good people dealing with bullshit ... why is life so damn unfair?

I had dinner with a dear friend on Thursday night. This woman is one of the kindest, most honest people I know. She loves her job and never loses sight that her job is in the service of college students, no matter how frustrating their behavior may be sometimes!

She is having trouble at work thanks to a supervisor who is clueless about the job she does, but he's throwing his weight around as an "office manager." She's been at the job four years longer than he has ... I think the only reason she was not/can not be promoted to a position of authority is the fact her college degree was not earned on U.S. soil and although it's called a B.S. or B.A., it's really not in the eyes of the college she works for,

For as long as she's held the job, her start time and hours were from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. That *hour* for lunch she seldom took in its entirety; the students needed her and she is pretty much always available. She never leaves work at 5:30. I can't think of a single time she's met me in the parking lot at 5:30 ... if she's working with a student, she finishes that exchange.

Her new boss, on the job for a year, has never said anything to her about her work hours being any different. But last month, he wrote her up for being "late" and deducted time from her timesheet. She was always careful to make up that missed time: if she came in ten minutes late, she stayed ten minutes later.

His main bitch: She was consistently 30 minutes late from her start time of 8 a.m.! She had no idea she was supposed to be at work at 8—AND said supervisor never verbally counseled her, but rather kept notes and confronted her with a written warning about tardiness.

This woman does not deserve such treatment!

Why is it when small insecure people get into "power" they do stuff like this? I have a feeling he's trying to look *tough* and protective toward the college, making sure every employee gives good value for their wage. Nothing wrong with that. What is wrong is forgetting you are dealing with human beings ... and how important it is to foster a sense of teamwork and openness at work.

My friend has yet to pull her union into this. I am not a fan of unions but this is why people pay dues: when they are treated unfairly, the union is supposed to be her advocate. I also told her that if her hours are 8 to 5, then she needs to start work at 8 and walk out the door at 5:01. Never mind if there are students waiting for her assistance. Let her boss deal with the students' complaints. Maybe he will be forced to learn her job ... maybe he will understand the nature of working for a college. It's there for education and not pissing matches.

Obviously doing a good job and caring about said job is really not important anymore.

Seems like I've dropped off the face of the earth ...

It sure does seem as if it's been forever since I've done any fun writing for myself. I've been blessed with a bunch of work, greatly appreciated, and between that work and still waiting for the Worker's Comp carrier to give its blessing for treatment (they hope I die in the meantime, unfortunately for them what I have isn't fatal ... directly anyway) I've neglected sharing any random thoughts.

I am trying to be a bit better about going to my internal medicine doc. I don't like going to the doctor. I have insurance, but I just think what a waste of money to have to go at least four times a year, mostly for lab work because of statin therapy for familial high cholesterol. Strange though, I've been getting what could be perceived as good news at my last two visits.

At my November visit, the scale, never my friend, revealed a 17-pound weight loss from the last time I'd been seen, a tick less than a year previously. It hasn't yet equated to a full drop in clothing size, but stuff hangs on me. At my full physical 10 days ago, the scale said I'd lost another four pounds... that is over the Christmas holiday, without extraordinary effort.

In part the weight loss is due to scary low income. There have been times I have one "meal" a day which might consist of ramen noodles and cheese, and a glass of milk. College student fare, and if it keeps them going, I guess it's good enough for me. Combined with the stress of slow work and pain, I'm just not hungry.

We've also switched to nonfat milk and I do not drink carbonated beverages at all, not even the diet stuff. I don't know if weight loss is all that easy, but imagine how nicely a weight loss might progress with an increase in exercise?

I can hardly wait! This time, I will be rid of my "fat clothes" as soon as I possibly can!

Yay for work!

There is nothing that feels as good as having work, being productive, using the skills that God and a good education gave you and allowed you to develop, and learning new things from students to boot.

'Twas a good day today. Maybe 2010 will indeed be a better year?

back to work ... feast or famine

My neurotomies worked well enough that I'm back to working 10-hour days—when I have work. I have two big but well-written projects I'm working on that I really want out there. No, I didn't write them, but I'm editing them. One is a study about something called "green" taxes and the second about attracting students to transportation planning. The green taxes one is quite interesting in that there actually is support for higher taxes on higher-polluting automobiles. 

I've been using light rail to get to work as my back doctor suggested I avoid driving my 5-speed Mustang. I hate to admit it, but I do love the convenience of light rail, and the short three-block walk to work is just enough exercise to get me fully awake and ready to work. AND it's cheap!!!! 

There are only two bad things about light rail: the first is the SJSU students who take over the light rail cars and seats and spread out over two seats, preventing anyone else from sitting down. There is signage at six seats which are supposed to be reserved for the elderly and disabled, but I've not seen one SJSU student give up one of those seats. One day there were a pair of 'em on the seats, with an empty seat between them that contained their backpacks. I told them to move the backpacks, that I was disabled and I was going to sit there. Period. I shouldn't have had to ask.

The second scary thing is my light rail stop is by a city park that the homeless and displaced hang out at—many camp there, sleeping on benches. Thus far I've not been approached, but I sure wouldn't be walking through that park during anything but broad daylight!

I promise to get back on the political agenda. I am simply gobsmacked at the crap that comes out of our president's mouth. This week he made a remark about how his bowling game was par for a Special Olympics game. He apologized, but imagine if George Bush had said it! He'd be dealing with impeachment proceedings right now!

This afternoon: Colorado Avalanche versus Sharks. Avs truly suck and as much as I'd like for them to upset SJ, I just don't see it happening. Darn it.

On a more serious note, four Oakland police officers were shot in the line of duty yesterday; three died and one is clinging to life. Prayers of strength to their families. I did write a post about this tragedy on Trials & Tribulations. Just sad.