1:28 AM - 12.01.05
Veils
Yesterday I was switching music while working in the fileroom when I heard one staff member ask if anyone knew where the records retention policy could be located. I didn't catch the next comment, but then someone started talking about "consultants". The gist of the discussion seemed to be - that "they" helicopter in, pick off an assignment,then leave when the money is gone. There were references to just having to dress well (my secondhand and bargain basement things?), network, and know how to make a presentation.
I'm not certain the reference was to our group, because I don't know who else is on the floor, but it is not the first time that I have heard comments that indicate that some staff are feeling threatened by our presence. I get the sense that they are feeling that their work is being measured against our work and is being found deficient. I think the decision to bring us in is being interpreted as a message that they aren't doing a good job. I think that the staff feel that management isn't acknowledging that they have multiple duties as opposed to project scopes, such as we have, and that their managers don't appreciate the difference that makes on demands for their time and time management. It is something I hear in most assignments I've had. More comments along the same line today but directly to me. Oi.
Add into the mix that guy again. I was trying to finish up on some records that were really repetitive and detailed. Concentraton was necessary to keep it straight in my mind whether I had added in the correct notations in the correct places since each one also varied just enough that a cut and paste effort with a little editing thrown in wouldn't have worked. He said he wanted a specific document and he had to have it now. So what is his salary for if not to do his own research. At that point it felt as though there was a hot poker rammed up along my spine and my head was aching with the need to keep all the pieces of the puzzle straight. He had me blocked in between the two rows of shelves and was leaning, posturing against the side of the the one shelf. He kept leaning over trying to force it so that he would have to touch my shoulders so I just kept rotating the stool at angle where he couldn't quite manage it. Next it was " Well you must be terribly lonely all by yourself working alone" I just noted that my other contract with Elections Canada gave me more human contact than one person could desire in a very short intense period of time and that I chose the work I was doing because it meant I didn't have to deal with anyone but my supervisor. That part is true. The two contracts balance each other out in a number of ways. He kept trying to force the conversation, even after I had found the document he requested within a couple of minutes, so I finally asked him if he had any other work related requests. When he acknowledged he didn't, I put my headphones back on. I hate being rude to people, but he doesn't seem to get it any other way.
By the way I think the data management company owes me a cushion. I've been sitting on a Tupperware stepstool in the fileroom for the past week and my back is really starting to bother me, even with regular visits to my chiropractor. Also because of the way I have to sit in the stacks to key in data, my left forearm and wrist are also really bothering me. Unless there is some very complicated material left in the collection, at the speed I have been going I don't think I will need much longer than the end of next week to get everything indexed, but the discomfort I am experiencing may dictate otherwise. I was hoping to discuss it with our supervisor today when he came to do the "on the same page" meeting but he called and rescheuled to the afternoon, then had to cancel out altogether because of his work load. Maybe after the project meeting tomorrow it could be addressed. Don't know.
Also, today I came back to my co-worker's station at about 10:30 to get some aspirin and found the change pocket on my purse wide open and the bill I had in there was partially pulled out. In addition, my debit card had been pulled out of it's pocket as well. I know the last time I used it was yesterday when I was at Shoppers Drugmart. When the transaction was over I put it and the rewards card for the store together back in the regular pocket. The rewards card was still in that pocket. I don't expect my co-worker or the financial specialist to stand guard over my things but I found the discovery very upsetting. I didn't say anything to either of them because I didn't want it to come across that I thought they had anything to do with it. I don't know what to think. If it hadn't been that the change pocket was wide open I would have assumed that I had just misplaced the debit card but the two together indicate something else. Oi, Oi.
At lunch I decided I needed retail therapy. Two gift cards - one for books and one for music. Doesn't get much better than that. Went to the music store because I had already ordered my books on-line - Canadian company con't you know. I found a Cd by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan that I had been searching for for about two years and it was on sale. Someone had said it sounded just the same as the one I already hae but that isn't so. Mystical Sufi music - ahh that calmed me down. Next up was a CD that just caught my eye. The one secretary this morning had started in on cultural events in our community and family activities. She asked if I had gone to the summer events. No, I was kind of tied up with a couple of jobs as I recall it. She started talking about clothing and swung that around to belly dancing. She is the one who is friendly with my tech from the election and who I replaced on this assignment. He might have mentioned it when they were talking although I don't know why. Remember I had loaned my belly dance tapes to his work partner's daughters for their phys ed class. He might have heard them talking about it I guess. Anyway I was tinking of that conversation when I saw a cover that said Songs of Desert Roses and pulled it up on a whim. It had been produced by Sting and had a Techno version of his Desert Rose included. I think I like the original version better because it is so sensual, but that techno version plus belly dance camels/shimmies would beat a pilates workout any day - if one could stay up to the beat without cardiac arresting. Be fun to try. Actually I loved the whole CD. It's main language was Arabic but some of the songs were a mix of that language and French - the effect was exquisite and exotic. I found I could follow the gist of the lyrics without too much trouble either - love songs are the same in any tongue aren't they? There were even a couple of pieces in English. I spent a good part of the afternoon giggling to myself visualizing some fun dancing at home - just me my veils and hip scarf dancing with the cats.
�
�
