Dec 18, 2007 23:32
So the situation is this....
The call went out for a full time media position at the college where I worked in that very department for the last four years. I was initially offended that I was not offered the position outright, given that my boss and his right-hand man had told me all along that if another full time position ever opened up, they wanted me. Still, I applied. Last Thursday, right before the gigantic snowstorm, while I was at my networking job the call came in. Despite the fact that I gave a truly shitty interview... I was offered the job.
Of course, I accepted right away. What was I going to do, turn it down? I've needed a full-time job since forever. The idea of working with my boss, Bill, and learning the ropes from such a knowledgeable and good hearted guy was perfect. I couldn't wait to start. I was asked how soon I could start, and as a good sport I told her that it would only be right to give my other job 2 weeks notice. While she expressed that they wanted me asap, she understood and hung up. I nearly cried in relief.
But how soon things changed.....
Only one day later I got a call from my boss' boss. Well, technically it was an email. Shortly before I went in for my shift, I checked my email and had an email from her entitled "urgent", and the contents simply said "Call me, here's the number." So I called, and the first thing she said to me - which nearly gave me a heart-attack - was "I have some upsetting news...."
Of course, the first thought that came to me was "Fuck, they changed their minds!" ... which would have been a disaster as I'd already given my 2 week notice to my networking job. But that was not it.
"Bill was escorted off of campus today and placed on administrative leave, and disciplinary actions are being sought against him."
Wha? My boss was being fired, more or less.. but to complicate things... the other full time guy - Dan - was being put on leave as well. I can't really discuss WHY this is happening, but the bottom lime was this ... I'm more or less responsible now for the Media dept at my college, and I have nobody to train me on all of the equipment that I have never touched in my life. I have to sort through the office, all orders, and ensure that all events scheduled for A/V support are manned and ready to go.
This was a Friday that I found this out. On Saturday there was a big roboitics competition over at the college that Bill was initially scheduled to cover. As a part timer, the auditorium stuff was off limits to me. I was never trained on how to setup the sound system or anything. Shit, I didn't even have keys! This event needed three microphones, and there was only one mic input available. Any mixer I could find - despite the fact that I was clueless on how to use it - was broken. I was so bewildered that I sent an email to my boss in the networking job and begged him not to hire anyone else right away. That night I came home and cried, sobbed really, like a little bitch.
Those fuckers in the administration of that college, they knew all along. They knew this was going to happen, and they hired me because I was already part of that department and the only one who could get them through this mess after shit-canning my boss. And by the way, nice move doing this to a guy with kids right before Christmas. What a scum-fuck thing to do. What total assholes. And here I am working for them, kissing their asses and working extreme overtime at my part-time rate to get them through this debacle. They tossed me into the deep end of the ocean with no lifejacket and told me to swim, after shitting all over a guy who had 22 years in the system and was beloved by everyone who ever worked with him (aside from the bean counters, that is). And I'm supposed to trust them? I'm supposed to beleive a single word they fucking tell me?
Well, I did calm down and came through ... and I do need a full time job. So I'm doing my best as I go through this hellish week of trying to juggle multiple duties that are all forieign to me while at the same time trying not to let my anxiety disorder put me into a stress induced coma. I'm VERY proud of myself for how I've been handling all of this.. but it IS catching up with me. They hired another full time guy who starts on the 31st, and it can't come soon enough. On Thurs I will be working a 14 hour day, only to get up the next morning to go to my networking jon, then come right back to the college and handle a major nurses graduation in the auditorium and a major boardroom meeting. I'm exhausted. I'm burnt out. I'm fucking terrified. I'm in WAAAAYYY over my head.
And now it's up to me and a total stranger to put the pieces back together again, and meanwhile I have to give my supervisor - a woman who was brought in to destroy my former boss' life - a big shit eating smile and pretend everything is ok.
So you can see why I haven't posted much...
I'm sure I'll keep you updated when I can. This week will be hell on earth for me. Next week should be a little better. Come Jan 2, I'll be full time.. and all that entails. I do not want to end up like my father, with my work being my life and my only focus... but for the time being, I have no choice. I have to pour every ounce of myself into this thing. Call it survival instinct.
Now there's more to this, and the great deal many people I talked things out with to get me to the point where I wasn't having a total breakdown.. but for now... that's all I can muster!!!
fucked