This morning, I saw a TV ad for the diabetes drug my company creates advertisements for. It didn't really hit me at first, but I later realized that I edited the copy for that ad. In my 10+ year work history, I had so little to be proud of, so little to show for my hard work. Well, sometimes I didn't work very hard at all, which is probably why those jobs fall under the category of "former employment." Maybe it's time I did a series of blogs about my past jobs. Hmmm.

Went to the park in Brooklyn yesterday with wife, baby, sister, and niece. Other niece did not show up, opting instead to flake at the last minute. I love my niece and I try to be patient with her, but she's very prone to throwing a wrench into everyone's plans by foregoing her social obligations, with nary a phone call or email to give a heads-up. Love her to death, but she drives me fucking insane.

In other news, WE HAVE BED BUGS. Oh no!!!! Actually, it turns out that bed bugs aren't quite the skin-piercing, blood sucking scourge the media make them out to be. They're also not impossible to kill. If you have or suspect you have bed bugs, you need to hire a good exterminator who deals with bed bugs, not just roaches and other lovelies. Peace of mind comes at a cost, but it's well worth it. Pursuant to the exterminator's directives, we're currently living out of giant zip lock bags, a direct consequence of our "issue." We look a bit like hoarders, but well-organized hoarders at that!

Money for nothing

Speaking with the best friend on the phone last night, I lamented that while unemployment liberates one from the ball and chain of corporate tyranny, it ain't all it's cracked up to be. My friend is currently living in Colombia with his wife, trying hard to get his import/export business up and running. All kinds of obstacles such as free trade agreements, hostile locals, and lack of capital are conspiring to prevent this venture from seeing the light of day. Having suffered through many subpar jobs in my lifetime, I can honestly say that I'm grateful to have the job I have today. Still, I get a little green with envy when I encounter people who are unemployed and NOT dead broke. A little sound financial planning allows for such an arrangement. Sadly, I suck at financial planning.

On the subject of work, my annual review is coming up very soon. I haven't had an actual review in almost 2 years because my last boss (HR job) booked it for Texas right before I was to begin the review process. If I learned one thing in HR it's that recognition is paramount to nurturing and retaining good employees. Here's to hoping that I can continue down the path toward becoming a better editor—and a well-compensated one at that!

Out to lunch

I spent nearly 4 hours at work yesterday revising a copywriter's botched reference citations. I'd be less bothered by it if the copywriter in question wasn't a bitch to me on a few different occasions. She definitely outdid herself last week when she showed up at my desk looking for me. I was seated a few cubicles away, doing a spellcheck. I overheard her ask my colleague if she knew where I was. My colleague told her that I was around, just not at my desk. Then, the copywriter said to no one in particular, "He's the only editor I know who's never at his desk."

Really?

I mean, exactly how many times has she visited my desk to draw such a conclusion? Anyway, you gotta love people who deflect their own personal frustrations and try and turn shit around on you. The way I see it, if you're going to lie, at least try and be somewhat believable and fib within reason. Even if I was never at my desk EVERY TIME she walked by, it's foolish fer her to assume that I'm "never" there. You know when I was at my desk, though? The 4 hours I spent yesterday fixing up her mess.