I've been doing more speaking engagements and radio interviews. Today was one of each - I was interviewed for an hour about medical marketing for a podcasted radio show. Then I was asked to fill-in for a lunch seminar (I was asked yesterday afternoon).  

The radio interview was no biggie - since our company is going public, I am not allowed to speak 'on record' for the company. It was challenging for me to not talk about the company, the technology, but instead about myself. 

But the lunch seminar was a hoot. About 30 women. The group meets monthly. I told them that I could talk on Social Media, Email Marketing, Online Advertising, Internet Marketing, or I could answer questions... Decided to answer questions and start conversations from there.

Then, an hour in, MY BOSS SHOWS UP.
(Uninvited, Late, and without a twat)

I acknowledge him and he stands in the back. I'm answering a question about email marketing strategies and he interrupts me - and starts rambling about stuff that I have already talked about.

Every one just looks at him. I have fun poking jokes about how men have shorter attention spans, etc. 
I think he was pretty clueless to the fact that he was intruding...

I haul tail to my afternoon appointments. I was seeing my IVF doc (who referred me to his brother/client from hell). I deliberately haven't brought up his brother to him. The doc said to me in our meeting "I am sorry I referred my brother to you, I know he's a total asshole."

Thank goodness! (I was afraid he was going to hold his brother's ridiculous rantings against me.) My doc thinks his brother is unrealistic, doesn't listen and irrational. 

Had a great visit with him. And knowing that I don't have to handle his brother with kid gloves know is SUCH a relief!

I've been doing more speaking engagements and radio interviews. Today was one of each - I was interviewed for an hour about medical marketing for a podcasted radio show. Then I was asked to fill-in for a lunch seminar (I was asked yesterday afternoon).  

The radio interview was no biggie - since our company is going public, I am not allowed to speak 'on record' for the company. It was challenging for me to not talk about the company, the technology, but instead about myself. 

But the lunch seminar was a hoot. About 30 women. The group meets monthly. I told them that I could talk on Social Media, Email Marketing, Online Advertising, Internet Marketing, or I could answer questions... Decided to answer questions and start conversations from there.

Then, an hour in, MY BOSS SHOWS UP.
(Uninvited, Late, and without a twat)

I acknowledge him and he stands in the back. I'm answering a question about email marketing strategies and he interrupts me - and starts rambling about stuff that I have already talked about.

Every one just looks at him. I have fun poking jokes about how men have shorter attention spans, etc. 
I think he was pretty clueless to the fact that he was intruding...

I haul tail to my afternoon appointments. I was seeing my IVF doc (who referred me to his brother/client from hell). I deliberately haven't brought up his brother to him. The doc said to me in our meeting "I am sorry I referred my brother to you, I know he's a total asshole."

Thank goodness! (I was afraid he was going to hold his brother's ridiculous rantings against me.) My doc thinks his brother is unrealistic, doesn't listen and irrational. 

Had a great visit with him. And knowing that I don't have to handle his brother with kid gloves know is SUCH a relief!

Office slut has texted me three times today and called twice. The last text said "Are you pissed at me?"

My answer is no, I just have no desire to interact with you outside of the workplace or in any personal way.
Reality is that there is nothing you can do. We are coworkers. I will not put any energy or emotional currency into it. 

Dating lately has been rather... bleak.

I dated a Persian guy a few times. Coffee, dinner a few times. He brought flowers several times. He offered to trim the bushes on the side of my house one Saturday while I was working. If I had hired a blind drunk yard person that used dull scissors, it would have turned out better. I had to hire someone else to fix it. (Don't get me wrong - it was a sweet gesture - but how someone could do such a crappy job?) Particularly when you read on...

We're both Falcons fans, so we watched the game at his house about a month ago.

HUGE house. Gorgeous. Nicely decorated. But something was odd... The place looked like a model home. Nothing personal - no pictures, no clutter... His pantry had a box of pasta and a bottle of sauce. Fridge had some bottled water & condiments.

I asked him how long he had lived here. 

Four years.

The plan was to cook dinner & watch the game. He didn't even know how to turn on his oven. 

Four years.

While watching game, he got excited with at TD and spilled his red wine on his shirt. We went up to his laundry room (thru his bedroom closet). The closet was huge but there was maybe 6 pairs of pants, equal number of shirts, and three pairs of shoes. 

I dunno. It was just too odd for me. I can't put my finger on it, but my inner voice was saying "Danger Will Robinson! Danger!"

Dating lately has been rather... bleak.

I dated a Persian guy a few times. Coffee, dinner a few times. He brought flowers several times. He offered to trim the bushes on the side of my house one Saturday while I was working. If I had hired a blind drunk yard person that used dull scissors, it would have turned out better. I had to hire someone else to fix it. (Don't get me wrong - it was a sweet gesture - but how someone could do such a crappy job?) Particularly when you read on...

We're both Falcons fans, so we watched the game at his house about a month ago.

HUGE house. Gorgeous. Nicely decorated. But something was odd... The place looked like a model home. Nothing personal - no pictures, no clutter... His pantry had a box of pasta and a bottle of sauce. Fridge had some bottled water & condiments.

I asked him how long he had lived here. 

Four years.

The plan was to cook dinner & watch the game. He didn't even know how to turn on his oven. 

Four years.

While watching game, he got excited with at TD and spilled his red wine on his shirt. We went up to his laundry room (thru his bedroom closet). The closet was huge but there was maybe 6 pairs of pants, equal number of shirts, and three pairs of shoes. 

I dunno. It was just too odd for me. I can't put my finger on it, but my inner voice was saying "Danger Will Robinson! Danger!"

I was invited to the Halloween party of a client of mine. He owns more than 5 car dealerships here in Atlanta. Also does a lot of other stuff. Hot Stud & I went to his mountain home last fall. Genuinely super-nice guy. (Married, kids, etc).

