Throwing myself out the door

I had the apartment to myself, as torvo was away visiting friends for the weekend. My days continue to be filled with Splinter Cell: Pandora tomorrow multiplayer on the Xbox. Both Friday and Saturday nights, though, I booted myself out of the apartment and out into society to interact with people. I was glad I did both times.

Friday night was waywardbound's birthday party at a fabulous place in San Francisco called Kennedy's. This place is a combination Irish pub and Indian food restaurant. Plus they have air hockey tables in the back! Good atmosphere. Also about 30 people showed up to celebrate Rayness. Although I didn't get much of a chance to chat with the birthday boy, I did have several good conversations with people I haven't had much of a chance to chat with.

Saturday evening was spent at the Disaster House Party. I almost didn't go. When I did go, I thought I'd just stick around for an hour or two, say hi to a few folks. I was surprised to find unseelie23 there, and happy to learn that he and tshuma aren't the same person, and also happy that their being in the same place at the same time didn't bring about an apocalypse. Many folks variously seemed fascinating and/or looked great (special shout-out to shipofools999 who looked verrrrrrry sexy) and there looked like there were some people there that I'd like to meet and get to know better. I did make one surprising connection that seemed unexpected from both sides, but verrrry nice. I finally forced myself to leave and didn't get to bed 'till 4:45AM or so.

Two late nights in a row made for a very sleepy Paul on Sunday, but one advantage of unemployment is the ability to sleep in on Mondays, so I'm all rested and refreshed today.

My anniversary (ex-job update)

Two years ago today I walked out on my old job after eight years of loyal employment, due to my severe mistreatment by my ex-boss (the details can be found here and in several subsequent entries).

I've been unemployed ever since. Two long years. Two years of the longest vacation in my life. capricious_k hasn't even known me as an employed person.

I haven't brought y'all up to speed on a couple of details in the ongoing labor dispute. First off, as a result of not finishing the state-mandated backpay payments to me, the Superior Court of Santa Clara County found a summary judgment in my favor, including a hefty penalty and some interest. Because of the structure of the original payment plan that my ex-boss agreed to, he has signed away any and all legal rights to appeal this decision. After in-depth consultation with laurelt (Now With Super Powered Lawyer Action!(tm)) on the many legal methods I have of collecting the judgment, I have authorized the State Franchise Tax Board to collect for me (they have a deal with the Labor Relations Board to provide this service). I probably won't hear anything about my collection for at least a year, possibly longer, but you just don't want to fuck with the Franchise Tax Board (for any non-Californian readers, the FTB is California State's version of the IRS) so I'm happy to have them on my side.

On another front, I still haven't received a W-2 from my ex-boss for last year. All those payments the Labor Board made him make counted as 2003 income, a fact of which he is fully aware. I made a stern request for him to provide my W-2 in the middle of March. He emailed me a response that said he was trying to sell capital equipment to pay the payroll taxes (a statement that had the hard ring of truth to it, so his business must still really be in the tubes) and would try to get it resolved in a couple of weeks. I wrote him back and said, essentially, "Last year you made similar promises repeatedly, and you didn't get the W-2 to me until October. I have zero faith that you'll do any better this year. You have five days, then I'm reporting you to the IRS."

Seven days later I held true to my threat, and called the IRS. They sent him a nastygram, and sent me a substitute form where I essentially get to fill in the blanks on my own W-2. My ex-boss apparently did the same thing last year that he did the year before -- essentially he wrote me paychecks with the various taxes deducted, but did not forward those taxes to the appropriate agencies because he needed the money to pay other bills. Yes, this is illegal. Yes, the State of California and the IRS have now been made aware of his tax fraud.

It's amazing how consistently well a series of government agencies and regulations have worked in my favor, to my benefit, and how easy it's been to navigate through this ongoing problem. In fact, it's kind of fun! I just take a few simple steps and I get to screw the guy who screwed me so badly two years ago. Eight years of loyal service I gave him. Take this! evil Ex-boss Man!!