I have a long to-do list of things to get done at work. I've had a long list of things to do for months, probably years. I need a few clones. A small collective, perhaps.
I got hauled away from the latest panic attack this morning into a meeting. They needed my input, they said. I hate meetings. Meetings here at my non-disclosed place of business go on and on and accomplish very little. This was a scheduling meeting that was drifting wildly. I was sitting in my chair trying not to look too disgruntled, keeping one ear on the present conversation while having a mental debate with myself about all the reasons Star Trek 10 sucked.
Finally we rolled around to the schedule. Projects and dates get tossed around. I take notes. They've scheduled field work for Tuesday. They need maps. They've scheduled more field work for Wednesday. They need maps. And they've scheduled a client meeting on Thursday. You guessed it - they need maps. And all of the following week? Field work. More maps. I'm piping up now. "Um, guys? Guys? Guys! There is no way I can meet these deadlines. Not a chance. I'm already behind on three projects because I get interrupted every 10 minutes to fix somebody's computer. And who is going on these little field trips anyway? Me? Are you kidding? How can I make you maps if I'm not here but out on a levee somewhere taking data? And by the way, did you know I'm out of town on the 17th and 18th? Yes, I understand that this is very inconvenient. Very bad time. Noted. Nothing whatsoever I can do about it. So about those deadlines?"
And the deadlines stand. No debate. They move on.
Why on earth do they call me in here just to ignore me? I go back to my office to my newly revised panic attack.
* * * * *
A co-worker popped his head in my office 10 minutes ago. "Shannon?" Sigh. Remove headphones. "Yes?"
"Oh nothing," he says. "I just hadn't interrupted you in ten minutes or so, so I thought I'd check in."
I'm going to strangle you with an ethernet cable. Would you prefer red or blue?