So our supervisors called Shelly and me into the office on Thursday night. I felt like I was in trouble in second grade or something. And I knew exactly what it was about. Apparently, my boss asked them to speak to us about our letters to her regarding Kristen. They kept asking if Kristen simply wasn't doing adequate work, etc. I knew that's what they'd focus on. I told them that I wasn't worried about that, really, that I was mostly concerned because this neighborhood is sketchy, it's freakin' dark out there, and I would like to know what's up with my co-workers. I hate that she doesn't tell us when she leaves. I don't want to be worried that there was some sort of emergency. And I don't want to be trying to plan out time for tasks to get done if I'm thinking there are three people there instead of two. But all I mentioned was the safety issue. They thought that made sense. Shelly was also concerned with Kristen's really bad attitude towards her. I would be, too, if I were Shelly. Man alive. It's chillingly clear that Kristen can't stand Shelly, which is weird, because Shelly is super awesome.

Anyway! Nora and Ellen were aggravated that neither of us went to them first. I apologized and said, "I'm so sorry, you guys. You're right, I wish I had come to you. I guess what stuck out in the forefront of my mind was the last time we discussed schedules [Boss Lady]. She told me that if I ever have a problem I need to go to her right away since she's the only one who could fix it. And with that in mind, I didn't realize that you guys would have been better to contact first. I just didn't think of that, and I'm really sorry."

I said, "I'm sorry," about one or two more times than I knew was necessary and it had a good effect, I think. Nora said, "No, Meghan. You do NOT have to apologize. If that's what she told you, it makes sense that you'd go to her." Her gaze met Ellen's and they both rolled their eyes. "She just comes immediately to US, that's all," they said.

Right now, I can't stand Boss Lady.

THEN, they said that Karen had told them Cate was unhappy working with us!! CATE!!! Shelly and I adore Cate and have had so much fun working with her. Shelly and I both said that really concerned us. I thought I'd play it safe and just make sure to treat her even nicer than I already have been rather than say, "Nora said you weren't happy! What's that about?" There's nothing weirder than knowing your words are cycling around without your permission.

Nora and Ellen said they'd like to have an open forum meeting with all of us -- me, Shelly and Kristen. We said that would be fine. In reality, I so DO NOT want to do that! We'll have to see what happens...

So our little meeting broke up and that was that. I headed back into the rest of the building, and Shelly was a little ahead of me. When I got into the kitchen area, Shelly was already telling Cate about what they'd said. I came in when Cate was saying, "No, I just mentioned being tired after walking so much in the evening shift and that it surprised me that it's almost more tiring than the day shifts. But no, I didn't say I wasn't happy. Everything's good!" So that made me feel better. Karen was simply wrong, and Cate is happy working with us. Thank GOD. So that makes only one unhappy trio - me, Shelly and Kristen.

(However, today I was chatting with Kristen and all was friendly and great between us. This tells me that it's Shelly's presence that turns Kristen into a crazy bitchy freak. I don't get it.)

So here's what makes me feel worse about everything. It turns out that
Shelly didn't actually write a letter to our boss about Kristen. She wrote a response to my boss. Response to what, you ask? Well, I'll tell you. It seems as though my boss emailed MY letter (the one I emailed ONLY TO HER) along with her response to me to Shelly. Shelly! My co-worker. Not my supervisor, not my boss, my CO-WORKER. When Shelly responded by saying I was right and that she'd prefer not to work with Kristen and her awful attitude, Boss Lady got really pissed and forwarded the entire interaction to Nora and Ellen and essentially said, "fix this." Sadly, Karen really confused things by saying what she did about Cate's non-existant unhappiness, so Boss Lady was like, "Wtf are Shelly and Meghan doing to make these other employees so unhappy?" Funny that she didn't say, "Why are two different employees so unhappy with Kristen?" Oh well. She's an awful people manager, and the WORST at protecting privacy. I mean, really, what the fuck? Forwarding my email to another employee??? Why didn't she just write a letter to Shelly herself if she wanted her input, and simply NOT include my letter? Jesus.

Shelly and I were relaxing with one of our best dogs in the intro room we have set up. There is a couch and some comfy chairs. Shelly was petting the dog as they sat on the couch and I was sitting in the armchair across from them. We were talking about all of the above and Shelly said, "He is what has kept me from quitting on the spot."

"These dogs are what keep me from quitting on a regular basis!" I laughed. "There have been many times I've wondered about this place, but then I just don't want to leave the dogs..."

We laughed. We laughed, because we know it's so true. We love them.

I love them. I dream about them. I worry about them, and sometimes I cry about them. I love them. I can't always say that about the people I work with, but I do adore these animals.

At least there's that. That part will never go away...

~Meg