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shadowkatWow..a couple of people are breaking up.
Niece broke up with boyfriend number 2 (not to be confused with boyfriend number 1 who is the wannabe politician). This is the one she met out in Colorado and is the wannabe journalist/writer but not doing much of anything at the moment. And was traveling about the Southwest with her, and she had planned on moving in with next fall up in Montana, where she's attending graduate school. I'm not surprised. I mean I had no clue what he was going to do, and they are separated over the summer. She has a summer job in Colorado and he has one up in Glacier Bay, Alaska.
Apparently my brother and sisterinlaw are taking turns visiting her. Because someone has to stay with the needy cat. They have two children, niece and the cat. And they are almost the same size. The cat is a Siberian Forest Cat (cousin to the Maine Coon Cat and Bobcat). Bro is going up later in the summer to hike and camp with her in Colorado, while sisinlaw is going to help her move into her studio apartment in Montana.
Bro did send me a cut video of a Moose and her baby moose that niece took.
Meanwhile..I just found out on Twitter, that Cat Valente had broken up with her partner/co-parent Heath Miller. Interesting that. That suprised me more. Heath informed everyone not Cat. Which was odd.
***
Church aka Society
Tomorrow, I'm taking the Facilitator training. We'll see how this pans out. I didn't get the materials and information until today - they forwarded it to us after training Thursday's group on Zoom. I'd rather meet in person than on Zoom. I find it hard to connect or be present with folks on Zoom.
My mind wanders more. And I have done way too many Zoom meetings in my job.
A little nervous about it. I'm thinking I'll just be a circle facilitator not a lead. I'm not really sure why I felt the need to volunteer to do this. Except I want to help and I have no idea how else to do so? This I do have a background in - sort of, or in more aggressive less thoughtful situations.
Hopefully I don't live to regret it? God knows at this point. I place myself in the Universe's hands and pray for the best.
***
Crazy Org
The bright side of my current job duties is I don't have to deal with Bright Young Thing aka the Drill Sergeant any longer, also no more site tours or monitored Zoom meetings.
Through the luck of the draw (someone else retired), she now has twelve people reporting to her. All over in Manhattan. Which is a 2 hour commute. (Hee Hee). She tries to come into the office in Jamaica once a week (it's only an hour or half hour commute). But is having troubles doing so. I told lawyer who is sharing the office in Jamaica with her - that they only have that office as long as I'm in Jamaica. If I go anywhere - they'll lose it. Lawyer: You're not planning on going anywhere are you? Me: Well not at the moment - I'd like to stay three to five more years to collect my full pension. But it all depends on crazy org. Right now we're fighting over my job duties. It keeps trying to pull them away from me, I keep yanking them back. It's kind of a gentle tug of war.
We'll see how long the 12 direct reports last. It's kind of new. They just started reporting to her this week. AK wanted to know how I was doing, I told him - well, I'm reporting to the frustrated philosophy professor not the drill sergeant now, so it's not that bad. (If you can envision an old disgruntled curmudgeonly philosophy professor whose never left his medieval tower, and is surrounded by a wall of paper, including paper on the floor - gray headed with a beard, and hair standing on end, plus big bi-focal glasses - that's Breaking Bad.) I'm beginning to think he'll die in that office covered in paper. I'll walk in one day and find him, keeled over, assuming of course I don't escape into retirement first.
According to AK - former cubicle mate - he only has a few contracts, MA (former incumbent of my current cubicle) has a lot more. They call me from time to time to ask questions. And touch base. It's the only way I know what's going on. BYT doesn't talk to me at all any longer. I don't think we've talked to each other in two months? I barely see her. But with 12 direct reports - most of whom she doesn't know and are all from different agencies within the organization who've been merged into hers - with different management styles and ways of doing things, plus differing levels of experience and background - she has her hands full. Plus? She is doing contracts that she hates. And she despises her management. That is not a happy woman. Has a nice office, and a bigger salary plus full lifetime medical, so hard to feel too sorry for her. Plus job security for the time being. I just don't know how long it will last. Considering she had 13 people reporting to her, all from one agency (the one she was in), and all who had similar working styles, and was trained the same way she was - and she lost all but one of them within the space of four years. I mean she lost 7 people. Plus two new hires. I don't foresee this working out, unless her management style changes or crazy org throws someone between her and her direct reports. If so, they better do it quickly, or there's going to be a lot of turnover.
