Holiday Havoc
This is the second time I've started this post. Despite asking to save my previous draft, Blogger seems to think it would be better for me to start all over again.
The month has been a blur. It is but a week from Christmas, unbelievably. Since the last post was December 5th, I'll have to think back and look at iCal to get a hint of what exactly I was doing when I was doing it. Let me check....
*a couple minutes later* Okie, now I'm back...
The week of December 4th was dominated by recruitment in the OB Unit. Since Jeff (one of the faculty members I assist) is the head of the commitee, it falls upon me to assist him in the various administrative duties that come with selecting a candidate to join HBS. That week, it meant getting boxes of materials to each faculty member within the department, which is in all about 260 files (13 candidates in total x 20 faculty members). Thick files, usually with several scholarly papers each. Even after the boxes were distributed, I still had a addendum to add and a lot of organization was needed. So a temp was called in December 6th to help me manage. I spent the 7th and 8th in a semi-fog, exhausted, but able to putter through to the weekend's start.
On December 9th Keith made our weekly pilgrimage to Costco, where after buying groceries we had our weekly hotdog. As we sat at the picnic tables provided for this use, I noticed two Costco workers bringing out a palette of Playstation 3s. Yes, you read me right. Playstation 3s. After a quick vehement exchange, I got Keith to buy one of the bundles (retail value $735) to see if we could attempt to flip it. A week later, no such luck--all the contacts we've gotten have been crackpots trying to fraudulently dupe us (we're smarter than that) or people making ridiculous offers (including a used PS2 with games, a used washer and dryer, a dirt bike, some kind of a boat, etc, etc). We're probably going to return it. Who knew a simple local exchange in Boston with a cash trade would be such a big deal, considering there are so few machines in the US and the rest aren't going to ship until 2007?
The one trade we might have been willing to consider was a Wii + cash difference. A Wii retails for $250 and the bundle cost us $735--so a Wii and $485 would be great. Or even better, two Wiis (one for my brother who wants one for Christmas) and $235. Otherwise, we want a cash profit--this is our rent money we're placing in escrow so, we can't very well pay Rick in a used PS2 or a washer/dryer.
Anyhoo, also on the 9th we visited Corrie and Phin for a Christmas party and we mingled with people, some new, some old. Interestingly we talked with our friends new neighbors (the people who took our old apartment). Even though Corrie had told them our reasons for leaving (after the burglary) apparently, they had blocked that out and forgotten. Ooops. I guess I have to say that I'd rather know than NOT know.
The 10th was relatively quiet. I don't remember much of what we did that today, probably not much except answering inquiries about the PS3 from complete nitwits.
Then came Monday. I had a pretty typical day at work and then left early to see Al Gore speak. (See post from 12/15/2006.) Keith and I have always meant to see "An Inconvenient Truth" as we've heard its really good from a lot of people.
Then came Tuesday. Another pretty typical day at work, followed by a late night meeting with our insurance guy.
Then came Wednesday. Another day, another dollar. Both Keith and I were completely exhausted by the previous night's late night.
Thursday the 14th. A hectic day at work followed by a run to the veternarian by Keith (yearly kitty check-up) and cookie decorating class for me run by the pastry chef at HBS. The cookie event was fun, filled with wine, and a few people I knew were there. This was marred by commute home, where the bus driver didn't come to a complete stop as I stepped to get onto the bus, fell, and the cookies with it. They were still edible, but my beautiful cookies were now all in pieces...
Friday finally came and with it both Keith and I were exhausted. We had an early morning appointment followed by our day at work. What is currently routine at my job is to meet with the faculty support coordinator to discuss my work. Up until this point, there has been nothing but praise, but now....someone in faculty administration criticized my e-mail style (lauded by several of my faculty members as "extremely professional") as too terse and criticized my use of M.Ed. in my signature even though it is a earned title and one DIRECTLY related to my work as a college administrator, no different than what a CPA uses in accounting or a MLS uses in librarianship. The only reason I could get for this request (I haven't seen it as written policy) is that it might make other support staff jealous or uncomfortable. I stated that I believe that that's their issue--its certainly not like they don't have the opportunity to go across the river and earn one in their own time if they choose. If they don't choose, that's their choice too. I feel this kind of logic is incredibly unprofessional and undermines the caliber and competency of the staff that Harvard attracts.
I'm glad that family and friends are able to follow Keith's and mine comings and goings on this blog, but I am continually frustrated in not having a forum to talk about things that...are just...more private. I wouldn't really mind talking about the above issue with my academic credentials with family and friends, but then there are plenty of published stories of people being fired for what they do/say on their own private time. I feel like people are entitled to their opinions, and if they are not blogging on company time or divulging proprietary information, so be it. But, I guess we don't have that luxury in the US anymore.
Today's Saturday and I'm still furious. I'm not sure what steps I'll take, but this principal is of extreme importance to me as my identity is really wrapped into learning and education. I'm not sure how much, if at all, I'm willing to compromise on it. In the meantime, my morale has taken a severe blow and I'll be putting a lot of thought into it over the Intersession pause.
