The Ruminant’s Almanac

[hidden_kitten]

It’s been an odd start to the year. A lot of events at the venue I work at were pulled amid ongoing restrictions, so I should be taking advantage of the extra downtime, however I’m still running around like a headless chicken at the last minute.

Not been on any dates this month for that reason, but have found myself in an odd predicament with an acquaintance. He’s about twenty years older and I met him through my last job in retail. In this small town you get to know the regular customers and he was in every couple of days. He got in touch through Facebook recently, saying it would be nice to ‘catch up’. Having eff all social life here I thought why not and we went out for lunch a couple of times. Now he’s texting me a lot trying to arrange the next meetup but eh, we really don’t have that much in common. I’m worried that he’s hoping for more when i don’t even talk to my best friends as much as he wants to, and fear that I’ve made him think I’m interested. Argh. Trying to pull the slow fade and “oops I’m really busy from now until forever” excuse.

[Jibralta]

1 hour ago, hidden_kitten said:

Not been on any dates this month for that reason, but have found myself in an odd predicament with an acquaintance. He’s about twenty years older and I met him through my last job in retail. In this small town you get to know the regular customers and he was in every couple of days. He got in touch through Facebook recently, saying it would be nice to ‘catch up’. Having eff all social life here I thought why not and we went out for lunch a couple of times. Now he’s texting me a lot trying to arrange the next meetup but eh, we really don’t have that much in common. I’m worried that he’s hoping for more when i don’t even talk to my best friends as much as he wants to, and fear that I’ve made him think I’m interested. Argh. Trying to pull the slow fade and “oops I’m really busy from now until forever” excuse.

Oh man. This reminds me of the threads you see where Person A sees Person B working in a shop and asks for advice on how to make their approach. They've found them on Facebook and now it's just a matter of reaching out....

I have a hunch that this guy is posting on a forum somewhere....

[hidden_kitten]

8 minutes ago, Jibralta said:

I have a hunch that this guy is posting on a forum somewhere....

Maybe he’ll stumble onto my journal and get the hint 😂

[Jibralta]

For me, it's the worst when they don't just come out and say what they want. Just say it. Don't hang around and pretend to be my friend because you really want to date me. Then get angry with me because I 'friend-zoned' you lol. Meanwhile, you 'friend-zoned' yourself by being a fake friend.

Lots of pent up frustrations here lol 😂😂

[hidden_kitten]

Exactly! I was ignoring his most recent messages (I know, coward’s way out) but his latest one was saying he’d bought me a Valentine’s gift. He’d also make jokes about proposing. None of my guy friends do this, ever.

I was probably too harsh in my response but told him I wasn’t comfortable with this and couldn’t accept the gift. He deleted his next message before I got to read it, then unfriended me on FB….hopefully won’t run into him around town.

Also turned down a meet with a man off Tinder - hadn’t even met yet or had any substantial conversation, and he was telling me that he missed me.

????

Sorry pal, I’ve “met someone else”.

[Jibralta]

23 minutes ago, hidden_kitten said:

He deleted his next message before I got to read it, then unfriended me on FB….

Lol I could have predicted that, unfortunately. 

[hidden_kitten]

This gets better, right? 
 

A vital member of staff had to get signed off work very quickly a couple of weeks ago. Without doxxing myself/anyone else, boss is optimistic that they’ll come back to work at least part time but I’ve no idea how that can be predicted with any certainty. Managed to get temporary cover but the replacement doesn’t have quite the same skillset, so there’s a lot of pressure on the rest of us to deliver events in the same way we did. My knowledge only goes so far and I’m sure as hell don’t get paid enough for the hours/worrying I’ve been doing.

 

[hidden_kitten]

Been a busy few months. The colleague that has been signed off is still going through treatment and probably won’t be back (if at all) until next year. So boss is extra stressed trying to find cover.

In the meantime I’m trying to keep on top of things, but how do others in a busy office do it? I can’t focus because there’s no guarantee I’ll get a least 20 minutes of continuous peace where I don’t have to help out on Box Office, answer the phone for ticket bookings, help colleagues because the website is playing up again (and I have no more training than they do on fixing it) or the constant noise from the cafe that’s right next door.

I did run into FB guy again. Well, he pulled up in his car while I was walking along the street and offered a lift home. “No thank you”. “AW COME ON ARE YOU SURE??” while holding up traffic because he’s pulled over near an awkward junction. I keep walking and he turns off another street. Cue two days of me feeling like a jerk but if I give in a be nice again, it’ll be more of the same s***.

Convos on dating apps keep fizzling out so still no dates this year. I’m still have a weird crush on Casper who keeps cropping up on apps. Yes I’m a total idiot.

I need a new hobby that will get me out the house and meet people my own age. When you’re not sporty that’s really difficult here. Will keep looking.

 

[hidden_kitten]

Last proper date was in August, where I had no attraction to the guy in person. He seemed like he could be a nice friend but was clearly more into me so messaged him after to say thanks but no thanks. Since then an ex has resurfaced and have an friends with benefits situation going on. Not healthy in the slightest but meets some needs right now.

I really miss being in a relationship though.

Work is still rubbish. We’ve had someone new start who's extremely enthusiastic/straightforward and has loads of experience in events so I was hoping that would turn things around, however they’re now at an impasse with the marketing dept and will probably leave in the new year. I don’t know how to help them because this place has always been like that.

On a positive note I’m being sent to a conference in a city I used to live in. Slightly terrified at the networking element and coming across like I have any idea what I’m talking about. Asked my boss if there’s anything in particular I should be finding out/doing there but she just goes “not really, just go enjoy it”. SO HELPFUL THANKS

 

[hidden_kitten]

Negative Nelly update and need to vent.
 

So….got a new boss at work and things are not going well. At the beginning of the year it did feel like a blank slate and things were on the way up but it’s gone in totally opposite direction. Most of the team want to leave now, which may end up with me remaining the longest serving core member but think I need to get out soon.
 

Dating has been really frustrating. Down in the dumps because one guy I’ve been crushing on the past couple of years (!) hoping he would miraculously come around appears to have a girlfriend now. Feel absolutely nothing when talking/meeting new people. Got to the point where I’m meeting up with an ex who dumped me on Xmas eve years ago. This sucks.