So I was having a productive week though lots to do particularly since Monday was a holiday. (
Which helped me start the week right). Was making progress, getting to some key stuff and planning for next week (
part of my write shit down efforts). Then late Thursday, a request for help from COO, which seemed small at first, so I pitched in (
like I’d say no anyway).
As I started working on it, found a complete mess, an excel spreadsheet where the person (Idiot #1) created a format they liked first then tried to update it. No consistency, some items grouped together, some not, a complete mess. Also found some mistakes which started me having to review line by line each item (
about 352 lines). This data is the basis for some analysis that the head of the business had to provide to the HEAD OF THE FIRM early next week. (
If you know my employer – that’s a big fucking deal especially considering the economy right now) It was so bad, couldn’t believe the person who created it even would send it to COO. Shows the lack of professionalism in middle management in our group, Idiot #1’s excuse would probably be lack of excel experience, almost brags about it. Also found a later that when this request first came in, a colleague suggested they ask for my help (
on Tuesday!). He was told by 2 of the managers involved (
future co-authors of the excel mess – Idiot #1 and his partner in incompentence Idiot #2) that it would take too long and I was probably busy. These managers aren’t always my favorites, they’re old school and I know I’ve irritated them in the past. (
I used to let that bother me, now who gives a shit) When my job responsibility involved reporting like this, they didn’t always appreciate my methods. Which have turned out to be logical and consistent in comparison to the crap they attempted to create! I also tended to control the data and limited their access and abilities to edit it in the past. (
Cause I’m such a controlling bitch!)
So stayed at office until 7:30pm completing the matching exercise and realized I needed to make a version the way I would have done it since the COO and Controller still needed to work on it before the analysis could be sent out. Went home, took a break, ate some dinner. Broke my rules about eating later (totally relapsed on my coca cola addiction recently). Started working again and was up until 2am completing the thing, as well as updating in the old format so those managers could follow it. Found it hard to unwind afterwards and didn’t really get to sleep until 3am. (
Lots of thoughts about work environment and confirmed why I will leave it eventually) Also made sure I was up before 7am so I could email it in. Not sure why I hid how late I was up, however wanted Controller and COO to have it first thing in the morning. (
Controller was already logged online when I sent it.)
My plan was go to work, getting done what I could on projects I had ignored then leave after my 2:30pm conference call which was mostly being a therapist for a PM in New York as we plan for a future joint project. Talked to a senior manager (
who wasn’t involved with this mess) about it when I came in and make sure he was ok with me leaving early. (
He doesn’t care; frankly I do what I want, however like to keep up the appearance that I respect authority) Updated this manager on the situation since he knew what I was working on, he agreed it was a cluster. Also we had some sales organization changes announced so knew it was going to be lousy day, some long time people being laid off (
way we live now unfortunately). Then @ 2pm received request from COO asking for help updating spreadsheet (my format) with updates from Idiot #2. He tried to pass off the mess as the fault of Idiot #1, yet found a few missing items from his update. I was civil, that was it. Finished the update, checked in with COO who was wiped out also. It was a tough week. Then spent some time cleaning up office, so past tired it didn’t matter and was there until 6pm. Finally went home to crash with the help of some Grey Goose.
Did get to sleep in on Saturday and went to hang out with my pal Wendy (
Smokey’s mom) and her four year old daughter,
Madi. Earlier in the week I had offered to visit since Wendy’s husband had to work this weekend plus she’s almost a week away from having another baby. When I called after waking up, Madi insisted on talking to me and asked “when you coming down?” It was relaxing though, she loves to watch Food TV, though we did watch an Elmo video (thankfully short) and some
Backyardigans (what the heck is Uniqua?). I was able to vent about work (Wendy’s on leave until June –post baby) and she could vent about being very pregnant. Of course we both were entertained with Madi, who proudly showed me the new room for her baby sister.
So now I need to get back on track.
