GOTH ROCK RULZ

Work squee and rant incoming!

Okay, first things first: Several queer folks/allies at new job. One gal is our local member of the company's Pride coalition or whatever it is, gave me company gay swag so I obnoxiously wear a rainbow lanyard either round my neck or at my hip. Bite me! 1 guy is gay, 1 gal is also ace, newest gal I'm 99% sure is a lesbian who also struggles with Corporate Vibes bc she immediately felt more comfy around me than anyone else. 1 guy I cannot get a read on (usually I can read men like a BOOK but him? nothing. I am not the most inscrutable person in the room, do not like it lmao) but he could be an ally or a very lowkey bi guy because he loves Arcane. He also has massive Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy vibes and I just KNOW God is laughing His butt off at my expense.

I'm going to Ren Faire with several people from work twice this month, and it's. Helping me not be so sad about not seeing my old coworkers every day. But. It's not the same! I can't swear like a sailor or make kink jokes. (My close set of coworkers at my old job, all day we just swore and joked together. I miss them fiercely.)

The rant: Corporate is so, so stifling. I don't mind dressing business formal as much, but having to pick safe (read: boring) jewelry choices on top of it, as well as feeling like I'm at church without the hymns is just. It's really putting a damper on me. Also, since it's a firm with a bunch of salesmen (a couple saleswomen too but mostly men for sales, and women for staff with a couple men to add some variety) with no HR department? Ya girl is being extremely cautious, but also projecting I Am a Massive Bitch Don't Test Me vibes. So far all is fine! And I know if anything happens, 3 women high up have my back. But it is. Also exhausting making sure the men are intimidated by me. (This is also the big difference between me at 34 and me at 24: I know how to carry myself and I've stopped trying to make myself smaller.)

But here's the funniest (weirdest) part: there are SO many husband-wife couples and teams here. Every time I get to know somebody new better I find out they work alongside their spouse or under their spouse. (Arcane Darcy guy's main assistant is his wife.) Yes, direct report to their spouse. Mind-boggling. That's also why I've gone out of my way to be intimidating; nobody's wifing me up here!!! I know I was hired because I fit what they were looking for, but I know damn well being eye candy in office was absolutely a boost too.

To the many online dating websites out there . . . I cordially hate all your ads in all mediums. Especially those of Christian Mingle. Not preacher's wife material, sorry--I'm cynical and anti-social, at best. If I want to go hunting for a man, I'll do it my own way, thanks. (And that's putting it mildly.) Leave me alone.

On a more positive note, I had a fun conversation with a customer at work about Hinduism, Sarah Brightman, writing, and photography--especially sunset photos. I found out she's won a lot of contests and has been featured on the local public TV station. I hope I didn't talk her ear off--once I get comfortable talking, I can't shut up. LOL. Little chats like that make working retail a little less of a pain. :)

Well, at least, I'm doing the latter part. Not quite so good at the keeping calm part. The heat is really getting to me; I nearly snapped at a customer at the bowling alley today.

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