Teny's iPod
You know lately I’ve been wearing headphones while I work. It’s a way to keep my focus, keep me sane, and enjoy my day. My parents gave me an iPod for Christmas, and it’s certainly my favorite toy right now. It’s a 4th generation 20 GB iPod.
I currently have 5 gigs of music on it. I originally had 15 GB filled up, but our new PC wiped it clean. So I’m just taking my time filling it up now. What’s hot for me right now: Hoobastank’s The Reason. Their ballad is a great one, but the album itself rocks. Kelly Clarkson’s Breakaway is my wife CL’s fave, and I enjoy it as well. Other current faves: Alanis Morissette’s So-Called Chaos, Eminem’s Encore (I’m sure I’ll hear about this one), U2′s How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. My favorite song at this time: The Killers “Mr. Brightside”.
What I really enjoy listening to are podcasts. Basically an audio show (usually 30 minutes) broadcast over the Internet. They’re downloadable and usually played back on an MP3 player like an iPod, hence the name. There are many types of podcasts, ranging with subjects from sports to movies to music.
One of the podcasts I listen to is the Daily Source Code with Adam Curry. Curry was an MTV VJ in the late 80′s, and he’s the pioneer behind the podcast revolution. He usually talks about music, technology, and helps promote other podcasts. Curry would occasionally take the listener on a “soundseeing” tour, like South Beach, Florida, as he walks past restaurants and clubs, and talks to people on the street as cars drive by. It’s entertaining, educational (for me, anyway), and honest.
The other is The Dawn and Drew Show. This is a couple sitting in their living room talking about anything, or, in most cases, nothing. Dawn likes to shock while Drew plays the straight man. The show tends to get a little risque, so … I won’t get into it. I love listening to them because they’re funny, down-to-earth (sometimes), and honest. With their honesty comes TMI (too much information), so beware (pay attention to their site’s disclaimer).
The thing I like about podcasts is the honesty. It’s unscripted, uncensored, and anything happens. Mistakes are all over these programs, and you hear them as they happen, like a painting falling off the wall or Curry queuing up the wrong audio bit.
Well, I rambled on too much here. CL wants me to quit so I can watch 24 with her. See ya …
Teny’s iPod
You know lately I’ve been wearing headphones while I work. It’s a way to keep my focus, keep me sane, and enjoy my day. My parents gave me an iPod for Christmas, and it’s certainly my favorite toy right now. It’s a 4th generation 20 GB iPod.
I currently have 5 gigs of music on it. I originally had 15 GB filled up, but our new PC wiped it clean. So I’m just taking my time filling it up now. What’s hot for me right now: Hoobastank’s The Reason. Their ballad is a great one, but the album itself rocks. Kelly Clarkson’s Breakaway is my wife CL’s fave, and I enjoy it as well. Other current faves: Alanis Morissette’s So-Called Chaos, Eminem’s Encore (I’m sure I’ll hear about this one), U2′s How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. My favorite song at this time: The Killers “Mr. Brightside”.
What I really enjoy listening to are podcasts. Basically an audio show (usually 30 minutes) broadcast over the Internet. They’re downloadable and usually played back on an MP3 player like an iPod, hence the name. There are many types of podcasts, ranging with subjects from sports to movies to music.
One of the podcasts I listen to is the Daily Source Code with Adam Curry. Curry was an MTV VJ in the late 80′s, and he’s the pioneer behind the podcast revolution. He usually talks about music, technology, and helps promote other podcasts. Curry would occasionally take the listener on a “soundseeing” tour, like South Beach, Florida, as he walks past restaurants and clubs, and talks to people on the street as cars drive by. It’s entertaining, educational (for me, anyway), and honest.
The other is The Dawn and Drew Show. This is a couple sitting in their living room talking about anything, or, in most cases, nothing. Dawn likes to shock while Drew plays the straight man. The show tends to get a little risque, so … I won’t get into it. I love listening to them because they’re funny, down-to-earth (sometimes), and honest. With their honesty comes TMI (too much information), so beware (pay attention to their site’s disclaimer).
