You Gotta Laugh: An Unexpected Email From A Former Boss Asking Me A Question

/ Ally Bean

And then the absurd happened.

I received an email from a former boss, someone I hadn’t heard from in years.

Call me prescient but when I saw her name on the email I instantly flashed back to working for this woman who, while sweet enough, was a flake. She could not, would not, get to a point directly, instead dithering around about what she wanted to say.

Come to find out she has not changed.

• • •

In the first part of her email former boss talked about how she and her husband had retired. They’d moved to another state, built a house on 10+ acres, and were raising farm animals, mostly as pets.

Groovy.

She continued by explaining that she’d thought of me when trying to remember some events that happened decades ago in a bar we’d gone to after work. She wanted to know if I remembered the names of any of the bar shots we drank, specifically the ones made with Baileys Irish Cream.

And of course true to her personality, she didn’t tell me why she wanted to know about these drinks, just that she’d thought of me.

• • •

Now kids I’m sure I won’t shock you when I admit that there have been many alcoholic beverages in my life and while I like to think of myself as a helpful person, on this particular subject I was hampered by time and my indifference to Baileys Irish Cream.

Don’t love it, don’t hate it.

I could only remember two drinks.

One was a NUTTY IRISHMAN [recipe here] made with Baileys + Frangelico. The other was a B-52 [recipe here] made with Baileys + Grand Marnier + Kahlua. So I replied to former boss’s email telling her what I remembered.

• • •

Without any context in her email I’d assumed former boss was having a party and was looking for a signature drink for her event. But that couldn’t have been farther from the truth, something I learned when she emailed back thanking me for my help and further explaining herself.

You see, and let me clue you in that you’ll be surprised to learn, the reason former boss wanted to know about these bar shots is that one of her alpacas, named Bailey, had given birth.

Former boss thought it’d be clever to name the newborn, a girl, after one of those Baileys Irish Cream bar shots we’d enjoyed years ago.

Because of course she did.

• • •

Unforeseen as this email exchange was, there was logic involved, something former boss was not known for when I worked for her. And much to my continued amazement former boss did get back to me saying she liked the name Bea, as in reference to the B-52 bar shots, so she was going with that name.

She also promised to send a photo of Bea as soon as she got around to taking one, which considering this is former boss I figure said picture will arrive many years hence when former boss thinks of me again.

‘Ya know? 

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

Have you ever had a boss from way back when get in touch with you? If so, why? Were you flattered to be remembered? 

Do you like Baileys Irish Cream? If so, do you like any particular drink made with it?

If you were living on a farm raising animals as pets which animals would you raise?

~ ~ • ~ ~

244 thoughts on “You Gotta Laugh: An Unexpected Email From A Former Boss Asking Me A Question”

  1. Ha Ha! You said I gotta laugh . . . so laugh I will.

    I haven’t thought about B-52’s in years. Nor Bailey’s. Nor Nutty Irishmen. But I did have a dream about two Nutty Irishmen last night ~ one dressed as a fireman and the other as a police officer (keeper of the peace). Neither were drinking shots of Bailey’s . . . but they were in a bar.

    Liked by 4 people

    • Nancy, your dream, when explained in the context of this email exchange, makes some sense. I’m impressed you remember those details from your dream. I’m amazed I remembered the two drinks that I did.

      Liked by 2 people

  2. LOL! Yes, you gotta laugh! I haven’t had either of those two Bailey’s Irish Cream drinks. I like it lacing coffee or mostly just straight up sometimes I like it chilled with ice cubes.

    Horses, and a mule that’s it for me on a farm. So maybe it would be more ranchy than farmy. 😊

    Liked by 3 people

    • Deborah, I’ve had Baileys in coffee and on the rocks. I don’t really like creamy anything so while I’ll drink those drinks, I don’t crave them.

      Yes, a horse and a mule sound like they could do real work on a ranch, not like former boss’s farm animals who live a cushy lifestyle.

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Nope, no contact from former bosses. At least, I don’t remember any past boss-types contacting me!

    I find Bailey’s cloying and don’t enjoy drinks that include it, but then again, I’m not much of a liqueur drinker.

    I would never live on an acreage to raise farm animals as pets, and can’t imagine what critters I would have. I like dogs, but they’re not farm animals per se. I’m surprised your former boss isn’t raising monkeys because she sounds a bit bananas! Question: when you worked for her, did you ever think her flaky personality is a bit of a put-on so that she can manipulate people?

    Liked by 3 people

    • Lynette, I was surprised to hear from former boss so you not hearing from any of yours makes sense to me.

      I’m with you about Baileys and liquers in general. I know I drank those shots way back when but no way would I now.

      Ha! Good barb about former boss raising monkeys. She was an experience, not really difficult to work for as long as you didn’t dwell on her lack of logical thinking. I never thought that her flaky personality was her way of manipulating people, but it could have been. I was young, not as savvy about such things as I am now.

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Oh my! Such a romp of a post to read with my coffee! (No Irish cream involved). I was thinking the same as you…former boss is in party planning mode. The unexpected — looking for a name for an animal? Hilarious. And…yep. Former bosses reach out. Usually to tell me who died recently- often people I don’t remember. 😉

    Liked by 3 people

  5. Several noteworthy points: 1.This blast from the past is a little strange, but perhaps this former boss is of that nature? 2. Lucky that the email made it to its intended destination, after the elapsed time.
    3. Who contacts former staff members to name their farm animal progeny after a drink you ordered together? Some kind of confidentiality breach, surely?
    4. Your memory is astounding!

    I was half expecting to read she was secretly planning a legal suit about something from that night, and the alpaca naming thing just a ruse.
    Thank goodness that will remain the stuff of a potential fiction tale.

    Liked by 3 people

  6. I can only answer # 3, because I haven’t had a boss as I never had a paid job, I don’t drink so no to # 2!
    If I had a farm and raised animals as pets, I think I’d raise lambs because they are so cute. I don’t know anything about them.

    Liked by 3 people

  7. Answers of the day: No. No. No.
    I know, seemingly very curt, but I thought you might enjoy the refreshing bluntness absent pussy-feet. No animal stories, no birthing stories, no bar stories to share. Plenty of bar stories but in the interest of self-preservation and to protect the innocent, no bar stories to share.

    Liked by 4 people

  8. Hmmm. I had a former boss contact me once because she wanted to get out of our industry, as I had, and wanted some kind of connection or tip, I don’t remember. Pre LinkedIn, clearly.

    Funny that she didn’t tell you the why in her email. I think I would have included that information, and perhaps your brain might have come up with some cute Bailey’s names that didn’t even involve drinks you had had that time.

    I myself am not a Bailey’s fan, but my Great Aunt used to love a Bailey’s milkshake.

    MINIATURE HORSES, OBVIOUSLY. I’d get a cow or two in case Nance came to visit. Oh, maybe a miniature cow! Now I’m all excited.

    Liked by 4 people

    • J., the reason for your former boss contacting you makes sense, you’d have the answers.

      While most people I know would have explained their reason for the email, former boss was unable to ever get to a point directly. I worked for her for 6 years and learned that you had to let her go through her paces before you’d find out what was up. Case in point.

      I’ve heard of milkshakes with Baileys and they sound dreadful to me.

      Miniature horses would be a great farm animal to raise. I could join you in that pursuit. There are miniature cows? Being a suburban girl I didn’t know that, but also a cute idea.

      Like

    • Laura, good choice, everyone likes goats, don’t they? I’d like to raise miniature goats, but could also go with full-size ones too. It’s great fun to have a goat eat some goat chow out of your hand.

      Liked by 1 person

    • Suzanne, well said: This takes Flaky to a whole new level. That’s exactly what happened and from it I got a blog post.

      I’m not into Baileys, too sweet for me, but I’ve had it over ice. As the ice melts it gets better!

