After All It's A Great Big World

So I'm alive. In case you were wondering. It's just that I've been awfully busy these last few days.

Danny is awaiting trial, which I have to testify for. Can't wait.

Keith was moved to another hospital outside of Seattle for "security reasons." Work is back in session but we've been given some "sick leave."

On a work related note Carolyn is now requiring two Enders per job. That means we are going to have to pick up a few new hires. Business is booming through the free advertising generated from our little media event. People have been really interested to know how you can hire someone to separate romantic ties.

Rachel has been around to visit a few times. She is on the hiring board for the new recruits. She kept telling me that I had to see this one guy applying to be a male Wing. She never turns off I swear.

Keith is getting discharged today but our leave runs out at the end of the week. We may just stay for an extended vacation that may or may not be on the beaches of north California. So I got to go pack. Maybe I'll send you all a postcard. I don't think I'm going to be bringing my computer.

I guess that is all there is to say about that.

The Most Exciting Night of My Life

Listen to this.

I was sitting in the room with Keith. I was falling asleep because I had been there all day. I started to dream about the cops catching Danny and Keith and I having dates and romance, when I felt a hard jab in my shoulder.

I woke up instantly to see Keith staring at me on his bed. I jerked my body up off the chair. I turned around and fell up against the bed. The room was pitch black except for the faded light coming under the door from the hospital hallway. My vision was starting to get hazy but I could make out Danny scrambling to pick up the syringe that just shattered against the ground.

I looked back at Keith and his eyes stared right into mine. His eyes seemed to be alert but he couldn't move. He had a small drop of blood forming around a puncture in his neck. His eyes darted past my shoulder and I followed them to see Danny coming toward me.

I pushed off of the bed and staggered forward. I fell to the ground a little but managed to get back into balance as i adjusted to the swaying in my head. My vision started to blur at the edges as I looked at Danny adjust to my outburst. It was clear to me then that he drugged me and Keith.

I looked around the room causing the room to spin around me a couple of times. The drugs were starting to really get me and knew I only had a little bit of time to do anything. Who knows what Danny wanted.

"This doesn't have to be so hard Kat," Danny's words echoed around in my head as he started approaching me.

I backed up slowly and hit up against a metal tray that rattled the instruments scattered on top. I slapped at the tray and found the edge of a scalpel. I drew it up viscously as his image in my vision bounced back and forth. He started to back away slowly as if to wait me out while the drugs fully kicked in.

I tried to lunge forward to move him in a circle. He kept backing up as his image lingered in my vision. I looked past his shoulder and he was almost at the wall Keith's bed was up against. I saw the round button next to Keith's headboard for calling the nurse. I made a final jab at Danny so he would bump up against the wall. He bumped into the call nurse button and I saw the little nurse symbol click on with light. Danny hadn't noticed.

We stayed frozen there for a second while he tried to size me up. He swayed in small motions. I tried to steady myself by holding the scalpel with both hands. Suddenly he made a grab for my legs but I staggered back. My head was rushing in circles and I felt the ground fall into my back.

Danny crawled over and put his knees on my chest and spread my arms out to either side of my body. He twisted the scalpel out of my hand as I struggled to push him off of me. His weight was crushing my chest making my breathing harder. The whirling in my head was swirling into darkness. I focused my sight on the thin strip of light coming in from the hallway.

He started running his hands over my body. Feeling my face. I had stopped fighting as I tried to focus my strength on my labored breaths. The light of the door flashing as people walked by. Finally the nurse entered the door and light flooded my vision.

The nurse took in the scene at once and screamed. She turned around to motion to people at the end of the hall. Danny was startled and rolled off my chest. The darkening edges of my sight cleared up.

Danny pulled himself off the ground and looked around the room hurriedly. He knew he only had a few seconds to make a move. He looked at Keith and then back and me. His eyes were crazed. He looked like a dog choosing between two bones. He finally made a motion toward Keith. I rolled over and grabbed the scalpel that was resting at my side. l lunged toward Danny and sliced him in the bottom of the heel. He yelped in pain as he tried to use his foot to support his balance. He stumbled backwards into the wall. He slid to the ground as bodies burst in from the hole of light coming through the door.

