"Head...Shoulders...Knees and...SOCKS!"

Yesterday I had a terrible case of the Sundays - and unfortunately Spouse got the full brunt of that. It was a combo of physical illness and mental exhaustion. We had a very good talk about things, my needs and wishes, his needs and wishes, and I think we are in a better place now because of it.

Today however was far better. I truly enjoy my job and for the most part, the people I work with. This is a crazy week for us with a number of major events taking place, which while crazy, I truly enjoy because I do my best when there is a lot going on (otherwise it's just boring!). Things were chugging along smoothly, I finally got to meet (after multiple delays) with a family from the deep South who has a very interesting history as to how they ended up there from Central Europe and collected their materials. And we're moving along through our usual Monday routine and our department staff meeting when WHAMO! out come the claws!

Apparently my colleagues - X and Y have been having major issues with our supervisor and just when I thought the meeting was over - they just laid them all out there in the open. Did you ever find yourself stuck in a private conversation between two others and you are the third wheel, but you can't leave? I felt so awkward being there, but could not go because I was literally stuck in the corner (and the meeting wasn't over yet). So there they are airing out their issues - I want growth, I want a promotion, you need to support us more with upper management, you need to be more open with us, you don't really care about us, - when BOOM I hear "Now Socks hasn't said anything to me and I don't know if this is a concern, but you know she is only getting paid $$!" Umm...Hello?...Excuse me? Did I ask to be dragged into this? Okay yeah...I was planning on speaking with Supervisor next week and asking about a promotion but I was not prepared for this nor did I ask you to drag me into your annual issues! Then they start getting personal with her and other issues the three have between them. Did I mention that another colleague and our confused intern were also there? Oy! Mercifully the meeting finally wound down because everyone had to leave to pick up their kids or catch a train. Tomorrow things should be interesting. I told the bosslady that I always seem to find myself the last to know about the gossip, but the first to get dragged into the politics. I am told by my colleagues this is because everyone likes me and I don't usually make waves. I think it's also because I work with a group of - now I'm quoting others here - very strong minded and strongly opinioned women - but still...I don't always like getting dragged into this stuff. Now happily as we walked to our cars, I continued this conversation with Y. She realized that she can come across as very harsh, when in reality she is just trying to get her point across. So I think things will smooth over with some of them.

In the parking lot we ran into - big shock here - MORE TOURISTS! Today I met a lovely couple from New Jersey (she's originally from Newark - it used to be much nicer back then!) and her husband (he was born in Lithuania in 1944 but then they moved to Germany for 4 years before the family could come to the States!). They asked about parking tickets, and where to get a nice casual dinner in Virginia. I also gave them directions out to the new Air & Space museum facility out near Dulles airport. Very nice people, if not chatty, and Spouse (aka Map-Boy) would have been very proud of my directions! Just call me Map-wife!