productionMaven part deux

I've come to a strange conclusion.... my sciatica is my version of Yoda. Why is that? you say. Well, let me tell you.

My back and ass have been killing me during work days for the last couple of weeks. Probably it's the extended amounts of time that I sit in front of my computer, with my feet up on a make-shift ottoman under my desk. I could do more getting up and moving and stretching, to be sure. I get home at night and promptly get my feet up above my heart. I can feel my pulse in my shins and toes as I try to deflate the monster feet. (Just for the record - my blood pressure is fine. It's been in the low 100s over 60s for the entire duration of the pregnancy, and has only just started to elevate slightly - the last 2 checks it's been high 120s over high 70s. My doctor's not concerned, as that is still "normal" for woman. So preeclampsia isn't at play here. Thanks in advance for your concern.) In the mornings I wake, relatively refreshed, feet back to normal size, ass and back not hurting me.

But by the time I get to work - about 2-1/2 hours after waking up - my feet are already swollen, and the moment I walk in the door, my sciatic nerve starts pulsing. It could be because I've just driven for an hour and change to do daycare drop off and to get to work. Or... it could be my Yoda sciatic nerve reminding me that work is, literally, a pain in the ass.

Don't you just hate it when one of your co-workers, one who ALWAYS has rush jobs for you, will hover if she comes to your office and you're on the phone with someone else and she just stands there - right next to you - until you can address her latest crisis, and everything is SO important and CAN'T POSSIBLY wait, tells you, when you call her to tell her that you've delivered one of the crucial projects that's been sitting on her desk for a couple of weeks within an hour of receiving the final spec, she tells you she's too busy to talk to you for 10 seconds? And out of the mouth of this same co-worker for the last 6 weeks has been how concerned she is because she's going on vacation for 2 weeks and so she's off-loading everything onto you and a couple of other people. Yet she's still so busy.

Honestly, people. You're not all that important. Your shit does, in fact, stink too. I realize this may be coming as a surprise to you, but it's really true. If you can't manage your time and your work load, this does not mean that I have to jump through hoops to get your work done.

Hell, I'm going on MATERNITY leave in a matter of weeks but I'm not spouting it off every time I open my mouth. That's probably because I have to work through its duration (from home) because I can't afford to not get paid and the leave that's being offered doesn't work for me. I'm looking ahead, sure, but I'm not beating people over the head. If they can't plan ahead, so be it. I'll address their work when I get time to, between feedings, diaper changes, and long sessions in the rocking chair.

Today's crazy at work, I have meetings from 11:15 to 1:30, then have to leave by 4:30 to get P, and prepare for a huge presentation on Thursday, which I am the "team leader" of.... And the weather folk, god bless 'em, are predicting another 6-12" of snow tonight & tomorrow, which means there will probably be a snow day as well as a work-from-home-day, so I'll need to button up the presentation as best I can... Oy.

So, sorry there's no news worth really writing about. More tomorrow, hopefully, coming to you live from my home office in my PJs.

I am investigating a totally crazy idea for my next business move... I don't know if it will pan out or if I'm just insane for thinking about it, but situations in our life are necessitating some creative moves.

I'm thinking of opening a daycare for my children.

By my count, I have until September to either (a) convince our current provider to take the new baby; (b) find a new place for both of them to go; or (c) start up my own gig. And I'm not interested in doing it from my house or being the teacher. No, I will hire the teacher and be The Boss!

I've run out of time to write this, work and duty call, so I'll have to flesh out the idea as I get more information together. Maybe I'm farting above the water-line. Then again, maybe I'm not.

Today at work has been just about perfect - we had a Toys for Kids donation party (we donate presents and get pizza and ice cream), I have almost nothing to do, and I get to leave at 3 for a haircut appointment. We've been reviewing the competition's publications and either drooling or fake barfing over their food photography.

So, I'm going to update my links - over to the right, there - and then sign off for the day!

(a note: I didn't get everything updated, but I'm about 1/2 way done with the link updates. Holy crap, I waste a lot of time reading blogs).

I had to clean up some of my entries because I've given out my blog to a couple of people at work (Hi, P!) and if the company continues to want to move toward blogging to drive traffic to our site, I didn't want to risk getting busted for some of my earlier comments....

That said, enjoy the new and improved, Covering-my-ass site!

We had a fabulous weekend, despite my stressful mother-in-law's visit. Poor G. My dad said that he could see G just start to slump as Saturday wore on.... he's still on the verge of recovery from his Bell's, and the last thing any of us need is a relapse. We went to the Road Race that is held in our town, and P got to play some silly games and win some direct-from-China prizes. Her favorite game was to scoop little plastic duckies from a wading pool. Once she got the hang of it, that's all she wanted to do.

