Posted by Racer on January 6, 2004, at 16:08:08
In reply to Bad few weeks, posted by Phil on January 6, 2004, at 12:00:22
I guess the only answer is: well, a little better than that? Yech.
I won't go into my own UTI story, nor my story about writing a check from an old checkbook (except to say that the State Attorney's office got involved in that one...), but I will tell you something that may or may not make it all worse.
Despite the pressures of mental illness, the sapping of motivation, etc, there is something you can do that may help with the check fees. If the routing number changed because of bank merger or acquisition, often times companies will waive the returned check fees. In other words, if you can manage the energy to call the companies involved, tell them your mistake, and ask nicely, they may drop the fees for you. They may not, but it might be worth trying. Alternately, if you've got someone who gives good 'phone, you might ask that person to make the calls for you.
The work situation? Easy, go to your nearest bookstore and buy all the Dilbert books. You'll learn a lot about management techniques in them. And as a bonus, you'll laugh out loud at some of them. Alternately, you could remind yourself that you're in a difficult situation, in which there's not a lot you can do, and as a result your only hope is to take care of yourself in every way you can. I do have some practical suggestions, if they help, but mostly I'd say you can only give yourself attaboys for coping, without worrying too much about it.
The Racer Business Analysis dealing with the issues you raised is pretty dang simple: the Pointy Haired Boss gives you the responsibility for managing a group of people, but no authority to hire, fire, or reprimand. You have an assignment with no tools to carry it out. If your boss assigned you to write a spreadsheet on the old columnar pads, but didn't give you access to a pencil, would you beat yourself up? If your boss then wrote you up for not doing that job, would you respond that he didn't provide you with the necessary tools? Well, extrapolate.
Phil, I only know you in the sense that we've read and responded to one another on these boards. In the course of that, I've learned that you're funny, and smart, and kind. I'm sorry you're going through all this. Here's hoping this year is better than it's start has been.
poster:Racer
thread:297139
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/2000/20031122/msgs/297260.html