      Liked by 1 person

  13. What a weird email… not sure how it would make me feel but I am thinking that used might describe it.

    When it comes to bosses, I moved around so much that most of them wouldn’t remember me. Except maybe my first boss and my last one. The two places where I spent the most time. Come to think of it, they might be the only two I remember.

    Baileys is what I put in my hot chocolate. Great in the winter by the fire.

    I have no desire to live on a farm. The smell would do me in.

    Liked by 3 people

    • Jenn, ‘used’ crossed my mind, too. I don’t know who else on her staff she reached out to, so I may have been one of many.

      I don’t remember most of my bosses either. I worked at many jobs, no career, so many bosses are just figments in my mind now. Not real people anymore.

      Baileys in hot chocolate would keep you warm in the winter. Hadn’t thought about the smell that comes with farm animals. Not sure I’d like that, but if I had 10+ acres I might not care.

      Liked by 1 person

  14. What a hoot to read this morning! Some people just leave me shaking my head.

    I have had a former boss contact me because I had posted that I was a hockey game and I guess his wife happened to see it and so he texted me hello 😉 And I have had two former colleagues contact me to offer me a job (after our head office moved to Toronto and we all lost our jobs, so I guess these ones don’t count…)

    As for Baileys… I am not a fan of the creamy drinks, however, I did work in a bar at a private golf club and I did many, MANY B-52s and even suggested the Nutty Irishman to peeps who were wanting to try something else. (One of the Christmas parties we hosted.)

    Only way I would live on a farm is if there were a farmer to take care of the animals 😉

    Thanks for the morning smile!

    Liked by 3 people

    • Dale, the reason your former boss contacted you is delightful and cheerful, not peculiar like the reason my former boss contacted me.

      I’m like you, I don’t care for creamy drinks. I drank a few back in the day but now there’s no way on God’s green earth I’d order one. But of course that wasn’t the point of former boss’s email.

      Good planning to have a farmer/manager to run your farm. It’d be good to be part of landed aristocracy, dictating which animals to raise, then enjoying them without doing a thing.

      Liked by 2 people

      • It is! Actually, from the job I applied for in 1995, I got 3 after that, all as a result of people calling me to ask me to work for them. That’s a great boost for the ego!

        No… they cause some nasty after-effects, in the name of hangover! It’s funny that she remembered having drinks with you, though. Weird to reach out but kinda cool, too.

        Right. I am not into the whole backbreaking work for myself, you understand… Yes. Landed aristocracy. I like that! I think, like one of your other readers, I’d be more inclined towards a ranch instead…

        Like

  15. She sounds like a unique woman. I might have simply googled cocktails made with Baileys before trying to contact a former employee… Does make for a good blog post though.

    I had a boss (my last/final job) who assumed we were “friends” and spent some time trying to text with me before I retired. I suspected she just wanted to stay in the loop. I did not.

    I do like Baileys, or did when I still imbibed. Usually in coffee at holiday time.

    I would have a plethora of animals based on space available. Perhaps no turkeys however.

    Liked by 3 people

    • Debt ‘unique’ sums up former boss in a word. I, too, would Google before I contacted anyone to ask them this question, BUT I’m conscientious to a fault– and former boss would know that about me so asking me was easier.

      That’s odd about your last boss who wanted to remain friends, or was maybe just nosy. When I’ve left jobs, I made a clean break of it… except in this one case.

      No turkeys is a good idea. And no geese either. Ducks and chickens are okay though.

      Like

  16. I’ll answer 3 first. I’d raise llamas, alpacas and goats! But I’m not your old boss! I haven’t had Baileys in years and would never come up with the name of a shot. I’m still actually friends with my favourite old boss, but can’t imagine hearing from any others. Maggie

    Liked by 3 people

    • Maggie, yes, yes! I want to raise llamas and alpacas and goats, too. Your farm would be a delight. Baileys isn’t a favorite of mine, but I did remember these two drinks. The others are lost in the mists of time.

      It’s wonderful that you’ve stayed in touch with your favorite former boss. Sometimes work connections last outside of the workplace. Other times you get a weird email out of nowhere!

      Liked by 1 person

    • Wynne, working for former boss taught me patience. I’d never been around anyone who didn’t get to the point directly, so learning to be still and let her ramble on before telling me the point of the conversation was new to me. She wasn’t an awful person, just scrambled.

      Like

  19. This is hilarious, and kind of endearing, too. I had no idea where that was going, but was not disappointed in the end. Though, she sounds like she’d be impossible to work with…

    Years ago, I had the CEO of a former employer call me a dozen times about 2 years after I’d left begging me to come back and promising to pay me anything. Mind you, I was quite sick, and the reason I left is my boss had framed me for a federal crime, the CEO originally believed him and punished me, and then the CEO laughed in my face when I said I was quitting if my boss wasn’t fired. Needless to say, I resigned and–when he called–refused to pick up. I was not flattered to be remembered, in that case.

    Skipping #2 as I don’t drink, but if I were living on a farm, I would have all the animals I could. ALL of them. 😂

    Liked by 3 people

    • Erin, working with former boss I learned that you’d never know where the conversation was going and this email exchange proved it once again. It was a flashback for me.

      No way, the CEO called you after all that! Of course you didn’t talk with him, but why the heck would you? That’s just plain irritating.

      You’re going to have one large farm with all the animals. I’ll enjoy visiting you and letting you take care of your gang. You are ambitious.

      Liked by 1 person

  20. Never had a boss figure contact me, although a couple of bosses were my friends and still are. I like Bailey’s, named my Baley’s colored dog after it, but with dairy not agreeing with me I now stick to wine. My next dog, if it is red, will probably be called Merle or Cab.

    Liked by 3 people

    • Dorothy, if you remained friends former bosses then hearing from one wouldn’t be odd, unlike my email exchange. Odd to hear from her, but same as she ever was.

      I understand why you no longer drink Baileys, but it makes good name. I like the idea of a red dog named Merle or Cab. You’re onto a good plan.

      Liked by 1 person

  21. This was funny. I keep I touch with some of my former bosses (those that are alive) so I hear from them often. Since I have high regard for them, I’m happy to hear from them. I enjoy Baileys from time to time and used to make B-52s. No hobby farm for me but I do like alpacas.

    Liked by 3 people

    • Darlene, you’re fortunate that you had good bosses along the way and that you want to keep in touch with them. It can happen.

      I’m beginning to think that everyone knows about B-52s. At the time they seemed special, but considering I haven’t ordered a bar shot in decades I’m not up-to-date on new drinks, just the old ones. I like alpacas too, such cute faces.

      Liked by 1 person

  22. Wow…. I haven’t had a manager contact me out of the clear blue like that. I usually made sure to burn my bridges behind me…

    I dson’t drink anymore, but I used to like Bailey’s in coffee as a sort of quick Irish coffee.

    If I was raising pets? Cats.

    Liked by 3 people

    • John, I was surprised when I got the email. I knew she knew how to get hold of me, but other former bosses I doubt would know where I was… and that’s fine by me.

      I can see how Baileys in coffee would taste like a fancier drink like Irish coffee. I haven’t had either in years, though.

      Cats, huh? You know you won’t be able to herd them!

      Liked by 1 person

  23. After about twenty years I went to the eightieth birthday party for a favorite boss – he said he remembered me but couldn’t remember my name. Our drink was cappuccino! And no we generally didn’t add the Baileys!

    Liked by 3 people

    • Jan, it’s wonderful that your former boss was honest to say he knew you but not your name. At 80 why not tell it like it is! Now that you mention it I haven’t had a cappuccino in years. And never one with Baileys in it.

      Like

  24. OMG. Have story! Years after I’d been laid off, my former boss (male), called me. Supposedly “just to see how I was.” At 7 PM. On Valentine’s Day. While I was out to a romantic dinner with my husband. Because of course.

