Dear So and So

[lph]

"Richard Heads"??

My turn:

dear middle boss,

most of the time I like you. You're funny, outgoing, friendly and refreshingly straightforward. But sometimes your "aw shucks, can't we just keep this simple" tone can be a bit grating. Like when you're axing half the work I did last week. I spent three days writing that letter. I ran it by my so-called superior (who isn't because he doesn't do his job, but that's another matter) - he wanted a lot more wordy fluff and everything repeated three times, in illogical order. I carefully sifted through his additions, kept the essentials, re-ordered it and ditched the fluff. I ran it by the legal people. They tweaked a bit. I ran it by my closest boss. He thought it was great.

So when you suddenly turn up and cut half of what I've written it is a bit annoying. It's fine that you want to cut it down, but grant me a little respect. You don't have to go on and on in an exasperated "I am the voice of reason" tone implying how pointlessly detailed and unnecessary it all is. And when you in addition look to my so-called superior for agreement - who is suddenly weathervaning and agreeing all over the place with you that this should be as short as possible - I start seething inside. I'm one of the best writers you have, and I don't deserve that tone.

Yeah, I know you noticed me seething. Good.

[hebe]

I hope the karma fairy will be along for certain bosses, bloggers and surgeons soon. I hope Herald feels better soon.

Dear woman who telephoned while I was fixing my toddler's tea. No, you cannot have my dh's mobile number if you won't tell me who you are or even what organisation you work for. Telling me that you need to speak to him urgently about his credit card is not good enough, as I happen to know that he has two cards, and one of the providers always identifies themselves when leaving a message. So that would make you either Amex, in which case please use the contact details that he provided on the corporate application form, or some random stranger in which case go away.

[channlluv]

Thanks, jelee, Beth, Becky, lph, and Trek, and everyone else who's offered up supportive comments. Each and every one of you make great points.

I do need to go find a sports-focused nutritionist. I will not succumb to the surgical solution unless I've really, really tried everything else, and yes, I need to do more in the way of intervals and sprints.

I do them now, but not with any kind of intention. More like, ooo, a straightaway. I can go fast. Yay! That lasts for about 20 seconds before my legs remind my gumption that it's actually kind of challenging to push 230 pounds around on a bike and can we please go back to that manageable 14mph?

But yes, Trek, I get your point.

If anything, this experience with Dr. Honcho has gotten me focused back on my training, because I've been really slacking off since I injured my knee doing that 5k-a-Day thing in August. It's mostly healed. Still a little twingy, but not bad. Time to get back on track.

Thank you, friends!

Roxy

[Catrin]

I am glad you are feeling better Channelluv! I was shocked that his first choice for you was the knife, I have noticed from the comments of others I know that surgery appears to be the first choice more often than not these days.

Good for you to not allow his comments to get you down, and I think a sports-nutritionist is an excellent choice. Also glad to hear you knee is feeling better

[redrhodie]

Dear National Grid,

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!! You are so frustrating! Just send the repairman already!

[Owlie]

Dear boyfriend:
This habit of shooting yourself in the foot is not an attractive quality in a mate. Here we go again...


Me.

[Trek420]

I do them now, but not with any kind of intention. More like, ooo, a straightaway. I can go fast. Yay! That lasts for about 20 seconds before my legs remind my gumption that it's actually kind of challenging to push 230 pounds around on a bike and can we please go back to that manageable 14mph?

But yes, Trek, I get your point.

Exactamundo! That's your interval. 20 seconds is fine, then go back to the manageable yet admirable and respectable 14 mph for 30 seconds to a minute, then when safe to do so sprint again till the legs yell, rest, repeat.

Ask your trainer how many and how often to start with and then build to.

But I just took my measurements and yikes my weight and pants size was holding so I did not notice that my waist is bigger. That won't do, the apple shape is not so healthy for me so if you don't mind being my inspiration I'll be doing the stairs or a hill near work at lunch twice a week, say Monday Wednesday.

I have to bump it up a notch and add that to my workout.

[bmccasland]

Dear Bonnie and Calypso,
The water glass is mine, mine, I say. You have a huge water bowl in the kitchen, and a cup on the bathroom counter. Why do you feel the need to drink out of my water glass, or worse yet, stick your paw in it, then lick from the paw? We're in a small hotel suite, it isn't THAT far to either the kitchen or the bathroom. I don't drink out of your bowl or cup, so please leave my glass of water alone.

Thank you.

[snapdragen]

Beth - at least they only want your water. Chloe tries to drink my coffee in the morning.. Just what the world needs, a caffeinated corgi.

[redrhodie]

Eddy's not happy until he tips the glass over. He tips his water bowl over, too. Yeah, it's fun game, especially at 4 am.

[crazycanuck]

I swear both of our doggies are on permanent caffiene...

[marni]

the attached picture shows why we have difficulty using any sink in the house. Tux, the Maine coon cat is incapable of passing any water, standing or running without trying to dig a well and increase the flow. On the rare occasion that he drinks out of the water bowl, he digs at the linoleum all around the dish, invariably snagging the dish and splashing it all over the floor until the dish is dry and then he leaps up and demands I turn on the faucet.

As for coffee and animals, I used to have a parakeet that flew freely through the apartment except when there was coffee, beer, or gin and tonic in the area. Then he would perch on the edge of the cup or glass and bite anyone who tried to sip or remove him. If allwed to partake he would fall into the cup or glass, flutter frantically and when fished out by the tail, come up sputtering and swearing in two different voices and vocabularies.

Animals are so amusing.

[Zen]

Dear Karma,
Why do you hate me?
I don't kill bugs, I rescue turtles, I do the best I can. Give me a gdbreak, will ya?

[crazycanuck]

Dear Karma,

Leave zen alone ok please. She's coolo you know.

[Trek420]

What cc sed: Zen fosters doggies. Dear Karma, you owe her big time.