I honestly wonder sometimes how our society continues to function with all of this mismanagement and disorganization, but it does. Somehow. Even more amazing? The trains, buses and subways manage to run, and for the most part, on time. If you knew what I did? You'd be amazed too, also you'd understand why the system is so chaotic and inconsistent.
***
Making headway finally in The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies. I'm annoyed with the twin sister of the narrator/protagonist. Mainly because she wants to go back to the quiet orderly life of tea. And I'm bored without that. Also, I may be over-identifying with the protagonist a tad - she's tall, bigger, and kind of rational. She also has a savior complex - and wants to help everyone at some cost to herself. She basically wants to take on the male role, and not be stuck at home, doing embrodery and serving tea and going to parties. She's in her forties and a spinister. Also in love with a highwayman and former duelist who'd been accused of murder and escaped his commission to Australia to serve his days on a penal colony. (The Justice System in 1800s Britain was apparently no better than it is now. I blame humanity - we suck.) The author is Australian and a historian (rare that, most historical romance novelists are dumb Americans who have barely delved into a history book, much less studied history, actually this is true of American historical novelists as well - it's why I dislike the genre, Americans aren't known for studying history) - so I have a feeling they may end up in Australia yet.
Although I can understand why her twin is ever so slightly annoyed with her. After all - she did trick her into listening to the novelist who had her breast surgically removed to get rid of a cancerous growth. Including all the gory details. It's a harrowing tale. (And true - since it is based on someone who it actually happened too in the 1800s.) The twin sister has no intention of doing it - she's a devout Christian and has put herself in God's hands, while the protagonist is an atheist, who finds it difficult to believe in an unfeeling God. (On this we differ - I'm not an atheist. But I'm also not a true believer to the degree the twin is - I don't believe God will make you well - maybe guide you to someone who will such as a surgeon to remove a cancerous growth but that's about it. I don't believe in the personal god most people appear to. I found her twin annoying. Overly organized religion makes me twitchy, about as organized as I can get is the Unitarians, which does have it's downside - they try at organized, but keep falling down on the job.)
Also making headway through...Ancillary Justice - it's harder to follow. I keep getting confused. We have all these characters. Fifty or more, and some of them have similarly sounding names. So far I've figured out that it's about Breq, an AI, who is part of the Ship The Justice of Toren, or an ancillary of it. She's seeking vengeance against the ruler who destroyed the ship and killed the civilians and crew in a covert war against the rulers many bodies or halves. The book has two time lines, the present on a ice planet with the wounded and addicted former Lt. of a past ship that the Ancillary was a part of - over 1000 years ago, and to 19 years before - during the destruction of the Justice of Toren and those on board and why. Add to that confusion? The protagonist (and first person narrator - it's told in first person by the Ancillary, Breq) - refers to everyone as she. They see themselves as she, and pretty much everyone else as she. Gender is irrelevant to them. Which is fine. But hard to distinguish, and there's a lot of so and so said this and that. Making me want to delete the word said from my own novel.
"Said" works fine when you are reading, you're eyes skip over it. But it is annoying when it is read. Although I'd probably be even more confused. At least this narrator can do multiple voices. That's imperative. Narrators who can't are hard to follow.
Will Wheaton who did "Starter Villain by John Scalzi" - can do maybe two or three voices, if that. Luckily Scalzi's novels aren't as complex, and a whole lot easier to follow. Usually feature a nerdy lead male character, and a lot of somewhat annoying humans pestering them. Here? The true heroes and the best characters were the cats and the dolphins. I was able to follow it for the most part, but Wheaton is not the best narrator or voice actor. He pretty much sounds like Will Wheaton, and having listened to two Scalzi books done by him, I think Scalzi sounds the same way. The word said really bugged me here.
I adore Marsters reading voice - so will have to grab more of his. Also the narrators of Illona Andrew's books are quite good - they pick good narrators. And this one, Ancillary Justice is marvelous.
It's so odd, prior to the pandemic - I hated audio books and couldn't understand how people listened to them. Now? I adore them. Did a 180 on that, my friends. Goes to show you? I'm generally agnostic on things, and can change my mind. I may get stubborn, but I can be gently persuaded, just not forced, into liking most cultural items and activities. It all depends on the approach, apparently.
****
Off to bed. Wish me luck tomorrow. This part will actually be the easy part, it's leading one of the groups...which isn't until June 15, assuming people sign up.