Morning Has Broken

I love how they say "girlfriend."

It's been three days. Keith is recovering. I've been staying in the hospital with him making sure he is ok. He is in a stable condition.

The police put a full scale bulletin to search for Danny. Nothing has come up yet. They think he fled the city and will probably be heading toward the border. Like his little stunt shook him up or something. I don't know what is true or not but I can't feel safe knowing he is still out there. Guards were placed on duty at the hospital. I haven't left here in the past few days instead I've been bunkered down with my computer.

Work isn't back in session yet. Carolyn thinks it is wise to wait until events seem to calm down. She is extremely nervous that how having a man constantly harassing the building might scare off customers.

At The Hospital

I can't even comprehend all this yet. I'm trying to calm down waiting here. So here I'll write what I know

Danny shot Keith. It was late and we were sleeping when we heard the door burst in. We were startled awake to see a man rush into the room. I began to scream but he yelled for us to be quite and gestured at us with a gun. Danny stepped into the light of the t.v that we left on. We were both wrapped into a blanket. I hadn't even put my clothes on.

Keith asked, "What are you doing here Danny."

"Shut up!" he exploded spit shooting off his lips.

I kept trying to shrink away. Keith was pushing me behind him. I was busy wondering where the police were.

"You shouldn't have slept with him. You..you whore!"

Whatever I was about to say was caught in my throat when I looked up and saw his gun pointed right at me.

We were all charged and ready to explode at any movement. My neighbor's door opened and slammed shut. Keith pushed me down and Danny fired the gun hitting him in the shoulder.

Danny turned around and burst out the door. Through the open door I could see my startled neighbor looking in as I yelled to her to call for help.

Keith is in stable condition but I'm still so scared.

Speechless

He shot him. He shot Keith

Let's do what bunnies do

So Keith and I went home together after Carolyn canceled work. We were personally escorted by some officers to my apartment door. They were doing extensive scans of relevant perimeters after today's scare.

We locked the doors and shut the blades. We started pacing around the apartment making sure everything was in order. Maybe we would find something else we could do to feel safer.

Rachel called and told me that she was going to be over tomorrow after she took care of some business with her family to see if we could find a place to stay. She said we should make plans to go somewhere else first thing in the morning.

We didn't know what to do with ourselves. We were both alert and concerned. We couldn't seem to stay still for more than a moment before one of us would pop up and check a window latch or peek out the shades.

I pulled out a bottle of wine I had saved and suggested that we should take a few drinks to calm down. We tried to force ourselves to be still so we turned on the t.v and sat there. We kept looking back and forth at each other in between scenes of shows. We'd catch each other's eyes for a moment and then look away. Slowly as we drained our cups our glances lingered longer until we kissed. We made love there on the couch in the light of the t.v. We just made love. Now.

I bet he's reading this right now. Go to hell Danny.

Faxes and Freaks

At first work was quiet today. Everyone in the office seemed a little unsure about what happened yesterday. No one was sure if they were safe here. It felt like people thought the closer they were to me the more danger they were in.

Keith could see this upset me and told me not to worry about it in the break room. "People are just a little on edge you know?"

I knew he was right. I was too. I just wanted this to stop. We heard a clamoring of voices start coming from out in the main offices. We looked out the plexiglass window separating us from the work station. Everyone was gathered near the fax machine at the far end of the room. Keith and I opened the door and could hear the screech of a copy machine spitting out papers. We pushed toward the front of the group to see what was attracting so much attention.





These were pouring out of the machine. He faxed them to the office. While I crumpled the paper in my fists and started filling them into the trash can the other fax machines around the office erupted one by one into action. The same messages printing out around the office. This is when Carolyn burst from her office with a handful of papers telling everyone to meet in the conference room.

Carolyn called the police and had everyone go home for the day. Beautiful Break-Up would be closed until further notice.

What are you trying to do to me? I don't want anything to do with you!!

FUCK YOU!

