Quitting on Purpose!!!!

Lovingly polishing Bessie’s headlights. Close friends will know: there is nothing I love more than a cold beer and waxing my car. I am my father’s daughter.

If you discovered that you were making a dollar less than your male colleagues, what would you do? Would you ask for a raise? Leverage the fact that you’ve been given more responsibility than your peers? That you’ve been the top salesperson every month since you arrived?

And if the company said “no,” what would you do?

I would leave.

My exit was quiet and full of hugs. I gave the proper amount of notice. I received many well-wishes and support, especially from those male colleagues. Last glasses of wine abounded at Sally’s house, where she cracked an old bottle of Bordeaux. We stayed up late talking, and she made me a cappuccino in the morning. I was sad to go, I was too angry to stay.

When I gave up acting at 17, I learned the difference between quitting and giving up. There is a distinct, painful difference. Anytime I consider leaving something now, I ask myself, “Are you quitting? Or are you giving up?” In this case, I quit. I can read writing on the wall.

Sure, respect doesn’t pay my bills — but it sure does drive me. And if I don’t feel respected, well, sayonara and good luck to you.

Happy travels,

Allaira

A money shot for my sales listing. I feel like I’m selling my child. It churns my stomach. Check out the listing here.

I miss leaving Ange lunchbox notes. We had this bit where I would lunch before him at work, quickly jot down a sketch, and leave it in our shared lunchbox. I’d tell him his stalker struck again.

A versatile girl! I occasionally picked up kitchen porter shifts, and honestly, commercial dishwashing is… Fun??

During the last Lodge Tasting I hosted, I had four lovely Virginians. Halfway through the tasting, it came out that one of them was a professor of wine chemistry. “Well, that’s not intimidating at all,” I joked. We all laughed.

Going away drinks. Sally used to run her own catering business and gifted me with two of my favorite recipes she created. She made me promise not to publish them. I’ll serve them for you at a dinner party sometime.

The prettiest cellar door award goes to Caldera Estate in Akaroa.

The face of a man who is definitely “not enjoying” Puzzling World.

My favorite corner at Jash’s place. I love his Goldpark Camp clubhouse that walks the line between motorsports and yogi vibes. Admire the painting on the top right.

You can take the girl out of Iowa…