Promotion - denied.

It's Monday morning, the day I am supposed to get my promotion to running three minutes. I am nervous though, because the boss has called me into her office.

"Good morning, Cathy", she says. "Or, should I say, good afternoon. You haven't even thought about running, yet, have you?"

"Well," I stammer. "It's not really my fault. Tony is working all day, and Nanny is in the hospital. I'm trying."

"Really? You call two runs in 8 days "trying". Look, if you ever want to remove the quotes from around the word running on your blog, you are going to have to get out 3 to 4 times a week. You need to come up with solutions."

"You're right. Do you think the kids would be okay home alone for half an hour?"

She raises her eyebrows at me. "Realistic solutions. Hire a babysitter. Get up in the morning before the kids. You have to figure out how to get what you want."

"I thought I was. I haven't done anything for me in more than six years - I think running even twice a week is huge for me." I am trying to stay calm. The last time I was reamed out by a boss like this was almost four years ago. I won't let her make me cry.

"It is progress. But if you want what you say you want - step it up. Now, look, I know you think you are getting your promotion today. But you haven't earned it. You'll have to stay at two minutes this week. Come see me next week, and we'll talk. That is all."

I start to argue, then think the better of it. I do think she's taking this a tad too seriously, but there's just no point when she's in that kind of mood. I'll run the two minutes again for this week. But, man, I better get promoted next week.