Keith and I had come into work together after we made breakfast. Everything was still radiant from last night. It was all I could think about when we went to our separate desks to work away the day.

I was waiting around for a scheduled interview when I got a phone call. I answered it but heard only silence for a few seconds.

"Why did you lie Kat?"

I hesitated for only a second then I slammed the phone against my desk a few times.

I started to scream at the phone. "Why are you doing this?" is what I think I asked. There might have been noise coming from the other end but I'm not entirely sure. I slammed the phone against my desk a few more times before I slammed it off against the hook. I calmed myself before I realized that everyone was looking at me. I tried to look back at everyone who was staring at me. Keith came out of the wall of eyes and directed me into Carolyn's office against a couple of hushed whispers.

Keith was standing before me while I sat opposite of Carolyn. I told Carolyn everything that just happened and she just nodded her head and thought for a moment. She sighed and said this had gone farther than she could take it. She asked us to leave her office and tell everyone to convene in the conference room.

Carolyn walked into the conference a few minutes later and hushed the muted excitement in the room. She told everyone what had been happening over the past few weeks. She said the police were handling the case the best they could but that it was only fair for everyone to know that these things are happening. She encouraged everyone to remain safe and watch out for everyone as best as they could. But we would persevere through this. We would do the best that we could do while the situation is being worked on by the authorities. She asked if anyone had any questions or concerns. No one said anything. After a moment of silence she dismissed everyone

I know you read this you fucker. I hate you. Why are you doing this to me?

Head over Heals

Neither Keith or I had any clients today so he spent the entire day with me in my apartment. We had breakfast and lounged about watching t.v. It was really nice I felt safer around him. He made me feel secure in the madness that was my life at the moment.

Rachel called me in the middle of the day to see if I was doing alright. I told her that I was fine and that Keith was making great company. She said she would see me tomorrow because I was in good hands.

The day slipped away from there. We made dinner and lounged around. Keith suggested that we watch a movie so I made some popcorn. We sat on the couch and snuggled close to eat the popcorn together. The movie ended and I looked up into his eyes.

I told him how fast everything has been moving for me. How afraid I've been. Then I kissed him. We both pulled back and looked a little shocked. We hesitated only for a moment before we locked back together. We kissed for almost ten minutes before we stopped. He held me and I fell asleep on the couch in his arms.

When I woke up he had covered me up and was sleeping on the floor below the couch. I watched him for a few minutes. He was my stability in this chaos. He fixed something that what was wrong inside me. He made me feel something.

Client #5

I came back to work today after being escorted by the officer who had been placed to make sure nothing was going to happen to me. I took a case that another Ender in my department interviewed for last week to help pick up the slack I had left behind. We didn't expect any problems but an officer waited outside the house while I went inside to do my job.

It felt a little weird to start again after so long. I felt a little scared. What if this guy would turn out to be psychotic too? What if I got hurt right here? I shook these fears and knocked on the door. A guy in his mid-30s opened the door named T. He was slobbishly dressed was just getting ready to clean up a massive pile of plates. His Other had specified that after 3 years of dating she was tired of his inability to do anything at all really. He hadn't had a job for about 5 months but what was worse was he hadn't much of a spark for anything for an even longer time.

I tried to tell T. all this and explain that his girlfriend wanted him to move out as soon as possible. He sat silent for a moment. Then tried to speak but kept stopping as if he wanted to carefully choose his words. He managed to say, "But I loved her." finally.

I told him I was sorry but that in this situation his girlfriend had specified that she no longer wanted to be in a relationship. He was silent for a seconds before he brought his hand up to his face and pinched down on the bridge of his nose. He took a few sharp breathes and shuddered. I realized he was crying.

"So what do I do now, how do I move on with my life."

He sobbed silently for a few moments and then I told him that I don't have those answers. I was just doing my job.

I didn't feel bad for T. I thought there was something wrong with me when I realized this. That I had become numb by everything going on around me. I began to wonder if this is just the way life was.

