Let me start off by saying there were no bonuses given out and no gifts either at the McMann and Tate holiday party. It was a good party. I left the apartment last night after writing last night’s entry. I had a beer before I left and was feeling quite nice. Got to the city, looking fly I must say. Or perhaps banging. I walked through Washington Square Park, towards Soho. The party was at a gallery at 446 Broadway on the fifth floor. To my surprise they successfully pulled it off. By the time I got up stairs the party was in full swing.

It was a good year financially for McMann and Tate though I have my doubts I will be sharing in that pie. That’s up to them and I am ambivalent about getting bonuses since I rarely get them. Lot’s of friendly faces, everyone in a good mood and many people telling me how much they will miss me, my dark sense of humor, my quotes on the morning announcement. Some people told me they thought I was doing a good job and they were sorry to see me go. I told them I wished they had told me that a month earlier.
Basically when people asked why I was leaving I told them it was because I was burnt out.

Also because I was on the receiving end of more negativity than positivity. It didn’t matter, I had a good time nonetheless. The McMann and Taters looking very nice in their James Bond attire. I opted for a Sharkskin suit by Phat Farm. I looked great and mingled with everyone while drinking a Stella Artois and occasionally dancing. Smoked a jazz cigarette with a few Taters, and even joined one or two in the bathroom a couple of times for some Freudian excess.

When I first interviewed for McMann and Tate, I was interviewed by a woman named Susie. She used to work at the office and I think she once held my job. It was ironic that she would turn up on my last outing with McMann and Tate. She asked what had happened and I told her, once again that I was burned out. She seemed to understand and offered me her business card. Surprisingly a few employees told me that they plan to leave McMann and Tate in the upcoming months.

Found out that a few coworkers are pregnant so that will also be a shake up in the office. I sure picked a good time to leave. I’m glad I gave them notice and didn’t leave them hanging, though it was tempting.

Lizzie Borden was there with her boyfriend, Michael. She’s great, he’s a nice guy and I felt compelled to state my hipster credentials to him, emphasizing that I use to work at McSwells back in the day. One too many trips to the loo with others probably brought on that fit of paranoia. He just laughed. I was supposed to hang out with Juan who was up for the night and to my eternal gratitude, he came into the city and picked me up and drove me home where we wound up hanging out, drinking beers and playing music for each other until 4:00AM. He slept over and left this morning. What a great guy.

Thanks Juan!

I woke up before the alarm clock this morning. Just couldn’t sleep anymore. This is/was my last day at McMann and Tate. As I’ve been saying, it’s the ‘End of an Error’. Yesterday was tiresome, running around Manhattan and the Bronx with Marcus and Shauna. I forgot to mention that Shauna asked me if I had any kids and I of course said no. Then she asked if I had a girlfriend and I went into closet hetero mode, saying that my life is too complicated for sharing with a woman and kids, and if I really wanted to I could watch them on Television.

Same with dogs. They asked if I had one and I said no, too complicated, and there’s always TV. Got to walk the dog? Change the channel. I walked to the path train, probably not going to see Plantain Man anytime soon. Just as well, he’s been all bundled up and not sporting much wood. Oh Ramon, your time has come and gone and will probably come again though I won’t be around to see it. We did exchange names you see. I got off the train, got my bagels and headed to the office for the last time.

People trickled in, and I sat at the desk watching them float by. Donna came in and asked for some info which she put in an email that was sent throughout the office. Coworkers started coming up, apparently they hadn’t heard and some were actually sad to see me go. I know the feeling. I’ve said goodbye to some good coworkers before while staying behind. Eventually I had my exit interview with Donna which went alright. I didn’t bad mouth anyone and only told them that they need to improve their lines of communication. Actually they need lines of communication, then they can improve on them.

I made my rounds in the neighborhood. Talked to the Mexican guys who make my broccoli, lettuce and chicken salad every day. I wished them well. And the girls at the counter who were sad to see me go and made me promise to stop by and say hello. I made the promise, but will I keep it? Seems like a long way to go for a salad. I guess Homer and Bart were wrong when they told Lisa, ‘You don’t make friends with salad.’ The building staff and various delivery guys from FedEx, UPS and DHL all stopped by to give me the brother hug.

I sent my own email out before I left the office. It read,
Subject: Adieu

As you may or may not have heard, today is my last day, and I will be
leaving the employ of McMann and Tate to help people find new employment at a
staffing agency in Midtown as an Office manager. It’s something that I had
done before.
Once I get settled in the new gig, if you know someone who is looking for
work, you can email me at johnozed@gmail.com

Best wishes for the New Year, JOT. Peace out/in!

Obviously I am now back at home writing this. In a little while, I’ll be getting ready to go back to the city and attend the McMann and Tate holiday party. It has a James Bond theme, so I think I’ll be wearing a sharkskin suit. I might pick up a stalk of broccoli in case anyone has any questions and I’ll tell them I’m Cubby Broccoli. Then I’ll have to explain to them just exactly who Cubby Broccoli is.

Cheers!