Rob was on call from 12/31 through this morning. Being on call depresses him so much, more because of the anticipation of receiving calls than anything else, I think. We couldn't plan anything so he worked through FFX and I spent time defragging the PC and then reinstalling the Sims and all the expansions we've bought.

Although I must say, Hot Date is bug-ridden and it annoys me to have a Sim downtown, not blocked off by anything, unable to move. Their website's suggestion that a Sim "needs at least two spaces to move freely" is meaningless in these instances. I rant, "Dagnabit! Parker's just standing there, not buying a damn hot dog for Lucy and she's going to pitch him now. Oh, swell, there she goes and all this time I've invested in their relationship is in the toilet. This happened when I had Lael down here too, and she needs those twelve friends...." Rob laughs at me, "You talk about them like they're real people." Bah, buggy games! :-)

I have found that I am more interested in fostering relationships than I am in moving upwards in their careers. Phil uses that money cheat and spends his time building palatial residences. Chris builds them up and makes friends specifically to advance his primary family. Me, I like introducing couples and getting them married. Hopeless Romantic Strikes Again!

My old boss called on the 31st to wish me and Liz a happy new year. He and I chatted for a while about this and that and when we hung up, I realized this is what makes him successful. Larry genuinely is interested in people and keeps in touch with folks. Sure, some of it might be motivated by other things, as in whenever he needs computer help he always calls me first, but he also calls out of the blue to talk. I liked working for him. He was demanding and tough and volatile yet with a big, warm heart. My first month here, I was not in the payroll cycle so didn't receive a paycheck. He fumbled opened up his wallet and said, "Here, do you need some cash? You and your boys need to eat." The first year I worked here, he had me in angry and frustrated tears several times when he'd lose his temper. It was so difficult for me to adjust because his needs were hard to anticipate -- sometimes, I don't think he knew what he wanted, just what he didn't want. Then suddenly we hit an understanding of what each of us could and would be able to do and we worked very well together; I teased him that in the last year we worked together, he'd only made me cry once. He'd dictate or scribble notes, I'd translate it and fix up his grammar and phrasing and then he'd catch my typos. He gave me his extra Symphony tickets and last year gave me seats to see Itzhak Perlman for Christmas. If he sent me out to buy a latte, he always told me to buy a round for the rest of the staff too. Occasionally when he and Liz went out to lunch, he'd bring me back dessert, or coffee if they went to Starbucks. Some of the folks outside our department were always surprised that I'd go out to buy his lunch or make him coffee, but I honestly never minded. He was appreciative and never hesitated to thank everyone around him for doing their jobs. The week he was let go, he called me at home from New York to tell me. Now he's doing consulting work and is happier than I ever saw him while he worked at our company, so the change was very good for him and I'm glad.

Still, I don't think I'll mention to him about the meeting I'd planned for the managers in Denver where his room overlooked the parking garage while mine had a sweeping view of the golf course. Some things are better left unsaid. :-)