I started to think about Keith. How could we be together knowing what we know. That love fades. Romance is dead

I kept thinking about this all day until I left with Rachel to go babysit me at my place. We were driving back when I just had to ask her a question.

"How do you see what you see everyday and not think every relationship is doomed?"

"I guess I just think these guys just weren't cut out for each other. Not that there is a someone out there. But sometimes you just need to live life with someone. You can't say you just don't want someone sometimes."

What she said was true but what if it was never about the person just the someone.

"Rachel have you ever slept with any of these guys you see?

"Well I don't make it a habit, but it does happen. It's just sex."

I smiled a little when she said that as I realized we were at the door to the apartment.

And We're Back at the Start

So I'm back in the city and I'm going to try and explain everything that was happening in the last week or so. So Carolyn thought that my apartment break in might be related to Danny showing up at work. She told me to leave town for a while and she would contact me when it was safe to come back to work. Work paid for my lodging and travel. I think Carolyn feels partly responsible because her business plan caused this. I'm not blaming anyone. The plan now is to ease back into work with support from around the office.



Carolyn warned me about the door before hand. No one saw him do it. They stepped up the seriousness of the case after this happened. I'm working on getting this out of here as soon as possible.

After I left Carolyn contacted the police and gave them all the information. They went to his house but he wasn't there and hasn't returned. The police monitored my apartment but never picked up Danny.

The police found his blog through a comment he left me on one of my posts. Meaning he had been reading what I'm putting up. I couldn't keep posting information before any of this happened because he might try and run. When the police found his blog they contacted blogger to track the isp he posted from. They followed it back to a remote router in another empty apartment The police have left an officer to watch my building at all times and another to escort me to work and secure Beautiful Break-Up's premises. So you fucking asshole I know you are reading this and if you try and come near me again your ass is going straight to jail.

Rachel started coming over to make sure I'm not freaking out after work. Keith started coming too after Rachel told him I was back. They've really helped with how shaken up I've been by this and I thank them with all my heart.

I Have to Leave For A Bit

I don't have much time to type too much in this message. I have a bit of a problem. I'm taking a week off of work. I can't say where I'm going right now but I can give some quick reason.

I came back to my apartment today and my door was standing a bit ajar. My stuff had been turned upside down and ruffled about. I immediately called Rachel who told me me to call Carolyn. Carolyn came over with the police and told me she would be paying me to go stay away for a little while while they looked into it. We have a few ideas what is going on. I can't even tell Keith where I'll be.

I'm pretty shaken up right now.

Nerves On Edge

Alright so I'm freaking out a bit. Keith was out on assignment and I hadn't seen him since we departed outside the party Saturday. Rachel was also out on a day off. I didn't even have any clients scheduled for an interview today so I re-read and double checked some files and read-outs.

I was sitting at my desk most of the day just folding some business cards into different shapes. Remember that client that I had called D. well confidentiality be damned the guy's name is actually Danny. And he showed up to my desk in the middle of the day.

He approached the desk and asked if he could sit down for a few moments. I didn't see anything wrong with that so I offered him a seat.

He went right into it

"I got to really thank you Mrs. Lambert you probably did the greatest thing for me in my life."

I was a little taken a back so I told him I was just doing my job but I'm glad he is doing well. Then we just sat there for a moment of silence before he broke back in.

"So I've been thinking about what you said about me being a catch and was wondering if you wanted to go out on a date sometime."

I felt embarrassed that I had given him the wrong message. I tried to explain to him that I'm sure he was a swell guy but I wasn't really looking for a relationship.

"What about that guy you work with."

I became alarmed while I tried to figure out how he knew about Keith but tried to remain professional. I told him that was none of his business and he would have to leave if he kept asking me questions about my personal life.

"Why would you tell me a lie Kat?"

I gave him one more chance but he just asked the same question without raising his voice.

I paged Carolyn and said I was having some issues with security at my desk. A few minutes later Carolyn came in escorted by two guards that worked for the building. They asked him to leave and he willingly got up and walked out with the guards.

Carolyn told me to go home for the day and that we would talk tomorrow.

