oh man this day....

In the spirit of love for my fellow man and so my flist--which just did a really bewildering increase, and hey, what's up? How are you?--I thought i'd introduce you to a typical meeting I attend.

This is what we call "jenn in the wilds of public service". Or more importantly, she with teh attention span of a stoned gnat.



transcribed from notes, 4/10/2006, 9:00-11:30 AM:

Page 1:

One ofhte most boring parts of my day is the long meetings. The real problem is, they are not *interesting meetings*. They remind me vaguely of English Comp II, which I can only defend by saying that if you have ever had to deal with the tell then told then told again style of essay writing, you'd totally get it.

Epic boredom.

This reminds me of other times that I was bored. They are all the same. They involve a lot of crying.

20,00 calls per week. Huh and fascinating!
Let me die now. 9:45 AM
Seriously. Right now. 10:00 AM
OMG it's that too enthusiastic guy from last time!
I have seen this before. This. Is hell. 10:05 AM
Hell Hell Hell.
I have never watned to be a seal more than right this second.
I think all the missing time in the world people complain about? Is being condensed into THIS MOMENT. 10:10 AM

Page 2

The second biggest problem in teh universe is the entire stupid question thing. Casue seriously, HOW MANY WAYS does the same information need to be shared? Do you want it in Swahili? And hye, what is up with Swahili? Is it popular soemwhere?

Assistant Commissioner is here. Oh joy. I can die happy now.
No seriously. Die now. Happy.
Scanning (some word here, looks obscene not sure) I have a reason to live.
I hate the words "Just to clarify"
OMG he is lying about the application!
Also, he's wrong about the schedule 10:32 AM
Okay, hold on, you don't have the right to a receipt?
HA@ Yes they do! I am *so smart*!
You know, he would annoy me so much less if he could at least admit that the new system is NOT all that and a basket of chips, okay? It's not his passion I fault--it's his blindness due to (some words, maybe obscene?) pasion or for the fact that he is prosituting his ethics to his job. 10:35 AM

page 3:

Weeping during a meeting is not approved, yet I want to 10:10 AM
He keeps saying he has some sort of sore throat? Not obviously. God he can talk. I dont' think he is breathing. 10:45 AM
This has reached exponential levels of uninteresting. I don't thin kthat anytime in history they have been this uninteresting. I should study this. 10:50 AM

It's over!
now more long questions. Oh weep for joy. I was afraid I'd find a reason to live.

Delay might slow down rollout schedule. You think? but of course, he knows nothing.

I feel that he's nice. It's just really (some word, probably obscene in Finnish) I'm glad his passion is 211. Really. 10:55 AM

No dublicate data entry as of today! 11:00 AM

I don't believe it. Is this meeting ending? 11:03 AM
Okay! Life better! Must celebrate!

Comments

[blushing-rose.livejournal.com]

*snicker* Looks like my notes from our Democratic State Central Committee meeting. Good thing hubby is the secretary and not me.

--State Chair blah, blah, blah. Please let someone else talk for a change.
--Treasurer's report. Oh good...we're solvent. Now the beg for donations. Pass the hat.
--District Chairs. Oh goody. Someone found a Democrat in the Oklahoma panhandle. Shall we build a shrine?? *giggle*
--District 4 Chair isn't here. Three times in a row. He's fired. Who can blame him for missing such an exciting meeting?

Maybe your group and mine could hold a joint teleconference meeting? Sounds like they'd get along perfectly *g*.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

All the meetings in the world should take place simutaneously, just so the damn things don't take up valuable living time.

I will, I swear, be ranting about having to go to this on my deathbed. I will.

[dragontatt.livejournal.com]

I know why the increase ('hi' back, btw)> On April 3, someone recced "Crimes Against Humanity' in mckay_sheppard and everyone jumped on your bandwagon!!

Or did you know that?

[seperis.livejournal.com]

Hmm. I think I saw someone mention it, but--huh. Interesting.

I mean, I have *no problems* with happy pimping of dystopia. None.

[luthorienne.livejournal.com]

I was recently forced to resort to poking myself in the thigh with the pointy end of my pen in order to stay awake during an interminable post-lunch meeting.

[blushing-rose.livejournal.com]

I wondered why they passed out pens at these meetings *eg*

[seperis.livejournal.com]

I should try that.

I mean, if nothing else--intersting pattern of bruises to look at later.

[zoerayne]

Occasionally I find myself thinking, "Hey, I could probably get a pretty damn lucrative job, if I were willing to go back out into the public sector and wear hose and heels again." And then I lie down until the feeling passes, and go back to doing my slightly-less-lucrative job from home in my tee-shirt, jeans, and Docs.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

Dear God, I hate you right now.

...I am wearing heels!

[zoerayne]

But your job is fulfilling, yes? Mine is incredibly boring.

Also? I might not actually have my job anymore, as they're not replying to my emails. *koff*

[ascetic-hedony.livejournal.com]

It's possible to work in the public service in comfortable clothes. I use the excuse that no one outside of the office actually sees me face to face, as all my work is done by phone.

So its T-shirt, cargo-style pants and sneakers for me :)

[thepouncer.livejournal.com]

I tend to write porn in meetings. It makes them a hell of a lot more interesting.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

You know, I may try that next time. Hmmm.

[libitina]

I can not remember how I ended up friending you. It wasn't Crimes Against Humanity because it looks suspiciously unfinnished. I think someone recced the rec you had for the greatest rescue mission... and then I just stayed around to browse and had fun. I think. This information could be completely inaccurate, and I refuse to cite my sources.

I am absolutely convinced that I have read lots of other stories by you - finished ones. And liked them. I just only vaguely pay attention to titles and/or authors, so I couldn't tell you which ones without looking it up.

So glad I don't have meetings where I work - however, I did enjyo reading about your suffering. Strong work.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

*grins and bows* Glad to be of service.

[dine.livejournal.com]

It's just really (some word, probably obscene in Finnish) I'm glad his passion is 211. Really. 10:55 AM


this made me giggle. the idea of obscene Finnish words totally amuses for some reason, and locally we've a information network of service agencies called 211 - that's the phone number and all. so if you're talking about the same sort of thing, it's worthwhile in the end, although getting there might atrophy your brain if you must continue to attend these fascinating meetings.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

I know two Finnish obscenities from my time there, and I asked specifically for the worst to commit to memory. I think it's viitu, but I can't be sure. *sighs* Me and my handwriting = Not OTP.

[out-there.livejournal.com]

*sniggers* You know, this is totally giving me flashbacks to the last year of high school and advanced math. I swear, I looked through that notebook, and sometimes, the left page had notes from when we were studying/working through that day, and the right had things like:

"Oh my god. Why did I pick this class? Seriously, why?
Do I have a deep masochistic streak? If so, you'd think I'd enjoy sitting here and not knowing what the hell we're doing?

I can't believe I actually *chose* this.

Who the hell needs to know the volume of a donut anyway?"

That last one refers to a about four weeks worth of work on differentials or calculus or something and the highlight was that at the end of those weeks, we each had to calculate the volume of a donut and when we got it right, the teacher actually gave us donuts to eat.

Ah, food as bribery. It's always worked for me.

[kernezelda]

Seriously, I know what it's like - except I tend to fall asleep in meetings, especially if there is a powerpoint show or other visual media. It's like a curse or something.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

I friended you for the adorable kid!Sheppard. And then you liked talking to crazy people, which made me all warm and happy and feel like I belonged on your f-list.

Icarus