12/18/2009: To say November was a bad month would be an understatement. Actually, the majority of the month was lots of fun. All it takes is a few bad days to make the other 27 seem inconsequential.

On November 22nd, coping with the effects of a mild concussion (thanks to Claudio,) while headed toward my office, I was greeted not by friends, family or well-wishers, but by Dieter, one of the Wrestle Factory trainees. I do my best to not only know all the students, but also to be friendly and cordial to them as well. Trying to give them tasks during the show to make them feel a part of things, other than just setting up chairs or sweeping out the ring. Dieter, I recognized from his frequent duty of making sure the hat was always filled with names in case a replacement wrestler would need to be drawn at random. His trainers always described him as being exceptionally responsible...well, at least one of them did. Funny the things you notice in hindsight.

On this particular day, Dieter was in my office - locked! I have (had?) an open door policy and never locked my door, thanks to my foolish belief in the honor system. Dieter greeted me with strange information. Besides the fact a student was conveying the news, my performance review is ALWAYS in May, at Aniversario time.

So off I go for another performance review, even if it's six months ahead of schedule. Everything was going great since May, except for the chaos at the end of "Three-Fisted Tales." Well, to my surprise, the Board of Directors sported a few new faces since our last meeting. I was ushered into a seat at the head of the table where a very stern, European gentleman informed me that by a close vote, I was being removed from my position as Director of Fun!

I thought I was doing a pretty good job these last several years. All of my past performance reviews were always A++ (never the elusive A+++). This time, no paperwork, no brunch, no nothing!

The silver lining to the dark cloud of my November was that I would still be at the Commentation Station. Of the new menial tasks I have been demoted to, this is the one I like best. I enjoy calling the action month in and month out, and while my checkbook will hurt without my "Director of Fun" stipend, I trust this move will at least keep me out of harm's way. Once is enough for me...and I never want to have a run in with Claudio like that ever again!

See you in 2010~!
LFC

READ PINKIE'S BLOG FROM 12/14/2009 HERE