I had a day off today, whee! I slept in then went to see a movie with a friend then out to dinner then grocery shopped and now home, just in time for bed. Not a bad day, really.

If not the first day, at least the first week, usually, depending on what's going on. There's usually a lunch, somehow.

This is my experience as well.

How was the movie, ChiKat?

Even as a temp I've been taken out for lunch on my last day on some jobs. When I left WGBH they threw me a going away party and gave me a ton of stuff for my cross country drive.

I've been on contract work and short term projects for so long now that I forget that there's a whole culture around how these things are done in regular office jobs.

How was the movie, ChiKat?

It was good. Went to see The Kingdom. Fairly intense, but Chris Cooper is just wonderful in everything he's in.

they threw me a going away party

See this I think is pretty standard. At least a cake. I got nothin'.

I had a going away party when I left the library automation company I'd been with for years and years, but since then I've worked at places with such high turn over (tech call centers) that your supervisor's supervisor doesn't bother to learn people's names.

but Chris Cooper is just wonderful in everything he's in.

I particularly enjoyed Dr. Chris Cooper in KiTH's Brain Candy.

Flop

Homework is done.

Why do I procrastinate???

Why is it so hard for Universities to share transcripts? I mean, waiting on the post office to deliver a transcript seems so last century.

And I made her cry.

Well, clearly she made you feel bad about that, but that's because she's a dim and manipulative little cow and you're a nice person. Screw her. Seriously. I am glad you made her cry. I think you should have been meaner, in fact.

On a related, 'Gee, Fay is actually rather a witch', note, I have to say how very much I have enjoyed scooping up Daniel and his friend Naddy (who are, what, 4 years old?) twice now, after they hit people/were otherwise mean, and giving them forcible Time Out.

First time, it went down thus:

Me: Hi! (grabbing them both by the hand and holding on for grim death) Congratulations, you have Time Out. Do you know why you have Time Out?

Daniel: (wriggling to no avail)....?

Me: Why do you have Time Out, Daniel and Friend-of-Daniel? What's your name, incidentally?

Naddy: Naddy.

Me: Hi! Something tells me I'm going to be seeing more of you too, eh? So, why do you have Time Out today?

Daniel:.......we hit someone?

Me: (brutally cheerful) That's right! And we don't do things like that. It's not nice. So now you have to sit here with me, instead of playing.

Naddy: ....I want some water.

Me: Yes. Well, that's a pity, isn't it? Because I don't care.

Naddy: !!!!!!!.....but....I'm thirsty.

Me: Yes. See this? This is my not caring face.

Naddy: ....but...but I want to drink!

Me: Yes, I understand. But I don't care even a little bit. You were mean, and now you have Time Out, and I'm not going to let you drink. Don't worry, you'll survive.

Naddy....But...I'm thirsty!

Me: Yes. (Cheerful like Mary Poppins on a sugar high) Isn't is a pity you were punching other kids? 'Cause if you'd been playing nicely, you could just go and get yourself a drink any time you wanted! But now you're stuck here with me, watching other kids have fun and feeling all thirsty. There's a lesson there somewhere, boys.

Naddy: !!!!!!!!!!

Second time was much the same. And I thoroughly enjoyed it, I have to say - particularly the look of incredulity when the trump card of 'I'm Thirsty' failed all over again.

And similarly, I really enjoy the fact that WhinyUngratefulBitch was reduced to tears when the nice people who helped her deal with pesky grown up trying-to-get-a-job stuff out of the goodness of their frackin' hearts snapped at her when she came in ranting at them. Poor wee babykins! Welcome to the world, kiddo.

Meara, wrt the lunch thing - it varies. I've had people take me out for lunch, I've had people point me in the direction of the canteen (or fail to do that). I wouldn't take it as a slight, though.

Susan, I agree with the other people wrt this being a positive thing - sounds like New Boss isn't an asshat, if she wants to understand your role and recognises that she hasn't currently got the gist of it. I think this could be a v. good opportunity.