Hey gang (please, no Colby's Mother jokes...it's time to make fun of a new season of people)

Just thought I'd post and tell you how our attempted first day back at work was - not too great, but to that story in a second.

First, the "Neglected Email Shout-Out" which is far more important. For whatever weird reason that's still going on with our phone lines (mine are still about 50-50 working/not working), I can't get email to go through to some of you that I owe an email to. So, listen up to the following posters - SUPERMAN, DALTON, TINKERBELL AND MONKEYBOY - I tried emailing you back and the system wouldn't respond! So, tons of love to you guys (and to everyone else here too!) and I promise something more personal than this post as soon as my email stops acting funky! MAKE IT STOP, I did manage to get an email to you before my system went all weird, so I hope you got it!

Now, on to the events of NY and my first day back at work, if this is okay with you guys...

Weeeell, I'm still very much freaked out, and today didn't help. They briefly opened up our offices, and it was pretty scary going into work again today, to be honest. The subways were running all weird, and we had a bit of an unnerving situation on the train. At one point, the train we were on, to avoid tunnel congestion, announced it was running from Queens straight into Brooklyn, and skipping Manhattan (we hadn't gotten out of Queens at that point). So, at the next stop, everyone plodded off that train and onto the one across the subway platform, which was making normal stops into Manhattan. Well, when we all piled onto the second train, this one poor girl already on there started freaking out, thinking we were being attacked again and that that's why we were all piling on there! She began to hyperventilate and I truly thought she was going to faint! This man gave her his seat, and another woman eased her down by the shoulders and just very soothingly reassured her, "It's okay, we're safe, they just ran the other train express into Brooklyn, we're okay..." Very freaky! Plus, one of the things I feared - this total hoodlum teenager began harrassing a homeless man who was clearly of Arabic descent - we were glad when that little punk got off the train!

So, we all get to the office - and of course, everyone's stomachs just rolled, walking past the window of reception and seeing NO Twin Towers, just a huge cloud of still smoldering rubble and dust where they were. We all immediately found other people we'd headed out to safety with on Tuesday, and we all began telling our stories again, and what had taken place since we left each other. Some of us were crying again, everyone was hugging, and all looking very somber and pinched. Our CEO, Donny, herded us all into the conference area to give us a pep talk around 10:30 AM, saying that we were only back to try and start to get through all this. That it had nothing to do with business or dollars and cents - just to be around each other and re-connect. He was really good about it - he said if we just wanted to sit at our desks and cry, fine. If we wanted to go out and sit in the park for hours, that was okay too. If we just wanted to talk and talk about how we felt, it was okay. He made it clear that work was taking a back seat for the next couple days till we all felt like we could cope. Then he announced that at 12 PM, there would be a crisis counselor to come in and have a group discussion for whoever wanted to attend, since we'd all seen the attacks first hand. We all just milled about talking some more till the counselor arrived, and then about 20 of us went, myself included. Now, let me just say first, in my opinion, I didn't want to go to work today. I was scared. I wanted to just sit out the rest of the week and process this and come in on Monday. Plus there were people far more freaked out than I was, so if I wanted to sit out the week with as scared as I was, you can imagine how badly others wanted to stay home too. So, there we are, at around 1 PM, in this group therapy session in the conference area - we had just started to make some progress with the counselor, people finally letting out their feelings and saying how they felt - more crying, of course. For what happened next, I don't need to tell you that of course an attack like this only brings more wackos out of the woodwork. So, as a result, we've had about four phony bomb threats around Manhattan today - Empire State Building, Penn Station, Grand Central Station, and the Conde Nast building, which is in the heart of Times Square and is a huge skyscraper where lots of different magazines and newspapers are published. They were all phony threats, but still, at this point, the authories are taking all precautions to evacuate. So, here we are in this therapy session, all totally reliving this trauma, when Donny comes in and announces we're closing for the rest of the day and for tomorrow too as a result of some of the phony bomb threats. I mean, if that ain't irony, I don't know what is! We wound up getting RE-traumatized all over again in the group therapy session, the very thing the company arranged to try and help us! So, I'm home again till Monday....I just wish we'd been closed today to begin with so the added "freaking out" during the session wouldn't have happened!

