Secrets of Sylvia

I think my boss' concept of time is a bit skewed. Even on projects that she's never done before, and is, in fact, putting us in charge of because she has no idea how to do it, she'll put impossible deadlines on. I mean, really, how can you put a deadline/time limit on something you've never done yourself, and, therefore, have no idea how much time it really takes to get it done? Once, my husband even told her, about a project they put him in charge of, that because he doesn't have enough time outside of the other jobs he must do, he would have to work on a particular project at home in his own time in order to meet her deadline. The only response he got before she walked away was, "Thanks."

Now, I try to keep myself busy. If I don't, time passes by so incredibly slow. I can't stand it. Plus, it's just depressing when you have all that time to think about how much longer you are at a job that is constantly wearing your body down.

So I keep myself busy. I prefer to keep moving. And I'm good at keeping busy. I've been told by past employers how efficient I was, and when I finish a job, I find another one to do.

Still, my boss seems to think I don't do anything. She told me the other day as I was coming in and she was rushing out the door, "Let's be productive today," as if I hadn't been productive the last few days. I've even been leaving her messages about what I've been working on just to make sure they're to her satisfaction.

Then she wondered if I got her e-mail that morning. Usually, I don't have time to check my e-mail before work, but I did check it that morning and didn't have an e-mail from her. Later, I went home and checked it again. It was there--it had been sent five minutes before I was supposed to start work. You know, because as I'm rushing out the door, I like to stop and check my e-mail just in case she left something for me--even though I'm on my way to see her. ???

This morning, I got a phone call stating that I should bring some Conversation School work to do at the elementary school I would be working at because I would have a little extra time there. I do that anyway. Why all of a sudden does she feel the need too call me about that?

Again, she wondered if I got the e-mail she had sent me. I happened to not have a chance that morning to check it.

Honestly, with as much as we're pushed during working hours, it's getting really annoying that we're being pushed off working hours, as well. Not to mention this e-mail thing. Why do I have to check in about work while I'm off hours? If we were allowed to check our e-mails when we got to work to see if she left a message, that would be one thing--but we're not allowed to.

Time is pressing on me, and constantly weighing me down. Our vacation at the end of December can't come soon enough.