Pull Shapes

Tonight was filliping amazing. We went to a big night club in the Upper East Side called Venom. I don't even know where to begin to describe how awesome it was. So I'll let the pictures do it for me.



This is that little club called Venom!




And here is a picture of Keith and Rachel

And yes Keith and I danced. And yeah he's not bad.

It's Just the Perfect Day

I can't even believe today.

I had a catch-up-on-paperwork-day around the office and so did a couple of the other Enders closing out the final ripples of Valentine's Day. It was pretty slow and I was placing papers into folders when Rachel rang my desk phone and asked if I could grab a stack of folders for her from the supply room.

The supply room is just a modified walk in closest with four shelves of office supplies. I walked in to look for the file and noticed Keith crouched in the corner flipping through a stack of file labels. I almost stopped before he could see me and walk out but the sound of a door being pulled closed alerted him to my presence. We both looked at the door when we heard the distinct click of a lock being turned over.

"Shit this happens sometimes people lock each other in as a joke. I wonder who was trying to prank you."

"I have my ideas."

I could have killed her.

But then we started to talk. He mentioned how I must be the new girl and that he had heard my initial numbers were impressive coming right out of training. When we realized no one was going to be needing new pens for a while we started talking about being new to the city. He said when he first moved here it was difficult at first to find the best places to go for a drink. And then he asked if I wanted to go out this weekend to one of his favorite places. I didn't say anything but must have looked slightly shocked. He quickly followed up that he and some guys are going to a night club this weekend and that I should come with Rachel.

I said, "Okie Dokie."

Are you kidding me? Okie Dokie. What the hell is wrong with you Kat.

We must have been there for nearly 15 minutes before a guy from accounting keyed in to get a stack of post-it notes.

I looked across the office to see that Rachel was giving me a thumbs up when I walked out of the supply closest. I almost burst out laughing right there.

Later in the day I got a call that was just the person on the phone breathing slightly heavy. I told Rachel that it was very funny but she was going to have to grow up by Friday night.

Client #4

Rush week continues with the cleanup of the Valentine's Day Massacre. I popped into the company car and headed to a tiny suburb on the outside of the city. I knocked on a small one story house's front door. Mr. H. opened the door dressed in a splattered painter's smock. H. was a small time painter just entering his 30s. He was married to his wife, L., for 2 years. L. was growing tired of the lifestyle and wanted to get away. She was going to move into the city and start with a fresh slate.

Carolyn told me that marriage cases have happened before. In these situations we help the partner file all the legal paperwork and serve it to the target on top of the standard services provided. We can't sit in for the partner on legal meetings but we offer a service to help get them on their way to a healed heart. H. didn't really seem to believe me when I told him all this. He asked who was I to tell him that message. How could I be the person who could tell him that his fucking wife was leaving him. I told him I was just carrying out the wishes of my client. His face flashed disgust and he looked at me like I was garbage when he signed off the paperwork.

I tried to avoid Rachel at work today. I didn't want to know what she had to say about Keith and I was pretty much in a bum mood already.

Client #3

I went to work straight into a termination scheduled last Friday. This was my first of the post-Valentine's Day break-ups. I had to wonder if this lady decided to do this after seeing the ad Carolyn placed. This guy J. was working on washing his car when I approached his spot. His file said he was in his mid 20s. His partner had said that their interests no longer lined up. This wasn't an immediate thing though. She had tried to deal with their differences. The biggest problem was that some fundamental issues divided them. Primarily a dialog on spirituality. I read this to him and wished I had made something else up. He looked crushed. Wounded almost, like I had struck him myself. His eyes started to mist a little but he rubbed it away like the sun was reflecting off his car's hood. I asked him if he wanted to step inside. He said no and just listened to my piece and signed the termination acceptance papers.

Yesterday Rachel and I met for coffee and to go over the details on the guy I had just terminated and who she would be meeting for a romance plan session tonight at an upscale restaurant. After the success of our last pairing Carolyn had decided to experiment with teaming us together to see if our numbers would stay high. At work Rachel caught me eying a guy filling up a cup of coffee at the other end of the break room.

