Retirement Luncheon

First, there is sumpin' running around the internet blaming John Edwards for the flu vaccine shortage. Let's get this straight. John Edwards is responsible for the OB-GYN shortage in North Carolina. The flu shortage litigation blamed on Babyface appears to be an urban legend. This is what Snopes has to say. I should have checked out the secret service protection for Kerry on Snopes also as my post was in error. One of my commenters pointed that out to me. I'm sorry that my journalistic standards have descended to the level of CBS. I can only attribute it to the fact that I was half in the bag when I did that post.

A couple of weeks back, my team lead took me out to a goodbye luncheon with most of our department. He thought that TCIDNN (The Company I Dare Not Name) didn't do retirement luncheon/dinners anymore. It looks like he was wrong as my manager took me and some guests of my choosing out to a restaurant that I got to pick out. I chose lunch over dinner, and I chose Rays on The River (for all of you folks who live in Atlanta). I've always liked eating there. Two of the people I invited, Tony and my friend Brian, couldn't make it and my friend and former mentor Mikey was a no show.

The rest of the gang either works at TCIDNN or used to.

There was Wahoo who retired from TCIDNN about 8 years ago. He helped get me back on my feet after my accident. All the people down at Shepherd thought that he and I were lovers since he was so good to me. BWAHAHAHAHA!
I didn't find that out until after I left. Another thing that I didn't find out was that I had a female friend who told everyone there that we were engaged. I didn't find out that until after I left either. Geez! Who woulda known that I was bisexual?

There was Tim whom I worked with back before my accident. He and his wife were with me when I fell. They took care of me until the ambulance arrived. I haven't seen Tim in quite some time. He lives in the Northwest suburbs and I live Northeast. It seems nowadays people are just too busy to stay in touch.

There was Joe, who now works in a different division, even though we still work in the same building. He and I have worked on many projects together. I tried to get him in my division to take the place of the old network guy but they went with shit for brains instead.

There was Richard who also taught me a lot. This is the Richard who supplies many of my Monday puns. I also got the phrase booger eatin' moh-ron from him. He took some pictures. Maybe he'll e-mail them to me.

Of course, my team lead Lloyd was there. I'm gonna miss working with him. Part of his job was protecting me from myself. I have this flaw of telling managers what they don't want to hear: the truth. He helped me avoid going to meetings as that was where I was in the most danger.

My manager was there since she had to pick up the check. She told me it looks like my paperwork is ready and all I have to do is go in on Friday, sign some papers, and pick up a check.

Sometime between now and the end of the year, I will identify TCIDNN.

The lunch was delicious and a good time was had by all.

Posted by denny at October 27, 2004 09:32 PM