sabato, febbraio 24, 2007

Countdown

So I gave notice yesterday and mostly people at work are jealous, which wasn't the reaction I was expecting. I mean, it doesn't take an enviable effort of will to drive your 'career' in mainstream media advertising into a big brick wall at full tilt. It just takes, I don't know, not doing it anymore. I guess I'm luckier than I can really fathom with the F-word. Yesterday really gave me the feeling lots of people are just doing what they're doing, lots of people have slipped into that tender trap, to maintain the nice stable situation their life-partner type expects - or that they think their life partner expects.

Speaking of which, when I was speaking with my lovely manager about my departure, I alluded to the F-word as my 'partner' and when he sent my notice around the office he used the 'partner' word too. Two minutes later, I got a message from a colleague saying I'd always intrigued her. Do you think that means she thinks I'm gay? Or is it just me who assumes gaiety whenever she hears someone describe her lover as her partner? Not really believing in marriage and hoping this relationship lasts, I feel the need to think of a new epithet to replace partner - not that I have a problem with the events manager thinking I'm gay - it's just sort of a cold word. In France, where they don't have common-law marriage, they call people you live with without marrying 'la concubine' or 'le concubin', but English being useless we don't have a word for a boy concubine. So I'm looking for suggestions . . .

7 commenti:

Dale ha detto...

Bonkubine?

Dread Pirate Jessica ha detto...

Perfect. Take *that,* Academie Francaise; it's called a "living language."

Melbine ha detto...

Yeah, I'm incredibly used to saying 'partner' as well - working for the government makes you extremely politically correct. We all call each other's spouses 'partner's. Hmm..I like bonkubine, but wouldn't it be funny if you said 'my bitch'??!

Did you hear my message the other night? Oh and one more thing - CONGRATS on giving your notice!! That is the BEST feeling in the world.

Dread Pirate Jessica ha detto...

It would be funny, but a little vague, since everybody I have a sincere emotional/non-genetic attachment to gets called 'my bitch' eventually. Maybe someday he'll be my babydaddy and we can put this categorization issue behind us.

I did - but I always get nervous about calling houses with babies in case they're napping. Tuesday evening would be a good time to call - I work until 7:30 because of the tutoring but after that I'm free.

Sugarplum ha detto...

I sometimes refer to the dude as my man when I'm looking at someone who would misinterpret and start imagining things if I used the word partner. But I think more and more people are using the word partner and it is becoming less loaded with gay implications. I say stick with it until something more obvious comes along. Let people think what they think - you're doing the gay-rights movement a favour by being implicated as gay.

Congrats at the notice giving. The dude and I were thinking of coming to visit you before you go - he has a march break. I'll call and we can discuss.

Dread Pirate Jessica ha detto...

That would be lovely. Next weekend my parents are here so that's hard. The weekend after that I'm having going away celebrations so if you can make it then that'd be fun and of course you can have the futon. The weekend after that, though, I'll be in Vancouver.

Another possibility is that we'll be flying out of Montreal so you could come meet us on the afternoon of the 24th, or the 23rd, when we'll be there.

Sugarplum ha detto...

Your going away weekend was what we had in mind (March 9 etc.). We'll chat.