ClientRanting

An unexpected dinner with clients last night started my weekend off on a less-than-happy note. I was not expecting this group of 14 women to want me to make dinner arrangements for them, nor was I expecting to go out with them. But they seemed to think I should have known that it was my role to have anticipated their expectations and to have met them. This is a relatively new client, so I'm still learning. So, thanks to my wife, who co-owns our business, we got early reservations on a Friday night at a high-traffic restaurant.

The last two times I've met with the board of directors, there was no such expectation. In fact, I think we were both perfectly happy to go our own ways during non-business hours. This is a group of people who take their jobs far too seriously. At least a few of them are hyper-religious...cross-wearing, gospel-spouting, holier-than-though people with whom I share only one thing: we belong to the same species.

I tend toward being fundamentally offensive to fundamentalists of their ilk, so I assumed they'd be much happier on their own, doing what they're perpetually going on about...shopping. I have always believed it was unfair to stereotype women as addicted to shopping...I know it is unfair. But these women give the stereotype the shred of support that lets it linger. Their harping on handbags could drive me to drink.

The fact that they selected a date for their board meeting that I had not cleared for them was a bit of an upset, too. My wife and I have season tickets to a small theater nearby and this group's meeting and dinner conflicted with our tickets. Fortunately for us, we were invited by someone else to go to the same play tonight, instead, so we will. But after a long day dealing with them, I'll not be in much of a mood for a play. I'll get over it.

Tomorrow morning, I will relish a few cups of dark, strong, hot coffee and perhaps I will blog about something less mundane than my worklife and far more meaningful to the blogosphere. At least I hope so. And, of course, I will read lots of MSM and blogs and will sort through the allegations and assertions and select those I find most believable. And from there, my day will move on.