The only time I've ever gotten a gift of any kind from a boss was when I left BU after 6 years. They gave me a real hefty gift card which... I have probably lost. CRAP! Did I use it or lose it?

I know I don't REALLY want to go, but I feel like a jackhole and am considering renting a car. Or asking the designer if I can leave a 4 pm, although that makes me feel like an ass.

Dude, totally don't go. Eff that noise!

The new other attorney I work for is a partner and notorious for cheap-ass gifts (when she remembers them at all). Like a $25 Barnes & Noble gift card.

I think that cheap-ass is different in upstate, because I usually receive $10 gift cards. $25 come from friends!

In other news, DIE, STUPID SOFTWARE, DIE!!!

Well, I suppose if you work for lawyers the scale is legitimately different.

On the other hand, I worked for doctors, so...

For all you Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus fans, Mo Willems puts fanmail up on his blog. It cracks me up.

I love gift cards, but I think i'm going to write a Dear Santa letter this year.

No gifts here, but that's fine by me. We get a nice Christmas party though. This year it's at the Museum of Science!

Don't go, Sophia! Unless your work party is made of awesome fun times the likes of which you'll never see again until next year, it's not worth the expense and time away from your other obligations.

Sophia a christmas party 50 miles away is ridiculous. who comes up with these things? i would not feel guilty in the least for not going. maybe if they have a poor turnout they'll actually think about how far they're making everyone travel.

Try, "oh, I only budgeted twenty.

I am extremely tempted to AT LEAST broach the topic of why it doubled in one year. it's made even more ridiculous because last year we had to figure out what to do with the extra money after buying the "big presents" for each boss. we ended up getting them beach towels with our logo and crap on them.

This is obviously going to be an "Oh, HELL NO" kind of day

seems like.

Do you think your boss is aware that the office manager makes it de facto mandatory?

my boss isn't aware of anything that causes conflict because he doesn't want to be.

Working for myself means the boss never gets a gift. But my trusty minion, Bartleby, gives me joy everyday, so I suppose it balances out.

I have a mini rant and a question for lawyerly, and/or renter's rights folk. The landlord that I have been bitching about for ever (burning lead paint in the building and lying about it, dumping gas on the first floor and leaving me to deal with it on a freezing night-and lying about it-never fixing things without threats and or months/years to 'think about it', etc.) has just raised my rent by $300 per month.

This, combined with another $300 increase a few years ago, constitutes a 100% increase in the 9 years I've lived here. I'm given to understand that in multi-unit biuldings, 45% would be generous.

I'm also given to understand that, since it is a one unit situation (over a liquor store), I am sol in terms of rights.

Is that the case? Is there anything I can do besides stick pins in a doll?

My first year at the press release place, our party was at the Computer Museum. Unfortunately, our clients were invited too, which made the editors irritated, since we didn't like schmoozing ANYWAY, much less at our party! That aside, it was a great place for a party. Sniff. RIP, Computer Museum.