Glad to be here with you guys - I love you, as always.

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• RE: The aftermath of today, and a shout-out to neglected emails!,Ronnet, 06:00 PM, 09-13-01
• The end of a screen name,AyaK, 06:25 PM, 09-13-01
  • RE: The end of a screen name,ItzLisa, 07:17 PM, 09-13-01
    • RE: The end of a screen name,moonbaby, 11:12 PM, 09-13-01
      • RE: The end of a screen name,ItzLisa, 00:16 AM, 09-14-01
  • RE: The end of a screen name,Dalton, 11:34 PM, 09-13-01
• RE: The aftermath of today, and a shout-out to neglected emails!,LadyT, 06:33 PM, 09-13-01
• RE: The aftermath of today, and a shout-out to neglected emails!,janisella, 10:13 PM, 09-13-01
• RE: The aftermath of today, and a shout-out to neglected emails!,MakeItStop, 09:13 AM, 09-14-01

*Hugs ItzLisa real tight*

Love you hon!

Roni

Itzy, your story about the harassment on the subway train, along with other issues that have been bothering me about using the name, gives me an opening to announce that, as of today, the "AyatollahKhomeini" screen name will be retired. Webby and I have been talking about this for awhile, so it isn't a sudden decision (that's why I added the "AyaK" name in the first place) -- but the events of this week made it clear to both of us what the right course of action was.

I will continue to post as "AyaK".

LAST EDITED ON 09-13-01 AT 07:21 PM (EST)

Oh, Aya.... I am so totally touched, you have no idea, and I think everyone here probably is as well! In case I haven't told you lately, you have a heart as big as a house, and I love ya! I always thought it was ironic that such a kind, calm, diplomatic person had that screen name (LOL!)

Smooches and (((hugs!))) to the new AyaK - sorry about your DAW's!

EDIT to BUMP so that Dalton, Supe, Munky and Tink know I tried to reach them today.

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Lisa girl,
Seeing what we've both been thru, if you need to talk, you let me know, I'll be back at you in a flash.
Hang tough,
moon

Oh, Moonie, baby! Same goes for you too, honey - not sure what you've been through yourself, but probably just as much and just as bad. Email me if you need to, okay? Love ya!

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LAST EDITED ON 09-13-01 AT 11:44 PM (EST)

>as of today, the "AyatollahKhomeini" screen
>name will be retired.
>Webby and I have been
>talking about this for awhile,
>so it isn't a sudden
>decision .... but the
>events of this week made
>it clear to both of
>us what the right course
>of action was.
>
>I will continue to post as
>"AyaK".

Dear AyaK, I think the above is one of the reasons I admire you so. You are always thinking, sifting, adjusting and responsive.

All qualities I find admirable in a grown man!

I'm sorry for the unnecessary head/heart aches we have given you over the Summer. I know that you would appreciate being able to ENJOY yourself here more than playing "School Crossing Guard".

Anyway, with my Texas accent it has always sounded like "Hi Ya K" to me; so the not-so-new posting name suits me just fine!! LOL.

Just promise me that you won't throw up your hands and decide you have better ways to spend your time (which, sigh, I know you do). Especially on the Spoilers Board!! Maybe you could explain to some of them: THIS is why I agree/disagree with A,B,C....and let them figure out D,E,F,G,H,I,J,K by their little ole lonesome!!! (Just a suggestion; but, hey, they're big boys.)

If I haven't told you lately....you are one of the important ingredients that keeps this place alive and well....and growing! So there!! Now I have gone and done it; gushed all over AyaK in public.....how will I ever live this down??
(Icon for hysterical fit of laughter inserted here.)

Dalton

Edited to add: Ooops, forgot to add to LISA --- I wasn't worried. I knew you would get around to replying when you could....glad you have the long weekend to reflect on all the GOOD things in your life. D.

*Hugs Itz*
We areall here for you

Wow, that's heavy. I'm sorry you had to go through that.

J.

Lisa, I'm sorry to hear about this. I hope you are OK. I'm sure it is going to be especially hard for NY'ers. I did get your email, thanks.