Rachel looked down her celery stick at me and said

"You want some of that?"

I could have killed her as she looked past me at him.

"His name is Keith. He's an Ender just like you but in the Male-to-Female sector of the business. Been here for about seven months now."

My cheeks were burning when she told me she could help set me up if I wanted.

Client #2

Today I terminated my second target. This one was particularly tough because it was a couple days before Valentine's Day. Poor guy didn't even seem to see it coming. His name was T. and was in his late 20s. His partner listed that he wasn't assertive enough and she didn't feel needed. She was actually cheating on him with another person but didn't want that to be brought up in the break-up. He started yelling at me telling me he wanted to see her right now and tried to call her. When she didn't pick up he flipped his coffee table over. I tried to remain calm and insistent as I gave him my spiel. I explained to him I was just doing my job. Don't shoot the messenger fella. Eventually he calmed down and signed the paper. I got up and left him sitting on his couch just staring at his record cabinet.

Rachel has been showing me around the city. She took me out to an asian fusion sushi bar. We didn't have anything as exotic as that in South Dakota. We went shopping around after that. Rachel is pretty direct sometimes but I like that. She asked me if I was looking for anything or anyone specifically in the city. I told her I didn't know. Rachel has a certain confidence about her that makes me enjoy spending time with her.

Also Carolyn called me into her office to talk about the reports of the first termination. Passed with flying colors. All parties were pleased with my services. Oh and she showed me the advertising that the company just put out for restless hearts in the Seattle area.

The Squirrels and the Birds Come

I was just about to complain how this weekend was a wash but then I had a pretty awesome day at work.

I met for a couple of interviews to set up termination days for the coming week and next week. The office is buzzing because Valentine's Day is coming up. Why is that a big deal you might ask? Well I was a little confused too. Apparently statistics show a large increase in the number of break-ups in the weeks prior to and after Valentine's Day. Which for us means more business and a hectic couple of weeks.

But the extra work wasn't the most exciting part of the day. I made some real human connections at work.

So I was sitting eating my lunch in the break room when a girl came up to me and introduced herself as Rachel. She said she was one of the Wings who sees the targets post-termination and helps get them through their struggles. She said she had a date last night with the guy I terminated last week. She told me that he asked about me. I joked with her that I really know how to leave an impression on guys. We talked for a little while. She is about my age and has been with the company from the get go. She's been living in Seattle for most of her life. When I told her that I'd just moved here for the job she said we'd have to go out sometime and she'd show me the hot spots in the city once the Valentine's Day crunch slowed down.

Cheers to that!

Client #1

So I showed up to work on time and got straight to work on the final touches of the termination I would do today. I'm not going to lie, I was pretty nervous.

Carolyn came over to wish me good luck and to "knock him dead," and gave me the keys to the company car. I got lost and drove all over the city to find out where South Alaska street was before I finally rolled up on a small apartment building near the bottom of the city.

I got out of the car, straightened my suit, and checked to make sure I had all the paperwork ready before I went over and rang the bell for D.'s section. When he answered I told him I was a specialist sent to talk to him for a few minutes. It's best to get a foot in the door before you break the news.

I met D. on the second floor of the building and he let me into a small clean apartment. When he opened the door I shot my hand out in greeting and he invited me to sit down on his couch. D. was a short man in his middle 20s but was already seeing his hairline thinning at the top. He had a friendly smile when he said he had to go into the kitchen to take a pot of the stove. I looked around the room to take in my surroundings. Across from the couch there was a nice sized t.v on an entertainment center with dvd's neatly arranged in a shelf. Next to the t.v was a bookshelf packed with books and picture frames. A couple triumphantly displaying him and S. together.

D. came back into the room and asked what this was all about and I quickly remembered what I had come to do. We are supposed to confirm identities to verify the situation. He said he was a Mr. D. and that he was in fact dating a Mrs. S. for several lovely months. I felt a twinge of guilt as I looked into his friendly eyes.