The thing I like about podcasts is the honesty. It’s unscripted, uncensored, and anything happens. Mistakes are all over these programs, and you hear them as they happen, like a painting falling off the wall or Curry queuing up the wrong audio bit.
Well, I rambled on too much here. CL wants me to quit so I can watch 24 with her. See ya …
Monday sucks
I hate Monday.
I started early. I knew I had a student helping, and we had weekend paperwork to deal with. Coming in at normal time, I’m behind already. Just ask Hillman – he knows what I’m talking about. People tell me to stop giving my own time to the company. I don’t look at it that way. I’m helping no one but myself, and I like it just fine.
Pete stopped in and wanted to discuss my workload for the week. I wanted him to know I had it under control; Hillman would help with my other tasks. Pete reminded me that Hillman making rounds for me would free me up to focus on my bigger projects. It was obvious he didn’t want me to leave the office.
My lack of preparation hit me hard today. When change takes place, and I’m not ready for it, the day just falls apart. I didn’t know where anyone was, and when I did, I didn’t know how to get anything to them. Hillman had many returns already, and it was early. I hate asking him to do my work.
My biggest problem of the day was charts. It may not have been a big deal to anyone else, and I was assured this by some, but it bothered the hell out of me. Nothing sucks more than being taken out of your element with no time to prepare. I think Pete likes this.
Since I can’t leave the office, I went ahead and sent messages to my team to let them know how we’d be doing things from now on. I hate not having control over my job. I’ve been comfortable for years, and Pete’s changing all that. I hate it, I hate it, I hate it.
I hate Monday.
Weekend
It’s the weekend, and I’ve been keeping busy with my family and home life. Hard not to think about work and this week’s events, and the future. I’ve been looking online for other opportunities elsewhere. I’m not saying that I will leave soon – it all depends on what I find. I certainly want to clean any mess I have at work right now. I know I’ll never fully catch up. That’s unrealistic.
I hope people understand that I don’t hate Pete. I just can’t stand him. He’s very positive in trying to get things done, yet I don’t think he’s realistic in his goals. He’s asked everyone to bend over backwards for him to get these tasks done, but he hasn’t shown much flexibility. Pete refuses to acknowledge there are issues or problems within the department, and if there are, he will squash them at any cost. With no regards to those involved.
The saddest thing is Pete is clueless. Either that or he just doesn’t care. I say clueless because when you bring something to his attention, he reacts like he has no knowledge (particularly when it’s a procedure in question; Pete has never learned the jobs/procedures/processes in the dept). He certainly was shocked at the way our previous manager left us.
In doing my job, I always put myself last. Everyone came before me. Customer service – it is important to me and everyone is my customer. I never looked at it as “babysitting” or “spoiling” my coworkers. I am part of a team, and I feel I do my part everyday. I don’t want to be the hero or a martyr. I don’t really need a “thank you”, although I do appreciate it. Ultimately, I know if I got the job done or not.
I’d like to think I’ll last to the summer, but I don’t know. If an opportunity comes my way, I can’t pass it up. I do know this place will get along fine without me. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. I’ve never worked with a finer group of people. My team is the best in the entire company. Until they took my team away from me.
I will miss everyone.
TGIF!!
Friday. The day I look forward to every week. I wish my life away for Friday. I never wished for it more than I have this week.
I started the day with a student. I assured Larry on 7 that I would put the student to work since no one else could take them. I began by letting Alan check the new accounts; Hillman took him around to deliver them. When they returned, I taught Alan the “art” of scanning.
I left the office 3 times – initially to hand out ER’s, bring recoveries to Jim, and to deal with my charts. According to Hillman, during my last departure, Pete came through the office and noticed my absence. He asked Hillman about it, and he told Pete the truth – I went to deal with charts.
I only saw Pete twice during the day; at the start of the day, and at the end, when he asked me to sign something for him. It was a corrective action plan for my “actions” this week. I read it through rather quickly. In order to “rehabilitate” me from my actions, Pete would meet with me at the beginning of each week to get a good look at my workload. Pete would then determine what I would be doing (and who would help me, if necessary).
