Oh, Sunday. What a day you were...

Old Coworker #1 had invited me to her bridal shower. Croomie was also invited but was unable to attend because she would be on a cruise, lucky biotch. And of course, since both of us were invited, that meant that Psycho Old Employer was also going to be there (yay for me). I actually hadn't thought of it until Croomie mentioned it on Thursday night. She knowingly said that Psycho and I would probably be sitting together, since we didn't know any of Old Coworker #1's friends or family.


For the next 2 days, I tried not to dwell on the fact that I would have to endure hours with that crazy woman. But I did wonder what I would tell her about my job. I wanted to say so many things:

"They actually like me, and treat me like a person."

"The owners of the company recognize the fact that I have talent. And feelings. "

"Unlike some people I've worked for in the past, my current employer is not a complete ass."

There were a couple good things I knew I would be able to say. One thing I could say is that I really like my job a lot, and the other is that my boss and I are active in the interior design community. I would be able to tell her that we go to ASID events and San Diego Home and Garden Magazine parties. I could hope that she may be jealous of the fact that I might know more 'powerful' people than she, when it comes to our industry.

Boyfriend also gave me a good nugget for conversation, by taking me to a Building Industry Association dinner Saturday night. I was so excited to be going (and so were the owners of my company and my boss) that I bought a new cocktail dress, got my hair cut and stuffed a ton of business cards into my purse. I have to admit, I was a little out of my element at the BIA dinner, and spent most of the night watching and observing how the conversations and networking unfolded (I did hand out a couple cards, but I think that when the next event comes around, I will be much better at talking about my company and making connections).

While Boyfriend talked shop to an industry partner after the dinner, I checked my phone for messages. I was shocked to see that I had a text message from Psycho-woman:

"Hi Pluck! I meant to get in touch with you sooner, but I was wondering if you wanted to carpool to Coworker #1's shower tomorrow. I've volunteered to do the flower arrangements and will need help setting them up."


I honestly wasn't sure if I wanted to carpool or not. I didn't want to be with her much longer than necessary and I didn't want to be on her schedule, but I was interested in saving gas and I knew it would be hard for her to berate me too much between my Del Martment and the hotel.... so I stalled. I told her that I was out with Boyfriend and we had breakfast plans in the AM. If she could tell me what time she wanted to leave, I would let her know if I could make it in time.


She responded, "10:30. Thanks!"

When the morning rolled around, Boyfriend and I laid in bed lazily. Then he demanded pancakes. Banana, oatmeal, walnut pancakes... which ended up tasting really good but made a huge mess. After undercooking and overcooking and cursing when the pancake mix exploded everywhere, I knew I wouldn't have time to carpool. So, I informed Nutty McNutterson that I would not be able to carpool but I would to try to get there as early as possible.

And I did. When I arrived, the ballroom of the hotel was filled with nine bridesmaides and a ton of mothers... did I really have to be there? But then I spotted Coworker #1 and smiled to myself. I really did want her to have a great shower and she looked so flustered already, so I put my purse in the corner and went in pursuit of Mrs. Kevorkian.



I found her in a back room rudely shoving flowers into tiny vases... oh, how she treats living, breathing things. When I said Hi, she turned around and smiled, said hello and asked how I was. Sounds nice enough, but I saw her look my outfit up and down as she reached over for a weak, one-armed hug (it's true, I was a little underdressed but I knew that I still looked nice). When she pulled away she immediately gave me a couple orders and I went off to follow them. It was strange how easy it was to fall back into that relationship of, "Do as I say". When I completed the small tasks she gave me, I decided to separate myself from her by helping arrange the gifts on the gift tables.



Soon enough, though, it was time to sit down, and yup, she was sitting right next to me. We started some small chit-chat and she was being very nice... even though she was saying some insensitive things to the girl she abruptly laid off just a few months ago. Things like, "Oh we are SO busy right now!" and, "We have some very high-end clients now, it's a great opportunity for Coworker #1 and Croomie and their interior design futures." Oh, and there was also a mention of a mistake I had made on a contract right before I left. I don't know how she happened to slip that in there, sneaky little brat.



I told her all I could about how wonderful my new job was. I told her about all the events, even the one the night before with Boyfriend (of course her response was that she used to go to those things years ago when they were much bigger and more important. Bitch). But I just didn't feel like anything I said really impressed her. I wished I had something more, I dunno, successful to tell her, but I digress.



Overall, the day wasn't that bad. It was much easier for my feelings to dodge her hurtful words. She just didn't affect me the way it used to. I still felt slightly less that equal to her, by the way she spoke to me and the things she said, but I bounced back fairly quickly when I left there. In a strange way, I was actually happier because I knew I didn't have to go to work for that woman on Monday. So I was doing alright...

Then I got her text:

"It was so nice seeing you today, Pluck. You are as beautiful as always but an inner beauty and radiance has started to shine through."

Um, what? "But an inner beauty and radiance has started to shine through?!" So, I never had any inner beauty before, and now she can see there's a little bit poking out of there.... ? Thanks, Cruela. You're the master of those insulting compliments.

But I won't let that bother me. It's obvious that, A: She never really knew me before- or took the time to, B: I was so miserable working for her that I just seemed like a dull and boring person and, C: My happiness is much more obvious now.