I said to him, "Well Mr. D. I'm an employee for Beautiful Break-Up and Mrs. S. has employed our services to inform you that she wishes to end the romantic relationship that exists between you." When I finished I let out a big breath. The weird thing was D. just sat there and stared at me like he didn't even hear any of that.

I might have sat there for a few minutes if I hadn't come prepared. So I said, "Now I understand this all may be very confusing and I understand how you must feel but you must understand these are the wishes of Mrs. S." He continued to just sit there and stare past me. I slid him a piece of paper to sign verifying that he has heard the message and that I've performed my job. I also informed him that S. wished to express she would rather not be contacted any further.

I pulled out another packet containing a standard brochure the company prints-out for targets to read. It contains a bunch of quotes pertaining to the ending of relationship. "There are plenty of fish in the sea." "Every end is also a new beginning." That sort of song and dance. It's protocol.

I told him that one of our company's services included a "post-termination counseling session." Basically in a couple days another employee will contact him and plan a date at a bar or restaurant. They are made available for expressing emotions and will help make an action plan about how to move on. Around the office they are known as "Wings."

I started to stand up and get my papers in order. D. continued to sit and stare at the wall behind me. I could have just left but he looked so sad. I told him "Again I'm very sorry Mr. D. but I'm sure there are plenty of women who would want to go out with you." His eyes darted from the wall and looked at me. "Really?" he asked me inquisitively. "Sure," I responded, "I think plenty of women would think you're a good catch." He was practically beaming after I said that.

It wasn't my place to say anything like that but I think I made him feel better. And I was able to consider my first termination a success.

Dress-up

At work I had a day to finish excess paper work and prepare all the documentation needed to do the ending tomorrow. It was a pretty slow day all and all.

After work I went downtown to do some necessary shopping I picked up this jacket and a matching dress skirt.




I have nice clothes to wear to work but this just called to me. It looked so formal and demanding. I think it gives me an authority of professionalism that will tell that guy tomorrow that it's over.

Real Work. Real People.

I went to work with my spirits a little higher. I finally realized I should be excited because I was about to start my first actual career. I got to work early to start going over the info sheets and prep my speech modeled on the role-plays from last week.

I'm not really sure what I can say about the details of my job without breaching my contract but we have to collect info on the victim from the "initiating party," in a very rigid, structured way. But what we do with that info isn't a science, it is an art.

We need to get a good physical i.d on the target (preferably a photo) so that Enders, like myself, can get a good idea what the guy looks like. Really feel him out.

Then we have to ask for a brief history of the romance. How it started, when it started, why it started. Next we go over the details as to why the romance is in the progress of termination. At which point we allow the initiator to reflect and discuss their relationship qualms. We do this in order for the initiator to confirm the certainty of termination by signing a non-binding legal document stating how Beautiful Break-Up is not clinically, or legally, responsible for any feelings caused by the initiating party post-ending. We have to inform the party of this at every meeting. And I know what you were wondering, it is a mouthful.

So my first client opens the door and a middle-aged woman comes in. I should mention I'm professionally bound to not share information that can identify a client. I'll call her S. just for ease. So S. comes in and says she wants to get out of her relationship and we start getting into all the bureaucracy of it. It was all really cut and dry. Her and the victim, D., met seven months ago at a bar. He danced with her, bought her drinks, and called her the next morning. Swell guy. So things go well but S. starts to get annoyed by D.'s quirks. He's too needy, he's too dependent, he's too short. S. knows this relatively early but every time she goes to break up with D. he talks her out of it for various reasons. Three attempts later she is fed up with trying and saw our ad in the Times.

It all went extremely smoothly and according to protocol. But when we are finishing up the initiating interview. S. put on her coat and shook my hand. While she was shaking my hand she gives me a cautionary stare and tells me to be careful with D. because he gets upset over bad news and tries to talk away a problem rather than accept it.I don't anticipate any problems. "Firm and professional," as Carolyn says.

Missed The Boat

What a shitty weekend that was. I did nothing but sit on the couch watching t.v marathons hoping someone would whisk me away to do something fun. I mean come on this was my first weekend in this big, exciting, new city. But here I am coming out of it and into a really bad mood.

I guess I do this to myself all the time though. I mean not having fun, or expecting to have fun, or expecting to not have fun. In all honesty I can't say I'm surprised. During high school in South Dakota I lived in a small town with a few close friends. When it came to college I wanted to move to a big college in a big city. Fast forward a couple of years I wind up at a small state school for monetary reasons. I can't pretend like I wasn't a little disappointed. I didn't really have the "college experience." I rarely went out to parties or make many long lasting friends. I just sort of thought everything would just happen for me and I'd be happy.

So have I learned from this? Apparently not, because instead of picking myself up and going out to meet new people I sat in my room hoping my new neighbors would come knock on my door and talk to me. I can't expect much from an old Polish couple who don't seem to speak English and a boring woman who is violating her lease by harboring at least six cats.

I know I'm just letting my past issues threaten the excitement I have for being here and starting my life fresh and happy. I mean it has been a week. I can't sit here acting like my entire life in Seattle is shot because of one boring weekend. After all work is going really well. Carolyn says I'm doing very well with the role-plays and I have a talent for being sympathetic but direct. Tomorrow I have my first interview with a client as I take on my first real case. Everything is fine.

I hope.

First Day

So you may or may not know that today was my first day at work. I didn't actually work so much as start the process of a two day pre-job training to get me oriented to the company and expected job performance.

The entire reason I came to Seattle was to pursue this job offer I got after searching for a really long time. So when I got an offer I jumped at the chance because it was either this, or I would be flipping burgers while my degree hung on a wall crying.

When I applied all I knew was that I was qualified for the job and that was just about enough at the time. But when I got the offer I looked into the company a little more. It certainly isn't what I thought I would be doing with my life.

Like I said the company is called Beautiful Break-Up. It is a company that people can call up and hire other people to break-up with their boyfriend or girlfriend so they don't have to. What's more their tagline is "Love Is Hard. We Make It Easy." I honestly thought this was some joke but it turns out my boss Carolyn Eves started the business up three years ago and people really took to it. So naturally a growing business is looking to expand which is why I caught a break.

The job title I now have is officially a "Third-Party Ender." That is just a fancy name for the people who do all the "dirty work," as Carolyn says. My job requirements include dealing with people on a personal, intimate, level, traveling all around the city, and delivering potentially bad news to the "Client's Other," or as Carolyn jokingly called them "targets."

My training today consisted of an introduction to the office and spending most of the day watching those videos on sexual harassment and office conduct found in any business around the country. At the end I was given a large packet that I have to read tonight that will prepare me for role-playing scenarios that we are going over tomorrow. So I have to go read that now and learn how to become an expert about breaking up with people that I don't know.

Off to read, prepare, and bed. Oh and check out my fancy business card. This makes it real. I actually have a job now.

Such a Tourist

I finished unpacking early this morning and didn't really have anything else to do. So I figured hey, new to the city, why don't I get acquainted.

So I went on a whirlwind tour of the city and here is my day in pictures!


Picture of 1st avenue a bloc down from my apartment.


Had to make my way to the space needle.


Oooooooo!


Bye space needle!


I hit the center at night, it was fun just walking around.


I guess if job training doesn't go well tommorrow I have options. Kidding! :p

Well I should get to sleep now. Up and early for my orientation to the company. Wish me luck!

Crazy and Chaotic

Darn I was hoping my first post could really convey what I wanted to express with this blog but things are way too hectic in my life right now.

I'll give you the short list though:

Hi my name is Kat nice to meet you.
I just got a job offer in Seattle.
So I moved here.
It is for a company called Beautiful Break-Up.
I'll explain more later but my job is basically to break-up people who don't want to do it themselves.
I'm really excited to live in the city.
I wanted to really keep track of what I'm doing and do some new and different things in my life.

I'm off to a bad start but that is because I have so much to unpack and get settled in and I'm really nervous about starting job training in a couple of days.

Maybe I'll get back to post some more tonight if I'm ever comfortable with how my furniture is arranged.