meeting. Said she will call me back. Sounded very excited, talked about good news and all that.

Keeping my fingers crossed.

I am feeling a touch ill. I have to go to a “strategy meeting” tomorrow w/ Sideshow Bob and a cast of thousands, so we can have a strategy on how to not let the Ice Queen get her way on some meeting on Monday.

Here’s the thing - while the Ice Queen isn’t my favorite person in the world, I also know that she is a lot smarter than Bob is and knows what she’s doing a lot more that he does. So, like her or not, whatever decision she wants to make in regards to the closing process - it’s a 99.99% chance that it’s going to be the right decision.

I’d just as soon not be involved with this process at all - if Bob thinks she is going to make a decision that is going to be detrimental to him, he needs to talk to her about it - not drag all of us into it. So, I am trying to figure out a way to either remove myself from it completely, or somehow let her know that he is actively plotting against her.

I don’t like her, but I also don’t see any reason to try and undermine her, which Bob is trying to do.