What was documented was accurate except for one thing – I felt I never “stirred the pot”, nor did I intend to. But we were at the end of a long and draining week, and I didn’t want to get into it again with Pete. Pete was calm and civil as I looked over the document. He told me I was a good worker and asked me not to “get sucked in” by staying focused on work. Pete apparently feels there is a group who does not trust him and wants me to stay on his side of things. I signed the paper so I could get out of his office. We exchanged pleasantries; he told me to have a nice weekend, and I reciprocated by telling him to enjoy the weather.
Hillman asked me if I felt better afterward. I said yes, only because we were moving forward from the incident. I still feel manipulated, though. I need to focus on getting the job done since I will be watched. But I will be watching too.
Bill told me that he and Evan were able to go to Severs after work Thursday night. I was happy to hear that. I had originally planned to go 3 nights this week, but in all honesty, I was drained after Wednesday. I believe there will be a few of us who will get together regularly at Severs (if not weekly, maybe every other). Everyone is welcome to join us.
Well, maybe not everyone.
Grounded
This is my first attempt at blogging.
I figure I have to vent somehow. My wife listens to me, and she supports me, and I’m thankful for that. I know I have friends in the department who support me as well, and I’m grateful to have them as friends. But I cannot talk to them anymore, and I figured this medium is somewhat a safer way for me to communicate.
It’s amazing how the events of one day can change everything.
In case you didn’t know by now, I was pulled into Pete’s office and accused of bitching about the changes that Pete had created within the department. In simpler terms, he accused me of “stirring the pot” and stated that I was bringing the department’s morale down. To make matters worse, he knew that I had been talking to others for lengthy periods of time when I should have been working (and we don’t need to remind me of how behind I am).
Now I will say that most of what I was accused of was true. But I also believe it was misconstrued. It certainly didn’t matter. I was being written up for having concerns about dept changes and discussing them with other employees instead of with the boss. And I’m sure time management will be included in there.
My first reaction was shock. How did he know? How could he? He must have someone who reports to him. This person observes all that is going on and brings it back to Pete. And if Pete does not have a spy, then he is very smart and sneaky by making it seem like one of my own has betrayed me.
I’m past the betrayal part. I’m just upset that my venting (and those venting to me) is now seen as some conspiring act against the boss. Now who doesn’t have a boss that they don’t complain about behind their backs? When you’re the boss, you are going to have your enemies, and you will be disliked by someone. It’s part of the job. Get used to it!
The other part I’m upset about is the time management thing. ET has been responsible for my scans since he came to the dept. Now the changes have moved ET out of the office, and I need to rethink the whole scanning thing. I used that as my reason for being “upset with the changes”. Pete didn’t buy it, but said he would “humor me” and allow that as my issue. He then pointed out that if I have time to chit chat, I certainly have time to deal with scans (smack! I deserved that one).
I feel like I’ve been grounded. Unfortunately, those who count on me will be affected by this. At this time, I can no longer make my rounds. Pete’s dumped that on my cubie buddy, Hillman. And if Hillman is busy, I am to page Pete to make my rounds for me.
I know I can’t talk to anyone about anything unless it’s “work-related”. I can’t make rounds so I don’t get to see those I work with. I left the office 4 times today – twice for clocking, and twice to deal with charts. I correct that – I did go to the cafe to get my lunch.
Maybe with Pete moving to his new office, he’ll stay occupied. I’ve been looking elsewhere. I don’t want to quit, because I feel that’s what Pete would want. But I will not put up with it either. I just don’t want to abandon those who have counted on me for years.
I’m sorry to those who have been affected by this, especially Hillman. All I can see is Pete taking more and more from me and giving it to him, thinking it will “help” me.
In a little over a week’s time, I am the third one to be hit. I have to watch what I say and who I say it to. I have to stay busy and get the job done.
Someone’s watching me. They’re probably watching you too.