We also went apple picking Saturday afternoon. It was unseasonably warm - in the high 70s, with a brisk wind and lots of sun. It was gorgeous. The orchard's trees were practically bending over to touch the ground, they had so much fruit on them. As the migrant pickers passed us in the loader truck, on their way up into the depths of the orchard to harvest, I'm sure they were thinking how crazy we people are, coming out to pick apples on the weekend. I had, bar-none, one of the BEST cider doughnuts I've ever had, in my life, period. It was hot, with a crispy outside and a beautiful crumb, with a soft, flavorful interior. The orchard overlooks Lake Champlain, and it's up on a hill, so there are views from every direction.

Sunday, everyone left, and G, P and I took the dogs on another hike - this is a habit I'd like to get into on a regular basis... it's good for all of us. This hike took us to Hogback trail, near a wild low-bush blueberry preserve at the near-top of a mountain near the Long Trail. The trails through the blueberry bushes are wide and mowed, and lead into the woods which was a well-tended trail. It was phenomenal. I like to get out and exercise, and I prefer not killing myself on the trails. This is my new favorite place to go. P was not as willing this time around, she wanted to play with sticks and got mad when the dogs stole the sticks from her. But we bribed her with some TV when she was done exercising, and she set a quick pace once we headed back. We got some pizza for lunch, then watched a movie and had a late-afternoon nap. It was a pretty great weekend, all things considered.

What about you all? What did you do?

On my way home tonight I was a big old grumbler. Quite frankly, work sucked today. I am the only person doing production, and The People seem to think that that means they can be lazy asshats and not look on the server in the places that I have told them to look to find the logo of the week. It also means that I'm the only one with the power to open a PDF file, parse out pages that "certain" advertisers want, and take other pages out so as not to offend other advertisers and then make a jillion little busy files with futzy names and precious settings, etc. Then, when it's all done, some other ass has more corrections to the original file that generated the PDF that I just spent eleventy minutes massaging and I get to do it all over. So today, when the officious sales person - who is very nice in person, just a prick over his e-mail requests - asked me to do all the separating and squeeging and renaming, I told him it was time he talked to his boss and got Acrobat so that he can do these things whenever he feels the need, because I don't have time to keep up with all the edits and doing all of the futzy crap. THEN he tells me he already HAS Acrobat! It was all I could do to not rip his eyeballs out via The Power of My E-mail.

I found out that the CFO had delayed payment on not one but two of my vendor's bills, which outrages me because (a) he told me they would be paid last week; (b) these vendors are not only people I rely on in tight turn situations but they are also my FRIENDS; (c) I was told that one of the invoices never made it to his spreadsheet (this is not the first time this has happened lately); (d) I'm going to be put on COD which is going to make my job hell to get payment and delivery on time, and (e) all of the above. It puts me in a sour mood when I have to ask for something more than once, and I have asked for these bills to be paid on time because if my vendors are pissed off, there is not much I can get done quickly.

And then another person asked me - for the hundredth time - "when I thought that the images would be organized for the web team to make their job easier". Now, I work for a company that has a lot of visual assets that are totally disorganized. And the company does not want to spend any money on anything, including a database that will organize these images and make them readily available to all. All images lived - until recently - on only the photographer's computer, with his little naming convention that only he understood. I have taken the liberty of copying them all onto the server, so that I don't have to go and turn his machine on every time someone needed a high-res of something. Also, the company seems to think that it's the end of the world if the web team doesn't get what they need 5 seconds before they think they need it. What they keep forgetting is that it's the printed magazine that is generating the content that is flowing into the website. OK!!!! I have a meeting tomorrow about how very very necessary it is for the company to spend the money to increase workflow by implementing this damn database, and it's time to do it, not just noodle and talk about it, like we have for the last year. Otherwise, I might have to just take a break at a nice quiet hospital due to my nerves being frazzled after I am asked for the 20th time for the same image that I have sent along to The People over and over again.

I guess you could say that I need an attitude adjustment.

I left work with a big huge headache - this is becoming the norm, lately, I am sorry to say - and drove home in relative silence. I spoke to G and told him I was on my way, and talked to my parents who are back from their vacation. I thought about my fantasy of opening a bakery where all I did all day was invent fun cookie combinations and made cakes that look unfancy but taste delicious. I thought about the copywriting I had to do when I got home, and dreaded it.

