W 7/26/02

Work Diary, 7/26/02

My new job as a supervisor slogs along. I'm not quite sure what I'm
doing in every area but plenty of people have offered helpful advice.
I'm beginning to see the advantages of having one's own door to shut
out the hoi polloi while I pursue very important supervisory type
issues. Also I can add a certain touch of rudeness to my voice when
talking to an unruly client without being heard, which has given me a
sense of freedom I never thought possible.

One scary thing is the appearance of my former co-workers at my door,
asking permission for this or that. Naturally I tell them to come in
and take a seat but there's still a certain stiffness to their posture,
as if my dulcet tones are suddenly going to erupt in a screaming
frenzy. That's not my style, of course, unless one considers my
six-year stint as a public school teacher, during which I often went
home hoarse from shouting at, say, some miscreant who was purposely
passing gas next to a group of preening girls. I'm going to attempt to
take my "team" (not a word that slips easily from my tongue) to lunch
next week. Unfortunately, one member of my team also applied for this
job, and has treated me to a bastardized, clipped form of communication
ever since she returned from vacation and discovered she was not the
Chosen One.

My office is painted in a horrid pale mocha color, but the carpet is
surprisingly new and fresh. So far the only picture I have up is of the
beagle, Sophie (the one with the words "FOR THE OWNER WHO DOES NOT
DEMAND EXEMPLARY BEHAVIOR" printed over her head as she stands regally
on her porch cushion). Very cute, but I still need some other prints.
I'm going to try and steer clear of the typical Miro and Monet works
and try for something more "me." I wonder, would they allow Japanese
erotica?

Also, plants are a must. I prefer plastic ones as they're bugless, but
I suppose that might be frowned upon by the more Birkenstock-inclined
members of the office. As my view is of a parking lot (and a half-empty
one at that), I want to hang something in front of the windows.
Perhaps, as I get more involved in my duties, I can begin to hang
snotty employees from their toes to block the dismal view.