And Another One Bites The Dust
It's happening again. I'm losing another one. My boss, Major D, is retiring. His last official day at Headquarters is day after tomorrow and his last day with the Department is May 5. I have to say, truthfully, that he's the best boss I've ever had, even back to my Insurance Department days with Max...and Max was great. Granted, with Major D I judged how good (or not so good) my day was going to be by how many times he used the "F" word before 9:00 a.m. And when I'd drop a big load of mail or work on his desk he'd look up at me, sigh melodramatically, and say "Bitch" but I just can't imagine working for anybody else. And I certainly can't imagine working for a wimp.
One of two scenarios will be played out here in the next month or so.
A) My best friend T quit her job as secretary for Lt. Colonel L. It would be a lateral transfer for me to move into her job and have them fill my position. Same position, same pay, but I'd be working for a Lt. Colonel instead of a Major and a Captain. Enter Colonel V. When Lt. Colonel L told Colonel V he wanted me to come work for him he told Lt. Colonel L that it would "make Major D mad." Rumor had it he was leaving, but later in the year. Lt. Colonel's response was "Last time I checked I outranked him. Besides that, when I was promoted I wanted to take her with me and you told me no then too. You never worried about taking people from me." Of course I have the right to apply and interview for her position but that would cross Colonel V and be extremely bad for my career so no matter how much Lt. Colonel L talked me up to Colonel V there was no way in hell I was going to apply for that job. He'd either give it to me outright or I'd stay where I was.
Everybody following along so far?
B) Major D announces his retirement and filling Tisha's position was put on hold for the filling of Major D's position. This would have kept me there to "train" the new Major. This wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing, mind you, IF the "right" person got the job. "Right" being Captain C who followed Major D in the New Orleans office. Unfortunately, the rumor flying around the office was that Major B was going to transfer over (NOT a good thing!) and Captain O would come down and take his old job. Or Captain O would replace Major D (NOT a good thing!). Captain O is a great guy but he's obnoxiously, disgustingly polite. Calls me "Ms. Abbott" and even calls his own daughters "Miss O." I believe I'd end up going postal.
Confused yet?
C) Latest and (hopefully) probably scenario. Colonel V calls me into his office the other day to discuss the situation. Lt. Colonel K wants me, Colonel V wants to keep me on his end of the hall cause his secretary may retire w/i the next 4 months or so and he wants me to work for him. I was honest, brutally so, and told him flat out that I am ambitious and I want her job. He got an almost evil grin on his face and said "That's what I wanted to hear." So it appears he and I and Lt. Colonel L are finally on the same page. They made a deal that Lt. Colonel L can have me and they'll fill my job and then if Secretary S leaves I will move over into her position, which is also a lateral and no more money.
Worse than a soap opera isn't it?
Looks like I could end up getting everything I want. When Lt. Colonel L was promoted and wanted to take me with him I couldn't go. His secretary was T. When T left I wanted that job but was told I couldn't have it. Was really happy to stay with D because to take another job while he was still there was a very hard decision. Now he's leaving and I thought I was going to be stuck with the new guy but now . . . now it appears Colonel V has made a compromise.
Yeah, that's a smile on my face for the time being. When that last day comes around, May 5, I'm sure it won't be there any longer.
One of two scenarios will be played out here in the next month or so.
A) My best friend T quit her job as secretary for Lt. Colonel L. It would be a lateral transfer for me to move into her job and have them fill my position. Same position, same pay, but I'd be working for a Lt. Colonel instead of a Major and a Captain. Enter Colonel V. When Lt. Colonel L told Colonel V he wanted me to come work for him he told Lt. Colonel L that it would "make Major D mad." Rumor had it he was leaving, but later in the year. Lt. Colonel's response was "Last time I checked I outranked him. Besides that, when I was promoted I wanted to take her with me and you told me no then too. You never worried about taking people from me." Of course I have the right to apply and interview for her position but that would cross Colonel V and be extremely bad for my career so no matter how much Lt. Colonel L talked me up to Colonel V there was no way in hell I was going to apply for that job. He'd either give it to me outright or I'd stay where I was.
Everybody following along so far?
B) Major D announces his retirement and filling Tisha's position was put on hold for the filling of Major D's position. This would have kept me there to "train" the new Major. This wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing, mind you, IF the "right" person got the job. "Right" being Captain C who followed Major D in the New Orleans office. Unfortunately, the rumor flying around the office was that Major B was going to transfer over (NOT a good thing!) and Captain O would come down and take his old job. Or Captain O would replace Major D (NOT a good thing!). Captain O is a great guy but he's obnoxiously, disgustingly polite. Calls me "Ms. Abbott" and even calls his own daughters "Miss O." I believe I'd end up going postal.
Confused yet?
C) Latest and (hopefully) probably scenario. Colonel V calls me into his office the other day to discuss the situation. Lt. Colonel K wants me, Colonel V wants to keep me on his end of the hall cause his secretary may retire w/i the next 4 months or so and he wants me to work for him. I was honest, brutally so, and told him flat out that I am ambitious and I want her job. He got an almost evil grin on his face and said "That's what I wanted to hear." So it appears he and I and Lt. Colonel L are finally on the same page. They made a deal that Lt. Colonel L can have me and they'll fill my job and then if Secretary S leaves I will move over into her position, which is also a lateral and no more money.
Worse than a soap opera isn't it?
Looks like I could end up getting everything I want. When Lt. Colonel L was promoted and wanted to take me with him I couldn't go. His secretary was T. When T left I wanted that job but was told I couldn't have it. Was really happy to stay with D because to take another job while he was still there was a very hard decision. Now he's leaving and I thought I was going to be stuck with the new guy but now . . . now it appears Colonel V has made a compromise.
Yeah, that's a smile on my face for the time being. When that last day comes around, May 5, I'm sure it won't be there any longer.