Monday, May 15, 2006

All the warning signs are in place, my friends. I can officially say, with authority, I'm depressed.
I know the cause. Anyone who has read along this far knows I hate my job with such an amazing intensity I arrive exhausted every morning just from seething my way in.
A meeting on Friday was another low point in a career choice that has been filled with low points. I've decided to dread Operations Status meetings since they were added a few months ago as a way to boost morale. In fact, they are intended to do that, but only because they don't cost anything. The first one was the "Employee Satisfaction Survey Feedback" meeting with all the crying and yelling. Since then, they have been phoned in pretty much. Friday our director just recycled the same PowerPoint presentation he used when addressing upper management in their status meeting. This turned out to be a mistake, since errors were detailed (with technician's names) and comments were made. Blunt comments, in fact, that were obviously never meant to be seen by the technical staff. This all goes back to considering your audience before giving a presentation. And proofreading. And not being an ass. I'm sorry --- not acting like an ass.
For the record, my name didn't make the list. Unfortunately, this is because I've had to do so much anonymous work that I'm actually no longer getting credit for anything. There was an announcement about my new official position. They should really go over these with the employee before making the announcement in public. It might have avoided the uncomfortable silence following my look of disgust.
I was so upset I actually walked out before the meeting was over, crossed the parking lot, took an elevator to the third floor of the building next door, found the staffing firm referenced on the sign out front and asked to fill out an application.
My plans for today include managing the Microsoft license dispute (and associated paperwork, which makes me twitch) and trying to figure out what I'm doing in my new role. Sadly, I won't be putting much effort into either. I've already hit the job boards this morning, so actual work may be all I'm left with.
My final note for the day is that I heard a news story on my way in that George Michael was found asleep at the wheel again. According to what I heard, he was passed out at a red light and listening to an ipod when the driver from the car behind him tapped on the glass to wake him up.
The story went on to report that George Michael drove away, weaving, and then crashed into a bulwark. There was no mention of the status of the bulwark, but aren't those endangered?
I had to wonder if a straight celebrity had harmed an endangered species, would it be such a big deal? Why the hate?

7 comments:

Joe said...

Yes, the plight of the bulwark is a sad tale. But the decided irony is not that a celebrity did the deed but the specifics of the incident:

George Michael rear-ended a bulwark.

I am curious if the bulwark was an undercover police officer ...

This reminds me of when Hugh Grant was caught with a bulwark in his car ... silly Brits!

Pamela Moore said...

You could always create a new position to save the bulwarks. Start a non-profit corporation to pursue this new path while still on the clock at the asshat factory. When someone asks you why the asshat factory work isn't done, just say you don't want to talk about it.

Joe said...

Your slogan for this new nonprofit should be:

"Don't be an asshat ... Save the bulwarks!"

And you could enlist PETA and Pam Anderson to draw attention to the bulwark cause.

If you get two others to join you, you could form the BLT: Bulwark Liberation Triad.

I'm in ...

Garrick said...

Done . . . with associated T-Shirt.

http://www.zazzle.com/products/product/product.asp?product_id=235774421433605716&success=true

Joe said...

Every time George Michael sings a bulwark gets its wings ...

Pamela Moore said...

Dude, you can count me in. And if I join, Andrew will quickly follow suit.

Hell, I'll put t-shirts on the dogs and they can march in the streets for bulwark rights.

Garrick said...

I'm sure the gentle bulwarks also appreciate your support. Hey! Want to be the celebrity spokesperson?