honorable mention-updated driver’s license. In AZ, you don’t have to renew for like 25 years. But my parents said soon, everybody had to transition to a special kind of license. And if you didn’t you couldn’t fly. So we went to do it one weekend, and online it made it sound so fast. And all the info seemed like you just walk up and get it and leave. But when we got there it was a DMV situation with lots of people and hours and hours of boring waiting. And the germs! I was freaking out (this was even before Covid-19 was known at all) b/c I HATE getting sick. We got the license, and we managed not to get sick. But what a let down.
10-Sneakers were banned from work except on Friday. I wrote a well-thought, sincere letter trying to persuade leadership to reconsider and allow fashion sneaks. This was the first time I had EVER spoken out at this job. I barely talked for the first year I worked there, due to McKesson PTSD. And I finally found an issue important to me, and carefully, and thoughtfully tried to address it. They just reiterated policy and acted very corporate, not human, about it. What a waste. The whole thing just made me feel like a number or something. Then, I had to jump through a bunch of hoops to get an ADA pass to wear sneakers to work. It is very heavy-handed.
9-Pride month got hijacked by BLM. And I had been really looking forward to it, but there was no to-do at all for it. Obviously, nothing physical was going on, but I didn’t even get to post, like 1 rainbow anywhere. And “hijacking #BLM” was pretty much shamed and stigmatized on social media. I wasn’t allowed to even talk about it. P.S. Pride is necessary. Trans people suicide and violence by others is sky-high. Bisexuals are erased. Gender nonconforming need logistical concerns met by society. Conversion therapy is still practiced. Closeted teens still self-harm, and out-teens go homeless. It isn’t frivolous to celebrate Pride!
8-Arguing with Covidiots on Twitter. At first, I assumed people didn’t know. And I watch news twice a day and listen to podcasts daily, so I was getting information quickly. I tried to educate, and that was a losing battle. I would refute their nonsense and write facts, but people would argue, tweet by tweet for like, days, at a time. I soon realized it wasn’t legitimate lack of knowledge on their part but selfishness, political-brainwashing, and willful ignorance. Now, I do not engage with any individual, b/c it would make me rageful and insane. I’ll just put a fact-based tweet in general, or navigate away entirely.
7-I had the high of knowing my dink-Supervisor transferred departments. I had been keeping a log of all his infractions, and had been talking to his boss about it, who (mostly seemed annoyed I was saying anything, and making her work) assured me he was on a mediation plan. So it was really a happy moment to find he wasn’t going to be in my life any more. And I wondered what new blood would be in charge of my team. I hoped I could start out on the right foot with them. And I hoped they would care a lot more, and be a go-getter, and really make a positive change! Oh the possibilities! But my supervisor was replaced with this other guy I had previously worked with, who can be arrogant/condescending/sexist/dinky. I had been hoping for just someone new and better–so it was a big disappointment that one dink, was replaced with the ONLY other person at the job I didn’t like.
6-My (now) former supervisor wanted me to go to advanced training. When I asked if it was in the work building and was concerned about going back physically because of Covid-19, he yanked me out of training. I had to go to H.R. about it because the training was never even planned to be in the building, it was over Zoom, and you can’t yank someone’s promotional opportunity because you’re a Covidiot that doesn’t believe in science. But it felt bad to have to fight for public health, fight to keep my promotional opportunity. So after a year, I had finally spoken. I asked about the shoes. But then, my supervisor kept doing shitty things, and after I had documented like 30 terrible things, I felt like I had to say something. But now this very important thing came up– and now I’m considered a squeaky wheel. Which is not accurate.
5-Difficulty, time, and struggle to get things delivered from about March to late August? Toilet paper, Clorox-Wipes, Lysol, and a lot of the food we usually keep on hand were out. And I was having to repeatedly check Costco, Walmart, Amazon, the Dollar Store, etc… just to get basics. When the pandemic first started, NONE of those companies were prepared, and everything was a hassle to impossible. I had a toilet paper A (ration), B(napkins), (Magazine pages), D (leaves) emergency plan. It’s funny, byt also not an exaggeration, and that made me anxious!
4-Password issue the first couple days of work from home. I was locked out of my work account for 2 full work days. And had to call IT and hold with them forever, be on the line with them for long times, and be so frustrated when their interventions were unsuccessful. I felt stressed and guilty b/c it was literally the first week we were allowed to work from home, and I didn’t want my job to think I was taking advantage and fucking around. But I also didn’t want to go into the building and get Covid-19, or get fired about it.