    Liked by 3 people

  25. good grief! what a loon that ex-boss sounds. I HATE bailey’s IC….hate it. Luckily for me, no former boss ever tried to get back in touch (that I know of) and I had a farmette (less than ten acres) and the only animals I had were goats (think goat’s milk, cheese and soaps) and chickens.

    Liked by 2 people

    • suze hartline, former boss was a different sort of person, not bad, but not able to move forward in a direct line. I got used to her ways, though.

      You raised goats and chickens. Those are two practical animals to have around, I can understand why you went with them. I like the term farmette, btw.

      Liked by 1 person

      • i adored my farmette…that was its “legal” title on the loan paperwork. I had a child that was allergic to breast milk, and all the grocery store4 substitutes..so I raised goats for their milk. He thrived on it, and raising the animals was so much cheaper than buying a dry G milk powder for 27.oo a gallon container.

        Liked by 1 person

  26. Who would have imagined that’s why she wanted to know? I’m not a fan of sweet drinks a/o drinks that cling to the side of a glass if you tilt it. As for a boss getting in contact, I have been in contact with one of my bosses from when I worked part time back in Naperville, but we were sort of friends as well, so not unexpected. Prior to those two part time jobs, I haven’t had a boss since I was teaching after college, so I was the boss of me and in contact relatively often.

    If I lived on a farm, I’d want a horse and possibly some chickens so I could have good, fresh eggs. Not sure either of those really qualifies, but so it goes. 🙂

    Have a great week.

    Liked by 3 people

    • Janet, I don’t like sweet drinks either, but back in the day I did, I guess. At least I remembered those two shots that I probably drank. It was a long time ago, you know?

      A boss who becomes a friend is a different category. It would make sense that you’d expect to hear from each other. Good to know that when you are your own boss you stay in touch with yourself, somebody has to supervise.

      On your farm you may have a horse and some chickens. I don’t think there’s any reason why you couldn’t have those animals on your imaginary farm. 😉

      Like

  27. That’s a stranger than fiction story! I have heard from former bosses, mostly right after I retired wanting me to come back to teach or sub. (no on the first, maybe on the second) I dislike Bailey’s Irish Cream or anything like it. Farm animals as pets–firm no way. My cat is enough work for me!

    Liked by 3 people

    • Margaret, I agree this was a strange story that just rolled up in front of me, meant for a blog post. It makes sense that soon after you retired they’d still be thinking of you, hoping to draw you back into the game.

      I’m not a fan of any sweet alcoholic drink so Baileys doesn’t call to me now. Excellent point about having one cat instead of tending to farm animals. It would be work.

      Like

  28. I text some former coworkers one is a former boss around the holidays, blah, blah, blah. Bailey’s is too close to Kahlua (I had a bad experience in college – 40 years ago), just the smell makes me ill. Chickens.

    Liked by 3 people

  29. I vaguely remember Nutty Irishmen but it’s in my distant past. I occasionally bump into one of my very old (like long time ago but he’s also 80) former bosses. I liked him as a boss and he went to college with my husband. After I left that position we became friends (no benefits). After we moved, he showed up at our door one evening. I hadn’t seen him in a decade. He does freelance photography for a small local paper and was on his way back from something. We both enjoyed seeing him and as usual, he had the best stories.

    Liked by 3 people

    • Kate, your former boss/ friend with no benefits acquaintance sounds wonderful. It’s amazing how some people connect and stay in touch in their own ways. Who doesn’t like a person with the best stories.

      Liked by 1 person

  30. It is funny that your former boss contacted you for Alpaca names based on drinks from long ago! And yet, it is also flattering in a way. She must remember you fondly.
    Last year, someone gave me a Christmas gift of a mug, a packet of hot chocolate, and a teeny bottle of Baileys. It was a wonderful treat! I don’t know if I’ll go out of my way to buy some Baileys though.
    Having farm/ranch animals is a lot of work but also a lot of joy. We have cattle, and we’ve never had the urge to add other creatures.

    Liked by 3 people

    • Michelle, I wondered about whether I should be flattered or annoyed! I’m leaning into flattered.

      Your Christmas gift is cute. I’m not big into sweet drinks, but your small taste of Baileys would be okay. In fact I’m filing this gift idea away to use later.

      You have cattle! Oh that has to be interesting but also require daily effort. I’m not meant for farm life, but it is fun to theorize about which animals you’d like to see around.

      Like

  31. This is a hoot. This woman sounds a bit like an odd ball. Does she not have google? I guess google would’ve only told her what drinks included Baileys but not which she’d enjoyed.

    I have a couple of funny former boss stories. One of my Burger King managers from high school ended up boarding horses at a barn near my house. Unbeknownst to me. I took my kids on a walk to said barn like 20 years ago. My BK was located about 40 miles from where I live, so imagine my SHOCK when I literally bumped into this woman at the barn. Wild. I reached out to a different former BK manager a few years prior to that. He was a great guy and I looked him up, called him. We caught up and I sent him Christmas cards for awhile.

    If I lived on a farm, I’d love to have horses and an Old English Sheep dog named Buster and maybe pigs or sheep. This will never happen. My allergies would not have it. Neither would my husband. Horses are a lot of work and a lot of money, but so pretty. Barns smell horrible too.

    Liked by 4 people

    • Ernie, I wondered about why she didn’t use Google, but decided to not mention it to her, just answer her question.

      You’ve had some positive experiences with your former bosses. The horse barn story is amazing. Who’d of thunk it‽

      You’ve raised a few issues about why I, too, will not be living on a farm. I’d sneeze all the time and go broke trying to support the animals. I admire former boss and her husband for creating their new lifestyle, but it’s not for me.

      Like

      • EW, the link is priceless. Thanks for sharing it here. Would that I’d have known about it but no way am I going to email it to former boss now.

        I don’t think that it was that the drink itself was memorable. Former boss wanted to do a riff on the mother’s name [Bailey] and she thought the name of one of those Baileys Irish Cream drinks would be an ingenious place to start when naming the newborn.

        Like

  32. You’ve gotten the best comments on this one. Quirky ex-boss, quirky situation. I don’t think an ex-boss ever called or emailed me. I’ve heard occasionally from former co-workers but fancy named drinks were never for me so I wouldn’t have been helpful with that. I have to admit, my main thought was I hope she knows how to take care of those big pets. Perhaps that’s the husband’s job.

    Liked by 3 people

    • Zazzy, I agree about the comments here. Somehow I knew that my gentle readers would have a lot to say on these topics. I hadn’t thought about the care and feeding of her alpacas, but I will say that she was an excellent dog mom back when I knew her. And with a husband who likes to be outside doing things, my guess is these are the most pampered alpacas in the state.

      Like

    • River, out of the blue is for sure. On the one hand I’m surprised but knowing her it also makes sense. I think you’re right, when she thinks of me she thinks of drinks. After work drinks were the thing back when I worked for her.

      Liked by 1 person

  34. I worked for 20+ years in a very small company where I had loads of varied responsibilities. When I moved to another company, for at least one full year they called me to go with my successor to open the bank safe deposit box (because they never got around to changing the designated person with the bank). It annoyed me a bit at the time because I was busy learning a new job, but I was gracious about it. And here I am nearly 30 years later, and that same boss still calls me on my birthday, every year. I also got Christmas gifts from him until about 3 years ago (I think he stopped sending them altogether because he has been experiencing some physical challenges.) He is one of my most memorable people, both good and bad.
    Nina

    Liked by 2 people

    • Nina, this is the best story of the day! I’m laughing here knowing how what happened could happen because people are like they are. Apparently they got around to updating the safe deposit box information and you were off the hook. You were lovely to help out and be patient. I can understand why you remember that boss. Thanks for sharing your tale here.

      Like

  35. What a strange email. First, doesn’t she have the Internet, and can’t she use a search engine? Secondly, why not state everything in the first email? Oh, well–everyone has his or her little quirks. It was kind of a fun way to be remembered, anyway. And I do think that Bea is a cute name for an alpaca.

    I dislike Bailey’s; the idea of any creamy spirit/liqueur is icky to me, and I don’t care for its taste, either. Lots of people love it, however, especially in coffee.

    It’s always been my little dream-reverie to have a cow or two. I’m obsessed with them, and if J ever does go in for minicows, I really will go and visit her for a lengthy stay and possibly never leave. I’d just moove right in!

    Liked by 3 people

    • nance, I’ve no idea why former boss didn’t research the topic herself. Former boss had her way of thinking and it was easier to just go along when you could instead of foisting logic on her. I answered her question, all is good.

      I’m not a fan of Baileys either but it was a popular ingredient in those bar shots and at the time I was more gung-ho about trying new drinks. No longer am I that person.

      I like knowing that you’ve already figured out you’ll be raising cows, size to be determined later. Good to plan ahead. I’m sure J will love having you around, especially if you arrive with some wine to share with her and Ted.

      Like

  36. A very interesting post and follow-up conversation, Ally! If a former boss contacted you seeking information, it seems that they have a very good opinion of you, your memory and your ability to access memories from the past. I have a feeling that your former boss held you in high esteem and relied on your talents and abilities. It’s a testament to the positive impact you had during your time of working together. I LOVE your humour!!!

    Liked by 2 people

    • Rebecca, you flatter me with your assessment of this email correspondence. I got along with this former boss but admit she was out there with her ways of doing things. I was surprised to see the email from her, we’d lost touch, but apparently we hadn’t. But will again I reckon and that’s okay by me.

      Liked by 1 person

  37. Now, this was an interesting trip down memory lane for you. No, I’ve never heard from an old boss, and I like Bailey’s but haven’t had it in years. As a person who lives on four acres and having tended a variety of farm animals now and in the past, I can say except for horses for riding purposes I wouldn’t waste my time or money on taking care of farm animals as pets. Farm animals are a lot of work in good weather and bad, their feed and water costs money, and why keep ‘farm’ animals as pets. They are after all ‘farm’ animals and are meant to produce something like eggs, milk, or become future meals. It would be interesting to know how long she decides to continue doing this and when the fun runs out. I can attest that changing out frozen water three times a day is not a lot of fun. 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

    • Judy, you raise an excellent point about how much work is involved in caring for farm animals. Maybe she’ll enjoy it forever or maybe this is a passing fancy that she’ll find too physically taxing or too expensive to continue. This woman lived in her own illogical world when I worked for her so I wouldn’t be surprised to learn she’s onto some other pursuit within the year. Should there be a follow-up to this situation you can rest assured I’ll report back.

      Liked by 1 person

  38. Has your former boss not heard of Google? Quite ballsy to get in touch like that just to ask about an old night out. Must’ve been special for her to remember it so well – maybe it was the only time she went out? Maybe it was the first time she tried Baileys? 🧐

    Have you ever had a boss from way back when get in touch with you? If so, why? Were you flattered to be remembered? -> I’m always flattered to be remembered, but you don’t sound like you were? I haven’t been contacted by past bosses, but I was forced to contact one last year when I changed jobs and they wanted to call him and ask if I’m who I was saying I am 🤪 It was more of a verification call than a reference call – I didn’t get to decide who they’d call, they said they want to call this guy, give me his details. As I haven’t stayed in touch, and I’m not on social media, that could have been tricky but luckily he was still working at the same company, now as Vice President. It had been 10 years, but he was happy to recommend me and we exchanged news on what we’d each done since (had kids). Another lucky thing is that he happened to be one of the best bosses I ever had! Glad they wanted to call him and not some other companies from my CV! 🙈

    Do you like Baileys Irish Cream? -> Yes, I love it! Rarely drink it, though. I’ve been looking for an espresso + Baileys drink for ages but no one does coffee drinks over here in Finland (boring!!!!). I still remember a couple of amazing ones Í had in Greece 20 years ago. So hey, maybe your former boss really loved those drinks and was unable to have them since, because she forgot their names and hasn’t heard of the internet? Could be, eh!

    Liked by 3 people

    • The Snow Melts Somewhere, I’d think that former boss knows about Google, but who’s to say? She wasn’t one to do anything the easy way. You could be right about how she might have tried Baileys for the first time in that bar and that’s why she turned to me with this question. It wasn’t new to me at the time, though.

      Interesting story about getting back in touch with your former boss. I can see how that could be difficult, just in the sense of finding where someone is now, let alone the emotional aspect of showing up after 10 years. I’m glad it worked out so well.

      No coffee drinks in Finland! Well if they’re not there you’re going to have to introduce them to the country. I don’t much care for Baileys but it is popular around here, I see it for sale in various sized bottles. As for former boss’s motives, I learned to never speculate. 🙄

      Liked by 1 person

  39. I have been known to have an Irish Coffee on a cold night while at the baseball game. Frangelico was a drink I used to have when I was young and clubbing. Live on a farm? Hardly. Took me 65 years to get a dog. Fun story! Happy Tuesday.

    Liked by 3 people

    • Janet, they serve Irish Coffee at a baseball game? That’s wonderful and would keep you warm while watching the game. I don’t remember much about Frangelico, but do remember ordering Amaretto Sours. Seemed fancy. Yes, you don’t seem like you’ll be going into farming anytime soon. Me neither for that matter.

      Liked by 2 people

  41. No former boss contact but I had a boss who’d make me call the guy who I replaced ALL the time, for months after he quit.

    I don’t care for Baileys. I think it’s used in Oatmeal Cookie shots.

    Farm? ALL the animals!!

    Liked by 3 people

    • leendadll, well that’s kind of a crappy thing to have a boss force you to do. How’d the guy take it?

      I’ve not heard of an Oatmeal Cookie shot but it sounds awful to me. Very sweet, no doubt.

      A few other commenters want all the animals, too. Maybe y’all could form a co-op!

      Liked by 1 person

      • The shot tastes exactly like an iced oatmeal cookie. It’s definitely a “novelty” drink.

        The guy was really nice about the calls. It went on for about 4 months before I refused to call him anymore.. prob the first time I stood up to a boss.

        Liked by 1 person

  42. I’m sorry, but that has to be one of the most ditzy reasons for getting in touch with someone that I could ever imagine. Truly bizarre, especially the fact that she didn’t mention the reason for the question.

    No former boss has ever contacted me. I’m okay with Baileys, but avoid it due to the high sugar content. There’s absolutely nothing about the farm life that appeals to me. After looking at the 3 preceding statements, I sound like a really fun person, don’t I? LOL!

    Liked by 3 people

    • Bijoux, I didn’t imagine her reason for the email, I can assure of that. She was never one to be direct so when she didn’t tell me why she’d contacted me it didn’t phase me. I figured eventually I’d get the skinny.

      I don’t enjoy sweet drinks now so while I drank Baileys years ago, not now. I like the farm life in theory, but am very much a suburban woman who likes to visit goats, not care for them.

      Like

  43. Wow, that was a random email! I’ve had former bosses who emailed. I get a Christmas letter from one every year.
    My sister-in-law makes a lovely cake with Baileys Irish Cream.
    I would probably have goats because of their milk, cheese, and hair that can be used in knitting or crocheting. I’d have to have different types of goats, since angora goats have great hair but not so great milk. Angora rabbits would be good for the textile arts.

    Liked by 3 people

    • L. Marie, I don’t think that any other former boss has ever contacted me so I suppose I should be flattered by this email. Maybe.

      I’ve seen recipes for Baileys Irish Cream cakes but considering my indifference to the stuff, I’ll not try to make one.

      Your reasoning about raising goats is sound. I don’t know enough about them to be conversant about the attributes of particular breeds. Hadn’t thought about rabbits, but you may be onto something with that idea.

      Liked by 1 person

  44. Seems she could have google’d Bailey’s drinks to receive some name ideas, right? I’ve not been contacted by a past boss (for drink names or other queries), I have enjoyed a Dirty Girl Scout or two (it’s a Bailey’s drink!), and ducks and cows would be my go-to farm animals in my backyard.

    Liked by 3 people

  45. No former bosses have contacted me that I recall – for drink recollections or anything else.

    As to the farm – I wouldn’t even live on a farm (too much work) much less raise animals (again, to much work). When and if I retire, I am going to RETIRE and do as little work as possible.

    Liked by 3 people

    • Gigi, I found this email unexpected and a first. No other former boss has contacted me either.

      Hear, hear! You’re saying what deep down I’m thinking. If you retire, then for the love of Pete, retire already. But former boss never did do things logically and maybe raising alpacas is a labor of love for her.

      Like

  46. Have you ever had a boss from way back when get in touch with you? No, thank goodness. I do have a former boss that I want to get in touch with because we had things in common (knitting, crafts) outside the office. But I dither.

    Do you like Baileys Irish Cream? Yes, I do. Straight up, please! Although I haven’t had any Baileys in many years.

    If you were living on a farm raising animals as pets which animals would you raise? I’ve heard that goats can be fun and practical (they’ll mow your lawn for you) but … while I know one can become quite attached to a farm animal, I’m not sure I could ever think of them as “pets.” Unless I could have a farm of cats. That would work.

    Liked by 3 people

    • Marie, if you and your former boss have mutual interests outside of work it’d be easier to get in touch than what happened to me. Maybe I should appreciate the effort it took for former boss to reach out.

      It’s been fun to see who likes Baileys and who doesn’t. Many commenters have said that despite liking it, they haven’t had any in quite a while. You’re not alone.

      I like the idea of goats, too. A farm of cats sounds like you’d be bringing in Fancy Feast by the truckload. Or would they be eating mice on your farm?

      Liked by 1 person

      • As far as appreciating your former’s boss’s email, it didn’t sound like she was trying to “reconnect,” just that she was picking your brain for info. Who knows how long it will be before she has another question 😉
        If I had a farm of cats, Fed-Ex would be making deliveries every day. I wouldn’t want them eating mice or any other rodents because of possible disease … and I definitely wouldn’t want them to eat songbirds. Which makes me think that I couldn’t have a farm of cats because I don’t like them to be outside … unless my farm was one huge screened-in porch 😉

        Like

        • I like the idea of your farm being a huge screened-in porch with well fed cats lounging on the furniture that I assume you’ll put in your porch. As for FedEx they deliver here every day so getting kibble and canned food shouldn’t be a problem!

          Liked by 1 person

  47. Well since you described my situation to a T/ living on a farm/ raising animals for pets. (on occasion) I would have to say a pet pig. Her name was Winston (after Winston Churchill) Any other creature on the property is fair game to be taken to freezer camp.

    Liked by 3 people

    • DM, I wondered if you’d have an answer to this question and you did. Thanks for joining in. I’m sure Winston was a delight and as always I adore your term “freezer camp” that says it all.

      Liked by 1 person

  48. I think I like Bailey’s Irish cream. I usually like after-dinner drinks. I don’t know if I’ve ever had a cocktail that uses it.

    I don’t think I’d be good with farm animals. I suppose I could learn.

    Why didn’t your former boss just Google it?

    Liked by 3 people

    • Nicki, I first knew of Baileys Irish Cream as an after dinner drink, but eventually it showed up in bar shots.

      I could enjoy some of the miniature animals, like donkeys, but like you other farm animals might be too much work for me.

      Yes, you ask THE question about why didn’t she just Google it. As close as I can figure while most people I know would have done that, former boss lives in her own world. Knowing this about her I’d guess it made more sense to her to ask other people for the answer rather than to look it up herself. At least that’s my theory… 🤷‍♀️

      Like

  49. Hi, Ally – Very fun post!
    I have heard from bosses and colleagues from long ago, but never for such a cool reason as yours. I am sure, no matter how hard I tried, there would not be enough material for me to write an interesting post from.
    I do like Bailey’s, plain, over ice. Widow Badass makes a wonderful homemade version!
    Raising animals on a farm? I don’t know about that. The best that I could manage would be a couple of dogs…and perhaps a cat or two! 😀

    Liked by 3 people

    • Donna, trust me when I say I was stunned to hear from this former boss, but once I started reading her email I knew this was going to eventually be a blog post. Uh huh.

      I’ve seen recipes for homemade Baileys, which I might like better than the original. But it’s still creamy, which I don’t like, so maybe I’ll pass on trying to make some.

      I like your idea of dogs and cats on your farm. I could handle more domesticated animals, too.

      Liked by 1 person

  50. Hmm – people are odd and this woman is truly an odd duck, as she ultimately changed the drink’s name to “Bea” anyway.

    I can’t say a former boss from way back has ever contacted me, but then any really old (as in long-ago, not necessarily vintage) bosses I had were before the internet was a “thing” and I had no personal e-mail addresses, nor a cellphone back then. I never connected with them on social media. My most-recent boss I had almost 25 years and after I left him when I retired on March 29th, solely due to his stupid and ignorant behavior at the end, I blocked his e-mail address from my e-mail.

    I do like Bailey’s Irish Cream splashed into coffee – my favorite way. I haven’t had it for years, but I buy Rumchata now and do that with coffee or have a small glass of it, just at the holidays.

    Those mini baby goats are cute, but they are really vocal too – if you’ve never seen “screaming goat videos, they are funny. Other than that, they’d make for messy pets. A friend of mine wanted a pot-bellied pig for years but her husband wouldn’t let her get on, even though they lived in the country.

    Liked by 3 people

    • Linda, like you many of my former bosses wouldn’t have my email address and that’s fine by me. I don’t use LinkedIn so I wouldn’t be there for them to find me, assuming they wanted to. Sorry to read about your last boss’s behavior. Better to keep him at arm’s length.

      I’ve seen Rumchata for sale but can’t stand rum so it’s a no-go for me.

      Yes goats of all sizes are noisy– and nosy. They’re adorable but don’t know that I could put up with their antics. I’d forgotten about pot-bellied pigs! They are charmers, but maybe more work than worth having around.

      Liked by 1 person

      • I lost contact with friends from high school and college as there was no social media nor cellphones back then. I wasn’t on LinkedIn for very long. My boss wanted me to set up his profile there, so I did a practice set-up for myself, but then took it down afterward.

        The Rumchata is a bit sweet; to me the creaminess overpowers the rum. I used to like Kahlua and creme, just mixing equal parts of canned Carnation Milk and Kahlua. I’m not a fancy bartender. 🙂

        When I go to Heritage Park, the Botanical Gardens is next to the Petting Farm. I peek over the fence at the critters sometimes. The goats try to have a staring contest, then all of sudden, they’ll let out a scream that would wake the dead!

        Like

  51. I had a hard time remembering any boss that I’ve had. I’ve been my own boss for so many decades it took some thought. One of my favorites goes back to 1971 or so, when I was working in the nuclear medicine department at a Houston hospital. We lost track of one another over time, until someone mentioned her in 1987 down on the docks, and we found one another again. By that time we’d both shed husbands and taken up sailing, and we had a whee of a time until she moved on to that great cubicle in the sky.

    I’m not especially fond of Bailey’s, etc. I do enjoy Kahlua, especially in a Black or White Russian, but only with really good friends and good live music.

    If I had a real farm, and the resources to maintain it, there would be chickens, some Angus and Longhorn cattle, and deer. Of course, I’d need a lot of land for deer, so I’d get plenty of it, high fence it, and add some exotics, like Axis. Then I’d plant sesame, millet, and sunflower to draw in the doves and quail, and then I’d hire a couple of hands and a ranch manager to help keep the operation going. (Don’t hold your breath!)

    Liked by 3 people

    • Linda, how wonderful that you reconnected with a former boss while pursuing something not related to the work you did. That sort of connection would be meaningful, more so than an email out of the blue.

      I remember someone who used to drink White Russians. I hadn’t thought about that drink, or the woman who liked them, in years.

      Your farm is going to be spectacular. My goodness, your planning is top-notch and all you have to do now is finance the whole shebang. And interview for the position of ranch manager.

      Liked by 1 person

  52. As to the first question — never. Can’t imagine!
    I do like Bailey’s, but rarely have any. I did wonder why my husband bought a cheap knock-off for me for Christmas last year. Why not just get the real deal? It tastes much better and price isn’t relevant. Sigh. I either sip it straight or put it in coffee.
    I’d probably have horses, pigs and chickens.

    Liked by 3 people

    • Eilene, up until this email I never would have thought that a former boss would get in touch with me, yet… life is full of surprises.

      I didn’t know there was a cheap knock-off of Baileys. I don’t like the stuff enough to even consider buying it. Sorry your gift wasn’t all that.

      Your farm will be a traditional one with your chosen animals. I bet you’ll have lots to do caring for those animals.

      Liked by 1 person

  53. Great story! Doesn’t everyone name their alpacas based on alcoholic drinks? When my wife first set up an email shortly after our son was an infant, we shared an address for mutual business. Rather than name it after ourselves, which would have been far more logical, we started throwing out random word phrases. Some were completely outlandish, and we assumed no one in the world had thought of these before. I wish I remembered some ones we tried, but they were already being used.

    We had played a lot of the card game Old Maid with our little guy then, and on a lark, we tried some of those names. Much to our surprise and hilarity, they were also being used. Eventually we tried OfficerWoof, and we still use that as part of our email address today.

    Liked by 3 people

    • Pete, I have to admit that former boss’s ingenuity about her alpaca naming system was spot on for her way of doing things. So happy to still be part of her staff. 😉

      I remember trying to get an email address using what would now seem like random nonsense! We did that, too, because no one was using their legal names in the early days of email. Technically we still use one of those old email addresses that in our case involved a riff on cartoons. Like you we had a long list of ideas, but it was all we could find. Different times.

      Liked by 1 person

  54. What a strange email. I have never received anything like it but I have randomly texted an old colleague with a comment or question before! But usually these are colleagues who I would exchange a text at least once a year, or maybe send a Christmas card or something, so it is not so far out of the blue.

    I have never had either of those shots, but had a bunch of Irish Car Bombs when I was a young lush!

    In my farm, Do I have to carry for these animals or does someone else do it? If the former, I would stick with cats, but if someone else is caring for them, I always wanted a horse or a tiny pony or a donkey, or maybe the trifecta!

    Liked by 2 people

    • Kyria, your example of randomly texting a former coworker makes perfect sense. Kind of in touch, casually. But this was a full-blown email conversation with someone I hadn’t heard from in over a decade. Considering who it was not entirely surprised but surprised, ‘ya know?

      I don’t know about Irish Car Bombs and now I’ll have to at least read about what they are. My days of drinking bar shots is long over.

      I take your point and like you would hope to have a farm manager who’d do the actual caring for the animals. If not, I’d go with cats, too. Well I would if I wasn’t so allergic to them!

      Like

  55. A blast from the past! I almost physically gagged at the mention of b-52’s…yuck! Why did I drink so many drinks I did not like back in the day? (cos everyone else was I suppose 🙄)

    Yay for Bea the alpaca though…sounds much nicer.

    I haven’t had many old bosses (thank goodness) so haven’t heard from any of them (thank goodness). Though there’s one nice man who I wouldn’t mind hearing from who was very supportive when I left work to have my kids.

    I could only raise farm animals as pets if it was nothing I would eat…so I guess I’d have an interesting farm!

    Liked by 3 people

    • Rae Cod, you ask yourself the same question I ask myself: Why did I drink so many drinks I did not like back in the day? Too young to say no to the trends, I guess.

      This former boss is the only boss from my past who has reached out to me. I hear about what other former bosses are up to, but that’s more like gossip about them, doesn’t include me. Yay!

      Good point about raising animals you don’t plan on eating. I think that is how former boss is running her farm, but who knows.

      Like

  56. That is an amazing story and I love it. Flake or not, I’m thrilled that there is a family of alpacas out there that will be named after Bailey’s shots. This is really incredible, thanks for the huge smile you put on my face this morning.
    I used to love Bailey’s and coffee at Christmastime, sadly, I can no longer tolerate it (too much dairy). I tried a couple of nondairy ones and it was just not the same.

    Liked by 3 people

    • Nicole, you’re right. It is great that there is a family of well-named alpacas out there living their best lives courtesy of my former boss. She had a different management style than most people but she was a great dog mom so I’m sure she’ll be a great alpaca mom.

      I don’t do well with dairy either and now that you say that it might be why Baileys just doesn’t taste good to me now. Oh well, so it goes.

      Like

  57. Never heard from old bosses. Don’t like Bailey’s as a rule, but I vaguely remember a Bailey’s milk shake which was pretty good. If I was raising animals it would be cats. As cute as I think baby farms animals are, I just don’t want to clean up.afyer them

    Liked by 3 people

    • LA, well up until this email I’d never heard from any former boss. But now I have, so life is… the same but with a good story.

      Many commenters have mentioned the issue of who is going to be looking after the animals on your theoretical farm. Cats seem to be the default for easy to look after animals.

      Liked by 1 person

  58. I haven’t had a prior boss contact me after an extended period of time, but a few former coworkers did. “Hi! I know we haven’t spoken in ten years, but I’m having this problem.” I was in IT and would usually do the research to help them out.

    I’m not a fan of Baileys.

    If I were to have a farm, I would have cows. I love cows.

    Liked by 3 people

    • Linda, I can see how coworkers might contact a person after a period of time, but to have a boss, and a somewhat nutty one at that, contact me was a surprise. I helped her, but like many commenters have asked: why didn’t she Google it?

      Cows are a good choice. Their eyes are wistfully charming.

      Liked by 1 person

  61. The women in my extended family love Baileys, but I’m kinda meh about it. (Like you, I guess.) I remember a time in the late 80s or early 90s when it was part of most holiday gatherings. I think they drank it with coffee? And maybe that’s why I don’t care much about it–I don’t drink coffee.

    As for farm pets, you’ve stumped me. I want to be a smart ass and say “chia pet.” But I don’t even want one of those. I think I’m past the days of wanting to be responsible for the care and feeding of other living beings. Or I need some time off from that.

    Liked by 3 people

    • Rita, I’m with you about Baileys. I remember it being popular for a time, too, then it disappeared. I’ll drink it, but not on purpose, more like when I’m at an event and it’s the signature drink so I politely sip my drink.

      I like the idea of chia pets being your farm animal of choice. Please be a smart ass, I love it. I get what you’re saying about not wanting to look after any more living beings, other than myself and my husband. I like to think of it as aging gracefully.

      Like

  62. I’ve never had a former boss reach out to me, but I did reach out to my former boss’ family once. I needed a babysitter, and his daughter came highly recommended, so I called and asked if she was available. Luckily, she was, and she did a great job! And knowing my boss and his wife, I felt comfortable leaving my child with their daughter, because I knew if a problem occurred and they couldn’t get in touch with me (pre-cell phone days), their daughter would then call her parents for help. And I trusted them both!

    Liked by 3 people

    • Ann, that’s a wonderful story. I understand how and why you felt like you did. Isn’t it amazing how some people resonate with you in a way that makes you feel comfortable with them… or their children!

      Liked by 1 person

  63. What a riot. I think you should be flattered she remembered you and that incident, since it seems she’s not super good at remembering things. When I read your drink descriptions, I mentally went through my liquor cabinet. I think I have some of the necessities, and I do like trying new drinks. Ways to use up Kahlua are particularly useful, as I’m not crazy about it. Reading your brief descriptions made me realize, “Why don’t I just google drinks with Kahlua? Duh.” And so I shall. Thank you, AB–as in Ally Bean. Not to be confused with A Bea. I do not think of you as a baby llama, but what an adorable baby llama you would be!

    Liked by 3 people

    • Betsy, another friend said I should feel flattered to be remembered, so I will. I don’t exactly love Kahlua either but in small amounts mixed with other flavors it’s okay. If you find any good recipes online for drinks with it, I hope you try them. Thanks for the encouraging comment, I’ll try to think of myself as an adorable baby llama henceforth.

      Liked by 1 person

  64. This entire exchange is a delight! I am so glad Old Boss followed up with the reason and then with the name she chose.

    I don’t think I’ve ever had a former boss reach out to me for a non-work reason… although I am friends with a former supervisor. Cannot imagine any of my former bosses would own an alpaca though.

    Liked by 3 people

    • Suzanne, I’m glad that former boss finally told me what she was doing. I figured she would eventually as it was her style to dither a bit before the big reveal.

      I don’t know anyone else who is raising any large farm animals so this is unique. A friend used to raise chickens and ducks, but that’s a different sort of commitment to their care.

      Liked by 1 person

  65. That is randomly and weirdly weird – the e-mail, the question, and later, the reason for the question. I found it extraordinarily funny. People are FUNNY and idiosyncratic and just plain quirky. Isn’t that neat? I’m just assuming that your long-ago boss doesn’t read (nor know about) your blog. I’m also thinking now of getting a pet and naming her Bea. Because, damn those drinks sound good. But no, I rarely have Baileys Irish Cream. I do love White Russians. Is Baileys’ in that? But I haven’t had one in years because two sips later, I’m ready for a nap.

    Liked by 3 people

    • Pam, I agree that people who are harmlessly quirky can be very funny and this former boss is one of them. She wasn’t awful to work for, just kind of a stream-of-consciousness person who told you things at her own pace. I learned to be patient working for her.

      I just looked up White Russians and they have vodka, Kahlua, and heavy cream in them. No Baileys. No wonder drinking one makes you sleepy, if the alcohol in the vodka doesn’t get you the tryptophan in the milk will!

      Liked by 1 person

      • Haha. I was better off not knowing. When my son became a father, I visited him and his wife/baby to help out a bit. I was shocked that after dinner he fixed himself a Bailey’s and milk in a small glass. He wasn’t nursing, his wife was, but I think it still relaxed him. 🙂

        Like

  66. Thankfully, I haven’t heard from any former bosses. And believe it or not, I’ve never tried Bailey’s before, though I’ve heard great things. Hopefully, I’ll get around to it one day.

    It’s funny you ask about farm animals—my mom and I were out today and passed several farms. We saw a donkey at one of them, so I’d have to say donkey—actually, make that donkeys. My mom mentioned you should always have more than one because they get anxious without a buddy. Duly noted. ❤️

    Liked by 3 people

  67. B52’s — the drink of choice the night before our wedding so much so that one of our guests missed the wedding! We had also drank them that New Year’s Eve much to my chagrin. It was perhaps the longest 12 hour shift I ever worked the next day.

    Liked by 3 people

    • Bernie, I’m laughing about your wedding guest missing the wedding because of too many B-52s. They’ll get ‘ya! As I guess you also learned on NYE. Thanks for sharing your memories of the drink.

      Like

        • I can understand why you’re on the beer wagon. I drink a couple of cocktails per year, nothing sweet or creamy though. Usually it’s beer or dry wine for me– and much less of that than it used to be.

          Like

          • As to farm animals- nope. 2 dogs and 2 cats max. We could use some sheep or cows in our big pasture but lack a fence (long story about a new less than stellar neighbour). But we don’t want big animals or even chickens. And why would we when our daughter and son-in-law keep raising them and we get the product for help butchering?

            Liked by 1 person

  68. I saw the title and the alpaca picture and knew I had to read this! Then I read it and wondered where it would lead to… Could not have predicted where it went. It is quite something that your former boss kept your email all these years. You must have made a memorable impression. Now it all sounded quite logical with the drink and name as you said, but it felt a bit out of ordinary when she said she’d send a photo of Bea. In other words, your former boss seemed like the same person 😄

    I haven’t had a former boss reach out, at least for a request like this. Some I’ve remained online friends with after we’ve moved on with our lives. But that’s about it.

    Liked by 3 people

    • Mabel, trust me when I say I had no idea where this story was going while it was happening to me. I did remember that you couldn’t rush former boss so I just answered her question and waited for all to be revealed.

      Your connection with your former bosses makes sense, kind of know each other, just drift away. That, obviously, was not my fate.

      Like

  69. No former boss has ever reached out to me and now I’m wondering if that means I’m a bad employee. LOL. I’m about to send an email to a college professor I had more than twenty years ago, though, so I guess there’s time for a former boss to reach out yet.

    Your boss sounds perfectly logical to me! Isn’t it interesting how brains work?

    Liked by 3 people

    • NGS, I’m not sure that not hearing from a former boss is a bad thing. Just a thing. I wonder how your former college professor will respond to your email.

      I find people fascinating in how they think and do things. My former boss lived in her own world where how she did things made sense to her. For the rest of us outside of that world, she was… unique.

      Like

  70. I was hoping she’d name the alpaca The Nutty Irishman.

    Have you ever had a boss from way back when get in touch with you? If so, why? Were you flattered to be remembered?

    Yes, and the circumstances were weird. He had been downsized out of his job a few years after me and was unemployed. He reached out asking if the company I was working for at the time was hiring, and ended up interviewing for a sales position there. He did not get the job, which was super awkward.

    Do you like Baileys Irish Cream? If so, do you like any particular drink made with it?

    Like you, I’m pretty indifferent to it. I gravitate more toward sour drinks. I’ll very occasionally add a splash or two to my coffee, but that’s about it.

    If you were living on a farm raising animals as pets which animals would you raise?

    Goats, of course!

    Liked by 3 people

    • Mark, I see your point about the better name, but perhaps it was too long for such a cute small alpaca!

      Your former boss story is super awkward, making me suddenly feel like my former boss story is much better. Well, you helped as much as you could, right?

      With you on the more sour drinks, but could drink something with Baileys in it if it was necessary e.g. signature drink at a wedding reception.

      Goats is a great choice. I like goats, the miniature ones in particular.

      Liked by 1 person

      • My boss had a weird verbal tic. After the interview, my then-current boss asked, “What was up with all that throat clearing and head bobbing?” Ha. I hope that’s not why he didn’t get the job, but who knows?

        Goats eat poison ivy. I’d get some for our backyard in a heartbeat if they didn’t also eat gardens.

        Liked by 2 people

        • Yes I can understand how your former boss might not have made a good impression. In my experience of looking for work and when interviewing potential employees, it’s a glorified crap shoot. Who knows sums it up.

          Didn’t know about the goat/poison ivy connection, but knew about they’ll eat gardens. It’s always something.

          Liked by 1 person

  71. I’m of an age where a number of my former boss people are no longer here. I kept in contact with a few of them. It’s an interesting dynamic moving from employee to friend. I hope some of the people i managed will think of me from time to time. In fact, at the funeral a week or so ago (of a former boss) I ran into some of the people that worked for and with me. And I got the phone # of another who I’ve been wondering about. I texted her after I got home from the funeral. She responded instantly “I remember you! My favorite boss!” Made me smile. We talked on the phone for a long time. Maybe someday we’ll have lunch.

    Liked by 3 people

  72. Well I suppose it’s good to know that Flakes don’t change their Flaky colors. This literally cracked me up! What a hoot–and I agree, you probably won’t hear from her again, in this decade.
    I’m not a Bailey’s person. I don’t think I enjoy cream with alcohol, if that makes sense. But hey, it does smell good.

    Liked by 3 people

    • Suz, I liked this former boss, but I also understood her better than I think she understood herself. Thus when the email arrived I just waited to see where we were going, not anticipating alpacas would play into the story.

      I’m with you about cream and alcohol. It doesn’t call to me, give a sour cocktail or a dry wine instead.

      Liked by 1 person

  74. That’s a funny email encounter, Ally! I do love Baileys Irish Cream. In the winter, my sister-in-law and I used to add it to our hot cocoas. And when I was in Ireland our hostess at a bed & breakfast put it in our oatmeal along with some heavy cream. Good memories!

    Liked by 3 people

  76. This post had me LOLing… why didn’t she just say the thing about the alpaca baby right away? Did she save this for a follow-up email in case you responded (which of course you did, because you’re nice! :)).

    I like Baileys. In fact, it’s one of the only alcoholic beverages I’ll have on New Year’s Eve (but I just drink it over ice, and only one glass, no fancy recipe required).

    Liked by 3 people

    • San, I worked for this woman for years and she was a pleasant person, kind-hearted, but totally unwilling to go at anything directly. I just answered her question then waited for all to be revealed knowing it would be eventually.

      Like you IF I have any Baileys I like it on ice. And one glass is plenty. It’s too sweet for my palate.

      Like

  77. I don’t think I’ve ever had a boss try to get back in touch with me! I have looked up to see what my previous bosses are up to, though. Ha. What a wild email exchange!

    I do enjoy Bailey’s! I had a really great coffee-inspired cocktail when I was in New Orleans in May.

    Liked by 3 people

    • Stephany, you know it never occurred to me to see what former bosses were up to. I can understand why you did that, curiosity needs to be followed.

      I know Baileys is popular and in New Orleans cocktails rule. I bet your drink was delicious.

      Like

  78. I haven’t had any old bosses contact me, but about a month ago we were contacted out of the blue by a guy we sat next to on the plane from Bangkok to Luang Prabang, Laos, in late 2019. We exchanged info and met up once while we were in Laos (the guy’s from TX but travels the world as a digital nomad) but we haven’t heard from him in years. Then – poof! – he got in touch. Turns out he was in Lisbon the same time we were but none of us knew it at the time!
    Anyway, how odd to be contacted for a request like that. Importantly, did she ONLY ramble on about herself and her goings-on, or did she remember to be courteous and as you what had been going on in YOUR life?

    Liked by 3 people

    • The Travel Architect, that’s amazing how you were in Lisbon at the seem time as your digital nomad friend but didn’t know it. Small world, when you know where everyone is, I guess.

      Former boss asked after us and I filled her in. She’s a pleasant person, not socially awkward, just kind of scattered in her approach to communication.

      Liked by 1 person

  80. Pingback: Old bosses, alcohol & raising farm animals | Questions of the day – A weirdo with…

  81. Late to this game, but… I have had a former boss, contact me. Not really flattered. I was happy to be a former employee.

    Petron XO (Coffee infused tequila) and Bailey’s is pretty good. I don’t go in for these types of drinks, but I had this recently and it was quite nice.

    I have enough to do taking care of birds and squirrels. No farm animals for me.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Dan, oh your answer to that question is priceless. I didn’t feel like that, but can understand how with some of my other former bosses I’d have felt that way.

      I’ve never heard of Petron XO so something new to be aware of. Thanks.

      Yes, I take your point about caring for the critters we find *naturally* around our houses. Charming as the idea of a gentleman’s farm might be, I’ll pass too.

      Liked by 1 person

  82. Okay, that’s really odd. (the former boss, not you!) I did hear from a former boss of mine earlier this year after many years of no contact. We went back/forth a bit, and I even shared my blog with him. He commented on a post of mine and then all contact ceased. Ultimately the only thing we ever had in common was work, so that makes sense to me. I’m like you about Bailey’s, Ally. I neither really like it nor dislike it. I bet it’s probably good over ice cream. – Marty

    Liked by 3 people

    • Marty, your experience with your former boss sounds like what I’d expect to happen when a former boss contacts you, but ’twas not my experience. Glad to hear from her… I guess. Doubt if you’ll hear from your former boss again. Yes, Baileys over ice cream would be tasty. Never thought of that before.

      Liked by 1 person

  83. As always, I truly enjoyed your tale, Ally. I have not heard from a previous boss in quite some time and would be truly surprised if I did now after all this time has passed. I also haven’t had Bailey’s in many years, but enjoyed it enough last time I did…obviously not enough to purchase any. As for farm animals as pets…hmmm…I truly just cannot picture it. I’ll stick with my pet dog!

    Liked by 3 people

    • Christie, I was surprised to hear from former boss, also a little flattered for some reason. She was and still is a uniquely unpredictable person. Gotta laugh.

      I take your point about Baileys and about no farm animals, even as pets. A dog or cat is a known companion, but other animals, no matter how cute, might be too much work for me, a suburban chick.

      Like

    • Gwen, I like goats too. Well in theory I like goats, having never been responsible for their care and feeding. For all I know tending to goats may drive one to drink… Baileys! 😁

      Like

  85. Wow, I love how your former boss’s email inspired such a beautifully intricate tale! It seems like you’ve adopted their gift for cryptic storytelling—who knew it could be so entertaining to follow a winding path instead of a straight line? Looking forward to seeing that picture of Bea! 😄

    Liked by 2 people

    • KW, thanks for the compliment, I like to tell a story when there is one to tell. As for a photo of Bea, who I’m sure is a cute, I’ll just wait until former boss remembers to send one my way. Don’t think I’ll get back in touch with her anytime soon, kind of let this relationship fade away.

      Liked by 2 people

  87. I’ve not had a boss contact me out of the blue (thank goodness) but I don’t suppose any other than the current one (where I’ve been for 20+ years) have my private email address, as all the recruiting happened before the advent of email being the norm. Oh, and I’ve moved multiple times too! I did have an ex ring me after 10 years during lockdown. That was equally random, as well as being a lot less welcome or interesting than your surprise 🙂

    If I kept pets, they would be chickens. I particularly like bantams with their fluffy undercarriages. Not being a gardener, I wouldn’t get upset when they mess up my outdoor space, and there’d be a plentiful supply of eggs. But that’s a plan for the forever home…

    Liked by 2 people

    • Deb, good point about no email means no contact. Oddly enough, or maybe not, this message from my former boss came to an ancient email address that I rarely look at. The ex thing is not so great, but apparently neither was he.

      Oh I like bantam chickens, too. I hadn’t thought about how fluffy and cute they are. Fresh eggs, a nice feature of your theoretical flock.

      Liked by 1 person

      • If I’m to be totally honest, the ex was great, but the way he ended it wasn’t, which is what made the call so weird.

        In my theoretical forever home, I will also have more varieties of tomatoes than it is feasible to eat. This is especially daft as homemade tomatoes cause arthritis in my fingers. But it’s all great… in theory! 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  89. Ally, alpacas and Baileys drinks are not typically mentioned in the same anecdote. I like the story and hope you will be in a position to disclose the name of your former boss’s next baby alpaca!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Micheal [Miguel?], you said it. I didn’t see where former boss’s email question was going, WHO WOULD‽ Yet once she fessed up it made sense considering her way of doing things. Will make sure to update when I learn more.

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