I’ve written obsessively about the long hours I’ve been working and the toll it’s taken on me physically and mentally.
But now my job has affected Gracie, and I’m kind of pissed.
I’ve been trying very hard to maintain some kind of normal life while working here, but it’s not easy. Even in the “off-season,” my hours are always unpredictable and making plans is next to impossible. I keep trying though, hoping against hope that I’ll get some normalcy in my life again.
A couple of months ago I signed Gracie up to do agility classes. They are every Thursday at 8:00 p.m. You’d think that wouldn’t be a problem, right? Right off the bat it was clear it would be difficult. I had to make sure I got out at 6:00 so I could drive home, pick up Gracie and drive out to the class location. It’s not particularly far, but I needed to make sure I didn’t get stuck in rush-hour madness.
It quickly became apparent that getting out at 6:00 was pushing my luck, so I started to bring her into the office, so I didn’t have to worry about leaving until 7:15 or so. I also hoped that the presence of my dog would remind everyone that I had other things to do.
Not so much.
The night I was here until 2:00 a.m.? So was Gracie. Most nights I wasn’t able to get out of here until 8:00—right when the class started.
I scheduled make-up classes and couldn’t keep those appointments either.
Before I knew it, we were about a month behind.
So this week I had to quit agility.
She was getting really good at this, too....
Not only am I pissed on principle, but I’m upset on Gracie’s behalf. It was something fun for her to do. Something more interesting than her neighborhood walk. She knew that when I loaded her into the car in the morning, that it was going to be a fun day. Last night when it was clear we were camped out in the office for a while, she got pissy. She woo-hoo’d at me over and over and kept nudging me and moving toward my purse.
This is getting old. It’s not healthy. Burned-out employees with no lives are not good employees.
And now my dog hates me.
Oh, honey.
That sucks.
Gracie will recover, and so will you.
But still.
.-= absurdbeats´s last blog ..Fly into the sun =-.
Gracie doesn’t hate you. She hates YOUR DAMN JOB.
This tanks. You were SO excited when you signed up and Gracie was obviously rather a natural. This isn’t it though. You’ll find another chance and way to make this work. Maybe there will be something closer and/or on the weekend at some point?
.-= Lesley´s last blog ..Obviously The Guns In This Post Are Just For Show As We Do NOT Advocate Violence Around Here (Also, They Might Actually Just Be Bedazzlers And We CERTAINLY Don’t Advocate THAT Kind of Crap, Either) =-.
Like a kid, which Gracie has all the same attributes, they have short attention spans. When he gets his holiday bonus (a bone perhaps?) it will all be forgotten. But you, you’re not getting any bonus here Snark. What is your inner-dog telling you? QUIT…please…your sanity and my martini is calling you.
.-= Eve´s last blog ..Rusty Sly: Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Tasting =-.
I’m gonna go with what Eve said; but you already knew that, right? It’s like staying in an abusive relationship. “It’ll get better” “It’s not him/the job, it’s the current circumstances” “I really love him/it” “I need him/it” “I can’t make it on my own.”
What would you tell a woman whose man beats her every day; keeps her from her friends, family and dog; doesn’t allow her a social life; is making her a basket case?
.-= XUP´s last blog ..It’s Wonderful Being a Girl =-.
I have a friend who got laid off and has been out of work for a year. Walking out seems like the least responsible thing I can do right now (even though Bill said it would be okay).
Sometimes it is like being in an abusive relationship: when things are good, they’re good, and when they’re not, stand by (or duck). I’m hoping I will have more options at the beginning of the year…