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July 14, 2005
Muse to the Pharaoh
Thursday July 14, 2005
"Where you want to eat tonight babe? I know this dope spot called one another...
I wanna get lost in your mellow yellow..."
-Prince
The Rainbow Children
This has absolutely nothing to do with anything; I love that line-it just caught me off guard when I was listening to one of Prince's most underrated albums on my way to work this morning. All of a sudden, I'm feeling kinda hungry...
Happy DBF to everyone (day before Friday). 4 days down 1 to go….
I was going to start today by telling you about my commute, and how annoyed I was that everyone on the train was staring at a young man who came on the car and had Down Syndrome. They were all staring at him as he made his way through the empty car to find a space to stand. Someone who pissed me off the most was the woman next to me, who resembled the very freak show she thought she was watching. She looked like a circus tent, in her bright yellow and orange dress, her thighs as big as tree-trunks. I watched her watching him, mouth agape, following his every move. I began to stare at her so she could know what it felt like to be the object of unwanted and unnecessary attention. She didn’t get the point though; neither did any of the other idiots on the train who couldn’t stop staring; the man was physically disabled, but had more sense than anyone on the train. I saw him act with more courtesy and respect then the people who were staring at him. He moved to the side when people got on, he got out of the way when people had to exit the train…
It’s funny, when people are supposed to pay attention to shit, they never do. So that’s my early morning rant for the day…
9:40
I get reprimanded by my supervisor for yapping on the phone (the nerve!) I arrive at work way earlier than I’m supposed to, an hour earlier, so that I can get work out of way so that I can deal with the really important stuff-like catch up with my family, surf the net, go out for a coffee or something...she had the audacity to interrupt me during a very important mother-daughter conversation. I was just telling my mom what color she should paint the bathroom when here comes my supervisor huffing and puffing about me being on the phone after work hours begin.
“I finished my work before work hours,” I told her. Why don’t you give me something else to do? It’s not fair that I should sit at my desk twiddling my thumbs all day, and then get penalized for it.”
I caught her off guard; the look on her face was priceless. She was speechless. She didn’t know whether to condemn me, or to praise me.
I can’t help it if I’m efficient and organized and they don’t know how to utilize my talents, and for the salary I’m being paid, they’re lucky I do any damn work at all!
She was speechless; then a slow smile crept to her face.
“I have a whole stack of security refund requests on my desk. You can start with those.”
“Sure! ” I said enthusiastically, happy to take them over. At least now people will get their money on time and perhaps I’ll get fewer nasty phone calls, interrupting my important phone calls to my boyfriend, sister and stuff.
So she hands me the stack of papers and I get through it, then she adds all these other responsibilities on to it. That was definitely not part of the plan, but like my grandmother always says, when your hand is in the lion’s mouth, take it out slowly…and that’s what I was doing.
“Oh this is great,” my supervisor exclaims. “Let’s get started.” She starts to go on and on about how she had a stack on her desk for so long but she hadn’t been able to do it because blah blah blah…
I’ve just relieved her of 50 percent of her workload, but my mom says you gotta kiss the ass before you kick it, and that’s what I’m doing. Not ashamed of it either. I’m still on probation. I can’t afford to get fired.
“I’m sorry-I should have known better. I don’t want you to think I don’t take this job seriously, because I do. I’m so grateful for the opportunity, and I’m learning sooooo much...here, (and the Oscar for best actress goes to me!) I would never want to jeopardize my position” I bat my eyelashes at her for dramatic effect.
“I know you are honey,” she says smiling apologetically. I didn’t mean to imply you didn’t take the job seriously, and I know you get your work done, it’s just that I want you to get the most out of this job kiddo, you’re going places. And besides, when it comes time for a raise, I want to make sure you get what you’re worth.
“I understand,” I say solemnly. “It won’t happen again.”
“I know,” she says, patting me on the shoulder. “Let’s go, I’ll show you what you have to do.”
6:04 p.m.
I’m finally on my way home, and my ass is hurting. I’ve been sitting in this bloody chair staring at the computer since 10:00 am-this is the only moment I’ve had all day to catch my breath and catch up with y’all. Well, I suppose it’s good for me. I least I learned something today. I cant’ say for certain what it is, but I know it’s made me a better person, somehow, someway. Well, it’s past quitting time, and I aint’ got no more fight left in me kiddies-so I bid you adieu, till we meet again…
Stay tuned!
Posted by renee at July 14, 2005 6:17 PM