Workish. Retirement. Roasts-why?. SWAT.

The man who was my boss for 27 years was feted at a retirement party this afternoon. His kids flew in from, respectively, Columbia U and DC. One carried a congratulations letter from her boss -- President Obama. Way to go, C! Former boss's wife always looks good and she looked spectacular today. It was great to catch with former's boss sister in law, who has all the real news; plus retired attorneys from that transit agency that used to be across the street. Time was when we were all young (and in my case, slender) when we'd all hang out. I knocked on Berkeley doors for days for one of the attys. when he ran for judge; it was really good see him! It's been ages. The retired HR person who has been so supportive of me in this HR insanity and generous of her time had more good words to say about my situation, which was great. (Tomorrow, for sure, my memo goes out.)

The current ED spoke, of course. His remarks were along the lines of a Comedy Central Roast. If you've never watched bits of one, you aren't missing much. They are as vicious and crude as possible. Of course the ED wasn't crude, but he was mildly vicious. I am curious what the appeal is to that kind of humor. There must be an ethic whereby one inverts the vitriol into meaning actual affection? "I love you so much that I can kid you so much?" CC Roasts make me want to cry, and the EDs remarks made me cringe. If anyone ever roasted me in that way, I think I'd feel like killing myself for a little while; not that I'd do it, but that it would make me feel that bad.

In contrast, the former Deputy ED spoke and it was as if rainbows and chirping Disney(tm) birds filled the auditorium. All us old timers use the short hand of "the good old Berkeley liberal days when our offices were at the Claremont Hotel." It's true that most everyone was (and is) a proud liberal, but it's really that corporate culture was set by the DED. He would say often in the most public of meetings that his staff stands behind all the good that [agency] does: staff is dedicated, smart, effective, progressive, a positive force. IT'S TRUE. I and I think everyone else was proud to work there, and happy to do a little extra. And he and the ED would never, ever, EVER let someone blame a staff member for something. If something wonky happened, they would always step up and be responsible.

It's a reminder of another reason why I am so happy to be leaving. The place reeks of finger pointing. It's a culture where those who are capable of producing a lot are overloaded until they break, often without any reward or recognition, while the incompetent glide along asking stupid questions that end up forcing or steering the competent into doing the work for the incompetent because it's easier and faster than answering effing stupid questions. And whereas some of the best times under the former ED and DED were when there would have to be an "all hands on deck" to get something done. Now, the place is nearly deserted after 5 PM and god forbid you should work late -- you'll be punished for it.

The new evil HR person admonished the payroll person for asking me an innocuous question in email. I replied, surely there's no harm in S talking to me directly. I wish I had the response here. It had at least 2 typos and one sentence that made absolutely no sense. OMG I hate her so. She's constantly talking about how lucky we are to have this benefit or that benefit. Well, you know what, while the rest of the corporate world was sneering at people who were working for local or regional or state agencies, which keep bridges up and trains running and bury your garbage and make sure you have clean air and water, public agencies had good working conditions to offer for their lesser pay, and rewarding benefits if you stayed on, not to mention offering professional responsibilities to entire segments of the working class who because of gender or race or both were denied similar opportunities in the corporate world. So HR person, maybe you should remember that and be supportive of it instead of constantly harping at staff. The young professionals are not stupid. They are going to leave and get other jobs where they are appreciated, and that IS a loss for the agency.

I have hardly had any alcohol since the whole emergency surgery biopsy thing (all's good) and I just had a gin, tonic, and fresh lime -- first since, like, maybe December? YUM!!

There are SWAT teams all over our area. Two SWAT guys were getting out of the elevator as I was going up this morning. I was carrying a box to my car and took the elevator home, late, 9 PMish, and 3 SWAT guys were in the elevator when it opened on my floor. They were as surprised as me; I nearly jumped back. Everyone's on edge and being prepared for the worst in re the Mehserle verdict.

To be completely selfish, this verdict biz is going to eff up my plans to go to the office this weekend. Dammit. MY LAST WEEKEND WITH KEYS TO THE BUILDING!