The dreadful DVR...

The manual is done. 10 drafts and 50 hours later, the DVR manual is done. Nothing felt better than to send the email to the factory, green sticker and initial the printed manual, and close the folder.

I'm going to do a victory lap around my office and then go home and indulge in a bottle (yes, an entire bottle) of Kosher for Passover wine.

I'm out.

More trouble at the office... and a Pesach recipe!

It seems that three days worth of vacation away from the office would probably help clear the air a little -- or at least let things cool off a bit -- give me a chance to breathe a little and return refreshed. Right?

Wrong.

I thought it was going to be ok. I came back, after being gone Friday, Monday, and Tuesday to be with my family for Pesach, to 170 emails, a pile of folders waiting my attention, and a box of bagels across from my cube calling my name. While I was able to avoid the bagels, I was not able to avoid the rest.

And it really wasn't that bad. I was all caught up by noon, was able to get away from my desk and enjoy some leftover matzah stuffing and turkey while Tristan indulged in a nice looking hoagie, and wrote the copy for the seven microwave sell sheets. I knew tomorrow meant I have to finalize the DVR manual, so I had to get as much catching up done today as I could.

Then it happened. I went up to check on my products in sample review and was informed "she" doesn't like the shape of the camera box. Not five minutes after I returned to my desk, there were emails flying around about a "quick 10 minute meeting" to discuss box die lines (that's packaging-talk for box size and layout).

So we have a meeting. Me, "her", and the two camera product managers (one via phone as his wife just had twins). "She" started off by pointing out a box with only English on the packaging. I quickly added the reason the box was English-only was because of the retailer and its retailer-exclusive packaging.

Right after I opened my mouth I regretted it. I knew I should have gone in with my mouth shut, but damn me for knowing my products too well. And as I said it, she snapped right back at me. I could not believe it. She had no right to bitch back when I was clearly in the right and know. "I know, Liiiiiiiiz," she barked. I froze, got up, and went to my desk to get something I left there that was going to be helpful for the meeting. I debated whether or not to return to the conference room.

I should have stayed at my desk.

I don't know what I did to her to deserve this treatment. But if this continues, I am going to have to start weighing my options. I have some ideas floating around in my head... maybe they'll come out for discussion. Not tonight. We'll see how tomorrow goes.

* * * * *

A Peasch post to come... tomorrow maybe. What I will say is tonight I made Apple Matzah Kugel. Highly recommend it:

10 boards matzah
4 eggs
1 tsp salt
1 cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
4 tbsp butter, melted
3 large apples, chopped

Break matzah into small pieces and soak in water until soft. Drain, but do not squeeze dry. Whisk together eggs and salt. Add melted butter, sugar, and cinnamon, and blend. Stir in matzah to combine. Add apples and mix. Pour into greased 9x13 dish. Drop a few bits of butter on top and sprinkle with additional cinnamon. Bake at 350* for 45 minutes.

The cherry on top...

Believe it or not, today was actually a good day. Work went well -- no real run-ins with "her" and I got SO much done. I got so much done that I actually don't have to work tomorrow morning... which means I can get up early and drive home. Makes me very happy.

So my day at work was fine -- busy, but productive. Although I left an hour later than planned and was an hour late to Molly's for dinner, I was ok with it. I got to Molly's, had a glass of wine, helped her finish up dinner, and had a nice meal with she and her brother. We had some ice cream, watched two episodes of The Office, and I departed for stop #2: Nick's.

Got to Nick's knowing I would not stay long. He had some CDs for me (we're going to a show next week and I need to get familiar with the artist). I stopped up, got my CDs, chatted a bit, and was off to stop #3: Byerly's. I had to pick up some Pesach candies to take to Natan's for second seder.

All that aside, it was on the way down to my car from to head from Nick's to the grocery store that put the cherry on top of my day. I turned the corner and headed towards the stairwell when two little girls popped out of another apartment on Nick and Abi's floor. They were in their pajamas and I still dressed from work. The younger of the two said hi to me and I smiled back. Then the older said hi, so I said hi back. Then the cherry: the younger girl, in her pajamas and pig tails, looked up at me as I got really close and said, "You look pretty today" and smiled. I smiled back and said thank you... headed down the stairs, and decided that today really was a good day.

Some might call it an impulse, but not me...

I made the mistake the first time. I saw it and let it go. It was too expensive. It was perfect -- it called my name and I knew I had to have it, but I let it go. I was upset all the way home. IKEA had just opened across from the Mall of America. I waited a week or so before heading out there -- the mad chaos as seen on the news was not worth it. Finally, it was time.

I think I was with Molly. We went through the showroom with our mini pencils and paper rulers, saw lots of cool things, and then made it down to the marketplace where we could collect all the items we needed to take home. We made it pretty far through the marketplace, only grabbing what we really really wanted. And then we made it to the art section... and there it was. A huge canvas of Times Square, all in black and white, with one yellow cab (in color) driving across the front. I needed it. It was SO me. But alas, I let it go. It was a good $100 and I could think of plenty of other things I really could use more than another print of NYC. I left and have regretted it ever since.

Flash forward to tonight. Yes, another shitty day at work with three instances (that I can recall; there may have been more) of being bitched at by "her", dinner in Uptown at Chino Latino where seven of us racked up a $240 bill we would expense to the company, and then Tristan and I went over to Urban Outfitters. I had already been there before dinner to get a good deal on a pack of headbands, but thought I'd go back with her to see the rug she was getting for her new apartment.

We roamed around the first level a little so I could show her the headbands I had already brought back to my car and then we climbed the stairs (slowly -- we were, and I still am, SO full from dinner) to the second level to get her rug.

And then... there it was. Not the same canvas I saw at IKEA two years ago, but another. I didn't even think twice. It was mine. I had Tristan, who stands at least 4 inches taller than I, grab the one off the higher shelf -- the one on the reachable rack had some streaks on it. I took it downstairs and not even thinking twice, took out my credit card and swiped it. It was mine!

So ladies and gentlemen, while it is not the original canvas I regret not purchasing, I present to you my newest piece of art:

It's so me -- you don't even have to tell me twice! So here's to a good dinner (on the company dime) and an amazing new painting!

It is what it is...

Well, I responded.

At one point I wasn't going to respond at all. At another, I was going to be heartless and ruin his birthday. But alas, I have a heart and waited until tonight. I am pretty sure I got it all out -- said what I needed to say in response to everything that was put in front of me. Whether it is exactly how I wanted to say it, I'm not sure, but I did it.

It's sent. I'm not sure what this all means in the end. What I am sure of is that I made the right decision and stand by everything I said.

So it's all out there -- it is what it is -- and that's all there is to say about that.

* sigh *

You know, I had a shitty day. I had a really shitty day and it got a lot better when I went to the Wild game tonight. We (my co-workers and I) had a really great time, free beers, the seats were amazing, the game was good (even a HUGE fight), and they won.

Then I got home. Not an easy email to read after a shitty day, a pick-me-up evening, and then that. Thanks.

I will respond, yes. But that was a lot to take in.

As a great ol' co-worker used to say:

Stay tuned...

"It's not personal. It's business."

On almost every single occasion I would never stick up for her, agree with her, or even really listen to what she is saying. But since she and the VP are on vacation together, I had no other choice than to fight the battle I knew she'd fight. I had no other option -- had I not, she would have come back from her ski trip and bitched at me for not saying anything. And just as I suspected, I stood up for what she would have wanted and in turn, got bitched out anyway.

I'm not one to really bitch about my job -- at least most days. I really can't. I work for a phenomenal company with more benefits than really necessary. While the company is amazing, the job is stressful. Tight deadlines, fire drill projects that get kicked off about 20 minutes before they are due, lack of communication, the list goes on. But I think what bothers me most is this coworker of mine.

No one can stand working with her -- other than one person -- with whom she is skiing in Colorado. How they can both be on vacation -- TOGETHER -- at the same time, none of us will understand. And just as suspected, while they are away, all hell breaks loose -- and of course, it fell on me.

We never agree on anything, she and I. And I knew this would be no different. She had every chance in the world to approve the clam shell packaging for the camera. She just decided (as she always does) to disregard URGENT emails. And because of this, I have to clean up the dirty work. Every single time. I have to come up with the solution to no real estate for packaging copy. I have to stand up to the product manager and fight a fight I know I will loose. I have to send the emails, look like the bad guy, and ultimately, look like the fool.

And I did just that -- twice now in one week. This last one, about the packaging, I knew she would fight, so I took the hit. I argued my ass off, came up with a solution to compromise both sides, and what happens? I get bitched at.

Last week -- we fought over a camera display image. "I don't like it" she says. Do I care if you don't like it? You are the only one that doesn't like it. Deal with it -- you don't have to "like" everything. The baby head is cute -- people like cute. But no -- the baby head is not good enough and now we are fighting over a back display image.

I am telling you -- she drives me crazy.

At the end of the day, I know, it's just a job. "It's not personal. It's business." I have the line taped to the top of my computer screen. "It's not personal. It's business."

So tomorrow, when I go back to clean up the rest of this mess, I will remember: "It's not personal. It's business"... and I will know my solution, as much as she hates it, was the right decision... and I will know I put up a good fight...



...and I will hope she falls on her ass down the ski hill. Then who will look like the fool?