Hot off the press

New just in! There's a rearrangement going on in the office. People are moving all around. Looks like I'm going to be sitting facing Quiet Girl from now on. Might be a chance to get to know her better. I think she's still awfully hard to read. Reserved or just dry? I don't know.

Still looks great in yoga pants.

Totally Random.

FP and I were telling each other how we hadn't heard from G in a while. So it was almost inevitable that, two days after FP leaves the country for a week, that G texts to suggest we hit the pub. That's not due to happen until this weekend though. M might be along too, though I've not heard from him in months.

A weekend that already sees me out with D, FBS, Friction Guy and Opinionated Guy.

I might need to take Monday off.

Random stuff.

Off the back of this post, I was in the pub with FP a few nights ago. Towards the end of the night, the guy sitting next to us at the bar got involved in our conversation. Before too long, he started bitching about work. Now, I'm a believer that there are always three versions of any story: your version, their version and the truth somewhere in the middle. However, this guy's bitching seemed to be nothing more than a rant, so I interjected and cut him down to size with a few cutting words. I didn't meant to sound so aggressive, and FP apologised for my "somewhat autistic counter-argument".

Another reference to me being on the spectrum. It's happened before, too. I used to get some private messages when I did my online hobby asking if I was autistic. I still don't know how to approach my GP though, and I still have doubts as to what it would ultimately achieve.

Wow!

Regular readers will know that I have a type: athletic, brunette women. As such, Kate Beckinsale has always been a favourite, especially in her catsuit/Underworld offerings. And now this. How about that for flexibility?

"Listen all y'all, it's a sabotage"

Ploughing through a somewhat rock-orientated playlist in work, trying to distract me from a beer-induced lack of sleep last night, and Sabotage by the Beastie Boys comes on.

I love this track, but it also provokes other memories. Specifically, lying on FBS's sofa late one Saturday night with a music channel on, kissing and hands everywhere (as were her's). We'd been at it for some time, but when this particular song ended, she dragged me upstairs where we quickly undressed each other and, well, you know.

Good times.

Hello!

I was surfing IMDB today when I came across a photo of British actress Helen George. She's best known for "Call the Midwife", a drama that's not really my cup of tea. But do you know something? She really reminds me of GM's friend AH. Due to various things that have happened with GM, AH doesn't come out any more.

That's a shame. AH was always good fun and, as far as I am concerned, easy to talk to. I always give a lot of time to people that I can communicate with.

Pondering.

A few weeks ago, my brother-in-law described me as "sometimes weird". In the past both he and my sister have inferred that I might be further into the autism spectrum than most. While neither of them are medical professionals, they do have experience of autism. But how do I go about a diagnosis?

I'm not entirely convinced myself, though there are times I think I show traits. And have no idea how I would go about it. Just ask my GP? Based on some comments from my family, that even I'm not entirely sure of? When, even if it's true, I don't think has had any kind of influence on my life (and certainly not as much as my social anxiety or shyness).

Things to ponder.

Totally random. (Part 2)

It only took 24 hours for the Ideas Girl thing to escalate. Thankfully, not with me. But one of her admirers asked her out... while at work. And over the work's IM system. That could have been a costly manoeuvre, but she seemed to take it as being non-creepy and politely declined.

In telling me the story, she accidentally let slip the name of the young would-be paramour. I'd been teasing her, telling her that she'd eventually let me know who they were. I'm not that interested in them (apart from the identify of the married lothario), so I had continued the teasing in the hope that she'd crumble and tell me.

She hasn't so far, but time will tell.

Totally random.

Ideas Girl ambled over to talk to me.

"Did you go to the thing on Friday?"

I was confused. How did she know about the thing I was at? Oh. Hang on. She meant our monthly work thing.

"No, I was at something else"

"Ah. I heard some stuff about it. An almighty cock up. I can't name names."

I raised an eyebrow.

"Oh?"

"I can't tell you"

I laughed at her.

"I bet you will."

"I can't say owt here. Text me and I'll let you know."

I picked up my phone and sent her a text, right in front of her.

"I can't believe you would do that!" she declared.

When she went back to her desk, she replied. Someone from work had been making clumsy advances towards her on Friday, via text. IG herself hadn't gone to the monthly event.

"And he's married!" she complained. Wait, was it a complaint? I don't know.

"Do these people not know I'm an incorrigible bachelor?"

And before I could reply:

"He told me he loved me!"

So I asked who it was. IG was tight lipped.

"You know him, so I'm not saying. And he's not the only one. There are three."

Three, eh?

"Ooooh, who are they?"

"They're undateable. That's all you need to know"

"In this company? It's not like you're narrowing it down"

I chuckled to myself and sent her a few texts through the afternoon, teasing her. Then it hit me... her actual confession wasn't what she had originally been talking to me about. Interesting.

Surprise!

We had a work thing yesterday. Not our monthly work thing, but something only for our team. We try to have a few of these every year, for bonding and whatnot. However, due to a couple of last-minute dropouts, we roped in a few people who sit beside us, including Quiet Girl.

I didn't expect her to come along, but when the department boss gives you a half day and is going to pay for everything, what are you going to do?

So, I was in the pub by midday. Spent a pleasant few hours playing crazy golf in QG's team, before adjourning to another bar to meet up with, amongst others, Nerdy Girl.

Drunk and tired, I flopped into bed around 11 PM.

Am knackered today... and could do with The Cure.

Movin' on up. Now?

Maybe I've been imagining things, but I've been semi-expecting an impromptu promotion for a while now. Partly because we've lost some people recently and I'd expect our bosses to try and prevent more losses (they know of my unhappiness about my grade) and partly because my immediate boss said something that made me think he's be trying to get me in the next promotion cycle (that's this month) and his manager giving me knowing looks recently.

Plus... I genuinely think I deserve it. I've outshone Stalky Guy, who has had success handed to him over the past few years but is no better than I am (worse actually, on a day-to-day basis). My results speak for themselves, I just hope that they've gotten to the managers. My workplace is big enough that the political aspect does come into play and having my name seen by the Big Cheeses would be influential.

Any promotions will be announced any time from now until the end of the month, but I'm starting to get butterflies... in a bad way. After convincing myself I was a shoe-ion for the past six weeks, I'm now starting to think the opposite and that's gonna hurt.