The Office Drama

My unit, Adult mental health, is divided in two offices...North and south. The division runs deeper than geography and it is becoming more readily apparent as time goes on. This week, I was afraid we might have bloodshed or at least some raised voices.

It started at our monthly unit meeting where supposedly all 22 of us are to meet and go over various topics. Every one of my team was present and accounted for. But the south team was missing a few people, a fact I took a mental note of. I figured that if any one from my team had missed a meeting, my supervisor would mention it. I can verify it as true because it happened to me when I had inadvertantly missed a unit meeting. And I have never missed one since. Made me wonder if any one from the south team gets a little mini lecture about the importance of attendance...this was of course, all in my mental note to self.

The meeting carried on through the items on the agenda. And then the topic of the Unit Christmas Party came up which has been postponed til after Christmas due to other events that have come up and schedules...It was announced to us that the party would be held at this very swanky, upscale restaurant on a golf course in Woodbury. One person spoke up to say that he most likely would not be able to attend because he is in his graduate program and has a very heavy schedule...he's on my north team. Then another person on my team spoke up and clarified that this was the restaurant on the golf course...It was. The meeting adjourned and we headed off to return to our work.

Later in the day, the drama began.

The Grad student printed off the menu and began to show it to people in the office, "Did you see the prices? They start at $20 a plate and that is just for a meal...that doesn't include the gratuity...or a drink...."

I walked by and Grad student mentioned the menu to me. I said I would take a look. I mentioned that I was just a little miffed that we were not included in the decision at all...we were just told that this was where it was going to be and was this date ok. But the prices were concerning.

After I made my copies and checked my mailbox, I walked over to the cubes of my co-workers. The grumblings were getting louder. And suddenly, it sounded like there was going to be a coup and the north team was going to skip the fancy-schmancy party and go to Taco Bell instead.

Our acting supervisor was on her way out the door for the evening and we stopped her and told her how we were all feeling. She said that she would discuss our concerns the next day with the south supervisor. So we felt a little better, at least we had been heard and we had an alternate plan; Taco Bell and bowling.

After this drama, I had a conversation with my mom and told her about this. She started laughing and said it was just like an episode of "The Office" she had just seen about two companies that merged and were planning a joint Christmas party. We were both laughing by the end of the conversation. I am living out a television show.

The next day, I was back at work but not in my office until the afternoon and my supervisor said that she had some "proposals" from the south team for the Christmas party. Already, I don't like the way this is going. They are once again, taking charge, but I tried to hear out their suggestions. Option 1: Drinks at this Snooty Bar with the option of staying for dinner. Option 2: Bowling and Option 3: Renting the conference center at St. Croix Bluffs and having a potluck.

Well, my opinion is that I definitely didn't want to go to a snooty place and have the "option" of having dinner. I'm not a big drinker so having that as the focus is kind of bothersome to me too. And then we are all working that day, so how are we supposed to prepare something for a potluck in the evening and bring it all the way down to St. Croix Bluffs....and I live way up in Forest Lake?? Nope...So I opted for bowling...or to go to some place like Champs.

The drama continues. We shall see how things unfold this week. And I thought the crazy people I would work with were going to be my clients!!!

My Adventures in Shoveling

Being in a house for the first time in MN, as an adult, and being responsible for my own shoveling has been eye opening after this past weekend's storms. First of all, I didn't have a shovel any bigger than a kid sized shovel that I found in my work car. So, I gave the kids lids to plastic storage containers and had them scoop up snow while I used the baby shovel for the first storm. It was frustrating and exhausting.

So, when snow was threateningly imminent, I bought a bigger shovel for me and another smaller shovel for one of my kids. So, now there are 3 shovels, figuring my two older kids can shovel. I didn't count on my kids fighting over the opportunity to shovel. Having a bigger shovel did make a difference. And having more shovelers made a difference too. We got more done and faster.

My house is right off of a busy road and having a clear driveway, I am realizing is not only "nice", it's critical. So, I was up at the top of the drive trying to clear it down to pavement and the gravel so that I would have traction when I need to dart out in the morning, because that is often what I have to do to when I leave for work. I saw the snowplow coming at a pretty fast clip and I turned in toward my house and began walking but not fast enough. A huge spray of snow and road junk hit me full force across the back. I was stunned silent for a moment. I looked at Princess and PH and their jaws were on the driveway. Princess was wiping snow from her face and said she got a face full of snow. I told her that I got hit real hard with snow, dirt, ice and whatnot and that I probably was going to bruise.

I still didn't know what to say but I knew something had to be said. I continued shoveling for a few minutes, taking advantage of the rush of adrenaline that hit me but I started to ache and my head was getting cold and I knew I was full of road slop. Before announcing I was going inside for a hot shower, I told my kids, "This would be why it is very important that you NOT play by the side of the road during the winter. Did you see how fast that snow plow went? And he didn't see me at all? And even if he could, he couldn't slow down."

Then I looked at the driveway and decided it was good enough. My daughter said, "Mom, there isn't much left. I will finish it." What a good girl. If I wasn't so cold, my heart would have melted into a puddle right there.

"Be careful of snowplows", I said, as I walked into the house.

"If we see one, we are going to RUN!"

They are good kids and fast learners.

I have a bruised shoulder and bruised rib on top of sore muscles and back from shoveling. And believe me, if I see the snow plow coming, I'm running too!