Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Just Let Me Get Through This Day!

Oh my, it has definitely been one of those days. I attended a seminar this morning on the latest in Ready Reference websites. I could have spent those three hours sleeping and simply gotten an email or something reminding me to check out MCLS's super webliography. I would have read that email, went and looked at, and saved myself a drive and those lost hours...

Still, once I got to my regular job the phone calls started. The kids bickering, including some of the ones who are supposed to be adults! I dislike arbitrating their fights to begin with, but when they call me at work and try to drag me in...ugh! And not answering the phone doesn't work, because if they can't get me on my cell or my desk, they sometimes start calling the public desk phone hoping to catch me or to catch someone who will transfer their call to me. They can be ruthless. Ranting. It does help a little. But I'm sorry I've been kind of ranty lately. I'd rather be randy. *sigh*

Do you guys ever have outside problems intruding upon you at work? Or are you more able than I am to set boundaries? Either way, tell me how you handle it, because I suspect shutting the door and whisper screaming into the phone or sending terse phone texts isn't the way to go.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

All of my work problems are caused by work, I deal with customers and not in person. I have a strict "don't call me" policy with friends and family. It is this: Don't call me at work unless it is important, very important.

I just deal with a lot of stupid questions and situations. payroll should be cut and dry but human interaction makes it difficult at times.

Mrs. Hairy Woman said...

I use to have problems with this one girl that would call me at home after my shift was done.. She would be having a problem with some drunkard and I would say."did you call the cops"? No she would say.. I would then say, Call the cops and call our comms office to have a supervisor come ASAP.. But she always would call me at home.. I stopped giving out my number after that..So much for being nice and helpful..Times like that I wish I had a gun...lol

Viki said...

My outside probs are usually caused by my husband of my mil. Men can be such babies sometimes.

I find hanging up the phone usually works. Or just a mean - I am busy - works too.

laura b. said...

Evil-E: Your policy is a good one. I sort of try that tack, but it is hard with kids...moms feel like they need to be available 24/7 and sometimes that just sucks!

BabyBull: Wow, so your problem was work coming home with you. That sounds even worse! That was a woman who definitely needed boundaries :-)

Viki: haha! I definitely need to get over my fear of being the bad guy. "Toughen up" shall be my new motto.

Tara said...

Any outside problems are usually from my family...I'll be worried about my mom or upset about what my brothers have said to me and it'll fester in my head at work. It makes me irritable and sensitive which I don't usually want to be at work.

My manager has called me on my days off to ask me about work and that has totally irritated me in the past. I was almost ready to quit one time because I felt I couldn't escape him. Lol.

laura b. said...

Tara: I guess I should feel lucky that at least my work life doesn't invade my home life. I don't think my boss would dream of calling me at home unless there were some genuine emergency (library emergency? nah!) So, I only have to worry about the overlap traveling in one direction :-)

Sebastien Millon said...

I don't think your kids should be disturbing you at work unless it's something important. But really, I can't be good with advice here, I don't have to deal with kids (at least not yet! thank goodness...).

I hope things calm down for you soon... Life is full of challenges, both major ones and ridiculous little continuing ones that really wear you down...

laura b. said...

Sebastien: I agree! I should not be bothered with the little stuff, but it seems mine and their definitions of big and little stuff are not at all similar.
I will try not to let the little stuff get me down :-)