The New York Housewives vs. Office Politics

I'm hooked. I watched a marathon of "The New York Housewives" on Bravo a couple of Sundays ago and thought to myself...WOW, this is the ultimate in office politics. Can I get an Amen?

We've all worked with these personalities before, haven't we? Sure, you know...the Countess, the elitest that holds her nose in the air and then there are the others that gossip and spread rumors (true or untrue is beside the point) about their "friends". Jeez, it's enough to turn your stomach, but, like watching a train wreck, people can't stop watching. Me included.

The New York Housewives Bitchfest

With all the bitchiness and cat fights going on, my mind drifted to when I worked in an office and experienced the same fights, the mwah, mwah kisses on either side of the face while your co worker is pulling the dagger from your back. I hated it. No, I despised it. The co-worker that behaved in this manner toward me hurt me so badly that when this person left the company, it caused me to be rude and mistrusting of the next 2 co-workers taking their place.

I'll be the first to tell you that I don't take hints very well. No amount of hinting, name dropping or other vague forms of communication will work with me. You have to shoot straight from the hip as they say. Well, this lack of "picking up on things" was a real Achillies heel for me. I thought I had a good friend, and she knew I didn't. So, after the damage was done, the rumors were spread and my working environment was hell for years after, I decided to put Facebook to good use.

I looked up this person and sent a message.

"Dear Co-Worker" (I used the person's real name)

I happen to come across your profile in Facebook and it caused me to pause. I have always wanted to know why you spread rumors, caused irrepairable damage to key working relationships etc. I had thought you were my friend, but I soon found out that wasn't the case.

I don't expect to hear from you, I just wanted to ask. Because I don't "hint", "hide", or "stab friends in the back" while pretending to like them. I am a fairly blunt person. So, I would like to know why. Straight from the horse's mouth, if you will.

Oh wait...let me rephrase my question to suit your communication style; I miss working with you so much! Let's do lunch next week, okay?

Translation: So, what's the answer?

BFF, > Translation: You suck.

Taryn

p.s. This person hasn't responded. Perhaps when the Ice Age comes to fruition.

More Musings Later-

What would you do if you had a Million Bucks?

How many times have you wondered about that? I've done it all my life.

I remember when I was young, I would spend time with my grandparents at their small home in Port Arthur, Texas. I noticed one day a glass doorknob to their bedroom and was captivated.

"Why don't you sell the doorknob, Mamaw?" I would ask increduously.

"Why? It's just a glass doorknob," she replied.

"No it's not! It's the biggest diamond I've ever seen!" I was convinced she and my grandfather were "rich as creases" as they used to say and just not telling me about it!

Well, today I thought about what I would do if I had a million dollars...

Believe it or not, the very first thing I would do (I swear) would be to go to bed and not worry about getting up at any certain time in the morning. (That's my PDiddy talking though).

I would buy a private jet and hire a pilot to fly me, my partner and furry kids to:

• Key West to see Ernest Hemingway's house and watering hole and 9 toed cats.
• Chicago and see the Oprah show
• 
  
  
• Maine to sail around the coast
• Boston to have a drink at where they filmed "Cheers" and to lay some flowers on my friend, Pearl's grave. She was the one who taught me to love vodka martinis. Cheers old girl! (Hallow?)
• New York to have dinner at one of Gordon Ramsey's restaurants and 1 of Bobby Flay's restaurants.
• California - to see San Francisco, Malibu, San Diego and other lovely coastline cities.
• Then, I would have the pilot fly us to Hawaii for a few days.
• After a couple or three days, I would fly to the places I have written about that have captivated me through other's eyes:
• Manila, Hong Kong (I would want to see the fortune tellers I have heard about there), Thailand to see Loi Kroh Road, the most mystical road in the world, and Beijing, China...to look up my good friend that I've never met, Alan Solomon.

The last of my selfish expenditures would be the purchase and creation of my own restaurant.

Called: "The Ghostwriter's Den". It will be furnished with overstuffed couches and chairs similar to Steak and Ale, with rich colors and fancy schmancy fair. All of my books would be framed and hung on the wall and other author friends would also have their books on the wall (but only if they held a book signing during the day there). The vodka martini would be called instead, "Taryn's Tini".

Once people have feasted on the finest of food, steak, chicken, seafood, sushi and more...then there would be the option of retiring to the library to read, browse books etc. while having an after dinner brandy or cordial.

ADJOINED to the "Ghostwriter's Den would be a casual place totally separated called, "The Writer's Pub". It would be a short order food place with tap beers, drink specials with tv's in every corner with either news, sports or some other interesting show.

The Pub would also feature games such as poker every night, cards, bridge, checkers, chess and other games. A great place belly up and get a cold beer and great sandwich or salad.

Who would run this operation? Gordon Ramsey...

Aaahhh, don't you love to dream? I think tomorrow I will go to the hardware store and purchase a glass doorknob to put on our bedroom door. Cause, you never know if you have a diamond or not.

More Musings Later-

Things you learn when you listen...

I guess people can tell that if I have one regret in this life, it is that I didn't take chances and travel more when I was younger.

When I am in a pensive mood, it weighs on my mind at times. I can happily tell you that I made up for my lack of traveling and the tried and true when I was in my mid 30's.

I drank a drink where Madonna and Sandra Bernhardt danced on a bar in New York City, I stood at the top outlook of the Luxor hotel in Vegas at midnight, I have snorkeled in the Caribbean and smoked a cigar while playing poker in Aruba. And, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

What is it that I wish I had done? I really wish that when I graduated from college that I took the plunge I was so afraid of and move to Manhattan.

I dreamed about living in the city...it was vastly different from where I grew up and seemed so exciting to me.

I began to think about my travels and the roadmap of my experiences when I sat next to a man at a bar. His nails were embedded with oil and grease and his name was enblazened on his shirt. I took him for a laborer or an auto mechanic that never saw different scenery past the city limit line.

I was wrong. He had traveled and lived in Alaska, California, Oregon, Utah, Montana, Wyoming, Indiana, Wisconsin, Asia, Europe and Africa. He told me of the times that he worked in Alaska and saved every nickel he could while he worked. "The Wages were GREAT...not like here," he would tell me. Of course, Nashville sucked to him.

Everyone has a home, a place they feel comfortable. But he didn't. He told me he made enough money in Alaska to travel for 5 years. He lived like no other for that time, and now he works like no other. He is virtually penniless. He's slept at the mission, walked across America and slept under the stars.

His stories were fascinating, but his eyes were sad. I'm sure traveling and taking chances is fantastic. But so is getting into your own bed at night.

Cheers

More Musings Later-

Things Everyone Should Do At Least Once In Their Life...

1. Take a Chance - on whatever it is that inspires or spurs your passion.

2. Go to New York City

3. While in New York City, go to a neighborhood pub and strike up conversation with the locals.

4. While in New York City, dine at Tavern on the Green.

5. Keep a Journal...and One day, it will keep you.

6. Make a point to say "Thank You" at least once a day.

7. Sing Karaoke and have fun with it.

8. Go Skinny Dipping...you'll never forget it.

9. Pay off all your debt, you will feel so powerful once you do.

10. Travel to a tropical island

11. Take a weekend trip with yourself.

12. Take a bubble bath, light candles and play relaxing music.

13. Get a massage

14. Go to Barnes & Noble and browse through all the books for an entire afternoon

15. Do whatever it takes to finish this sentence: "I'm so glad that I decided to __________ when I had the chance."

Make your own list, you'll be glad you did.

More Musings Later-

So What do you make of Iran's President coming to New York?

I don't know...sometimes I scratch my head and think to myself, "What in the world are these people thinking?"

Sure, I'm all for inviting speakers with different points of view to speak in our country. It's one of the things that make our country so great. BUT....c'mon, we're not asking an economist to come to New York and make a speech.

We're talking about the President of IRAN. And, while I understood and related to the gentleman who introduced the President, I cringed because the guest was able to put himself in a favorable light by reminding an American of allowing other views to speak before condeming them.

I cringed and it made me mad. Here we were...holding our collective breath in one of our treasured cities who has taken a beating from terrorists in the past. And, in my opinion, we were taking a real chance on his visiting New York City. But, our democracy is just that. It's not always easy to be an American. We have to listen to all voices and not just a few, and when the voice is drenched in lies and half-truths, you have to trust that people will listen carefully.

It's not always easy to trust, is it?

More Musings Later-