Monthly Archives: October 2024

La Proclamation

It was definitely an out of the ordinary day. It ended up with me surrounded by quite a few faces from the Maxwell’s days. I put on a brave face and did my best. The whole thing was planned weeks ago by Geri Fallo. One can’t help but like Geri Fallo and I know a few people have tried but there they were tonight being photographed alongside her.

Geri used to run the Cultural Affairs for the City of Hoboken. Then she retired a year or so ago, and this was her last hurrah as it were, and she was able to have a Proclamation from the City of Hoboken honoring Steve Fallon. That’s why there were so many Maxwell’s faces.

I sort of helped Geri in the planning when she asked for my input. I didn’t think about much after helping. Then she asked for an RSVP and I replied I would be with Bill, who could not make it since he was dispatched on some bus driving duties around Manhattan and JFK airport.

Going solo to these things can be dicey for me. It’s a bit like stage fright. Getting to the stage is the frightening part, once on stage, everything is groovy. Or at least it should be. The mischevious Steve Saporito texted me about tonight’s event.

I was nonchalant and he was somewhat enthusiastic, at least that is what I remember. I expected to see him or rather hear him as I approached what turned out to be a throng outside of Hoboken City Hall.

Those expectations were dashed as the mischievous Steve Saporito was a no show. I even mentioned it to Julio via text since he was disappointed he didn’t know about Kevin Craughn’s memorial. Julio was definitely part of the Maxwell’s crowd back in the day.

Basically, he was the reason I kept going, as it was our watering hole. But he’s not one to attend these events and people do ask about him. Sometimes they get offended by the fact I tell them he’s a family man with 16 years and 12 year old boys. They seem incredulous since when they had kids that age, they still went out.

So many faces from the past though. We have all aged. All aging gracefully too according to who and how they were and are. The lighting outside City Hall was ghastly which made for terrifying photos and selfies.

There was a party afterward and despite my reluctance, I went and had a good time despite myself. I was actually pretty funny, I think. People asked for Bill and that was nice. He enjoys seeing me with these people from the past, now scattered throughout wherever.

If I was brazen I would have used the opportunity to network. I have started sending resumes out and beating the drum for a new gig. That adds to my dispirited feeling recently. Nothing will be done regarding la matrone enfermée dans le placard as she is untouchable. So it’s best for me that I high-tail it out of there as soon as I can.

I did hope to play Holiday songs when the holidays come along but who knows if that is an attainable goal?

Equatorially Yours

Après avoir posté l’épître d’hier soir, j’ai vu que j’avais reçu un SMS sur mon compte privé de la part du supérieur du supérieur, me demandant à quelle heure s’était produit l’incident impliquant la surveillante dans le placard. J’ai répondu peu après 10 heures du matin, j’ai également dit au supérieur du supérieur que j’avais envoyé un courriel au directeur des ressources humaines à 10 h 18.

Je ne sais pas ce qu’il a dans sa manche. Je pensais qu’il y avait un dégel dans notre éloignement après notre tête-à-tête, mais je n’en suis pas si sûre. C’est lui qui me dit de ne pas faire confiance à cette personne et de l’éviter quand je trouve que celle à qui je ne fais pas confiance est très utile et que celle que je devrais éviter est amusante à aborder.

Soyons réalistes, la surveillante dans le placard a l’immunité. Dans n’importe quel autre endroit, si un employé criait qu’il voulait se battre avec quelqu’un d’autre, il y a de fortes chances que l’agresseur soit dans la rue. Dans cette entreprise, c’est « vous allez devoir éviter la matrone qui se cache désormais ».

J’ai plaisanté en disant que la matrone qui se cache et Smeagol savent où sont enterrés les corps. Smeagol ayant creusé les tombes. Soyons réalistes, mon temps est limité dans cette entreprise, même si je suis sûr que je pourrais déposer une plainte auprès de la commission du travail. Moi contre un cabinet d’avocats ! David contre Goliath !

