Inventory

File Under: Returned

Matthew dropped off my DVDs and "other items" this afternoon. I was in Administration when he got there. I did not see him.

In a Target bag, I received the following items:
AbFab DVD collection
French and Saunders DVD
"Testosterone" DVD (no, not porn)
A pair of black socks
A toothbrush
Small glass canister that I bought for sugar. I take sugar in my coffee, he doesn't use sugar. Yes, the sugar is still in the canister.

I'm surprised though. My pillow was not returned. He probably trashed it or kept it for his tricks.

To his credit, he did not return any of the gifts I gave to him, including Ina Garten's latest cookbook (autographed), James Taylor CD (sent to him in DC), Kodak digital photo frame (his birthday gift when he returned home), assorted CDs I burned for him, an "adult" DVD (porn), and 4 Christmas ornaments for his sad little tree.

So I'll confess that I did the following. Last night, I came into work to drop off a tin of cookies. I brought with me an ornament that he gave to me. It's really pretty but I didn't want the reminder so I took it off my tree at home. I hung it on the tree in the lobby, at eye level, facing the reception desk. My hope was that he would notice it because he would recognize it if he did. I won't ever know if he did.

Apparently he was quick to walk in and walk out. They offered to page me for him, he said "oh no, that's okay, just see that he gets it" and he walked out.

It's done. I even looked in the bag right away to see what was there and I was fine. It's over. I'm relieved.

Contact!

File Under: Mine, and I want it back.

Matthew had my AbFab seasons 1-3 DVD collection. Originally I was just going to let it go but the more I thought about it, the more I decided I wanted it back. It wasn't so much wanting back the object, I think what I wanted back was my dignity. If I just walked away and didn't ask for it, the chances of getting it back were slim. Sure, he could easily have just dropped it off or mailed it. Actually I kind of think he would have done so. But as I was talking with friends last night, they told me that I needed to ask for my DVDs to be returned. This morning I sent a note that asked for them and also told him when I would NOT be at "Lakeshore" so that he didn't have to worry about seeing me. He replied back this evening.

Jim,

No problem. I won’t be around Monday so it will have to be Tuesday. I have some other stuff here that belong to you as well.


Take care,
Matthew

My friends on QTS were on the other side of the fence. They didn't think I should have bothered to ask for them back. It was akin to picking a scab on a wound. I value their opinion and love them for looking out for me but to me this was symbolic of not just asking for my stuff back, but walking away with my pride and dignity.

As for the "other stuff," I'm guessing it'll be the CDs I sent him for his birthday, the ornaments I bought for his tree, the jar I brought over to his place in which I kept sugar for my coffee and a pillow. If I'm REALLY lucky, I'll get the Kodak digital photo frame I bought for him for his birthday, too. I really just want the DVDs, but whatever. I know when I get the stuff back I'll be sad and I'll probably just dump the bag in my closet and not look at it for a while.

Did I do the right thing? Should I have just left well-enough alone? What's done is done, but I'm curious to know what you would have done.

She's done it again

File Under: Egomaniac

Oprah, or Poperah as my best friend Dan (41north87west) calls her started small. She took over as host of a local show called A.M. Chicago. Then it became The Oprah Winfrey Show, and then she got a big ass studio, then she was in some movie, then she got a magazine, then she opened a school in South Africa. Now, she's getting a cable network.

I'll let Patsy and Edina sum up my thoughts on this latest venture: