Caterwauling

My beloved Old Friend left a comment the other day that reminded me of something we used to say, years ago. When we’d encounter someone who was acting like someone had switched dynamite with their tampon, we used to say that it was an “adhesive-side up” day — i.e., that they’d put their pad on backward. Youch.

And it’s stuck (ha) with us, as there are some days when you just know you’re going to have to rip that glue off your skin and it ain’t gonna feel pretty. Kind of makes you want to get a pre-emptive Brazilian. (And not just a Brazilian housecleaner. 😉

In any event, getting back to my adhesive-side-up moment, my car? Has something wrong with it. I was about 55 minutes out of Northwest D.C. Sunday when something started stinkin’. My instrument panel lit up like a friggin’ pinball machine in the vehicle in scary redneck northern Maryland, much to my non-delight. Recall, I’d had the thing serviced on Saturday, so I was annoyed.

Today, I came home (on the rare occasion that it was still light outside, albeit barely). There I am in a suit and heels and iPod blaring out some Snow Patrol, with my car manual in-hand. And seriously, I cannot believe my luck, but a mechanic! walked by! Woo!

He offered to help, and he checked out the car and said I have zero coolant. (Which I had figured out with the manual, but he didn’t know that and it astounded me how easily it came to him when I’ve been wondering when the car’s going to go up in smoke so I can get out of this fucking loan and go get a new one.) 😉 I’m so sure I’m going to find time to get some before work tomorrow (not) or after it (ha), but at least I know what the problem is. My mom had been in the car and said it smelled like fish, and I was like, well, did ya wash your hoo-ha before I let you get in it? lol

That pisses me off because I was told all my fluids were topped off, so it’s possible that A) they lied or B) the thing’s cracked. And I just got my new insurance policy bill and let me tell you, it’s HIGH. Pfft. Good driver rates, my adhesive ASS!

In any event, I’m just happy that I got the hood open, but I’m even happier that God sent someone along today at the right time to give me that little bit of hope and encouragement that I’d been needing. Once in awhile, a day doesn’t end up sucking. Go figure. I guess a well-placed human interaction (read: a smile from a cute boy) can turn a day from sticky-side up to sunny-side up in the time it takes for a heart to beat.

Back in my old job-blogging days, this post on retaining top talent would have been reposted in its entirety on this site and commented on line-by-line.

These days, we just share the link and reminisce not-so-fondly about days at Club Medicated. No. 7 just SCREAMS of Caterwauling v.1.0:

7. Top Talent likes other Top Talent. What are the rest of the people around your top talent like? Many organizations keep some people on the payroll that rationally shouldn’t be there. You’ll get a litany of rationales explaining why when you ask. “It’s too hard to find a replacement for him/her….” “Now’s not the time….” However, doing exit interviews with the best people leaving big companies you often hear how they were turned off by some of their former “team mates.” If you want to keep your best people, make sure they’re surrounded by other great people.

Funny how I exchanged that sinking ship of non-achievers for a speedboat of overachievers this time around. It’s a weird transition to not be the shining star anymore, but at least it motivates you to not sail the seas of mediocrity simply because you can.

I can really go nuts over several others, especially No. 10, when everybody’s leaving but the boss. Well, you know, I’m sure it’s hard to dispose of Satan’s Handmaiden (two jobs ago) when she’s the CEO, so you just have to hire dumber people who are less sensitive to having their hearts ripped out with a chainsaw several times daily. But I’ve digressed. Either that or conjured up some memories that will prevent me from getting to sleep tonight!

Link via Magic Pot of Jobs