Hi, I'm back. Almost forgot about this. Oops.
3. Their Work Area.
I've been at my current job for 3.5 years. In that time, I've had 6 different work spaces. So many, because my company's previous offices had basically run out of room for growth by the time I got there. My first work space was an office, something that people in my position don't get. The only reason I was put in an office, was because there was no where else to put me. I understood this from day one - I was not getting an office because I was above anyone on the chain of command. Second was another office. Numbers 3 and 4 were temporary work stations. Numbers 5 and 6 were cubicles, finally working in the area of my fellow admin workers. Did I ever complain about the space, losing an office, being downgraded to a cubicle, etc? Well, kinda. Never complained about losing the offices. When I was in the offices, I was away from the group. Felt like I missed a lot of the daily goings-on. What I complained about was in the cubicle area, when certain co-workers also seated in that area, would forget that they had neighbours, and would disrupt my work with constant noise and chatter. BUT... if I complained, I would always say "One day, I'll stop complaining because I'll be so used to it." And that day came. And I laughed at myself over my past issues.
My issue here is greater. It's people who complain about their work area, and expect the company to do something about it. This may include (1) replacing a neighbouring employee (which I NEVER requested, nor got), or (2) finding them a new work area. People who expect the company to rebuild according to their needs. It blows me away. You're given a space, so take some time and learn to work with it.
Your work space is loaned to you, as long as you're an employee. Keep that in mind.
You might think that I had troubles adjusting from having the space of an office, downgrading to a measly cubicle. Actually, I had no trouble at all. My first office, about half of it was empty, because I kept everything I needed right around me. I always knew I'd have to reduce one day.... so why get used to the extra space?
We recently moved into new offices. I love my new work space. I feel very comfortable. Rumour has it, not everyone feels the same as I do. But I don't know why. Mostly because I won't listen to the whiners. Our company has put a lot of time and money into building our offices. All along the way, they were open to thoughts from the employees. Many of these whiners didn't say anything constructive, just "I want, I want, I want", with no suggestions on how to make their wants happen.
My boss is almost finished putting his office together. Turns out he has an extra filing cabinet that he doesn't need. So he asked me if I needed it. In my old place, I had room for a small filing cabinet; here, I don't. But when we learned of our new work spaces, we were told we probably wouldn't have this room. Some people complained. Me, well, I just said "whatever", and slowly worked away from using that cabinet, so that now, I don't need it. In fact, I still have room at my desk for more stuff. And so does my manager. We actually have an entire 4 drawer cabinet waiting for us to put something in it. We're funny that way.
The moral of this subject is: Learn to work with what you've got. And if you can't, then form your request for more in a constructive way. It's the same with any problem solving - people are more likely to listen if you provide an idea for a solution. And that doesn't include relocating you (unless your company allows for that, and even then, you better be prepared with a justification.). Don't expect your company to tear down and rebuild just to make you happy. Because in their minds, they're thinking "no matter what we give this person, they will not be happy." The only 2 valid complaints I can come up with are lighting and air quality. And most companies will listen to this. But they may not be able to do much about it.
(I laugh at people who, when they get a new job, will tell you the best thing about their job is "I have an office!" Really? That's the best? What does that have to do with the job itself? I think of it as a sign that that person will quickly be complaining about something else....)
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Whiny Workers (pt. 2)
A continuation of my previous post....
Tasks Assigned to Them.
Anyone who has worked in any sort of group environment, has likely encountered that co-worker who has no problem using the following phrase: "That's Not My Job."
This post obviously does not apply to unionized workers. Their job descriptions are carved in stone, and when a questionnable task arises, the union must gather to break that stone and re-carve their list. Which is why union negotiations may take months, if not years. And why I am truly opposed to unions for anyone NOT in a specialized field (medicine, and by medicine, I mean doctors and nurses, not the WRHA), anyone NOT a trade worker, or anyone NOT in a position that poses some physical danger (miners). And NOT city or provincial employees who sit behind desks all day long with nothing more than a bachelor's degree or race/religion/sex that made them qualified for their position. Unions, in my opinion, have lost their original meaning, which was to protect the employees physically, and to ensure wages are fair and accurate. Another subject for another day.
My job description is really vague. I assist my manager with a portfolio of properties. There are a couple specifics on that description, but if my job was limited to those tasks, I would work a total of 6 hours a month. So, it's left open with "other tasks as required."
There are certain things I will not do in my job. One of those things is handling after-hours emergencies. You see, in my company, the managers are provided with company-paid cell phones, for the purpose of taking calls at all hours. And the managers are paid in accordance with these extra hours. So, any calls I would take, would be on my own phone. That I pay for. That I am not reimbursed for. One of our maintenance guys, a couple years back, phoned me a couple times on a couple weekends, to ask me work related questions. He got my home phone number from a company listing that is given to everybody. After the second time he did this, I told my manager that if I take one more call, I expect to be paid a minimum of $50. I haven't received a call since. However, my own manager has called me a few times, to ask me quick questions. He's always apologetic, and it only ever takes a couple minutes. I've told him, sometimes if he's looking for something, it's probably quicker just to call & ask me where to find it. If it helps him end his work day 15 minutes earlier (and he's already working late), I'm happy to help. This isn't a job requirement. This is respect for my manager, and understanding the hours he puts in. Over the past few years, appreciation for this has been reflected time and again.
My job description says I work with my manager. So, if I were one of those TNMJ'ers, does that mean I can refuse a request from a vice president? Hardly. One time, the VP from another division contacted me (it was a time when my boss was on holidays) about a property we manage; he was doing an appraisal of a similar property, and we can provide details for comparison (these appraisals are worth big bucks). Having been down this road before (one of those "other tasks" I mentioned earlier), I know easily what information I can share without breaching privacy guidelines. So, I told this VP, no prob, I'd send him what I could by email. 20 mins later, he got it. Within a day, he sent an email to my division's VP and my manager, expressing his appreciation of me, my manager for how he's taught me, and our division for teaching me an understanding of the workings between our multiple divisions. (don't worry, he'd already emailed me his own heartfelt appreciation) At my review this year, I was told that I was not only getting positive feedback from my own superiors, but from other divisions and higher up. All I could say was "Cool."
Now, there are other people who do pretty much the job I do, on varying levels of course. I watch some of these people, and listen to their issues. Some of the managers, for example, are doing tasks that I do on a daily basis, instead of giving them to their assistants. I've spoken with my manager on occasion, on what I should be doing or not. Number one on the list is capability: I've proven that I can be trusted to use good judgment, and take a moment & ask when I'm not sure. I've shown a willingness to learn, so that my manager and I can make a stronger team.
It's funny, in a way.... there are regular things that go to all other managers only, except mine: those things are brought to me instead of my boss. Sure, sometimes I can complain about being overworked. But my manager is very busy, as well. I see some of the other 2 person teams, and it makes me cringe, how the manager is running ragged, doing 10 things at once, working 10 hours a day... while their assistant is surfing the net or gossiping a good portion of every day. It's wrong. Whenever the subject comes up, I bring up the subject of team work. Each manager and their assistant is a team.
So, what's my point? People who say That's Not My Job will miss out on a lot of potential. If I had to guess, I'd say my salary is higher than those around me (but I will never know for sure.... I don't discuss that). My manager and I work independently of each other, I think in part because he trusts me at a level to be envied by others. And I learn so much.
Right now, we're nearing the end of Budget Season. Some assistants, their budget jobs are simply data entry and computer formatting. Mine is catching inconsistencies in the numbers the boss is providing, helping calculate amortizations, catching expenses that were left out previously, and most recently, calculating leasing commissions (this is something I learned this year). These aren't overly complicated, once you learn them. And it's not like they take a lot of time for either of us.
Think of it this way: If you're my age, you're going to work another 30 years. Might as well make the time worth while, right? If you only do what is in your job description, you're going to get bored - and redundant - very quickly. Redundant meaning replaceable. If I can make it look like I can do my job AND yours at the same time, and the day comes for cutbacks (which I've suffered through a couple times).... well, I'd prefer to secure my position over yours, that's for sure.
Tasks Assigned to Them.
Anyone who has worked in any sort of group environment, has likely encountered that co-worker who has no problem using the following phrase: "That's Not My Job."
This post obviously does not apply to unionized workers. Their job descriptions are carved in stone, and when a questionnable task arises, the union must gather to break that stone and re-carve their list. Which is why union negotiations may take months, if not years. And why I am truly opposed to unions for anyone NOT in a specialized field (medicine, and by medicine, I mean doctors and nurses, not the WRHA), anyone NOT a trade worker, or anyone NOT in a position that poses some physical danger (miners). And NOT city or provincial employees who sit behind desks all day long with nothing more than a bachelor's degree or race/religion/sex that made them qualified for their position. Unions, in my opinion, have lost their original meaning, which was to protect the employees physically, and to ensure wages are fair and accurate. Another subject for another day.
My job description is really vague. I assist my manager with a portfolio of properties. There are a couple specifics on that description, but if my job was limited to those tasks, I would work a total of 6 hours a month. So, it's left open with "other tasks as required."
There are certain things I will not do in my job. One of those things is handling after-hours emergencies. You see, in my company, the managers are provided with company-paid cell phones, for the purpose of taking calls at all hours. And the managers are paid in accordance with these extra hours. So, any calls I would take, would be on my own phone. That I pay for. That I am not reimbursed for. One of our maintenance guys, a couple years back, phoned me a couple times on a couple weekends, to ask me work related questions. He got my home phone number from a company listing that is given to everybody. After the second time he did this, I told my manager that if I take one more call, I expect to be paid a minimum of $50. I haven't received a call since. However, my own manager has called me a few times, to ask me quick questions. He's always apologetic, and it only ever takes a couple minutes. I've told him, sometimes if he's looking for something, it's probably quicker just to call & ask me where to find it. If it helps him end his work day 15 minutes earlier (and he's already working late), I'm happy to help. This isn't a job requirement. This is respect for my manager, and understanding the hours he puts in. Over the past few years, appreciation for this has been reflected time and again.
My job description says I work with my manager. So, if I were one of those TNMJ'ers, does that mean I can refuse a request from a vice president? Hardly. One time, the VP from another division contacted me (it was a time when my boss was on holidays) about a property we manage; he was doing an appraisal of a similar property, and we can provide details for comparison (these appraisals are worth big bucks). Having been down this road before (one of those "other tasks" I mentioned earlier), I know easily what information I can share without breaching privacy guidelines. So, I told this VP, no prob, I'd send him what I could by email. 20 mins later, he got it. Within a day, he sent an email to my division's VP and my manager, expressing his appreciation of me, my manager for how he's taught me, and our division for teaching me an understanding of the workings between our multiple divisions. (don't worry, he'd already emailed me his own heartfelt appreciation) At my review this year, I was told that I was not only getting positive feedback from my own superiors, but from other divisions and higher up. All I could say was "Cool."
Now, there are other people who do pretty much the job I do, on varying levels of course. I watch some of these people, and listen to their issues. Some of the managers, for example, are doing tasks that I do on a daily basis, instead of giving them to their assistants. I've spoken with my manager on occasion, on what I should be doing or not. Number one on the list is capability: I've proven that I can be trusted to use good judgment, and take a moment & ask when I'm not sure. I've shown a willingness to learn, so that my manager and I can make a stronger team.
It's funny, in a way.... there are regular things that go to all other managers only, except mine: those things are brought to me instead of my boss. Sure, sometimes I can complain about being overworked. But my manager is very busy, as well. I see some of the other 2 person teams, and it makes me cringe, how the manager is running ragged, doing 10 things at once, working 10 hours a day... while their assistant is surfing the net or gossiping a good portion of every day. It's wrong. Whenever the subject comes up, I bring up the subject of team work. Each manager and their assistant is a team.
So, what's my point? People who say That's Not My Job will miss out on a lot of potential. If I had to guess, I'd say my salary is higher than those around me (but I will never know for sure.... I don't discuss that). My manager and I work independently of each other, I think in part because he trusts me at a level to be envied by others. And I learn so much.
Right now, we're nearing the end of Budget Season. Some assistants, their budget jobs are simply data entry and computer formatting. Mine is catching inconsistencies in the numbers the boss is providing, helping calculate amortizations, catching expenses that were left out previously, and most recently, calculating leasing commissions (this is something I learned this year). These aren't overly complicated, once you learn them. And it's not like they take a lot of time for either of us.
Think of it this way: If you're my age, you're going to work another 30 years. Might as well make the time worth while, right? If you only do what is in your job description, you're going to get bored - and redundant - very quickly. Redundant meaning replaceable. If I can make it look like I can do my job AND yours at the same time, and the day comes for cutbacks (which I've suffered through a couple times).... well, I'd prefer to secure my position over yours, that's for sure.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Whiny Workers
Anyone who's held a job, has likely encountered a co-worker who complains incessantly, about one or more of the following subjects:
(a) salary;
(b) the tasks assigned to them;
(c) their work area;
(d) the company they work for.
Or maybe you're that complainer. If you are, maybe you should read this. Give you some food for thought.
Salary.
This is a major pet peeve of mine, people complaining about not getting paid enough, or deserving more. Chances are, when you were being offered your job, you discussed salary. This is the best time for you to ask for more, if there was more to be offered. You never know. But once you accept it, that's it.
Seven years ago, I lost a job due to downsizing. It was a rough summer; my mother passed away, and I was jobless. It was a terrible time to look for a job, because it seemed a lot of other people were also unemployed, and I just wasn't in the mood to interview. After a couple months, my severance was running out, and it was time for me to just make money. And it was at that time that I was finally successful in my job hunt. So I took an offer. But that company was cheap. When I tell the story to friends or coworkers, they are shocked at the salary I was earning. After 9 months, I was digging myself into such debt, I simply couldn't work there anymore. They told me they valued me a lot, but just weren't willing to loosen those strings. So, I moved on. My next job, I was earning $5,000 more a year right off the hop.
Then, almost 4 years ago, I was offered my current job. When discussing salary over the phone, I gave them my bottom line. The guy said "Really? Cuz we were gonna give you ($1000 more), but hey, we can go with what you want...." "NO! I'll take it!" And I took it. And never once complained about my salary. Because I would remember that first job, in the same industry, My starting salary at my current job was $9000 more than that first one. I did the math, and knew I could survive decently on my salary.
My company has been very generous to me. I've never asked for a raise. Whatever raises I've gotten, were offered, never asked for. And I accepted graciously. (I'll give you a tip: Employers love it when you are truly thankful for what they offer, and you don't complain about it, or them. They remember this, and will remember it for the next time salary review comes up. I've been told this once a year since I started.)
A few years back, a couple of coworkers started discussing their salaries. I work in an industry where there's really no scale, so not everyone earns the same amount. It's all based on experience, education, and work ethic and ability. I've never told anyone I work with, or have worked with, what I earn. The closest I came to talking, was when that first employer called me up and told me they were reconsidering the salary they were offering for my position. I gave her an honest range for what I was earning, and what it was based on. Anyways, back to these yappy yahoos.... My employers were pissed. And they told us, keep talking, and you may lose your job. I absolutely would not say what I was earning, because I suspected I was at the high end, simply because I saw the work I was doing, and what they were doing, and I knew I deserved higher than them.
Bottom line is: If you feel you should be getting more, you need to sit down and think of why. And one of those "why's" can't be "because my coworkers earn that much." If you can't come up with any reasons beyond that, then you need to find ways to improve your own bottom line. Don't expect your employers to do that for you. Take on more responsibility. Improve your education. Show up for work on time, and don't leave early.
Stay tuned for part 2: "That's not my job."
(a) salary;
(b) the tasks assigned to them;
(c) their work area;
(d) the company they work for.
Or maybe you're that complainer. If you are, maybe you should read this. Give you some food for thought.
Salary.
This is a major pet peeve of mine, people complaining about not getting paid enough, or deserving more. Chances are, when you were being offered your job, you discussed salary. This is the best time for you to ask for more, if there was more to be offered. You never know. But once you accept it, that's it.
Seven years ago, I lost a job due to downsizing. It was a rough summer; my mother passed away, and I was jobless. It was a terrible time to look for a job, because it seemed a lot of other people were also unemployed, and I just wasn't in the mood to interview. After a couple months, my severance was running out, and it was time for me to just make money. And it was at that time that I was finally successful in my job hunt. So I took an offer. But that company was cheap. When I tell the story to friends or coworkers, they are shocked at the salary I was earning. After 9 months, I was digging myself into such debt, I simply couldn't work there anymore. They told me they valued me a lot, but just weren't willing to loosen those strings. So, I moved on. My next job, I was earning $5,000 more a year right off the hop.
Then, almost 4 years ago, I was offered my current job. When discussing salary over the phone, I gave them my bottom line. The guy said "Really? Cuz we were gonna give you ($1000 more), but hey, we can go with what you want...." "NO! I'll take it!" And I took it. And never once complained about my salary. Because I would remember that first job, in the same industry, My starting salary at my current job was $9000 more than that first one. I did the math, and knew I could survive decently on my salary.
My company has been very generous to me. I've never asked for a raise. Whatever raises I've gotten, were offered, never asked for. And I accepted graciously. (I'll give you a tip: Employers love it when you are truly thankful for what they offer, and you don't complain about it, or them. They remember this, and will remember it for the next time salary review comes up. I've been told this once a year since I started.)
A few years back, a couple of coworkers started discussing their salaries. I work in an industry where there's really no scale, so not everyone earns the same amount. It's all based on experience, education, and work ethic and ability. I've never told anyone I work with, or have worked with, what I earn. The closest I came to talking, was when that first employer called me up and told me they were reconsidering the salary they were offering for my position. I gave her an honest range for what I was earning, and what it was based on. Anyways, back to these yappy yahoos.... My employers were pissed. And they told us, keep talking, and you may lose your job. I absolutely would not say what I was earning, because I suspected I was at the high end, simply because I saw the work I was doing, and what they were doing, and I knew I deserved higher than them.
Bottom line is: If you feel you should be getting more, you need to sit down and think of why. And one of those "why's" can't be "because my coworkers earn that much." If you can't come up with any reasons beyond that, then you need to find ways to improve your own bottom line. Don't expect your employers to do that for you. Take on more responsibility. Improve your education. Show up for work on time, and don't leave early.
Stay tuned for part 2: "That's not my job."
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Keep your kids safe, okay?
Someone I know on a social networking site, keeps posting pictures of other people's kids on their profile. This is fine, as long as the parents of those children are okay with it. But I wonder if these same parents know that this person has also posted pics of their kids on other SN'ing sites? Like those free dating websites.
Another person I know has posted nudie pics of their own baby. Sure, the nether regions are covered up, but they're still nudie.
I've read a lot about SN sites, about their safety & privacy limitations. Something that people lose sight of, is the ability to access and share your own information. While your own privacy settings may be sky high, chances are, not all your friends' settings are just as high. Think of this: You post pics of your kids, to share with your friends. Your friends include the kids' grandparents. The grandparents love the pics, and want to share them with their own (non-mutual) friends. So, they copy a few and create their own album. But they haven't figured out how to adjust their security status, so it's still the original, everyone-can-see setting. Ack. Suddenly, your babies are out there for the world to see.
Let's face it: there are some real sickos out there. The most disgusting bottom feeders in the universe, the child predators. Until the laws are changed to allow for legal genital mutilation of these SOB's, please be overly protective of what you put out there for the world to see. When you think about it, if your kids aren't old enough to protect themselves on these sites, then you need to be their protector, plain and simple.
You hear about these parents who take extra care with monitoring their kids' use of the computer, and they watch closely what websites they are accessing. Awesome for you, keep up the good work. BUT - what if it's you who's sharing too much? Is your child old enough to say "Hey, Mom, take down that bath pic of me, would ya?" If not, then you definitely need to be thinking from more than one point of view here.
If you need a refresher on the disgusting predators out there, then follow the Graham James case for a bit. He was a hockey coach. And he sexually abused boys. The guy won awards as a coach, was held in very high regard, and trusted by these boys' parents. My true hope is that these predators are few and far between, but we'll never know the exact stats, thanks to the internet. Play it safe, and don't assume everyone on your friends list is as careful as you (but please, don't drive yourself crazy wondering if any of your friends is a sadist....but if there's anyone you're unsure of, just play it safe.).
I don't have kids, but I'm more than happy and willing to play a role in keeping kids safe. It's the least we can do.
Another person I know has posted nudie pics of their own baby. Sure, the nether regions are covered up, but they're still nudie.
I've read a lot about SN sites, about their safety & privacy limitations. Something that people lose sight of, is the ability to access and share your own information. While your own privacy settings may be sky high, chances are, not all your friends' settings are just as high. Think of this: You post pics of your kids, to share with your friends. Your friends include the kids' grandparents. The grandparents love the pics, and want to share them with their own (non-mutual) friends. So, they copy a few and create their own album. But they haven't figured out how to adjust their security status, so it's still the original, everyone-can-see setting. Ack. Suddenly, your babies are out there for the world to see.
Let's face it: there are some real sickos out there. The most disgusting bottom feeders in the universe, the child predators. Until the laws are changed to allow for legal genital mutilation of these SOB's, please be overly protective of what you put out there for the world to see. When you think about it, if your kids aren't old enough to protect themselves on these sites, then you need to be their protector, plain and simple.
You hear about these parents who take extra care with monitoring their kids' use of the computer, and they watch closely what websites they are accessing. Awesome for you, keep up the good work. BUT - what if it's you who's sharing too much? Is your child old enough to say "Hey, Mom, take down that bath pic of me, would ya?" If not, then you definitely need to be thinking from more than one point of view here.
If you need a refresher on the disgusting predators out there, then follow the Graham James case for a bit. He was a hockey coach. And he sexually abused boys. The guy won awards as a coach, was held in very high regard, and trusted by these boys' parents. My true hope is that these predators are few and far between, but we'll never know the exact stats, thanks to the internet. Play it safe, and don't assume everyone on your friends list is as careful as you (but please, don't drive yourself crazy wondering if any of your friends is a sadist....but if there's anyone you're unsure of, just play it safe.).
I don't have kids, but I'm more than happy and willing to play a role in keeping kids safe. It's the least we can do.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Let's Get Physical
I took the day off work yesterday. Being single, not having as much disposable income as I would like to travel away from this place, every year I end up having holidays left to take into the fall/winter. Unlike most of my coworkers, who use theirs up around their kids' schedules (and have a mate's income to contribute to travel expenses). I had 2 days left to take, and Friday was one of those days. You should have heard the jealousy in my coworkers' tones as they wished me a good day - "I wish I could take another day off...." "Why don't you?" "I don't have any holidays left." Awwwwww.
Back in the summer, my company scored a deal with a gym in our city, a corporate membership deal. My company has, I would estimate, about 70 people throughout our 5 divisions. Not the biggest, but not small, either. (Can you believe it's a family business? I still can't. I've worked for family businesses. And they suck. This company is the true exception, and I tell everyone who asks as much.) So, part of the deal was, 10 people had to sign up. Ten. And the deal includes family members. We get a discount, and the company is contributing a portion. In the end, I pay $25 a month, which is deducted from my pay cheque. This is cheaper than a membership to the YMCA.
So, I signed up, once I found out where it was located (I work and live downtown, and I don't own a car. Easy accessibility is a requirement.). After the mad signup rush, there was a total of 8 people. EIGHT. Out of 70. Oh wait, one of those 8 was a spouse, not an employee. Pa.The.Tic. I shook my head A LOT that day.
I am someone who needs to lose weight. I'm not obese. But I can definitely stand to lose 25 to 30 pounds. Age is catching up to me, and is affecting my metabolism.
So, I figured it was about time I visited The Gym. See what I signed up for. And that was what I did on Friday.
Once I found it (which wasn't too hard), I went in and was greeted with a big smile, but not an overwhelming personality. I walked up and handed her the form I'd been told to take with me (that has been tucked in my purse for 3 months). She asked if I'd like a tour. Sure, why not? So, she calls Ryan to come show me around. She was sure to tell him I'm a "corporate" member. Ahhhh, that's what that form was for.
Do you have ANY idea what corporate membership means? I found out. Yowza. The Gym offers all these classes, that I can take at no additional charge. Every day, there's something. I need variety, or I get bored quickly. And most importantly, these classes are offered at times that I can actually attend. When I've looked into classes elsewhere, they always started at 5:00 or so; my work day ends at 5:00.
There's tanning beds, a spa, a place to iron my clothes... all included. What's not included is the massage therapist (which they made sure to note, is included in my work's medical benefits.). And they offer personal trainers (not included, natch).
I have 3 appointments next week, for various training in programs. Included in the corporate membership (turns out the stretching course is offered to everyone, so I signed up for that one as well.).
My luck with quitting smoking didn't pan out. This time. Let's see how this Gym one goes. Once again, I'll ask you to wish me luck. Don't ask me to post "before" pictures. I'll take a couple for my own use & enjoyment. If all goes on a good track, I may share with you.......
Back in the summer, my company scored a deal with a gym in our city, a corporate membership deal. My company has, I would estimate, about 70 people throughout our 5 divisions. Not the biggest, but not small, either. (Can you believe it's a family business? I still can't. I've worked for family businesses. And they suck. This company is the true exception, and I tell everyone who asks as much.) So, part of the deal was, 10 people had to sign up. Ten. And the deal includes family members. We get a discount, and the company is contributing a portion. In the end, I pay $25 a month, which is deducted from my pay cheque. This is cheaper than a membership to the YMCA.
So, I signed up, once I found out where it was located (I work and live downtown, and I don't own a car. Easy accessibility is a requirement.). After the mad signup rush, there was a total of 8 people. EIGHT. Out of 70. Oh wait, one of those 8 was a spouse, not an employee. Pa.The.Tic. I shook my head A LOT that day.
I am someone who needs to lose weight. I'm not obese. But I can definitely stand to lose 25 to 30 pounds. Age is catching up to me, and is affecting my metabolism.
So, I figured it was about time I visited The Gym. See what I signed up for. And that was what I did on Friday.
Once I found it (which wasn't too hard), I went in and was greeted with a big smile, but not an overwhelming personality. I walked up and handed her the form I'd been told to take with me (that has been tucked in my purse for 3 months). She asked if I'd like a tour. Sure, why not? So, she calls Ryan to come show me around. She was sure to tell him I'm a "corporate" member. Ahhhh, that's what that form was for.
Do you have ANY idea what corporate membership means? I found out. Yowza. The Gym offers all these classes, that I can take at no additional charge. Every day, there's something. I need variety, or I get bored quickly. And most importantly, these classes are offered at times that I can actually attend. When I've looked into classes elsewhere, they always started at 5:00 or so; my work day ends at 5:00.
There's tanning beds, a spa, a place to iron my clothes... all included. What's not included is the massage therapist (which they made sure to note, is included in my work's medical benefits.). And they offer personal trainers (not included, natch).
I have 3 appointments next week, for various training in programs. Included in the corporate membership (turns out the stretching course is offered to everyone, so I signed up for that one as well.).
My luck with quitting smoking didn't pan out. This time. Let's see how this Gym one goes. Once again, I'll ask you to wish me luck. Don't ask me to post "before" pictures. I'll take a couple for my own use & enjoyment. If all goes on a good track, I may share with you.......
The True Story of....
I love to read. I have a decent collection of books, but am trying to curb the book-spending, so have started visiting the library again. I've been stuck on autobiographies for a couple years now, and just can't stop indulging in the true stories of famous people, as told by themselves. Not biographies, those books written by people about other people. Those are always missing something. And I especially detest "unauthorized" biographies. Those writers are nothing more than glamourized gossip columnists. Instead of reading an unauthorized biography, I'd rather wait years for that person to finally choose to tell their own story.
Right now, I'm working on 3 books (yes, three.). 1. I, Tina - Tina Turner; 2. Wonderful Tonight - Pattie Boyd (mostly talks about her marriages to George Harrison and Eric Clapton), and 3. How I Lost 5 Pounds in 6 Years - Tom Arnold. I borrowed #2 and 3 from the library at the same time, and am reading Pattie's book first. Tom will wait a little bit. But then, I got a call from the library last week, saying that Tina's book had arrived, and was waiting for me to sign out. So I'm reading #1 and 2 at the same time.
Last week, I read To Hell and Back - Meat Loaf, in less than 3 days. Great book. I highly recommend it.
My personal collection is varied. Here's my Top 5 favourites of those I own:
1. The Dirt - Motley Crue (and most everyone who had read this will agree it deserves top spot. Read it. But if you do read it, keep it away from minors. It should come with a parental warning on the cover.)
2. Heroin Diaries - Nikki Sixx (Best to read this after The Dirt, when you gain an appreciation for Nikki Sixx's story telling abilities. It's deep and very dark, but ends on a positive note - he's alive. I love Nikki Sixx. Number one on my list of things to do before I die is to meet Nikki Sixx. Number 2 on that list is to french kiss him. And I know I'm not the only one with this wish.)
3. Hitman - David Foster (An amazing music man, Canadian, nonetheless. The man responsible for bringing many big music stars to the spotlight, including Michael Buble. He's arrogant, but is totally allowed to be.)
4. Hitman - Bret Hart (Yes, two books by the same name, by two Canadians, telling very different stories.)
5. Slash by Slash (I love rock star autobiographies. This story was surprising. Behind the big black hair and top hat is a very talented man who is also lucky to be alive.)
Close but not quite:
6. The Chris Farley Show (not an autobiography, because he died before this was written. It's in the same format as The Dirt, with many people adding their personal experiences to the mix.)
7. The Hardest (Working) Man in Show Business - Ron Jeremy (the porn star. A little too much name dropping for my liking. But considering what he does, and how he looks, he's got a lot of friends in high places.)
Keith Richards' book comes out next week. I can't wait. That will be a goooood one.
Right now, I'm working on 3 books (yes, three.). 1. I, Tina - Tina Turner; 2. Wonderful Tonight - Pattie Boyd (mostly talks about her marriages to George Harrison and Eric Clapton), and 3. How I Lost 5 Pounds in 6 Years - Tom Arnold. I borrowed #2 and 3 from the library at the same time, and am reading Pattie's book first. Tom will wait a little bit. But then, I got a call from the library last week, saying that Tina's book had arrived, and was waiting for me to sign out. So I'm reading #1 and 2 at the same time.
Last week, I read To Hell and Back - Meat Loaf, in less than 3 days. Great book. I highly recommend it.
My personal collection is varied. Here's my Top 5 favourites of those I own:
1. The Dirt - Motley Crue (and most everyone who had read this will agree it deserves top spot. Read it. But if you do read it, keep it away from minors. It should come with a parental warning on the cover.)
2. Heroin Diaries - Nikki Sixx (Best to read this after The Dirt, when you gain an appreciation for Nikki Sixx's story telling abilities. It's deep and very dark, but ends on a positive note - he's alive. I love Nikki Sixx. Number one on my list of things to do before I die is to meet Nikki Sixx. Number 2 on that list is to french kiss him. And I know I'm not the only one with this wish.)
3. Hitman - David Foster (An amazing music man, Canadian, nonetheless. The man responsible for bringing many big music stars to the spotlight, including Michael Buble. He's arrogant, but is totally allowed to be.)
4. Hitman - Bret Hart (Yes, two books by the same name, by two Canadians, telling very different stories.)
5. Slash by Slash (I love rock star autobiographies. This story was surprising. Behind the big black hair and top hat is a very talented man who is also lucky to be alive.)
Close but not quite:
6. The Chris Farley Show (not an autobiography, because he died before this was written. It's in the same format as The Dirt, with many people adding their personal experiences to the mix.)
7. The Hardest (Working) Man in Show Business - Ron Jeremy (the porn star. A little too much name dropping for my liking. But considering what he does, and how he looks, he's got a lot of friends in high places.)
Keith Richards' book comes out next week. I can't wait. That will be a goooood one.
Mining - A Memory (October 10, 2010)
Today, I watched a news story with an update on the situation involving the trapped Chilean miners. They've been trapped underground for months now. While food and necessities have been delivered to them, the task of bringing them to the surface has not been an easy one. It's been quite an operation, one in which NASA has been involved, but they will begin the first attempt to bring them up early next week.
This story sparked a memory from my childhood. While I currently live in Winnipeg, I haven't always lived here. I was actually born & raised in a small mining community in northern Manitoba. In the '80's, there were many accidents that claimed men's lives. Being the small town it was, I knew every single one of these men, whether our families were close or not. In Snow Lake, there were no strangers.
Here's the memory: February 1985. I was in grade 5. That morning, I was in French class. My mom was teaching us that day (she was a substitute teacher). Believe me when I say this has a bit of significance. So we're in class, when suddenly we hear a loud scream. The kind you hear in movies, when somebody gets bad news. My mom went out in the hallway to find out what was going on. When she came back in the room, she had her hand on her chest and tears in her eyes. My mom was a stoic woman. She rarely showed emotion. So I knew it was bad. That's when she told us of a man who was killed in a mining accident that morning. The scream came from his daughter, who was in grade 7 or 8.
The man who was killed, Mr. E., lived down the street from our family. His son grew up with my oldest brothers. The families were somewhat close.
This day was a year minus one day after the death of his wife, the girl's mother. This is where the significance of my mother's presence comes in. My mom was 15 when her mom passed away. She was the youngest in her family, with 2 older brothers. As the only girl, this event led to a silent role she carried for the rest of her life. She always had room in her heart for girls who lost their mothers. So for that year less a day, she kept a watchful eye on K.
Our class was dismissed soon after. She quickly went to K, to offer what she could.
The scream, the crying, was the last we saw or heard of K. Her older brother had already left home, so she was taken to live with family elsewhere.
Of all the men lost, this is the one that touches my heart when I remember it. It was around this time that this mining company started to work on their safety measures, and become more diligent with following rules and regulations. I think for the last 25 years, they have lost less miners in work related accidents, than they did in that 5 year span in the 80's. The mine has won a number of safety awards and competitions.
While watching the story of the Chilean miners, I appreciate most the comaraderie of these men, as well as their families and friends who have been waiting to see their men again. I truly hope all of the men are saved, that the rescue is successful, and that these men are able to recover, with time and help.
This story sparked a memory from my childhood. While I currently live in Winnipeg, I haven't always lived here. I was actually born & raised in a small mining community in northern Manitoba. In the '80's, there were many accidents that claimed men's lives. Being the small town it was, I knew every single one of these men, whether our families were close or not. In Snow Lake, there were no strangers.
Here's the memory: February 1985. I was in grade 5. That morning, I was in French class. My mom was teaching us that day (she was a substitute teacher). Believe me when I say this has a bit of significance. So we're in class, when suddenly we hear a loud scream. The kind you hear in movies, when somebody gets bad news. My mom went out in the hallway to find out what was going on. When she came back in the room, she had her hand on her chest and tears in her eyes. My mom was a stoic woman. She rarely showed emotion. So I knew it was bad. That's when she told us of a man who was killed in a mining accident that morning. The scream came from his daughter, who was in grade 7 or 8.
The man who was killed, Mr. E., lived down the street from our family. His son grew up with my oldest brothers. The families were somewhat close.
This day was a year minus one day after the death of his wife, the girl's mother. This is where the significance of my mother's presence comes in. My mom was 15 when her mom passed away. She was the youngest in her family, with 2 older brothers. As the only girl, this event led to a silent role she carried for the rest of her life. She always had room in her heart for girls who lost their mothers. So for that year less a day, she kept a watchful eye on K.
Our class was dismissed soon after. She quickly went to K, to offer what she could.
The scream, the crying, was the last we saw or heard of K. Her older brother had already left home, so she was taken to live with family elsewhere.
Of all the men lost, this is the one that touches my heart when I remember it. It was around this time that this mining company started to work on their safety measures, and become more diligent with following rules and regulations. I think for the last 25 years, they have lost less miners in work related accidents, than they did in that 5 year span in the 80's. The mine has won a number of safety awards and competitions.
While watching the story of the Chilean miners, I appreciate most the comaraderie of these men, as well as their families and friends who have been waiting to see their men again. I truly hope all of the men are saved, that the rescue is successful, and that these men are able to recover, with time and help.
Moneymoneymoneymoneymoney (August 31, 2010)
I got a raise!!!
Finally, I can "say" it out loud. I can't say anything at work, because anyone who didn't get one, or may be waiting to hear, might get their noses out of joint. I can't say anything on that other social networking site I frequent, because I have one coworker on their as my friend. Well, she is my friend... don't want to mislead you....
I work in commercial property management, and I'm an assistant to a property manager. WARNING: Potential yawn inducing information to follow. A person, a family, group of people, business buys up a warehouse, a mall, a building where businesses lease space. The owner hires our company to manage the property on their behalf. Some big buildings, some small. A very busy business, either way. My manager is the senior manager. Whatever that means. I still don't know. I've been at my job for over 3 years. We're an interesting team. Boss and I are close in age, and that's about all we have in common. So, we're not distracted with any personal stuff, for the most part. It's just work. Boss has taught me everything I know about commercial property management. I brace myself for the day he leaves. Because it will happen, someday. I'm betting on it. Me, I'm staying put.
Some people work for money. Hookers, for example. Of course, it's best to earn enough money to live comfortably, so that the bills get paid, the roof stays over the head, there's some food in the fridge. I've been earning a salary that allows me to live.... okay.... sure, I'd always like more, but there's always a catch: be prepared to give up more of your life, the more they pay you! The more they pay you, the more they own you. That's my theory.
On a more serious note, I'm pretty good at my job. There's always room for improvement. And I am my own biggest critic. My review had a number of good points on it, and some areas where I improved (my personality). I worked on my weaknesses, and am happy the powers that be have seen an improvement.
I wasn't going to ask for a raise this year, nor did I expect one. My next concern is, I don't want to be paid too much. Does that sound weird? Welcome to my mind!
My raise was retroactive, so today's pay had a big chunk of money added to it. My next pay will be much more accurate.
Thanks for letting me share this info here. It's been a massive weight I've been carrying around for a week now. Phewf.
Finally, I can "say" it out loud. I can't say anything at work, because anyone who didn't get one, or may be waiting to hear, might get their noses out of joint. I can't say anything on that other social networking site I frequent, because I have one coworker on their as my friend. Well, she is my friend... don't want to mislead you....
I work in commercial property management, and I'm an assistant to a property manager. WARNING: Potential yawn inducing information to follow. A person, a family, group of people, business buys up a warehouse, a mall, a building where businesses lease space. The owner hires our company to manage the property on their behalf. Some big buildings, some small. A very busy business, either way. My manager is the senior manager. Whatever that means. I still don't know. I've been at my job for over 3 years. We're an interesting team. Boss and I are close in age, and that's about all we have in common. So, we're not distracted with any personal stuff, for the most part. It's just work. Boss has taught me everything I know about commercial property management. I brace myself for the day he leaves. Because it will happen, someday. I'm betting on it. Me, I'm staying put.
Some people work for money. Hookers, for example. Of course, it's best to earn enough money to live comfortably, so that the bills get paid, the roof stays over the head, there's some food in the fridge. I've been earning a salary that allows me to live.... okay.... sure, I'd always like more, but there's always a catch: be prepared to give up more of your life, the more they pay you! The more they pay you, the more they own you. That's my theory.
On a more serious note, I'm pretty good at my job. There's always room for improvement. And I am my own biggest critic. My review had a number of good points on it, and some areas where I improved (my personality). I worked on my weaknesses, and am happy the powers that be have seen an improvement.
I wasn't going to ask for a raise this year, nor did I expect one. My next concern is, I don't want to be paid too much. Does that sound weird? Welcome to my mind!
My raise was retroactive, so today's pay had a big chunk of money added to it. My next pay will be much more accurate.
Thanks for letting me share this info here. It's been a massive weight I've been carrying around for a week now. Phewf.
The Emmy Awards 2010 (August 29, 2010)
I love televised awards shows. Tonight it was the Emmy Awards.
I don't care for the red carpet. That bores me. Random celebrities telling us how cheap they are with their borrowed dresses and borrowed jewellery. Wanda Sykes threw us a curveball, however - she BOUGHT her dress. Supporting the economy, she said. I wish she'd said "I have a job that pays me lots and lots of money, and I have no excuse for borrowing a dress. Except that maybe I'm not as big a star as I think, and no designer offered to lend me something."
There was only one award I was really looking forward to. The variety/music program. Conan O'Brien's former late night television show was nominated. You know, the one he got bumped from to give Jay Leno his old time slot back when he proved he truly sucked in an earlier time (but NBC was too chicken shit to actually admit that.). Jay Leno wasn't nominated. I feel it's important to state this. Leading into this category, they showed a number of clips from various shows. A number of them made reference to Conan, or more specifically, his (and other hosts') reaction to the screw job. "Screw Job" was the term coined by SNL's Seth Meyers, in one of those clips.
I am a big Conan O'Brien fan. He makes me laugh out loud. He has a style of humour that is sometimes dry, other times self deprecating. It's like he says "Hey, I laugh at myself, so you can laugh at me too." He should never have been bumped from the Tonight Show. Leno should have been told his time was up, too bad, so sad, here's your pension, now go away, buh bye. But I guess enough old ladies out there are still alive and have nothing better to do than flood NBC's phone lines and web site if they're not happy. Hey, that kind of explains why the rest of NBC's shows suck for the most part. Right?
Conan didn't win. Jon Stewart did. Again. I think this was the 4th year in a row.
One surprise I enjoyed was Jim Parsons' win for lead actor for Big Bang Theory. And Modern Family's multiple wins. These are two shows that I enjoy, if I stumble upon them in the TV lineup (in other words, they're not part of my regular TV watching schedule.
Tom Hanks was there. He accepted the award his TV miniseries won. What was it called.....? Dunno. Don't care. His spray tan was bordering on orange. And I really wish he'd stuck with his DaVinci Code hair style. It took 10 years off his appearance.
Martin Short didn't win the award he was nominated for. I think it was guest male in a dramatic role. I think he should have won solely because he was in a non-comedic role. The man who did win, I was really hoping he would give Martin a shout out. Martin wasn't at the awards, as his wife passed away last week. I think if Catherine O'Hara had won her nomination (I think it was also for guesting in a dramatic role), she would have said something. You see, they go waaaaay back. They were on SCTV together. For all you non-Canadians, or anyone under the age of 30, that was a Canadian comedy sketch show from the 70s / 80s, that introduced us to the likes of Short, O'Hara, Eugene Levy, and the late great John Candy. And the characters Bob and Doug McKenzie (take off, eh.). Martin's Ed Grimley role, that he played on SNL in the mid-80s, was created originally for and played on SCTV.
The "In Memoriam" section always tears me up. Even more so this year, with Jewel singing a song that she wrote about a friend that passed away. The song is not recorded anywhere, and the Emmy crew allowed her to sing it anyways. It was beautiful. And, it must have grasped everyone else's attention, because the audience kept their applause to the bare minimum. That applause has always driven me bonkers.
And finally...... Neil Patrick Harris won for his hosting of the Emmy's last year. That was the BEST awards show I've watched in years. He's so talented. And so damn handsome. Doogie done growed up good.
(Yes. I know he's homosexual. He has babies coming.)
I hated Jimmy Fallon on SNL. Don't care for his late night show. But I tolerated his hosting abilities. Let's start a campaign to bring Neil back next year, so he can sing and dance and show off his subtle hotness!! Yah!!
I don't care for the red carpet. That bores me. Random celebrities telling us how cheap they are with their borrowed dresses and borrowed jewellery. Wanda Sykes threw us a curveball, however - she BOUGHT her dress. Supporting the economy, she said. I wish she'd said "I have a job that pays me lots and lots of money, and I have no excuse for borrowing a dress. Except that maybe I'm not as big a star as I think, and no designer offered to lend me something."
There was only one award I was really looking forward to. The variety/music program. Conan O'Brien's former late night television show was nominated. You know, the one he got bumped from to give Jay Leno his old time slot back when he proved he truly sucked in an earlier time (but NBC was too chicken shit to actually admit that.). Jay Leno wasn't nominated. I feel it's important to state this. Leading into this category, they showed a number of clips from various shows. A number of them made reference to Conan, or more specifically, his (and other hosts') reaction to the screw job. "Screw Job" was the term coined by SNL's Seth Meyers, in one of those clips.
I am a big Conan O'Brien fan. He makes me laugh out loud. He has a style of humour that is sometimes dry, other times self deprecating. It's like he says "Hey, I laugh at myself, so you can laugh at me too." He should never have been bumped from the Tonight Show. Leno should have been told his time was up, too bad, so sad, here's your pension, now go away, buh bye. But I guess enough old ladies out there are still alive and have nothing better to do than flood NBC's phone lines and web site if they're not happy. Hey, that kind of explains why the rest of NBC's shows suck for the most part. Right?
Conan didn't win. Jon Stewart did. Again. I think this was the 4th year in a row.
One surprise I enjoyed was Jim Parsons' win for lead actor for Big Bang Theory. And Modern Family's multiple wins. These are two shows that I enjoy, if I stumble upon them in the TV lineup (in other words, they're not part of my regular TV watching schedule.
Tom Hanks was there. He accepted the award his TV miniseries won. What was it called.....? Dunno. Don't care. His spray tan was bordering on orange. And I really wish he'd stuck with his DaVinci Code hair style. It took 10 years off his appearance.
Martin Short didn't win the award he was nominated for. I think it was guest male in a dramatic role. I think he should have won solely because he was in a non-comedic role. The man who did win, I was really hoping he would give Martin a shout out. Martin wasn't at the awards, as his wife passed away last week. I think if Catherine O'Hara had won her nomination (I think it was also for guesting in a dramatic role), she would have said something. You see, they go waaaaay back. They were on SCTV together. For all you non-Canadians, or anyone under the age of 30, that was a Canadian comedy sketch show from the 70s / 80s, that introduced us to the likes of Short, O'Hara, Eugene Levy, and the late great John Candy. And the characters Bob and Doug McKenzie (take off, eh.). Martin's Ed Grimley role, that he played on SNL in the mid-80s, was created originally for and played on SCTV.
The "In Memoriam" section always tears me up. Even more so this year, with Jewel singing a song that she wrote about a friend that passed away. The song is not recorded anywhere, and the Emmy crew allowed her to sing it anyways. It was beautiful. And, it must have grasped everyone else's attention, because the audience kept their applause to the bare minimum. That applause has always driven me bonkers.
And finally...... Neil Patrick Harris won for his hosting of the Emmy's last year. That was the BEST awards show I've watched in years. He's so talented. And so damn handsome. Doogie done growed up good.
(Yes. I know he's homosexual. He has babies coming.)
I hated Jimmy Fallon on SNL. Don't care for his late night show. But I tolerated his hosting abilities. Let's start a campaign to bring Neil back next year, so he can sing and dance and show off his subtle hotness!! Yah!!
Play Nice, Now (August 13, 2010)
I am one of the many, many putzes in this world who works in an office. I've always known I would work in an office. Doing what, I didn't know. Now I do. I know, because I had to complete an Employment Evaluation recently. It's part of the standard annual review - you tell us first what exactly you do, and value you are to our company, and we'll decide whether or not you get a raise.
I've been with my company for over 3 years now. This is the 2nd evaluation I've completed. Don't stress yourself over the math; it doesn't add up. My company is somewhat lax on their diligence in completing annual reviews. No biggie, as far as I'm concerned. Because, after my first year with the company, I got a 13% raise. This was thanks in part to big mouths in my office group, yapping about their salaries. They got told to shut up. Some did, others didn't. So the powers that be said "Fine, wanna be like that? We're gonna mix it up. Some people's salaries are gonna change, and some aren't." Mine changed, drastically.
My response to the news was "FUCK ME!"
Since then, I've left the evaluations & salary alone. I figured if they had a problem with me or something I was doing, someone would tell me.
Mostly, I've been told "You're doing good" or "Good job" or "What would we do without you?" Wait, I lied. That last line should read "What would you do without me?" Me saying it, natch.
So anyways, I filled out this evaluation. Then I asked for another blank one, to start again. After leaving it alone for one day, I went back and realized my sarcastic comments about my manager might be misread. They might think I had a problem with him. Which I do, sometimes. But I decided, if I have a problem with him, maybe I should try talking to him first? Or, I'll wait til an actual sit-down meeting with the powers-that-be, and wait for him to ask me "How's it going with D?" Then I'll carefully broach the subject.
"D gossips too much. I still have to wait for him to finish chatting before I can talk to him about work."
This has been a problem since day one. D is a great person, someone that all the ladies in the office are drawn to, to talk about their problems, or to share their life stories. And he's too nice to tell them to go away.... or too nice to admit they annoy the piss out of him.
Maybe they don't annoy him. BUT because he's, you know, a man, I prefer to hold on to the belief that sometimes he doesn't want to listen to the girl crap. Please, let me be right. Please..........
Today, a comment was made about how well I held the fort down while he was away for a week. Yes, I did. I always do. I told them the secret to my success:
"I stopped caring."
They laughed. But in that laugh, I know they were acknowledging that this wasn't a total joke.
Maybe I should have written "I stopped caring" in my evaluation. Think they know me enough to know how to read it?
Nah......
Will I get a raise? Stay tuned......
I've been with my company for over 3 years now. This is the 2nd evaluation I've completed. Don't stress yourself over the math; it doesn't add up. My company is somewhat lax on their diligence in completing annual reviews. No biggie, as far as I'm concerned. Because, after my first year with the company, I got a 13% raise. This was thanks in part to big mouths in my office group, yapping about their salaries. They got told to shut up. Some did, others didn't. So the powers that be said "Fine, wanna be like that? We're gonna mix it up. Some people's salaries are gonna change, and some aren't." Mine changed, drastically.
My response to the news was "FUCK ME!"
Since then, I've left the evaluations & salary alone. I figured if they had a problem with me or something I was doing, someone would tell me.
Mostly, I've been told "You're doing good" or "Good job" or "What would we do without you?" Wait, I lied. That last line should read "What would you do without me?" Me saying it, natch.
So anyways, I filled out this evaluation. Then I asked for another blank one, to start again. After leaving it alone for one day, I went back and realized my sarcastic comments about my manager might be misread. They might think I had a problem with him. Which I do, sometimes. But I decided, if I have a problem with him, maybe I should try talking to him first? Or, I'll wait til an actual sit-down meeting with the powers-that-be, and wait for him to ask me "How's it going with D?" Then I'll carefully broach the subject.
"D gossips too much. I still have to wait for him to finish chatting before I can talk to him about work."
This has been a problem since day one. D is a great person, someone that all the ladies in the office are drawn to, to talk about their problems, or to share their life stories. And he's too nice to tell them to go away.... or too nice to admit they annoy the piss out of him.
Maybe they don't annoy him. BUT because he's, you know, a man, I prefer to hold on to the belief that sometimes he doesn't want to listen to the girl crap. Please, let me be right. Please..........
Today, a comment was made about how well I held the fort down while he was away for a week. Yes, I did. I always do. I told them the secret to my success:
"I stopped caring."
They laughed. But in that laugh, I know they were acknowledging that this wasn't a total joke.
Maybe I should have written "I stopped caring" in my evaluation. Think they know me enough to know how to read it?
Nah......
Will I get a raise? Stay tuned......
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