Well diary, I am currently still working at the Denver DLO. We shall see how long that lasts.
Hmm … today.
First, let's reflect on the odd pantomime villains entered our orbit today - Glynnis Rucker and Kimmy Cooper. Glynnis is our new supervisor. Glynnis likes punctuality. Glynnis is a very well-turned-out dragon! And Kimmy is a tuba-toting mean girl! What joy!
I came in to work today with intentions. I was going to be polite, poised, and professional. I was not going to involve myself in the lives of my colleagues. I was going to do my job so that I could afford the ridiculous amount of retail therapy I may have recently undertaken, and that was it. Within five minutes, I was protecting Rita from Kimmy and wondering about the behaviour of Oliver O'Toole. Oliver O'Toole was late. Oliver O'Toole is never late. Oliver O'Toole is never late so he can make silent, but eloquent statements about my own flexibility with starting times.
When he did make an appearance, it was obvious that he was …. off. I noticed that he was skittish, and over-sharing; cleaning out the Paris box (well putting it with the rest of the mail from Europe, where it should have been all along), and informing us that his wandering wife was not returning (and that I was responsible for him knowing that). Rita and Norman knew he was off kilter too, what with misattributing some dusty Marcus Aurelius as Shakespeare, and setting the whole firmament of the DLO into a spin by tying a four-in-hand rather than a full Windsor knot on a Wednesday. Who knew that ties could be so evocative? I bet if I asked, Norman probably has a book all about the 'Secret Language of Ties'.
Was Oliver attempting to offer an olive branch when he requested I select the letter? Was he wondering if I was going to use his letter opener on him rather than on the letter? I mean he did get his hand out of there pretty quickly. Somehow I am not convinced that Oliver has forgiven me. It is more like he thinks he should establish a détente, but isn't quite ready to commit to it. Take lunch for example. Oliver was using a musty old book as some kind of shield, hiding behind its yellowed pages in order to avoid interacting with me. And his response when I attempted to remove a speck from his shoulder! You would have thought that he was afraid I was still in possession of the letter opener (and had some malevolent intent, wanting to turn the blade on him). He might say there is no distance between us, but clearly he was not being honest. That chasm seems to be still in place, perhaps even growing.
Enough.
Back to Kimmy and Glynnis. Kimmy is a branch-hopping back-stabbing b.. (I guess it is the swear jar for me tomorrow). How dare she think that she is better than Rita! No one is better than Rita! I shall be watching that snake very carefully. And the de-ligtful Glynnis! What a cunning stage mother type she is. Rita says that Glynnis threatened that she would squash Rita, 'like a bug' if she beat Glynnis' precious daughter. Oh Glynnis and Kimmy, it is on! I didn't survive years of Robotics Leagues and debating without knowing something about overly being competitive.
On to our letter mystery. Despite some early shoals of suggestions to admit defeat, and judgements about my over-confidence and certainty, this letter led us to two of the sweetest people, Ellie and Bobbie. Ellie must have been embarrassed to have Bobbie hear the contents of her letter, but she is certainly a fire-cracker! She knows what she wants and isn't afraid to go after it. And Bobbie is a sweet soul. So caring and supportive. I can't believe that Oliver is right – that we have done our job and that is enough.
Open Mic Night at the Mailbox Grille was…interesting. Who knew that Hal from International Shipping was learning to be a ventriloquist (and had some way to go) or that Josh from the Castlewood Route was an acoustic interpreter of 90s Seattle grunge? Vivennè singing (with her very own Mamma Rose) gave me a little pause, but I think Rita and I have got this. At least, that is what my second told me. So much for remaining uninvolved from my collegues.