I was looking forward to it. But I was in a quandry. I wanted to look hot/sexy but not slutty. Never been a fan of the slutty look - just not me. Hot Stud had told a mutual friend that he was going with several 'slave girls' (me rolling eyes). I just wanted to 'bring it'. 

Spent a lot of time looking for a costume. The party said it was a 'gothic' theme and must wear mask. Hmmm.

Ended up with a gorgeous black/red floral corset, a short black crinoline, a gorgeous black velvet cape with red velvet interior, black thigh-highs with bows pulled down to just above my knees. Found a beautiful back mask with red beading. I must say, I loved the corset.

My mutual friend was going to go with me, but he was sick as a dog. So I went solo. It was kinda like "Pretty in Pink's" prom scene. I had to go, and I wasn't going to let Hot Stud dictate things. I knew if I looked hot, I'd be more confident.

House was UNBELIEVABLE. HUGE. Valet parking. I knew this guy was wealthy, but this was a completely different level of wealth. Spent a couple of hours there. It was mostly married couples, so I felt a little out of place. There had to be more than 300 people there. Amazing costumers. Four different women complimented the corset. 

Hot Stud texted me that he was on the way. I figured we'd run into each other - but the place was so crowded - I never saw him. I went home after midnight.

The corset was getting uncomfortable after 4 hours, when the valet delivered my car, the first thing I did was take it off. I could breathe! The cape covered "things" driving home - but I was praying that I didn't hit a DUI check or get a flat tire! There was NO way I'd be able to get back in that corset discreetly!

After I was almost home - Hot Stud texted me again - asked where I was. I deleted it. Didn't respond. It really didn't matter.

Yes, I am alive. Work has had me slammed and I've been dealing with a relentless sinus infection for six weeks now. I am scheduled (finally) for surgery on my broken nose right before Xmas. I haven't been able to breathe out of my left nostril for almost 2 years now. Caused wicked headaches and is contributing to the sinus infection. 

Last week I spoke at a national small business convention. I did a 90 min. seminar on marketing. It went well - they asked me to do a 2nd one in the afternoon due to demand. Uber-flattering. Had fun and would LOVE to do more. (And get paid for it!) I will probably end up with 4 or 5 new clients as a result. Doing another radio interview in 2 weeks as well. I am trying to keep a low profile with this stuff at work.

Nothing else very exciting to report. All work, no play. I have a new client that is a former NFL player. He's married so no chance. But he is sooo dreamy and nice. I am getting some traction with professional relationships that is taking me to a higher circle of people.

Have had 2 client issues that have been sucking the life force out of me. I have been asking my boss repeatedly for assistance. He's always busy. I was finishing up some work Friday evening - office is empty except him. He comes over and asks if there is anything he can help with. I start going into the details with these two clients. This leads to a 2 1/2 hour 'intensive' conversation. Instead of offering ideas of what to do to handle the situations - he starts getting into philosophy of what I should have done. If I had a magic wand (other than my vibrator which is called 'Magic Wand'), I would have never signed these two up. I need guidance in what to do NOW. A girl calls him on his cell phone - I can hear what she's saying. (He asks her what she's doing tonight. He walks away from my desk. He keeps pushing her to watch a movie together. She apparently tells him she doesn't want to.) Then another person calls and he asks them if they want to do something.. (I was relieved he didn't suggest we do something!) I haven't had 5 minutes with him since February. This was MORE than I needed at any one time.

However, 1 of the problem clients is coming in Tuesday to do a campaign review. (If he wasn't the brother of one of my bigger clients that refers business to me... I wouldn't have taken him.) The client is being borderline abusive to me. I'm keeping my cool with client, but it's really driving me bonkers. My boss said he was looking forward to customer coming in. (I just want to sit back and let them duel it out.)

After the boss left (finally!) at 8:30pm - I texted coworker (the office slut) that I had been subjected to 2 1/2 hours with him. She called me. She thought it was one of those sessions where he makes coworkers cry. Nope. Told her it was just too much of him. Then she asked me what happened to 'us'. She said "we used to be such good friends". Her version of "good friends" is calling me with her problems and crying. Me listening and trying to be supportive. Her calling me at all hours because of drama. I invited her to my birthday lunch clusterfuck. She said she'd be there. Talked & texted about it. I told her that I was heading to the restaurant. She never showed. Never said another word about it. (Her bday was a few months before - I gave her a very nice gift and card - which was never acknowledged.)

The no-show for the bday lunch was the straw that put a fork in our 'friendship'. I've been cordial to her, but I am not going to invest any more energy. She's a taker. I told her about the birthday stand up. (This was August.) She said she never knew anything about my birthday. (Bullshit). She said my 'friendship' meant the world to her. (Apparently.) I am patient with people, but there comes a point where the equation of relationship ain't worth it. 

She said it was really awesome that I was 'recognized' by the company to receive stock options - there were about 50 people that got them, so it wasn't that big of a deal. I said it means little - there is no IPO date. I'd gotten options before at other jobs. She said I was 'ungrateful' for it. Um, fuck you.

Reality is, my office is really clique-ish. The main group drinks a lot, spends money like it's going out of style. The rent apartments that were more than double my mortgage, they drive leased Mercedes and Land Rovers. There are a few other coworkers that don't run with this main group - they are the married w/ kids folks. I am just not interested in hanging with any of them. (Only 1 I had done anything with socially was the office slut - and that was a visit to IKEA) I love my job - what I do - but I absolutely HATE being in the office. Fortunately, most of my time is spent out of the office.  It's funny - I am SO different in the office than when I am out and about.

Update: she texted me at 9am "Good morning Sunshine". Barf.