Niece broke up with boyfriend number 2 (not to be confused with boyfriend number 1 who is the wannabe politician). This is the one she met out in Colorado and is the wannabe journalist/writer but not doing much of anything at the moment. And was traveling about the Southwest with her, and she had planned on moving in with next fall up in Montana, where she's attending graduate school. I'm not surprised. I mean I had no clue what he was going to do, and they are separated over the summer. She has a summer job in Colorado and he has one up in Glacier Bay, Alaska.
Apparently my brother and sisterinlaw are taking turns visiting her. Because someone has to stay with the needy cat. They have two children, niece and the cat. And they are almost the same size. The cat is a Siberian Forest Cat (cousin to the Maine Coon Cat and Bobcat). Bro is going up later in the summer to hike and camp with her in Colorado, while sisinlaw is going to help her move into her studio apartment in Montana.
Bro did send me a cut video of a Moose and her baby moose that niece took.
Meanwhile..I just found out on Twitter, that Cat Valente had broken up with her partner/co-parent Heath Miller. Interesting that. That suprised me more. Heath informed everyone not Cat. Which was odd.
***
Church aka Society
Tomorrow, I'm taking the Facilitator training. We'll see how this pans out. I didn't get the materials and information until today - they forwarded it to us after training Thursday's group on Zoom. I'd rather meet in person than on Zoom. I find it hard to connect or be present with folks on Zoom.
My mind wanders more. And I have done way too many Zoom meetings in my job.
A little nervous about it. I'm thinking I'll just be a circle facilitator not a lead. I'm not really sure why I felt the need to volunteer to do this. Except I want to help and I have no idea how else to do so? This I do have a background in - sort of, or in more aggressive less thoughtful situations.
Hopefully I don't live to regret it? God knows at this point. I place myself in the Universe's hands and pray for the best.
***
Crazy Org
The bright side of my current job duties is I don't have to deal with Bright Young Thing aka the Drill Sergeant any longer, also no more site tours or monitored Zoom meetings.
Through the luck of the draw (someone else retired), she now has twelve people reporting to her. All over in Manhattan. Which is a 2 hour commute. (Hee Hee). She tries to come into the office in Jamaica once a week (it's only an hour or half hour commute). But is having troubles doing so. I told lawyer who is sharing the office in Jamaica with her - that they only have that office as long as I'm in Jamaica. If I go anywhere - they'll lose it. Lawyer: You're not planning on going anywhere are you? Me: Well not at the moment - I'd like to stay three to five more years to collect my full pension. But it all depends on crazy org. Right now we're fighting over my job duties. It keeps trying to pull them away from me, I keep yanking them back. It's kind of a gentle tug of war.
We'll see how long the 12 direct reports last. It's kind of new. They just started reporting to her this week. AK wanted to know how I was doing, I told him - well, I'm reporting to the frustrated philosophy professor not the drill sergeant now, so it's not that bad. (If you can envision an old disgruntled curmudgeonly philosophy professor whose never left his medieval tower, and is surrounded by a wall of paper, including paper on the floor - gray headed with a beard, and hair standing on end, plus big bi-focal glasses - that's Breaking Bad.) I'm beginning to think he'll die in that office covered in paper. I'll walk in one day and find him, keeled over, assuming of course I don't escape into retirement first.
According to AK - former cubicle mate - he only has a few contracts, MA (former incumbent of my current cubicle) has a lot more. They call me from time to time to ask questions. And touch base. It's the only way I know what's going on. BYT doesn't talk to me at all any longer. I don't think we've talked to each other in two months? I barely see her. But with 12 direct reports - most of whom she doesn't know and are all from different agencies within the organization who've been merged into hers - with different management styles and ways of doing things, plus differing levels of experience and background - she has her hands full. Plus? She is doing contracts that she hates. And she despises her management. That is not a happy woman. Has a nice office, and a bigger salary plus full lifetime medical, so hard to feel too sorry for her. Plus job security for the time being. I just don't know how long it will last. Considering she had 13 people reporting to her, all from one agency (the one she was in), and all who had similar working styles, and was trained the same way she was - and she lost all but one of them within the space of four years. I mean she lost 7 people. Plus two new hires. I don't foresee this working out, unless her management style changes or crazy org throws someone between her and her direct reports. If so, they better do it quickly, or there's going to be a lot of turnover.
