Addison & Jace ::: en route

So I know November is the month of thankfulness, but I always seem to be behind the curve so I’m just going to say what I’m thankful for today, on December 1:

1. Vacation Trip to the Carolinas. Last week, Addison and I spent a delightful week off in the Carolinas. We visited her mom in Asheville, NC; her dad and stepmom in North Augusta, SC; and my family in Easley, SC. It was just wonderful to see everyone and spend time together. From a fabulous trip to Biltmore House to some rousing card playing to a delicious meal of no less than 20 dishes — we were treated to quite a good time. It’s tough to live far away from family and miss everyone all the time — and this visit was so rejuvenating. 

2. Denver. Although seeing family was lovely, being back in the Carolinas, even for just a week, reminded me of why we left. A genderqueer lesbian like me just doesn’t fit in the South. As a result, coming back to Denver has felt really good, really right. After just a year, Denver feels like home to me. It feels like a place that fits us. I’m so incredibly thankful that we’re here.

3. My job. Today, I celebrate two months in my new position: Deputy Director at One Colorado. I started as Online Communications Manager, then became Communications Manager, and now Deputy Director. In just a year, I have been able to learn and accomplish so much, and I’ve been given so many opportunities. After many years of wondering what my path in life really is, I’m so happy that I’ve found work that energizes, challenges, and fulfills me. I’m incredibly lucky.

4. Our friends. It’s tough to be far away from family, but it’s true what they say — sometimes you make your own family. And that’s exactly what we’ve done. With every passing weekend, our calendar fills up as we enjoy dinners and brunches, game playing and events with some of the most incredible people we’ve ever known. We’re so lucky to be surrounded by such awesome folks.

5. Addison. My wife is the most incredible person I know. Everyday, she inspires and supports me. She takes care of me when I’m sick, even though I can be a grumpy bugger. She feeds me and dresses me when I just can’t decide what to wear. She listens to me rant and rave. She makes me laugh, and she surprises me. Addison is truly my other half, and I don’t know what I’d do without her. The work that I do, the battles that I fight for equality, I’m fighting them for her and for the family we hope to have someday.

-Jess

It seems that I am no good at blogging regularly unless I’m making lists, so another list it is!  Here we go.  

Things Addison likes about her job.  

1.) My co-workers.  For the most part we all get along well and pull together as a team.  I know that is sounds corny, but we’ve all been in situations where the people around us have made coming to work less than desirable, and it’s nice to not have to worry about that aspect of life.  

2.) My bonus.  Last month I killed it, and I’m looking at a really nice bonus (holla!)  Jess and I have agreed to not count on my bonus in our monthly budget, so anytime I bonus it’s fun money.  Well really it’s debt reduction/savings money, but it’s extra money nonetheless.  

3.) My Service Leader stuff.  My boss, Kristina, asked me to be the Branch Service Leader a few months ago, and everything has been going really well with it.  Granted I’ve put a lot of work into coaching on customer service and recognizing employees who are doing well, but my efforts (and the efforts of my co-workers) are starting to pay off.  Our customer service scores last month were the best they’ve been in over a year, and that makes me super happy.  

4.) My Mortgage Loan Officer.  His name is Jeff, and Jeff has been working really hard on making my deals happen lately.  That means I get points, and earning points means that I will hit my point threshold, and hitting my point threshold means that I get my bonus.  Once again, holla!

I guess that’s about it.  I could continue to ramble on about other things, but unless you work in a bank, it probably won’t be all that interesting to you…  

So I’m not really unemployed anymore. I’m working for…myself.

Seriously.

I’ve started J. Woodrum Interactive, LLC. It’s a freelance interactive marketing consultancy, and I’m the President / Principal.

Through my consultancy, I’m helping a variety of clients with website development, social media, and online communications. In fact, I already have one client.

Yippee! I have something to do during the day now instead of make Addison’s lunch and clean the house. Life is good!

-Jess

Most of the people who work at ADCO with me park behind the building (except for those people who are too scared to park back there because it can be a tight squeeze). All of us who park in the back have our assigned spaces. No one really ever assigned them; they just kind of happened out of necessity. I have the biggest car so I get the parking space that is easiest to get out of so I don’t hit people and stuff; someone else gets one of the really tight spaces because they’re new and therefore have to deal with the pain of trying to get out without hitting anyone else; you see what I mean.

Well, there’s this one parking space that I’ve come to call the power space. I’ve noticed that, when you park in it, you’re communicating that you’re the one in charge. It’s the equivalent of peeing all over the building and marking it your territory for the day. When you park there, you’re effectively saying, “Listen to me, peons, for I am your master.” Yes, it has that kind of power.

Usually, our President parks in this spot because, let’s face it, he doesn’t have to pee on anything; he runs the place, and he gets the spot closest to the door because he owns the whole damn company. The suspenseful saga begins when our Pres is out. That’s when his space is hijacked, and we’re all peed on.

When the Pres is away, inevitably one of his business partners takes over the space. Immediately. Like way fast, too fast. In fact, this partner even parks in the space if he knows the President is out for the afternoon (our leader doesn’t even have to be out for the entire day to have his space taken over).

But what happens when both the Pres and this space-stealing partner are out? I assumed the space would remain empty, a solemn reminder that people who aren’t me are on vacation.

But I was wrong. When I arrived this morning, the space was filled, and the smell of urine was overwhelming.

Our business manager (someone who is in no way heir to the throne) had parked in the space, usurping its power for herself and communicating to the rest of us that we’re under her rule while our leaders are away.

I found myself feeling shocked and annoyed at this display of power. Why couldn’t the space just stay empty? Why must someone always park there?

If I called out the usurpers, asking them why they felt so called by the spot, they’d definitely say, “I park there because it’s closer to the door, and the Pres is out. No big deal.”

But come on. I call bullshit. The spot is a handful of yards closer—barely enough to worry about, especially with the mild Columbia weather. Plus, it’s a really awkward spot. It can be difficult to get out of, and quite frankly, it being there makes it harder for everyone else to get out of the parking lot.

So really, this damn spot shouldn’t even exist. It causes headaches for the rest of us. So why not leave it empty when the President is away? Why not let the rest of us not worry about hitting somebody’s fancy vehicle–for just a day?

Power.

Who is king of ADCO today? It’s the one with his/her car in the spot and with his/her leg lifted in an ultimate display of dominance.

-Jess