When I got home, G knew where I was at mentally, so he wrangled the kid while I got dinner - uninspired leftovers - together. They both gave me a huge hug and kiss when I walked in the door, and the dogs gave me a wonderful greeting. After dinner (which was rather "meh" if I do say so myself), I got to put P to bed, as I do most nights. And she was just great. She's reached a stage where she's really understanding certain things, and we know when she's not listening and can call her on it. She let me change her, we brushed teeth, she helped to fill the humidifier tank, and we read some books. Happily, there was no screaming and no whining for more books, we read three, she turned off the light, we had some snuggling and some playing and some singing, and then I remembered why I work: I work because I love this child, I love this house, I love my husband. I put up with immature adults so that I can come home to the smiles, the hugs, and the joys of my child as she grows and changes. I work because I have to, certainly, and need a steady income. But I'm reminded that it's all worth is when I get my child squealing with laughter as I tickle her tummy, as we eat supper together, however uninspired and meh it is, and as I hold her and sing to her as she goes to sleep. She is worth it. And that was just the adjustment I needed.

Well.... it's Wednesday. Normally tomorrow would be my last day of formal work in the office, but this week is somewhat crazy - I'm sorry, am I repeating myself? - so I need to be in the office Friday, due to the holiday next week (and I am taking Wednesday off); the fact that the art director is going to be out Friday then next Tuesday & Wednesday; the Editorial Director is going to be away for this issue's closing (she's 0 for 3: of the 3 issues she's been employed for, she hasn't been around at the closing of ONE of them!!! WTF?); there's a cookbook going out on Friday which has been a dischordant symphony of mayehm and disorganization from day one; and the next issue is going out to the printer on Monday. With a bunch of stuff missing, stuff like ads to drop in later. And there's a promotional thing that is gathering steam that is spearheaded by one of my least-favorite salespeople. He's a nice guys and all, but he's so jittery and all over the place: so disorganized and yet wants everything done as soon as the request has left his mouth.

I guess it's job security.... to have all these things to keep me busy at work. But I swear to god, I was having some kind of heart palpitations when I was racing around the office this afternoon getting to meetings, after sitting on my ass all morning in other meetings and doing tedious image re-sizing, re-naming (to the insane naming convention of our publisher, he's WHACKED), placing, searching for mis-spelled words, etc. All I can say is, thank god for computers, to make this go faster.

In other news, did any of you hear about the pitcher that the Boston Red Sox paid $50.1 MILLION to "negotiate" with? And if they sign this until-now inexperienced, never-pitched-in-a-major-league-pitcher, his salary? Is another $40 MILLION!!! Where the hell do I sign up for the likes of that? They don't even need to pay me that much, I'll do it for $20 Mil! OK, $10 million. $5 million? $5?

I apologize that this is not nearly as exciting as other bloggers are. I just am lacking the creative genius and spark due to several days in a row of stressful jumping back and forth at my job and several nights of proofing a big job that is going to press on Friday. Some people thrive on this kind of business, and I used to: in fact, during my senior year of college I was taking part-time undergrad classes (4), a graduate course, I was working 20 hours a week on campus, I was a nanny 3 days a week, I worked - briefly - for a fast-food company, I was an officer in my fraternity as well as the pledge educator which meant I had weekly meetings with 15 or so pledges, I was in PR Lab which required many late evenings with getting our presentation ready (I was a presenter too), I performed every couple of weeks with a women's singing group through the college (and had after-hour rehearsals). This was the year that I was on the Dean's list - oh, and I got a 4.0 (my only one!) my second semester. Also: I turned 21 my 2nd semester of my senior year, so I had to do the entire beer list at McCawbers downtown in just 4 months. There was a lot of drinking to catch up on. And now, thinking about being this busy? Makes me want to lay my head down and go to sleep on my desk. This is how I felt when I was looking for a job, too: like when I even gave it 30 seconds of my time my brain just sagged and went limp and turned slightly more gray than pink.

Is this what happens when we get older?

I'm so glad to see that my traffic is up-way-up with all the dedicated blogging every day. For god's sake people, do you think this stuff grows on trees?

Anyway. Today was pretty boring. Work. Hate work. Deal with jittery woman. Pop some 'luudes in the bathroom at lunch (I WISH!!). Deal with hyperactive ADHD CEO and try to get someone, anyone, to make a damn decision about SOMETHING. Work with disorganized editor on project 1 of 2 that will have my life in hell for the next two weeks (come on, Thanksgiving! I need a break!). Help her find stuff that she lost. Drive behind law-abiding fuck-holes who insist on driving 10 miles under the speed limit and staying in the left lane when there's a slow lane to the right, just move over, please. Watch as I get the finger from dude who won't speed up and I beam him. Wonder again why the DMV didn't paint the lines the same way they were before the did the great Paveathon '06 (the passing lanes on the hills are MUCH shorter - I don't think they think I'm paying attention but I am). Squee with delight at the implosion of Washington D.C. after the awesome election the day before yesterday. Meet G and P for dinner. Watch P have a meltdown due to the fact that she did not get a nap today. Hello? Daycare lady? THE SMALL PERSON NEEDS AT LEAST AN HOUR NAP EVERY DAY OR ELSE HER HEAD WILL SPIN WHEN SHE IS WITH HER KEEPERS. Watch P eat her weight in pickles - and nothing else - for dinner. Go grocery shopping, which was actually pretty fun because the store was fairly empty and P got to eat more in her weight of peanut-butter covered pretzels (god how I love the bulk-food aisle). See man with hole in his trachea. Get skeeved out. Get home. Put P to bed. Greet dogs. Put groceries away. Deal with irrate client who requires that FedEx change their international operating procedures because he couldn't get his house-sitter to sign for a package while he was away. Try to explain - nicely - to vendor why they have to re-route packages ASAP. Go to bed, wait for it all to start over again.

What did you do today?

There is a woman here at work who is so damn jittery it makes me go a little crazy when I have to deal with her. She's also very, very nice so I try to be nice back, but she's so all over the place that it makes me uptight and it's just a downward spiral from there. Here's an example.

She's a freelancer who moved here to be on-staff, but then they hired someone else to do her job. When she comes into the office, she kind of shifts around because of how overall disorganized this company is (no wonder they don't make any money!). She just asked me to show her how to get on the server (again... people can't seem to remember). So she has an internet browser open, and starts clicking all over the place. I had to tell her to slow down so that I could help her. And she still wasn't getting it right. She ultimately decided to go and work on another computer while the rightful owner of that computer is at lunch. This woman also used my computer on Friday, when I wasn't here, which I could care less about. What I do care about is that she left it running all weekend. We work in an area of Vermont that looses power often, especially when it's windy, and I like to shut my computer down overnight and on the weekends. This woman, however, also left the water running in her utility sink on Friday night for a couple of hours, and their entire house has severe water damage.

I know I get flitty and overwhelmed and jittery, but by god, I'm glad I can keep ahold of myself better than that!


ALSO. I hope you all did your civic duty and democratic right and got out to vote today! No bitching about the results if you didn't!

Ha! To all you naysayers! Ha!!!! I made it through the weekend (which, remarkably, was rain-free - the first time in a long time) and posted every day! Only 24 more days to go.... I'm now thinking that the days that I am at work will actually be a big challenge. I share an office space with my boss - at least, I think she's my boss, but I think she's kind of everyone's boss because she's been here since the company started almost 20 years ago.

Anyway, I don't like to get caught goofing around. I don't think I do any more goofing than anyone else here - everyone is always checking their personal e-mail and the Art Director had his own "Virtual Baseball Team" that he was constantly checking during the day. So I don't feel too too bad, but I still like to appear a diligent employee. Plus, my back is kind of to the door, so people can check out what I'm doing. Everyone here has a desk that faces the wall. I think that is just the stupidest thing. I'm a so-so believer in Feng Shui - more a believer in "go with the flow of the space, don't leave clutter around, don't have your back to the door" stuff. I think it makes a company profitable or a house warm and inviting because people will be naturally drawn to it. I think that's what Feng Shui is all about - drawing people and prosperity to your place, and that's what I like to believe in. G and I have a joke about the mobster's seat when you're out to dinner - the seat that can see what's going in the entire room, no backs to doors or windows (for fear of getting picked off). Where was I? I can't even remember. But backs to doors - no good. Everyone can watch you downloading your porn. Really not a good thing.

Wow. My boss, the Editorial Director, and the Art Director just went out to lunch. I feel kind of left out. For some reason I always feel like there's some secrets flying around here, this is one of those times.

And, aside from staying with the postings, the other good news is that my dog is reacting well to the pain meds we have her back on. So much so, in fact, that yesterday she was back to putting her frisbee in the middle of the leaf pile that G was raking, in the hopes tha the would throw it for her. I am so happy about that, I can't even tell you.

Time for me to go get my tiny yogurt and hope that the test kitchen has some lunch, otherwise, I'm having Cheerios for my mid-day repast. Go, me!