Karmic roadkill
I've had a difficult time in the last 24 hours finding the "glass half-full" viewpoint. As cynical as I often am it's always built on a foundation of optimism, but yesterday's misadventures put that to the test. I'm trying to revisit the events in my head and append little "bright side" footnotes to my memories.
Yesterday was my annual review at work, for which I made the 6+ hour round-trip commute to Seattle. Unfortunately it didn't work out to visit VL after work, my usual reason for coming down, but I was aware of that before this trip.
Leaving at 3:00 AM I hit torrential rains and high winds. I'd forgotten to fill up my gas (Bright Side: I got to an open gas station in Bellingham without running out) and the rain was so dense that everyone was going 45-50 MPH on the freeway for the first fifty miles.
I got to the Lynnwood transit center just in time to see my bus pulling out. I waited a half-hour for the next one to come (B.S.: I was the first in line, so I got a good seat on the bus).
My team at work was entirely absent -- one was laid off last week, one was on vacation, one was sick, and one was in an all-day class. This meant I had to take on all the incoming work for a team that used to be 8 analysts strong. (B.S.: My productivity stats are the highest in the department this year).
The annual review with my director consisted of critique of my handling of two team members, one of whom filed a complaint against me (a surprise to me) for an imagined slight during a meeting in which I was attempting to check in on the welfare of my team and help guide them through the layoff transitions. The irony is that this employee is one I recommended for promotion (and fought hard for) despite the reservations of my director. As a result of this and the ongoing layoff consolidations I am being effectively demoted by removing me from leadership of this team and returning me to an analyst position (although I'm still team lead for two other groups, go figure). This marginalizes my value in management's eye's, not a good thing with another round of lay-offs in the future. (B.S.: management is not a strength of mine - I much prefer to do hands-on work instead of playing half-therapist/half-schoolmarm to get people to do their jobs)
When the bus dropped me off at the Lynnwood Transit Center I discovered I had a completely flat tire. (B.S.: I have a jack and a good spare)
None of the hundreds of other commuters walking about me offered to help me as I jacked up the car, or offered to call someone for me. (B.S.: I'm not comfortable talking to strangers anyway)
After jacking up the care and removing the hub cap and lug nuts I discovered I could not remove the flat as there was a special locking bolt for which I didn't have the key. (B.S.: at least I know no one is going to steal my tires).
I don't have a cell phone so I couldn't call for a tow. (B.S.: The new transit center has a pay phone).
The pay phone's phone book had been stolen, making calling a tow company problematic. (B.S.: L was at home and was able to call a tow truck for me -- and calm me down. Thanks L! I love you!)
After an hour and a half at the transit center, I finally got to the tire place ten minutes after they closed. (B.S.: They let me in after hours to help me out. Thank you Les Schwab! I love you!)
I was too late to make a trip to DD Meats (a special treat that we rarely indulge in, and that was some small consolation for not seeing VL) but they were closed. (B.S.: Ranch 99 was open later, so I got all my Asian grocery shopping needs met. Baby bok choy and fresh longan!)
I got home very late and am intent on not going anywhere anytime soon. I'm well-reminded of why I like working from home!
Yesterday was my annual review at work, for which I made the 6+ hour round-trip commute to Seattle. Unfortunately it didn't work out to visit VL after work, my usual reason for coming down, but I was aware of that before this trip.
Leaving at 3:00 AM I hit torrential rains and high winds. I'd forgotten to fill up my gas (Bright Side: I got to an open gas station in Bellingham without running out) and the rain was so dense that everyone was going 45-50 MPH on the freeway for the first fifty miles.
I got to the Lynnwood transit center just in time to see my bus pulling out. I waited a half-hour for the next one to come (B.S.: I was the first in line, so I got a good seat on the bus).
My team at work was entirely absent -- one was laid off last week, one was on vacation, one was sick, and one was in an all-day class. This meant I had to take on all the incoming work for a team that used to be 8 analysts strong. (B.S.: My productivity stats are the highest in the department this year).
The annual review with my director consisted of critique of my handling of two team members, one of whom filed a complaint against me (a surprise to me) for an imagined slight during a meeting in which I was attempting to check in on the welfare of my team and help guide them through the layoff transitions. The irony is that this employee is one I recommended for promotion (and fought hard for) despite the reservations of my director. As a result of this and the ongoing layoff consolidations I am being effectively demoted by removing me from leadership of this team and returning me to an analyst position (although I'm still team lead for two other groups, go figure). This marginalizes my value in management's eye's, not a good thing with another round of lay-offs in the future. (B.S.: management is not a strength of mine - I much prefer to do hands-on work instead of playing half-therapist/half-schoolmarm to get people to do their jobs)
When the bus dropped me off at the Lynnwood Transit Center I discovered I had a completely flat tire. (B.S.: I have a jack and a good spare)
None of the hundreds of other commuters walking about me offered to help me as I jacked up the car, or offered to call someone for me. (B.S.: I'm not comfortable talking to strangers anyway)
After jacking up the care and removing the hub cap and lug nuts I discovered I could not remove the flat as there was a special locking bolt for which I didn't have the key. (B.S.: at least I know no one is going to steal my tires).
I don't have a cell phone so I couldn't call for a tow. (B.S.: The new transit center has a pay phone).
The pay phone's phone book had been stolen, making calling a tow company problematic. (B.S.: L was at home and was able to call a tow truck for me -- and calm me down. Thanks L! I love you!)
After an hour and a half at the transit center, I finally got to the tire place ten minutes after they closed. (B.S.: They let me in after hours to help me out. Thank you Les Schwab! I love you!)
I was too late to make a trip to DD Meats (a special treat that we rarely indulge in, and that was some small consolation for not seeing VL) but they were closed. (B.S.: Ranch 99 was open later, so I got all my Asian grocery shopping needs met. Baby bok choy and fresh longan!)
I got home very late and am intent on not going anywhere anytime soon. I'm well-reminded of why I like working from home!