what percentage of paycuts suck?

10%.

We had a town hall-style meeting the other day at work during which we were told of the impending screwing the economy will be providing us. As of July 1st, all employees will be given a schedule that gives us every other Friday off without pay, which equals about a 10% paycut.


We'll be expected to adhere to the schedule HR provides in order to "ensure the firm remains open every Friday" but should we need to adjust it, it will be at the discretion of our Managing Directors and seeing as though I work for some of the more relaxed people here, I'm hoping it won't be a problem ganking the Fridays I actually need. A couple weeks ago, I decided to use one of my free Southwest flights for my birthday weekend because this year, it falls on Labor Day, which is already a paid day off. So come the morning of September 4th, I'll be flying out to Denver to meet my best friend and her hubby, spending the day in Denver, and driving back to their place in Nebraska for the rest of the weekend. Hopefully, I can work it so that I can take that Friday as my unpaid day and save a PTO day. Plus, I believe there are a few remaining holidays this year that land on a Friday, in which case we've been told we have to take the day before as our unpaid day. It's still unpaid but it does make for a longer holiday weekend.

Overall, I'm displeased. I had a big, long post written out the other day about how my financial situation is looking up and how great it feels to watch my available balance on my credit cards consistently going up instead of playing seesaw with me. The paycut isn't going to send me to the streets but it's certainly going to put a noticeable dent in things and halt the progress I've made so far this year. I'm trying very hard to put a positive twist on things and I do truly appreciate the fact that the downside (a cut in pay) is accompanied by an upside (bonus day off). Hell, I'm not calling the state for a measly unemployment check this morning, so I've got that goin' for me.

But it still sucks ass.

Oh Seth, how I love you. All 5'4" of you

Too funny not to share.

oh. my.

Thank you, Internet. Never again will I be bored with you.

mullet with headlights

Quite possibly the funniest literal video ever. And a reminder of just how strange this video was.

springtime is doing things to me this year

Josh and I met online. I had posted what I'm sure was a stunningly witty ad on Craislist and we emailed back and forth a bit before we met one night for a few drinks at Kuma's. We had a lovely time and our conversation revolving around the theory that members of the opposite sex know if they would sleep with the other within the first few minutes of their first meeting quickly led to our acknowledgment that a resounding "yes" was our answer when we asked ourselves that question.

We had some kind of non-memorable food in order to stave off drunkenness and after having just enough drinks to give ourselves a good buzz but still maintain our everyday judgement, we headed outside to catch the bus back to our respective apartments. While huddled in the doorway of the abandoned nail salon across the street, a little kissing ensued. And then a little groping ensued. And when bordering-on-indecent-exposure behaviour was about to ensue, we pulled away from each other and both managed to ask, "cab?"

We cabbed it back to my place where we spent the night together and quickly began what would turn into a pattern of...fairly constant togetherness.

One of our conversations at the bar earlier that night was about his love of all things Whedon-esque and how he couldn't get over the fact I had never seen an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I agreed to watch a few episodes to see if I'd like it, the next day I added the first season to my Netflix queue, and when the little gift of awesomeness made its way to my mailbox, he came over one night after work, we started watching, and after the third episode, I was completely hooked. On Buffy and lounging in bed watching it together.

As a theatre techie and a writer, he did a lot of volunteer work at a local theatre, so on occasion, we caught a show. We met up some nights after work and grabbed a few drinks. One night we met at Simon's, hung out and talked for a bit and walked back to my place, stopping at the park by my place and playing on the playground for what seemed like forever.

But our routine quickly became one of him coming over after work, chatting about our days, ordering in, watching some Buffy episodes, hardly ever being able to watch an entire episode without having to pause it for a bit. I think at one point, he hadn't slept in his own apartment in just under two weeks because he was always at mine.

We pretty much met, had sex, and found ourselves in a relationship. But it was never an isolated event, it was never a "must happen" kind of thing, and it, by far, wasn't all there was to it. I remember he emailed me once asking if I would download some BG episodes for him if be brought over CDs, and joking that we could work out some dirty, filthy things as payment. I responded by telling him I was glad to download them for him but that I've never been a believer in quid pro quo and would never expect anything in return, especially anything sexual. His next email is quite possibly one of best ones I've ever received and simply said, "just so you know, I like you. A lot."

It was pretty routine but it was just good. I think Mr. Cusack said it the best...he "didn't make me miserable, or anxious, or ill at ease. You know, it sounds boring, but it wasn't. It wasn't spectacular either. It was just good. But really good."

It worked.

Until it didn't. And then it did again in a more casual capacity.

And then it didn't again. For good.

As I was walking through the lobby leaving work the other day, I'm 99% sure I saw him outside. He stopped for a second. I stopped for a second. And we just kept walking.

And this whole slew of memories had been bouncing around in my head ever since.

outside my window...

growth in an unlikely place.

this makes me :)

Seeing older couples together makes me happy. As does piano music. An older couple having what appears to be a great deal of fun playing the piano together = copious cuteness!