Friday, November 27, 2009

There Is A God And She Has A Sense of Humor


Sometimes in life it's okay to be good to ourselves. We spend so much time doing things for other people -- often unnoticed -- that we deserve to pamper ourselves a little bit too. One of my enjoyments in life is a hot shower at the end of the day, with all sorts of Crabtree and Evelyn "smelly stuff" as Phinnaeus and Marigold call it.

This evening I could not bring myself to attend the Black Widow Spider's retirement dinner, so instead I used the money I would have spent on my dinner, to buy something -- for me. I had vacillated back and forth about the retirement dinner all week -- "Should I go or should I stay?" Finally yesterday the decision was made for me, after the Black Widow Spider had thrown some papers at me, and I later overheard her telling a very large fib about one of our co-workers.

Naw...

I did my bit for the Black Widow Spider's retirement fiasco party. I was enlisted to send out the invitations, buy the retirement cards, circulate the cards for everyone to sign, collect the money for her gifts and buy her a lovely bottle of French wine to accompany the gifts. That's enough, don't you think? The person who was organizing the dinner learned only today that she had been dealing with the wrong restaurant for the past couple of weeks. *sigh* So, after some last minute scrambling by the organizer, a group of 50 people will traipse over to the right restaurant, but they won't be able to sit together.

There is a God and She has a sense of humor.

Actually, in truth, I hope the Black Widow Spider has a wonderful send-off. She knows she has been very difficult to deal with, to put it politely. She knows...! A good send-off will be the perfect cap to making everyone's life a living hell a long 35-year career in the public service. I hope her party goes well for her and she has a lovely evening.

Me? I'm off to have a wonderful, hot shower with my new "smelly stuff". And best of all, I got it all for 35% off the regular price, plus the store threw in a bunch of freebies. I had enough money left over to buy myself some Purdy's chocolates.

There is a God and She has a sense of humor...

I hope you have done something to pamper yourself today. You deserve it.

26 comments:

Donnetta said...

I wouldn't go to the party either-but would wish her well and hope she STAYS retired. I'll be doing the same as you are doing--tomorrow night. That's when the company will be gone. I'm getting out the good smelling stuff and taking a nice hot bath. mmm. D

Mia said...

Why did so many people spend so much time, energy, money on somebody that they obviously do not care for?

Linda S. Socha said...

AH creative survival in the workplace....You made it. So glad you did not go to this event
Linda

Jeannette StG said...

Jo, you're still very nice about the black Widow spider:)
I love Evelyn and Crabtree's stuff and am glad you took care of yourself-I always have a few fragrances from them on hand.

Shelly Rayedeane said...

I like squashing spiders beneath my boots.

But I don't think the spider would suffer as much from the anger as I do.

the walking man said...

Instead of buying her a bottle of wine I would have bought 50 liters of hard liquor for them who did attend, thet probably needed it more than she did the wine.

Stephen Leach said...

Brilliant story. I've just been ill, so probably pampering myself enough - but I'm going to try and jump back into life, get abit stressed, and then feel like I've earned another 'pamper'. :D

Country Girl said...

I am just so glad to hear that the BWS is retiring. Jo, I have been reading your blog for going on two years now, and the stories about her are horrible.
Also glad you didn't go after all. Your evening sounds so much better. And there was no paper throwing. Or harsh words.

kenju said...

I don't know all her stories, but I'm sure you are relieved to have her gone.

That said; I DO need pampering today, so I'm going to the health club to swim and sit in the hot tub for as long as I can stand it.

Jennifer D said...

Sounds like you spent your evening perfectly. She got hers.

Russell said...

Sounds like the BWS got the kind of party she deserved! Maybe the restaurant was able to pull out some card tables and chairs for people!

If I could have made a toast I would have said something like "On behalf of all of here tonight, let me say that this could not have happened to a better person! Cheers!" Heh!!

Stewart Sternberg (half of L.P. Styles) said...

The Black Widow is now at large, eh? You know, I've had a few of those in my life, and the retirement party isn't enough. You should, like me, now start watching obituaries so that when the time comes, you can dance at a gravesite. Or is that over the top? Yeah, it probably is. Okay.

Marguerite said...

So glad that you spared yourself the agony of going to that party! That Crabtree & Evelyn Jojoba Oil sounds heavenly and I'm putting it on my Christmas list. Have a great weekend, Jo!

Canarybird said...

Sounds like you did the right thing Jo! I love C & E products too and visit their shop in Victoria when I'm there. Now I hope you have a smooth and stress-free environment at work. I can't imagine how you all must have suffered from BWS.
So enjoy your hot shower with your sweet and smelly stuff! You've earned it.
S.

Alissa Grosso said...

Well, it sounds like everything has worked out nicely in the end.

Belizegial said...

Good for you! The wicked witch of the west is gone!! yeah.

Hope your weekend and year continues to go swimmingly swell. LOL

Susan English Mason said...

OK, I'll say it for you. The Black Widow Spider deserves cold soup, stale bread, a burnt steak, and tap water for dinner.

Cloudia said...

Ding dong the witch is dead!!

and You do smell good....



Aloha, Friend!


Comfort Spiral

Carol E. said...

Farewell, BWS. Now I hope Jo's joy in her job will increase by leaps and bounds!

Kathy's Klothesline said...

I love it! She probably didn't even miss you.... or thought you might be at another table. And all the while you were indulging yourself.... I love it!

A.M. said...

She's gone, she's gone, she's gone!!! Imagine my happy dance. WooHoo..

Jo said...

Hello, all my wonderful bloggy friends. Thank you for your great comments.

Ding Dong! The Witch is dead. Which old Witch? The Wicked Witch!
Ding Dong! The Wicked Witch is dead.
Wake up - sleepy head, rub your eyes, get out of bed.
Wake up, the Wicked Witch is dead. She's gone where the goblins go,
Below - below - below. Yo-ho, let's open up and sing and ring the bells out.
Ding Dong' the merry-oh, sing it high, sing it low.
Let them know
The Wicked Witch is dead!

I don't mean to sound unkind. The woman is vile, and we are so much better off without her.

*deep sigh*

Alicia said...

Hi Jo,
I wouldn't have gone to the party either. I think you went well beyond the call of duty in what you did already.

Glad you pampered yourself. We all deserve that every now and again and again and again!

Firefly the Travel Guy said...

People normally get what comes their way. Ha!

heartinsanfrancisco said...

You made the right decision. It would have been hypocritical to attend the dinner - much more honest to attend Crabtree & Evelyn's wondrous shop which I could love just for the yummy packaging, to say nothing of the gorgeous fragrances.

I'm so glad BWS is gone. I raise a large bath sponge to you, Jo, and a far happier workplace.

Paula Slade said...

That's AWESOME Jo! "She" does have a sense of humor, and I'm glad you were able to pamper yourself! :)