1 on 1
Well. I made my request for a 1 on 1 mini meeting and I have my questions ready ... Only ...
Only now I'm not so sure about the last question I have written down. Yesterday I was 95% sure that my supervisor couldn't stand me ... I was almost convinced that he hated me. Today, however, I'm less convinced. I walked in and said hello, and immediately he commented on how I looked. "You look like a shiny new penny!" Thanks? I'm sure it was meant as a compliment, but later, I think - A penny? Is that all I'm worth? But he did comment, and he's been talkative with me today - more so than ever before this semester.
So, my, "On a scale of 1-10, 10 being the relationship Klingons have with everyone, and 1 being the relationship between Captain Jean-Luc Picard and 1st Officer William Riker .... How much do you dislike me?" seems to be just asking for trouble, whereas yesterday, it seemed perfectly correct and honest.
I was thinking about our relationship in star-trek terms this morning, and I think the best relationship I can give as an example comes from Voyager. The relationship between Janeway and Tuvoc is strangely accurate, though reveresed in power. While he is Tuvoc in temperament (towards me), he is Janeway in authority. I am Janeway in temperament - I know that this is the way things are, but I am constantly doing one thing or another to get my supervisor to show some emotion.
Some may argue that this can't be a great example since Tuvoc is a Vulcan and can't have emotions .... wrong. Vulcans are just highly skilled when it comes to emotions, preferring to eschew them rather than to let them rule there lives, as humans are wont to do. Janeway is forever trying to tempt a smile out of Tuvoc, like I try with my supervisor.
Unlike Janeway, however, sometimes (read, very rarely, and only when he's already amused by someone else) I achieve my goal.
It is difficult, however, because he is so over Tom Paris with everyone else on staff. Well ... maybe Paris is slightly friendlier than my supervisor, based on the fact the he is an extremely private person, but I think you get where I'm going with this.
Sigh. As to the star trek references, they just seem apt. If you don't get them, I seriously reccomend watching at least Next Generation, if not Voyager and Deep-Space 9 as well. Janeway, Paris, and Tuvoc come from Voyager, Picard and Riker from NG, the relationship between Klingons is highlighted in every encounter with them ... and Worf only counts to a degree, since he has chosen to work with Starfleet. He is still Kilingon, but less prone to starting a death match with anyone who som much as looks at him funny.