Friday, December 31, 1999

apocalypse canceled

[Originally posted on Tuesday, 5/22/18, at 2:26 p.m.]

I had to have one final meeting with Stu, and as it turned out, the meeting was a mere formality: Stu presented me with the new three-year contract for the salary I had requested, and after reading it over to make sure there was no funny stuff, I signed the papers.

Today was a no-fuss-no-muss day: Stu was docile, even friendly. We talked desultorily about Korean, American, and Vietnamese cuisine (Stu travels to Vietnam fairly regularly because our institute has established a few branches in that country), and when the time came to read and sign the paperwork, it was merely a matter of reading and signing. Stu didn't give me any more grief about anything; we simply shook hands, and he wished me a good day.

That was that.

My boss also shook my hand when I came back to our office and showed him the signed contract. I know he's relieved that I won't be leaving for the next little while; he thinks of me as R&D's secret weapon. At the same time, for me, it's a bit overwhelming to realize how much I've locked in my future: I'll be working here, at the Golden Goose, when I turn fifty. Strange and unsettling thought, that. Then again, when you turn fifty, you turn fifty somewhere, so I guess... this is my own particular somewhere.



5 comments:

Surprises Aplenty said...

Again without knowing much about it, I think you made the right decision.

I am imagining now, seeing how much management values you, next month you will be elevated to a management position where 2/3 of your time will spent in meetings -and you'll still need to make and design individual pages of each book!

Seriously, congratulations.

Kevin Kim said...

Thanks, Brian. Much appreciated.

Hey—did you sell your Korando?

John Mac said...

Congrats! Glad it turned out well.

I guess it is too late now, but maybe you should have held out for a clause exempting you from off-site team building sessions.

You can't put a price tag on being represented and appreciated by your employer. But the money is sweet!

Charles said...

I'm gonna do John one better and say that you should have held out for a clause that, in lieu of off-site team-building sessions, allowed you to hold regular flatulence contests in the office, with mandatory attendance for everyone. These contests would begin with a communal feast of beans and end when someone managed to let one rip and cause another human being to faint from the odor (wilting plants don't count). Anyone who soils themselves is immediately disqualified.

Kevin Kim said...

Charles gets me in a flatulent mood:

"Dark Crimes" Backfires Like a Meal of Refried Beans

"Fartial" Arts