Thursday, September 30, 2004

• Your Questions Answered

   

  IUsweetie311 asks: if your boss is that stupid and horrible, why don't you quit, I would.

   

  There are contractual considerations that make it difficult and risky to leave, and there are times when I think it would be worth it, but actually, for now, it seems to be working pretty well. When Joe, my co-worker, left earlier this year, I thought I would be leaving soon, also, because Joe was sort of Mr. S's scapegoat. I figured that with Joe gone, all of Mr. S's nitpicking and anger would fall on me, but it hasn't really happened that way. I find that even though he just drives me crazy, something about it also works.

   

  I love not having a dress code, for example. I can wear shorts and a sweatshirt to work if I feel like it. I could even wear pajamas. I also like not having to deal with co-workers, for the most part. There's Tom, but I don't see him much and we work in totally different parts of the company, so I don't have to deal with office politics or people trying to backstab or pass the buck. I like being responsible for my own work and leaving no question as to who succeeded or failed (either way, it's me).

   

  I also like not having to work within a large company's rules. For example, Mr. S usually doesn't mind paying me a day early if I need the money, not that I ask all that often. If I want to take a day off and don't have enough vacation time, he is willing to let me either take the day unpaid, or sometimes I can use vacation time before I've earned it--deficit spending, if you will. I don't take a lot of time off, so it's not a big issue, but there have been times I've had a sick child or something, and he's allowed me to take the time off even if I don't have it banked. Not that he likes it or is pleasant about it, but for all his faults, I know he's not going to hang me out to dry.

   

  On the downside, there's Mr. S, and Tom is a compulsive liar (which is also sort of amusing, so I'm not sure I'd put him squarely in either the "plus" or "minus" column). Also, there's no one to have lunch with.

   

  So, for now, anyway, it seems to be working better than ever. Plus, I think some of things he says and does are hilarious. Stupid and horrible, but hilarious. It's like working for Archie Bunker, and who wouldn't find that funny?

   

  Summer123 asks a couple of questions, and has a request:

   

  Your Xanga name -- how'd you decide on it?

   

  I came up with the name officeconfidential because in the beginning, I thought of the blog as sort of like a gossip column about my job. It's become more than that, and sometimes I think it's weird when people call me "office," although I also think it's funny.

   

  Oh and I adore your banner -- did you make it yourself?

   

  Thank you. Yes, I made the banner myself, using a 30-day trial of some graphics software that I never intended to buy. I am not really talented in this area, but this one was pretty easy to throw together. I've never been crazy about the tagline "Tales of Horror From the Workplace," but I couldn't think of anything else and my 30 days were running out. Now, I think I'd like it to be something like "Diary of a Disgruntled Worker." But my 30 days are up now, so for the moment it'll stay as it is.

   

  I'd love to see a photo of your fat cat sometime

   

  Ask and you shall receive!

   

   

   

  This is my cat, Eddie. Summer posted a photo of her fat cat, and I commented that I had a fat cat also. This photo (I don't think he looks as fat as he really is in this shot) was taken a year or so ago, and since then, he's been on low-calorie food. He has not lost any weight. I stopped free-feeding him (a bit problematic because I have two other cats who are not overweight, and they want to eat during the day), because he was eating about 347 meals a day (at first we thought it was the dog eating all the cat food, but it turns out it was Eddie), but he still has not lost any weight. This is pretty much what he does all day, now that his meals are restricted.

   

  Eddie's full name is Edward Frederick (last name) and we call him "Eddie Freddie," or "Fredward." We also call him "Fatley," and "Fat Edward." I love this cat--I like the other two, but Eddie and I are pals. I think he's the cutest thing ever.

   

  Skanickadee asks: If you could leave Mr S and have any career you wanted what would it be?

   

  I would love to be a presidential historian like Doris Kearns Goodwin (she gets bonus points for both being a Red Sox fan, and for her wonderful memoir on her life as a baseball fan, Wait Till Next Year) or Michael Beschloss.

   

  I would also love to make an actual living from writing--not writing articles, which I actually don't really enjoy, but as an essayist, novelist, and/or biographer (presidential historian!).

   

  Also, before I started playing tennis, when people asked if I had any regrets, I always said I wished I were a really good tennis player. I'm not a really good player yet (but I was on fire last night, let me tell you! I could do no wrong. Everything, even mis-hits, including a couple of balls that actually hit the racquet frame, went in last night. And I think I might have fixed my forehand problem, with no help from Andy, and I just had so much pop on my serve). If talent and age (not to mention money) were not barriers, I would love to be a professional tennis player. I wouldn't have to be #1 or anything (ah, who am I kidding--I hate to lose), just make enough to make a living. It would be great to go to work and practice hitting a backhand down the line or an inside-out forehand.

   

  I'll still take questions, if you have any!

  • 7:21 AM
  • 1 view
  • 12 eprops
  • 7 comments