Madness Aside:
I watched a pretty good film tonight called Winter Passing. It stars Ed Harris as a struggling writer. It is somewhat in the vein of Wonder Boys albeit more melancholy. I would say it is more of a combination of "The Station Agent" and "Wonder Boys". If you like dramas that are overflowing with quirky characters, who each have personal obstacles to overcome, than this one's for you.
Monday, May 21, 2007
Frustration.....
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7 comments:
I went through almost the exact same thing when I was a speech writer. Though it's no solace, I can offer you my sympathies, or more appropriately, my empathies. In my case, however, I found that my boss and I were eerily alike in a lot of ways and that stood to be the reason why she showed such ill will. She was a lawyer with a degree from Boston College working as a Chief of Staff for a (then) lowly Massachusetts State Senator. I was a kid from Southie with a brain but very little ambition. It drove her mad.
Ultimately, and I don't suggest this by any means, I went over her head and I would hand my press releases and speeches directly to the senator. He approved of most sans any red ink. In your case, you probably don't have that option, but I'd be remiss if I didn't tell you to confront him/her in person regarding the issue. You made a great case of it in your blog (hope he/she doesn't read it, by the way), so why not present the evidence? You could be doing a great service for yourself and your co-workers. Speaking of which, if any of your co-workers were to jump on board, perhaps this could be a topic at a staff meeting?
It seems s simple solution that you may have already tried, but I thought I'd mention it anyway.
As for "Winter Passing". I felt it contrived and messy in a lot of areas. Particularly Zoe Deschanel's character. And Will Ferrel's character? Well, I guess you have to hand it to the screenwriters for finding a role he could play in that film. You'd almost have to believe that was their intention - that it was written with him in mind. Because it certainly was no stretch from his acting forte.
-John
My blog is next to impossible to find unless you know what to look for. I've kept a strict policy of not letting anyone I work with know that it exists. A PhD consumed with their job won't have too much time to look anyway.
Regardless, I didn't really write anything I wouldn't stand by. Perhaps that makes me a touch arrogant, but hey, that's how it is.
Thanks for the empathy.
Hey George - your boss sounds like the micromanager type, the type of boss that doesn't have trust or faith in his employees, who he charges with certain tasks. I can't imagine that your technical writing is so bad that the boss has to re-write the entire report practically every time. He's probably wasting time and falling behind on his own responsibilities. I, like many people, know what it is like to work for someone like that. I feel your pain!
- Tim
Hey George,
Sorry to hear about your situation. It sounds super frustrating but I would try not to take it personally. I mean it sounds like he is just insecure, especially since he is doing it to your coworkers too. Probably doesn't help much but hey at least all these revisions keep you employed. That's how I look at it whenever I have to make tons of revisions of something.
Anyway, hope today was better,
Kate
Thanks for the comments everyone. I'm pluggin away, trying my best to improve. I plan on talking to him about this in more detail tomorrow when he returns. I'm trying to find themes in the revisions, and make lists of things to check for prior to handing in the reports. I'll put it to test and see if I still get a new, bright red report back. He does lack trust, at least when it comes to the area of reports, presentations, and data presentation. And our branch of the department is behind, likely because of the revisions.
John: I'm guessing that Zoe Deschanel (why do you know her name?) probably looped him in or suggested him since they also worked together in Elf. Come on... plan B at the open mike was mint. Yeah it was contrived I totally agree, but I still enjoyed it.
The slamming the fingers in the drawer bit was strange, but I did think it was a nice touch how the first time was after kicking a random screw-pal out, and the second time was when her dad kicked her out, suggesting she never dealt with her problems because she never learned to... at least not from Paps.
What was with the kitten killing scene? Any metaphorical analysis on that bit?
Ferrell actually does well in Stranger than Fiction, so if you haven't yet... check that one out.
George,
I'm pretty good with remembering actor's names. I saw her in "All the Real Girls", a very good indie flick you should pick up one evening or Sunday afternoon. Plus, her sister is on "Bones".
No, I am not a fan of that show - never even seen it. But feel free to make a joke or two about my knowing that Zoe Deschanel's sister stars in it. And David Boreanis, too, for that matter, of "Buffy" and "Angel" fame (and I use that word verrrrry lightly).
Anyway, about the kitty killing scene. I'm not remembering it. Does Zoe's character do it after kicking out her "screw-buddy"? If so, I vaguely recall it...
-John
Yeah... knowing the cast of Bones without seeing the film IS sad.
The kitten killing scene happens right before she takes off for the sticks to see her father. She goes out to an old abandoned pier with a duffel bag, which has the kitten in it. She scratches it (the kitten not the bag), and you think she'll turn around and get on board a bus or something, however, instead she gently nudges the kitten back into the bag, zips it up, then drops it into the East River, and watches it sink. It's very strange... very cold & heartless.
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