Moving On

With the new year, I've decided to cut some of the "dead weight" out of my life. You know the type...the ones who suck the energy out of you like a leech. They're the ones who take with no regard to how much it may drain you to give....and then when you need them, they become magicians and simply disappear.

I had one of these friends. To make things worse, he was also a colleague....well, still is. Now I know this guy is spoiled, with no real social skills to speak of. But I'd been THERE for him, you know? I guess the best way to explain it is to describe him. Chris is a guy who's gotten everything he wants. If he can't afford it, he just places a call to Daddy...and yes, he calls him Daddy. And if that doesn't work, he calls his crazy mom.

A couple of years ago, when I met him, Chris was driving an Impala...With over $500 payments. How could the payments be so high, you ask? Well, when Chris was 16 he was given a Kia...which he traded in early...at about 18 for a Cavalier. After having the Cavalier for a little over a month, he decided he didn't like it anymore and traded it for the Impala...which left him backwards on payments. He just turned 21 and he recently traded in for a Trailblazer...fully loaded...so now his payments are pretty astronomical. It's a good thing he still lives at home.

Then there was his first apartment...Daddy co-signed & put up the requisite first and last month's rent. So he stayed in his new apartment 2 weeks, decided it wasn't for him and moved back home. And it was okay that daddy lost the entire deposit.

Anyway, this is a guy who has moments of kindness...but who mostly just takes advantage. Most recently, his victim has been me. Those of you who know me know that I got promoted. This promotion made me beyond busy as I'm now responsible for 4 store locations. I also believe in team play, though. So when Chris came to me right before holiday season because he was short staffed 3 people in his location...and asked me to interview candidates for him (he's not certified) I said yes. And then spent my November and December running my 4 locations, training my 3 brand new supervisors, putting out my fires, and interviewing HIS potential new hires. Then there were the questions...his guys had them...they'd call me...and I'd help out. When he wasn't feeling well, I even helped cover his location for an evening. I loaned him my laptop. I even found time to introduce him to a guy I thought he might be interested in.

So the time came when I needed something from him...well, not even FROM HIM! I needed 15 minutes of time from one of his employees who's extraordinarily talented with computers. And the time could have easily been spared. My response was a text message from him stating that his employee couldn't be spared...because he had to go to their offsite storage to clean it and wouldn't have the time.

That's the LAST TIME I do this guy any favors. And ya know what? I'm kinda vindictive sometimes. I'm having a party for my team...of which he's not...and in the past I would've invited him...but not this time. Although I am inviting one of his employees...and I know at least another one of his employees who will be going because he's married to one of mine. I know he'll hear about it. And right now? In the words of Rhett Butler..."Frankly, My Dear, I don't give a damn."

*** Oh, and on a side note...I got a Christmas card from my dad...2 days ago! Ya know what? It didn't even bother me. It's been the least of my worries, and at least he called 2 days after Christmas to tell me his card would be late....I guess he didn't think I'd realize Christmas was already gone...LOL!