Je vois tellement de choses qui ne vont pas dans l’entreprise, je vois des jeunes de vingt ans sortir pendant la journée, faire du shopping chez Target après avoir déjeuné pendant une heure et demie peu de temps avant. Je ne dis rien, car j’avais fait des choses similaires il y a 35 ans et personne ne m’avait dénoncé.

S’ils étaient intelligents (et ils ne le sont certainement pas), ils seraient amicaux avec moi et je pourrais leur donner des conseils ou les prévenir. L’un d’eux se dirige vers le superviseur du superviseur, tous deux rient d’une bêtise : « Tu as vu cette peinture sécher ? » « Oh mon Dieu, c’était tellement drôle » Beurk, beurk, beurk. Je suppose que Dumb reconnaît Dumb.

Bill est sur le chemin du retour, ce qui sera un soulagement car je pourrais me concentrer sur lui plutôt que sur le nombrilisme que j’ai tendance à faire quand je suis seule. Et c’est un nombril morne, rempli de désespoir et d’ennui. Nous pouvons nous installer dans notre routine de regarder Jeopardy ainsi que d’autres émissions que nous avions enregistrées plus tôt, sans parler des dizaines d’émissions qui ont été enregistrées ou marquées comme favoris.

C’est comme l’été ces derniers jours, assez chaud, entre 20 et 27 degrés. Même porter une veste cet après-midi pendant ma pause cigare était trop. Le soleil brillait alors que la terre tournait et avait le soleil à un angle différent. Un client et moi avons discuté des saisons aujourd’hui.

Il aime l’automne, j’ai exprimé mon dédain et ma résignation en pensant que je ne pouvais rien y faire. Peu importe où j’irais sur la planète, les saisons changeraient, même si je me demande si le changement est aussi fort si l’on vit à l’équateur.

After I posted last night’s epistle, I saw that I got a text on my private texting whatever from the Legume, inquiring about what time the event that involved la matrone enfermée dans le placard happened. I replied sometime after 10 AM, I also told the Legume that I had emailed the inhuman resources director at 10:18 AM.

I don’t know what he has up his sleeve. I thought there was a thaw in our estrangement after we had our one on one but I’m not so sure. He’s one to tell me, not to trust that person, and avoid this person when I find the one not to trust is quite helpful and the one I should avoid is fun to talk to.

Let’s face it, la matrone enfermée dans le placard has immunity. In any other place, if an employee yelled about how they wanted to fight someone else, chances are the aggressor would be out on the street. In this joint, it’s ‘you’re going to have to avoid la matrone enfermée dans le placard from now on.’.

I joked that la matrone enfermée dans le placard and Smeagol know where the bodies are buried. With Smeagol having dug the graves. Let’s face it, my time is limited at this company though I am certain I could file a claim with the labor board. Me against a law firm! David versus Goliath!

I see so much wrong in the company, I see twenty-somethings going out during the day, going shopping at Target after that had a ninety-minute lunch a short while before. I don’t say anything since I had done similar things 35 years ago and no one ratted me out.

If they were smart (and they most certainly are not) they would be friendly with me and I could give them tips or a heads up. One sidles up to the Legume, the two of them laughing about some inane thing, ‘Did you see that paint dry?’ ‘Oh my god that was so funny’ Yuk yuk yuk. I guess Dumb recognizes Dumb.

Bill is on his way home which will be a relief as I could focus on him rather than the navel gazing I am prone to do when alone. And it’s bleak belly button, filled with despair and ennui. We can settle into our routine of watching Jeopardy as well as other shows we had recorded earlier not to mention the dozens of shows that were recorded or bookmarked.

It’s like summer these past few days, quite warm, high 70s, low 80s. Even wearing a jacket this afternoon on my cigar break was too much. The sun was beaming as the earth rotated and had the sun at a different angle. A client and I discussed the seasons today.

He likes the autumn, I expressed my disdain and resignation that there was nothing I could do about it. No matter where I would go on the planet, the seasons would be changing, though I wonder, is the change that strong if one was living on the equator?