The month has been a blur. It is but a week from Christmas, unbelievably. Since the last post was December 5th, I'll have to think back and look at iCal to get a hint of what exactly I was doing when I was doing it. Let me check....
*a couple minutes later* Okie, now I'm back...
The week of December 4th was dominated by recruitment in the OB Unit. Since Jeff (one of the faculty members I assist) is the head of the commitee, it falls upon me to assist him in the various administrative duties that come with selecting a candidate to join HBS. That week, it meant getting boxes of materials to each faculty member within the department, which is in all about 260 files (13 candidates in total x 20 faculty members). Thick files, usually with several scholarly papers each. Even after the boxes were distributed, I still had a addendum to add and a lot of organization was needed. So a temp was called in December 6th to help me manage. I spent the 7th and 8th in a semi-fog, exhausted, but able to putter through to the weekend's start.
On December 9th Keith made our weekly pilgrimage to Costco, where after buying groceries we had our weekly hotdog. As we sat at the picnic tables provided for this use, I noticed two Costco workers bringing out a palette of Playstation 3s. Yes, you read me right. Playstation 3s. After a quick vehement exchange, I got Keith to buy one of the bundles (retail value $735) to see if we could attempt to flip it. A week later, no such luck--all the contacts we've gotten have been crackpots trying to fraudulently dupe us (we're smarter than that) or people making ridiculous offers (including a used PS2 with games, a used washer and dryer, a dirt bike, some kind of a boat, etc, etc). We're probably going to return it. Who knew a simple local exchange in Boston with a cash trade would be such a big deal, considering there are so few machines in the US and the rest aren't going to ship until 2007?
The one trade we might have been willing to consider was a Wii + cash difference. A Wii retails for $250 and the bundle cost us $735--so a Wii and $485 would be great. Or even better, two Wiis (one for my brother who wants one for Christmas) and $235. Otherwise, we want a cash profit--this is our rent money we're placing in escrow so, we can't very well pay Rick in a used PS2 or a washer/dryer.
Anyhoo, also on the 9th we visited Corrie and Phin for a Christmas party and we mingled with people, some new, some old. Interestingly we talked with our friends new neighbors (the people who took our old apartment). Even though Corrie had told them our reasons for leaving (after the burglary) apparently, they had blocked that out and forgotten. Ooops. I guess I have to say that I'd rather know than NOT know.
The 10th was relatively quiet. I don't remember much of what we did that today, probably not much except answering inquiries about the PS3 from complete nitwits.
Then came Monday. I had a pretty typical day at work and then left early to see Al Gore speak. (See post from 12/15/2006.) Keith and I have always meant to see "An Inconvenient Truth" as we've heard its really good from a lot of people.
Then came Tuesday. Another pretty typical day at work, followed by a late night meeting with our insurance guy.
Then came Wednesday. Another day, another dollar. Both Keith and I were completely exhausted by the previous night's late night.
Thursday the 14th. A hectic day at work followed by a run to the veternarian by Keith (yearly kitty check-up) and cookie decorating class for me run by the pastry chef at HBS. The cookie event was fun, filled with wine, and a few people I knew were there. This was marred by commute home, where the bus driver didn't come to a complete stop as I stepped to get onto the bus, fell, and the cookies with it. They were still edible, but my beautiful cookies were now all in pieces...
Friday finally came and with it both Keith and I were exhausted. We had an early morning appointment followed by our day at work. What is currently routine at my job is to meet with the faculty support coordinator to discuss my work. Up until this point, there has been nothing but praise, but now....someone in faculty administration criticized my e-mail style (lauded by several of my faculty members as "extremely professional") as too terse and criticized my use of M.Ed. in my signature even though it is a earned title and one DIRECTLY related to my work as a college administrator, no different than what a CPA uses in accounting or a MLS uses in librarianship. The only reason I could get for this request (I haven't seen it as written policy) is that it might make other support staff jealous or uncomfortable. I stated that I believe that that's their issue--its certainly not like they don't have the opportunity to go across the river and earn one in their own time if they choose. If they don't choose, that's their choice too. I feel this kind of logic is incredibly unprofessional and undermines the caliber and competency of the staff that Harvard attracts.
I'm glad that family and friends are able to follow Keith's and mine comings and goings on this blog, but I am continually frustrated in not having a forum to talk about things that...are just...more private. I wouldn't really mind talking about the above issue with my academic credentials with family and friends, but then there are plenty of published stories of people being fired for what they do/say on their own private time. I feel like people are entitled to their opinions, and if they are not blogging on company time or divulging proprietary information, so be it. But, I guess we don't have that luxury in the US anymore.
Today's Saturday and I'm still furious. I'm not sure what steps I'll take, but this principal is of extreme importance to me as my identity is really wrapped into learning and education. I'm not sure how much, if at all, I'm willing to compromise on it. In the meantime, my morale has taken a severe blow and I'll be putting a lot of thought into it over the Intersession pause.
posted by Alyssa at 11:35 AM
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