Driving to Richmond

I'm working until noon today, having lunch, then driving to Richmond, VA where my company's headquarters is located. I'm not actually going into the office this afternoon, but having dinner with 2 colleagues and my boss' new boss, whom we've not met yet.

The dinner was certainly not my idea, but I have to go along with it so I will appear to be a "team player". I like my 2 colleagues well enough, but am a little anxious about having dinner with our boss' new boss. Since we're not in the office I'm sure he's going to want to "get to know" us, which makes me wonder just how much of myself to share with these people. I don't want to seem aloof or unfriendly, but to be perfectly honest I am not looking to be friends with these people. I have friends of my choosing, and have always felt there should be a healthy separation of my work life and private life. But in a situation like this (4 of us at a table) if you don't share, you may evoke suspicion. So I'm going to try and walk that tight rope of sharing just enough to appear to be participating, yet not so much that I feel like my privacy is compromised.

And this is not about revealing (or not) that I'm gay. I've been out at work for years, but since I don't work in an office with these people, the subject hasn't come up with most of them. One of my colleagues knows (and has probably told others) which is fine. Its just different than it was when I worked in an office with people, and saw them and talked to them everyday, and they would see the photo of Spouse & me on my desk. So hopefully we'll just have a nice dinner with conversation that isn't too awkward or uncomfortable.

I should probably expect to be asked those ridiculous questions upper management always seem to like to ask, such as "What motivates you?" and "Where do you see yourself in 5 years?" I've been asked these questions several times, and I hate that sh*t. What do they expect you to say? I'm motivated by money? I'm motivated by attempting to make the world a better place? In 5 years I see myself being asked these same questions by your replacement? So I should probably think of some bullsh*t answers that don't sound like bullsh*t answers, just to be on the safe side. But for sure I will put on a smile and play nice.

I will drive my own (rental) car to dinner so I can (hopefully) meet up with fellow blogger and Richmond resident Kelly after dinner. That will be just the opportunity I need to relax after dinner with my boss' new boss.

Crush du Jour: Jonathan Isaiah