Oh what a weird day this has been. Is Mercury in retrograde? Tis the season you know, or so I’ve been told. Had a fun talk with Harpy last night. He’s proving to be my editor and a decent one at that. A regular Perry White he is. He gave me the suggestion to not write about getting bagels everyday which I don’t do, only on Saturdays and Sundays, which could be the only time he actually reads this blog. Actually Harpy and Kathe are the only subscribers I have, everyone else reads at their own pace. Subscribers get this everyday, or a notification in their email. Harpy’s latest good idea is to provide captions when I post photographs. I do listen to what he has to say and looking forward to making suggestions to his blog. I’m not holding my breath.

Bill actually washed the bed sheets yesterday and that is something that requires a dryer, not drying on racks throughout the apartment. Clean sheets made for a good night’s sleep and that is what I had, making it extremely difficult to wake up this morning. But I struggled and got out of bed after Bill kissed me good bye for the day. Shower etc just like most everyone else in this metropolitan area, meaning us working stiffs. The day felt odd from the get go. Uneventful bus ride, no thinking in the back of my head that a terrorist attack was about to happen, which sometimes floats through my consciousness.

Once again I was the first one in the office, starting up the machines, changing into a dry undershirt, making coffee. People once again came in. Tomorrow is Greg Stevens birthday and since Tom Chin was going to be out tomorrow, we had a little celebration today. It was a beautiful day, the weather forecasters saying that this would be the best day weather wise this week and for once they were right. I didn’t mind wandering around midtown buying champagne, cup cakes and a birthday card. I arranged for a small soirée towards the end of the day. These little get togethers are usually good for morale and relaxes most everyone. Most everyone.

Three of the guys, Larry, Moe and Curly seemed a bit standoffish. I asked Carla to walk around the office with a birthday card for everyone to sign, and apparently one of the stooges had a problem with that, saying that signing the card would mean that he likes Greg Stevens. I had no idea that there was this animosity towards Greg. I’ve known Greg since 2002 and he’s always been a nice guy, very kind. Never heard anyone say a bad word about him until today.

Larry, the lead stooge just sat at the conference table working with his papers, while we drank champagne and ate cup cakes. And of course Moe and Curly just stood around and brooded which did little to dampen our spirits. What jerks though. If you don’t want to be there, then don’t be there. Larry and Moe were the ones going to Maryland tomorrow and Larry was the one who shouted from his office (as I was telling Moe the info on the trip) that he would set up the itinerary himself. Carla the receptionist congratulated Moe on his recent engagement to his girlfriend. Moe just shrugged. Carla also told me that I was finding out that most of these guys are jerks. Carla once again was right. She and I aren’t going to get involved in this office bullshit. I think aligning ourselves with the president of the company is a good idea. And Greg Stevens is that president. Forget Larry, Moe and Curly. Turd blossoms indeed.

It’s a Monday again. Came here just in time. Good to interact with other people and to get paid for it makes it even sweeter. I’d rather have been at the beach of course. I’d always rather be at the beach. Bill stayed in bed today since he said his back was bothering him. Seemed ok last night, so I guess we can blame the bed for his troubles. He spent the day at home, then doing laundry at the laundromat. He doesn’t want to use the washing machine in the kitchen, preferring to lug several pounds of clothing down four flights of stairs, then over to a washing machine a few blocks away in 90 degree heat. He wants his clothes cleaned and dried right away, rather than hanging them on racks in the kitchen and the bathroom. I heard it does wonders for the back. I don’t really care. He has the options and refuses to use them, instead preferring to throw money literally down the drain. Generally I’ve stopped giving Bill any suggestions since they go unheeded most, if not all, of the time. It seems to work out best for us. He doesn’t have to hear anything he doesn’t want to hear and I can save my breath. Win win, wouldn’t you say?

Work was quiet today. Vivek and the office Mick went to Australia on Friday, not coming back until this upcoming Friday. So no sub-continent shouting to complain about. Greg Stevens was in. It’s fun to watch him type with one finger. He’s always had a secretary which enabled him to never type. Now he has to type and he’s strictly hunt and peck. He’s also lacking in being computer savvy so a few times today I had to go and try to figure out what is going on with his computer. Sometimes it’s just slow, sometimes he’s typed in the wrong address. Today he lost his portfolio. It was there, but it took a while for it to load fully. I don’t mind. It makes me look good and computer savvy. I can shock and awe them with a quick Ctrl/Alt/Delete. Don’t get me started on the task manager. That might be too much for them. Carla the receptionist had a friend of hers staying over the weekend and they were leaving today so she asked if she could leave early. As long as her work was finished for the day it was alright by me. Tom Chin left early also so no one was going to mind.

One of my tasks that I do in the office is make travel arrangements. Since there is no company card yet, they payment has to be done with the passenger’s credit card. I sure as hell ain’t going to use my plastic. I try to get the best price, sometimes my plane, sometimes by train. Today was both. I arranged for a one day trip to Boston via Jet Blue, for 2 later this month. Easy peasy. Of course there could always be a snag. In the last hour of work I was asked about train info for 2 from New York to Maryland. Once again, I have to get their card. A train this Wednesday from Penn Station to Maryland for 2 was going to cost about $400.00. It was all set, once they decided on a departure time. I gave one of the guys a final figure and the other one say, forget it, he’ll do it himself. That was fine by me. It was 4:50 and I was getting ready to go home anyhow.