When Eggs Go Bad...

It's Official

Yup. Lola'd is now part of Urban Slang.

Now all we have to do is use it!

Yes, But What Does it MEAN?

So, I've been thinking. All this infertility malarkey has been a real burr in my ass, and personally speaking, I don't want to leave this party empty-handed. I'm not talking about a baby, though obviously that is the ultimate party favour. No, I'm referring to something less tangible, yet still satisfying: I want to be remembered, honoured in some way for my contribution to the cause.

In much the same way that the word 'dooced' has entered urban slang thanks to this lovely lady, I want Lola to be laden with some deep miscarriage-y meaning. I'm thinking we could use it a bit like a golf scores. To wit:

Lola (lo' l) 1. n. three consecutive miscarriages. Ex.: Mrs Badeggs scored a Lola in her first year of marriage. 2. v. (e.g. to be Lola'd) to experience crushing loss despite repeated prayers. Ex.: When Mrs Badeggs saw the doctor's face, she knew she had been Lola'd again.

I think it could work. What do you think?

May the Fours be with You

Daysgoby had this on her site, and because I remain stubbornly convinced that everyone else is as interested in me as I am, I thought I would consider myself tagged in spirit if not by name...

FOUR THINGS
Four jobs I've had:

1. Sales associate at The Limited at Jax Brewery in New Orleans, while at university
2. Self-employed proofreader
3. Publisher
4. And, as of now, The Big Boss

Four movies I can watch over and over:

1. It's a Wonderful Life (I start crying at the opening credits and I don't stop until Clarence gets his wings)
2. Any of the Star Wars movies from the 70s and 80s
3. Sister Act (go on, judge me)
4. Monty Python and the Holy Grail ("Come back here! I'll bite your legs off!")

Four places I've lived:

1. Southern Illinois
2. Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
3. New Orleans
4. Oxford, England

Four TV shows I love:

1. Scrubs
2. CSI (all of 'em)
3. My Name is Earl
4. Life on Mars (A British show, and an excellent one at that)

Four places I've vacationed:

1. British Virgin Islands (Yeah. I bet you'd watch Sister Act with me there, wouldn't you.)
2. Positano, Italy
3. Lake of the Ozarks
4. Key West, Florida

Four of my favorite dishes:

1. Coriander chicken
2. Steak
3. Chicken enchiladas
4. Steamed lobster

Four sites I visit daily (apart from the many infertility blogs I frequent):

1. www.engrish.com
2. www.opinionistas.com
3. http://gofugyourself.typepad.com/
4. http://www.comics.com/ (Get Fuzzy is my favourite)

Four places I'd rather be right now:

1. Foxy's beach bar on Jost van Dyke in the BVI
2. In bed with Mr Badeggs (the man is sex on legs, I tell you)
3. Positano or Capri
4. Watching Sister Act

And another category of my own... Four of my favourite words:

1. Conflation
2. Zenana
3. Zeugma
4. Pulchritude
   

And the Word was Lola

If I were words on a page, this would be me (courtesy of http://www.snapshirts.com/). Cool, huh. Thanks to Kath for the link. I particularly like the home hope husband triptych, but am mainly glad to see, standing out a mile in the top line, the phrase Baby Badeggs. Here's hoping.

Pending Satisfactory References

Well, it's all done. I have handed in my resignation and am working out my four weeks' notice period. I have a few days' holiday accrued already so my last day will be 20th February and my first day on the new job 27th February. I figure that gives me 6 clear days to work up a good head of panic and self doubt before I throw myself headlong into trying to be The Boss.

I have never really been The Boss. Oh I've had the odd line management role, with one or two people reporting to me. But I always reported to a more senior manager who in turn reported to an even more senior manager or a Director. Stuff like strategy, change management, and even procedural decisions were well outside my bailiwick. My job was to sign off on staff holiday and sick leave, and to fill in the appraisal forms so senior management didn't get ink on their fingers.

All that is about to change. In my new role, I will be The Boss to no fewer than 15 (FIFTEEN! That's one-five!) souls, all of whom will have to meet targets set by me, and take on responsibilities determined by me. Lola Badeggs, Recurrent Miscarrier Extraordinaire and Sometime Bitter Betty, will have the awesome responsibility of motivating these people to meet their objectives and exceed them wherever possible. I figured I might write a humorous paragraph or two about having minions to do my bidding, but the truth is I feel the weight of my duty already, and it's too serious to joke about. I intend to do right by my team.

Of course, that's not to say that I won't use humour to build rapport. Why, I fully intend to tease my guys and gals first thing by fessing up to the worst possible character trait they can imagine: harbouring a deep and shameful love of country and western music. Or perhaps that's using fear and shock to build rapport. I'm not sure. The point is, they won't miss out on the celebrated Badeggs humour. But I digress.

This is an amazing opportunity or me. I've been thrust into the heady world of senior management with its attendant remuneration but also the accompanying axiety and strife. Managing my time, stress levels, targets and outcomes is no more simply a means to getting a payrise or glowing performance review. From 27th February it will also be crucial to making sure my team get their payrises and praise. That's a hell of a burden, but a hell of an honour, too.

Having discovered, two days early, that I'm not pregnant this month, Mr Badeggs and I have decided to stop actively trying over the next few cycles. I'll have enough to deal with in the first couple of months on the job, without worrying about (a) a possible miscarriage or (b) telling my boss I'll need maternity leave not even a year after starting. And I would worry about these things. Incessantly. So it's the right decision for us. But don't fret: we're not giving up entirely. And as my sister pointed out, saying we DON'T want to get pregnant because of work is akin to the cheerleader saying to the quarterback, "Are you sure you'll pull out in time?": in and of itself it increases the odds that I'll be up the Swanee within a matter of minutes.

Anyway, all this impending fabulousness is dependent upon the new company receiving satisfactory references from my current and previous bosses. So keep your fingers crossed. And if anyone calls you up and asks if I'm management material, for God's sake tell them yes.

Coming Back Down to Earth

I think my feet are touching the ground again finally, after a weekend of celebrating. It was, unfortunately, marred somewhat by an situation with a friend that took an even worse turn today. I may blog about it one day. It's a bit too painful right now, though.

I've been asked for details about my new job. I'm still waiting for the formal offer letter so feeling a a tad superstitious! I promise I'll give you all the details once I've handed in my notice officially! I am feeling slightly guilty for preparing to depart. I've just launched a project at work that was entirely my idea and done on my own initiative. Having just got senior management excited about it, I'll now have to leave in in someone else's capable hands. Ah well...

Anyway, watch this space for more news, and in the meantime, thanks for all your well wishes.

Pour the Wine and Cut the Cheese!

I GOT THE JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh yeah! Oh yeah! Go Lola! Go Lola!

Second interview started at 10, ended at 12.30 and by 3.30 they'd made me an offer. AND I got an even better salary than I had been prepared to accept.

This is a Red Letter day for me. This job is going to stretch me in all the right ways and revive my career in ways I think I haven't even imagined yet. It's the kind of company that truly does put its money where its mouth is in terms of valuing its employees. Plus, I can wave bye-bye to the hordes of mannerless commuters, filthy tube trains, super-early mornings and late nights.

Of course, I may miss some moments of excitement, but I'm sure I'm going to have a whale of a time.

Thanks to everyone who helped me out with suggestions for how to handle tough interview questions!