12:50 AM - 11.02.05
Pivoting
Well another interesting day, dear diary. Arrived at work for that 7:30 meeting between my supervisor, the co-worker and me. My supervisor's first comment was to ask why I had sent the spreadsheet and report I referenced in yesterday's post to the liaison. Well becuase that is what you asked me to do. His comment was that he would never do that, notwithstanding the report I was directed to send to her not two weeks ago on my birthday. He stated that he had told me to send it to my co-worker and as I've noted I was directed to send a spreadsheet to him as well but with a different set of data encoded. The co-worker didn't want to comment when my superviosr asked him to verify what had transpired the day before and remained silent. He gained a lot of status in my eyes just through that alone. I pointed out to my supervisor that in almost four years of working together I had never bucked his instructions even when I questioned them and that I had taken quite a lot of punishment for that as a result. You've seen some of my posts for the past two years dear diary so that is well documented. I don't believe I made an error in understanding the directions and I did document it in last night's post, but being human maybe I didn't hear correctly. I said that being the case I apologized if I had truly misunderstood but also re-emphasized that there was no deliberate attempt to undermine him - that was what he perceived as my intent. He calmed down after that and instead I was finally allowed to explain everything to him that I had already conveyed in emails or in conversations with him in detail. The discussion arising went on for more than two hours before he finally understood all the details and nuances I had been trying to get him to look at since December. He admitted he felt "ried" as a result of the discussion and I told him that is exactly why I was showing so much frustration yesterday - I knew neither he nor the liaison was hearing what I was trying to convey despite several attempts to get through to them.
I don't know what has possessed him, but I'd be grateful for any help finding an exorcist, dear diary. Enough is enough between this assignment and the last one. At the end of this meeting when he asked if I had anything more to add I said yes and told him that I wanted to discuss what happened at the last contract. I cite due diligence issues and concerns and told him it was important for their company's sake. It is also important for my sake because I don't think he ever even read a lot of the information I was providing him with during that time. He did act on some and I am grateful for that, but there are still other issues outstanding. Maybe after this meeting when he heard how much he had missed understanding about this assignment, he'll be a little more open to hearing me out about the last one. Or maybe not. We'll see. I made it clear that I can ccomplish all the "key deliverables" requested - but only one or three at a time not ten tasks in one period of time. I'm exceptionally good at multi-tasking - parenting six children whil evolunteering 40 hours or more per week while I was still an at home Mom taught me how to do that well. The problem with that is that no really realizes how much you are doing and they are always demanding more into the bargain.
Went back to my desk with the itemized list from him and began biting off each task and completing it. A second different spreadsheet for the co-worker - one from the work done yesterday that he was so angry about my having done in the first place. When he finally understood how much information could be extracted and manipulated into various configurations for all sorts of tasks, he certainly had multiple plans for it's use. Most of which are assigned back to me. This company now has a searchable database of all their reference and historical data as well as their operating records. That's not so bad for two months worth of work. he had gone off to apologize to our liaison for my inconveniencing her with that report I created yesterday - whatever - and returned after I had sent the co-worker his spreadsheet. "Everything is fine now" Whatever again. He had just left when my cell phone rang. The one agency recruiter - could I meet with her today since they had a couple of assignments that they were eager to do placements for. Sure thing. I took a break about an hour later and called it my lunch hour. Met her at the Tim Hortons across the street from where I am working. While I was waiting for her to arrive - she was late from a previous interview - I called my youngest at home and asked him to forward my most recent resume to my work account so I could provide it to her on demand. Good thing I did because she said she would need it by the end of the day. Got back to the office and just continued on from where I had left off. Around 3 the interviewer partner in their company called and said the one client had really liked that resume could I attend an interview on Monday morning. You bet. Working as I do right by the coffee station I could tell that my conversations were being closely monitored but I didn't really care. I'm entitled to coffee breaks under our labour laws and I rarely take lunch let alone coffee. A five minute conversation about a job interview is well within limits particularly since this contract ends at the end of this month. Given this mornings' little drama I was actually wondering if it wasn't going to be sooner at one point. I don't lie or fudge on due diligence with any client and I'm not about to start now just becuase some of the staff here don't want to deal with certain uncomfortable details.
Anyway it was apparent that my supevisor had let other people in the company including the co-worker - know how angry he was about that report I had written before our meeting this morning since no one would even acknowledge my presence until after it that first meeting was over. It was also obvious that the fact I had other job interviews lined up had made the rounds of gossip. I think the fact that I had commented that I had received the initial contacts only the evening before and was already lined up with a couple of interviews made something of an impression. Yes I don't need this assignment that badly and no I am not trying to lengthen the work period or trying to gain permanenet staff status. Things I've heard whispered among a fe of them as I've passed. It was a positive thing in a lot of ways. One of the women who I've really developed a lot of respect for over this assignment is one of the finance/tax specialists. She often spends a lot of time in their supervisors' office refusing to back down on certain accounting principles and statutory responsibilities. she sought me out specifically late in the afternoon and we had a good discussion about the lack of accountability and good business practice in this industry. She obviously was well aware of a lot of the problems I have been reporting and has encountered the same kind of response when trying to do her job. Made my day that I had earned her respect by not backing down. Not many people's opinions matter to me that much but hers does.
At the train platform on the way home one woman stopped to help me as I was having trouble with my ticket and another held the door of the C-train for me while I got it sorted out. That was unusual and then it dawned on me that I had worn my new contacts for the first time today and that it had been over two weeks since I had been "sighted". I'm guessing that my eyes were a brilliant shade of puffy red - you know that been crying for hours look. I had certianly felt like it for most of the day and still can't say I'm over that - but I don't cry when anyone else can see me. I was grateful for the empathy shown anyway. Two good things in one afternoon. got home and found an email from the Returning Officer who had been working overseas before Christmas. he had gone to Palestine in January and was just back. Sh gave me a lot of insight into some of the local politics in the committee organizing the Iraqi vote here so I didn't feel as badly about not being able to participate. Got to only take responsibility over things you do have some control about. What others choose to do often has nothing t do with you at all - it only feels that way. Right dear diary? We discussed meeting next week.
It was too late to call any of the people I use as references - the last time I needed them was two years ago - by the time I got the job interiew for Monday so I spent some time tonight emailing them and asking to talk with them tomorrow. There was also an email from the other recruitment agency also asking for references o that was timely and synchronous to boot The phone rang and it was my sister' sister in law. She's leaving to go do her house sitting on that luxury island next week. Could we get together this weekend before she head off. You bet. She asked me how my week had gone and I tarted explaining the past couple of weeks' events. She pulled up my progressed astrological chart as we spoke and a very long conversation ensued about the next few months based on the aspects playing out in my little piece of the sky. Culmination of all the stuff that has manifested and played out over the past 20 years with the dates of 1987, 1996 and 1999 looming large. Yuh huh. Got that right. I think I'l go seal myself in a cave somewhere.
Anyway I still have some work/interview emails to go so I guess I'd bette sign off now dear diary. Good night.
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