Wenesday and such.

     There has been a lot of stress on me.  More so than normal.  I now cook 7 days a week.  Because of my diet restrictions, and that includes lunch and breakfast.  Sister is in to much pain to help and brother in law is utterly useless.  

     I've been at my company about 15 years.  Not a great job, just a paycheck with benefits.  Plus and this is the big one, my co-workers, even the crazy one, make it less of a chore.

     When I started the company was completely different. It was family owned, the son and mother ran it then.   The atmosphere and everything was different.  600 people and they all seemed to know one another.  I was fortunate to go to 2 actual Christmas parties before the change.

     Now the company is much different.  Not to worry, not a lot of details.  Suffice to say every so often we loose one of the old guard.  One of the original people from the first company.  This one was let go.  Sucks.

     I'd known her, well forever.  Nice woman, she was so in my inner circle I even made sure she knew about my heart surgery.  So of course I was going to the goodbye party.  And for the kicker.  My manager who has been there 2 years before me was going.  That is a major deal trust me.

     I prepared the kiddies at home for this event, they had plenty of food.  Of course they scrapped up money for take out.  Oh well.

     I'd never been to the place before, but found it.  I was Hell bound and determined not to miss it.  Was some sort of big sports bar and restaurant.  It was very pleasant.  Saw a couple of the smokers out front, all happy and I greeted them.

     Inside at the bar there were at least 30 people.  I found the guest of honor and hugged her.  She thanked me for getting her out of the office.  Should I mention that?

     She'd asked me to come up with a cart for her stuff.  No problem. Another friend, who'd also been let go, was there with a few other people.  It was 7 to 5 and she was still working.  Then the person that she was training to do her job called.  That took a little time.  Then at 2 to 5 we loaded her cart with her stuff.  All of a sudden all these IM's started popping up on her computer.  It was 5 after.  I said they had 2 weeks and all day to say goodbye.  With that it was done.

     The bar was packed with co-workers, my manager hadn't gotten there yet.  I ordered a cranberry with seltzer water.  I found the very nice person who pretty much organized the event.  Always a nice person and fun to hang out with.  Also another of the secretaries.

     By nature I like to mingle at parties.  Work parties are a little different.  I assume for many there are cliques within departments.  I'm lucky in that I touch all the departments.  Always fun to here what people say and how they are after work.  That's just me though.  My manager came in and sat at the other end of the bar.

     Really didn't hear much that was fascinating but it was fun.  Met one of the dudes from ITs' girlfriend.  Eventually got over to the other end and greeted my manager.  He was talking with a bunch of people so it was easy just to move in and out.

     It was getting late and I knew I should eat.  I tried for the healthiest thing.  Chicken wings.  They were damned good.

     People came and left.  Saw some old faces. It was good and we all had a very good time.

-Later