I honestly wonder sometimes how our society continues to function with all of this mismanagement and disorganization, but it does. Somehow. Even more amazing? The trains, buses and subways manage to run, and for the most part, on time. If you knew what I did? You'd be amazed too, also you'd understand why the system is so chaotic and inconsistent.
***
Making headway finally in The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies. I'm annoyed with the twin sister of the narrator/protagonist. Mainly because she wants to go back to the quiet orderly life of tea. And I'm bored without that. Also, I may be over-identifying with the protagonist a tad - she's tall, bigger, and kind of rational. She also has a savior complex - and wants to help everyone at some cost to herself. She basically wants to take on the male role, and not be stuck at home, doing embrodery and serving tea and going to parties. She's in her forties and a spinister. Also in love with a highwayman and former duelist who'd been accused of murder and escaped his commission to Australia to serve his days on a penal colony. (The Justice System in 1800s Britain was apparently no better than it is now. I blame humanity - we suck.) The author is Australian and a historian (rare that, most historical romance novelists are dumb Americans who have barely delved into a history book, much less studied history, actually this is true of American historical novelists as well - it's why I dislike the genre, Americans aren't known for studying history) - so I have a feeling they may end up in Australia yet.
Although I can understand why her twin is ever so slightly annoyed with her. After all - she did trick her into listening to the novelist who had her breast surgically removed to get rid of a cancerous growth. Including all the gory details. It's a harrowing tale. (And true - since it is based on someone who it actually happened too in the 1800s.) The twin sister has no intention of doing it - she's a devout Christian and has put herself in God's hands, while the protagonist is an atheist, who finds it difficult to believe in an unfeeling God. (On this we differ - I'm not an atheist. But I'm also not a true believer to the degree the twin is - I don't believe God will make you well - maybe guide you to someone who will such as a surgeon to remove a cancerous growth but that's about it. I don't believe in the personal god most people appear to. I found her twin annoying. Overly organized religion makes me twitchy, about as organized as I can get is the Unitarians, which does have it's downside - they try at organized, but keep falling down on the job.)
Also making headway through...Ancillary Justice - it's harder to follow. I keep getting confused. We have all these characters. Fifty or more, and some of them have similarly sounding names. So far I've figured out that it's about Breq, an AI, who is part of the Ship The Justice of Toren, or an ancillary of it. She's seeking vengeance against the ruler who destroyed the ship and killed the civilians and crew in a covert war against the rulers many bodies or halves. The book has two time lines, the present on a ice planet with the wounded and addicted former Lt. of a past ship that the Ancillary was a part of - over 1000 years ago, and to 19 years before - during the destruction of the Justice of Toren and those on board and why. Add to that confusion? The protagonist (and first person narrator - it's told in first person by the Ancillary, Breq) - refers to everyone as she. They see themselves as she, and pretty much everyone else as she. Gender is irrelevant to them. Which is fine. But hard to distinguish, and there's a lot of so and so said this and that. Making me want to delete the word said from my own novel.
"Said" works fine when you are reading, you're eyes skip over it. But it is annoying when it is read. Although I'd probably be even more confused. At least this narrator can do multiple voices. That's imperative. Narrators who can't are hard to follow.
Will Wheaton who did "Starter Villain by John Scalzi" - can do maybe two or three voices, if that. Luckily Scalzi's novels aren't as complex, and a whole lot easier to follow. Usually feature a nerdy lead male character, and a lot of somewhat annoying humans pestering them. Here? The true heroes and the best characters were the cats and the dolphins. I was able to follow it for the most part, but Wheaton is not the best narrator or voice actor. He pretty much sounds like Will Wheaton, and having listened to two Scalzi books done by him, I think Scalzi sounds the same way. The word said really bugged me here.
I adore Marsters reading voice - so will have to grab more of his. Also the narrators of Illona Andrew's books are quite good - they pick good narrators. And this one, Ancillary Justice is marvelous.
It's so odd, prior to the pandemic - I hated audio books and couldn't understand how people listened to them. Now? I adore them. Did a 180 on that, my friends. Goes to show you? I'm generally agnostic on things, and can change my mind. I may get stubborn, but I can be gently persuaded, just not forced, into liking most cultural items and activities. It all depends on the approach, apparently.
****
Off to bed. Wish me luck tomorrow. This part will actually be the easy part, it's leading one of the groups...which isn't until June 15, assuming people sign up.
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Date: 2024-06-01 05:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-06-02 09:32 am (UTC)