9 Aug 2005
Checking In
As Jeff wrote, I (we) need a vacation.
I started off the summer in my old dorm moving & setting up a new Hall Office and overseeing the installation of all-new electronic locks throughout the building. Then, right after moving to my new dorm (with Jeff), I unexpectantly had to host a bunch of high school students who overflowed from another dorm for a summer program (and check them in while the gay pride parade marched past my door).
I don’t have an office in my new dorm right now because the university is renovating the street-level commercial space off the lobby to be the new TV/Study lounge and office for the building. The old office and lounge upstairs were turned back to student rooms, but the new space won’t be ready until the day before (or possibly the day after) all the freshmen move in on August 25.
Last week, a decision was made to replace a large amount of the furniture in my dorm with pieces that would have been disposed of from another dorm that is getting all-new furniture. I’ve been up to 2am several nights tagging desks and dressers to be moved and/or disposed of and getting up at 7 or 8am to meet the movers from the Facilities department.
I’m burnt out and feeling a little resentful that everyone else in my department has gotten to go on vacation this summer — and now that RA training starts next week, it’ll be early October before I’m free to use some of my 41 (and accumulating) vacation days. It’s really no ones fault — it’s just bad luck and bad timing of summer projects. I keep trying to remind myself that all my hard work is for the benefit of my students.
What’s really a bummer is that I haven’t gotten to spent much time with Jeff lately. We’re still living out of boxes in our new apartment. And I’m getting a little snippy with him as job stress overflows into other aspects of my life.
This isn’t what I imagined our moving in together would be like.
You are very dedicated to your job and students – that was apparent when I worked with you at Truman. You took great pride in your work and you were always trying to help improve Residential Living and make the administrative aspects of the job more efficient and I’m sure you are doing the same in New York. You were often picked on by the staff and overlooked for your dedication and accomplishments and I hate to hear that you are still experiencing this, at least to some degree. I just wanted to let you know that I loved working with you at Truman and I truly appreciate all you did for our staff during my time at Truman.
I also wanted to let you know that you are not alone in your vacation frustration. I am the new employee and I have to cover the duties of those employees above me while they take multi-week vacations. I was able to take a few days off work to get married last November, but three weeks after my wedding I was put on a 6 day workweek. Now I have very little time to take care of domestic matters at home and I am constantly stressed. I hate spending my one day off doing laundry and cleaning. My husband and I fight just about every other night and it’s not healthy. I hope you and Jeff are able to take time off in the near future and get away from work.
Kristen | 10 Aug 2005