3-My Prop 208 homework. Arizona has been gyped of education by many crooked CEOs, lobbyists, Koch Brothers, corrupts politicians, and as a result the schools are abysmal. I am big on education, because that really is a thing that pulls people up, and helps poverty, and helps people vote better. These things matter by the time a pandemic strikes. Also, my mom is a teacher, and I just think AZ can do better. So this proposition was supposed to tax wealthy individuals to help schools. But of course all the greedy grifters had a big disinformation campaign to trick Arizonans into voting against their best interests. So for 6 weeks leading up to the election, I took it upon myself to refute the scores of people bending facts, lying, and tricking voters about what the prop is, and who it impacts. And people here hate teachers. They have zero respect for the teaching profession and think the educators are over paid. And they regard school as free daycare, really. And a lot of Arizonans hate paying any taxes at all–even to educate kids. It was exhausting! I probably did 2 hours per day every single day of those 2 weeks, with a surge that last week. It was tiring arguing with liars, and trying to convince argumentative ignorants. The prop did pass-yay! But by the slimmest of margins (sad and maddening). And now those dirty money-hungry people are trying to overturn it in courts. gerr.
2-My mid-level manager routinely doesn’t read or pay attention. And it’s totally annoying, b/c she’ll ask questions she should know, or could easily look up. Or she’ll get after me, b/c she didn’t read properly. We follow workflows, and my end point directed me to send the claim to her. I sent a bunch of info including many numbers and 2 screenshots to this manager. She didn’t understand it somehow–which is really stupid. My (new) supervisor wrote to me telling me to make sure to include more info with my “questions” (but this was not a question, it was an endpoint on my workflow). I asked what else I needed to send (b/c it was more than enough!) and he replied, “more.” We went back and forth b/c there WAS NOTHING ELSE TO INCLUDE, it was ridiculous. Honestly, I suspected he hadn’t read my initial e-mail either, he had glanced, seen the manager’s question, and lectured me without looking. And I felt like instead of admitting I HAD sent more than enough–everything he listed, he doubled-down and gave a generic “more.” I kept asking, “what else do you need?” Same answers. Then he said to call him and he would explain it. But I was like, “I keep a record, can’t you just type out a list of items I need to include in all emails?” But he was still all, “I can only explain it on the phone.” Which I also thought was a croc, but I didn’t want to get in trouble for insubordination, so I reluctantly called. And he literally said exactly what he said before! He had my email up on a shared screen, and I heatedly asked what other info they needed. I even told him I suspected the manager wasn’t opening claims, reading notes/remarks, or paying attention to workflows. And he defended that! He said management is very busy, couldn’t I just send more? He said, “more” again when I asked what, specifically–and I LOST MY TEMPER. The whole exchange was a fucking ridiculous charade. I sent enough info, but the manager either didn’t look at stuff or was being dumb, and this Supervisor didn’t read the fucking initial e-mail and just assumed I hadn’t sent everything. And his tone on this unnecessary phone call was jovial, and he was like, “Is that cool?” And I said something to the effect of, “No it is NOT cool, but you are my supervisor, so yes, sir, whatever you want.” It was a completely inappropriate way to speak to an authority. Not what I’m going for at work. But he was being such a (misogynistic) douche! An attitude of like, ‘this dumb bitch is so stupid, I’m going to put her in her place because she’s just a silly woman who doesn’t understand things.’ After the call, I sent him 3 egregious examples of the manager not reading or looking or paying attention. I had saved them, b/c this was becoming a chronic issue. And he defended her! Which is crazy. So whatever the fuck…
1-Goose got very sick with the herp. He’s already under-weight, and we’re always trying to get him to eat more. We give him appetite stimulant, but he still doesn’t get enough. When he got herpes in that already weakened state, it hit him so hard. And he was completely stuffed up to the point he had to open mouth gasp like a blowfish. So it was extremely concerning. He didn’t move, didn’t eat, and felt terrible. Even though we’re home for work, ordering all groceries delivery, and not going anywhere–I took Goose to the vet. They didn’t offer that much. Their big plan was to send a can of food. But I remembered how the feline exclusive treated cats and requested those items. He did recover, but I was terrified this was the end.
Tags: 2020, Arizona, az, cats, computer issues, delivery, education, Goose, new years eve, password, pets, prop 208, proposition 208, reflection, school, shopping, stores, supervisor, toilet paper, work, work from home
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