Will I Get a Raise?

Damn, I haven’t written in a while. Things are as crazy and chaotic as usual. Now that my brother doesn’t have school anymore, he thinks it’s necessary to talk on the phone and have his friends over all hours of the night when I’m trying to sleep. It’s unbelievable how inconsiderate and selfish people are…

Things aren’t much better at work. The moment of truth happened on Tuesday when I asked my boss—Queen of Idiosyncrasy—for an hourly pay raise. For the most part it went well. In any case, it’s ultimately not her decision, but she did try to shut me down a few times and told me what I was asking for was very high (as if I didn’t already fucking know). I don’t know if this bitch realizes it, but I DESERVE a fucking raise and every penny I’m asking for. I do way to much for that place to be making peasantry pennies.

(Not that money is everything) sometimes there comes a point in life where you just have to know how much you’re worth.

Despite the little pushback I got from her, I stood my ground and went over the proposal to make sure there was no confusion as to who does what. The beautiful thing about my job is: no one can ever say “Brandon doesn’t do anything.” Not even her. The output is there; it’s physical and visual: it’s on the web, or printed on a piece of paper, hanging up on a wall, or being sent to thousands of alumni.

When this bitch acts like I’m not doing my job, I silently give her the finger-snap.

This bitch tried to dump some PR publicity shit on me today. Since that’s not my expertise, nor my job description, she backed herself into a corner trying to blame me for her responsibilities. I don’t know why this bitch tries to play games. I’m the last person she should do that to.

It’ll be interesting to see what happens in the next couple of weeks because I’ve been hearing from the grapevine that the upper powers that be are keeping a close eye on her. Maybe her days are numbered. There is only one thing that’s a bigger bitch than she is… that’s karma.

D-Day: Another One Bites the Dust

It’s only been 4 months and they fired the new senior publicist today. This time, it wasn’t nearly as dramatic as the first. To give you some perspective, 3 people have now been fired since I’ve been working there. I’ve only been there for a year.

In the 6 years my boss has been in power, this firing marked number 18.

This one was a little more justified. I don’t feel a loss with this firing as I did before. The new senior publicist is one of those people who have to have their nose in everyone’s business. Eavesdropping on my conversations and offering unwarranted opinions are what got her on my nerves. Personally, I can’t stand people who don’t mind their own business.

I heard through the grapevine that she lied about some things a couple of times and got caught. In addition, she allegedly was being condescending to and micromanaging another employee she was supposed to be supervising. Not only that, but she managed to get on everyone’s nerves and frankly wasn’t that good of a writer. I guess the job position wasn’t a good fit.

HOWEVER, in her defense, my boss didn’t take the time to give her a skills test or meet her more than once. Instead, she hired her on the spot and then cracked down on her for not “meeting the expectations.” Not only that, but a job description STILL has not been written for that position, so the expectations are up in limbo.

My boss didn’t train her, doesn’t do a very good job of supervising and communicating with ANY of us (as I’m sure you know from reading past entries), and basically has a negative attitude.

I kind of felt bad because the senior publicist ended up crying by the end of the day… I must say, I was very proud to hear that she let my boss HAVE IT before she stormed out of her office. Then, she filed a grievance and told the Human Resources department EVERYTHING… good for her.

As of right now, they [the powers that be] don’t know what the hell they’re going to do with that position. They may not hire another person, but instead hire a firm or a freelancer to do all the work. Maybe it’s for the better. It’ll be interested to see what happens in the weeks to come. My boss assured me and my coworker that our “jobs are safe”—why she would even say that is beyond me, but the real question is: WHO’S NEXT?!

I Quit My First Freelance Job

I was asked to design a website for this insurance/consulting business. They’re apparently really small and trying to get on their feet.

Before I create a website, I ALWAYS have all my clients sign a contract (for protection of both parties) and I DON’T begin work until I have received a signed copy. PLAIN AND SIMPLE.

Well, these people kept beating around the bush with returning it to me. I thought I’d be nice and create a couple of mock-up designs even though I haven’t received any paperwork.

However, over a week passes by and I STILL don’t have a signed contract. On Monday or so, they tell me that there is a “change of plans”: the website they told me I would be working on is not actually what I would be working on…

That raised one question: is the content for it going to change? Despite my having asked several times, they never got back to me with the answer. Couple more days pass, I still don’t have my contract. Oh, believe me, I’ve reminded them plenty of times. It would be promised for the next day, but I wouldn’t receive it.

So then they have the nerve to ask me to create new designs for this new site in less than THREE DAYS. Mind you I have a full-time job, so I can only freelance so many hours a night. They wanted me to meet with them to discuss the website, which they told me about on Tuesday, but they wouldn’t tell exactly when and where. I asked several times, but I was ignored.

They’re obviously playing games. So I spoke to my parents about it and decided to quit. I called the assholes up and their liaison was actually nice about it. I’m sorry though, I don’t play fucking bullshit games like that; especially when it comes to my reputation and name.

You really can’t trust ANYONE! I think I’m going to drop this web design freelancing and do more graphic… I’ll have to think about that one.

This Weekend

This weekend marks my second semester. I’m only taking one class right now and I’ve gotta say, it is excellent. I’ve already learned so much about people this weekend probably than in the last 5 years. If only I had learned this stuff earlier on in my college career, I might have been able to deal with some of the idiots I had to in college.

I learned a lot about myself as well. I am what is called an “analytical” person. These types of people are focused on organization, facts, logic, and focusing on the past in terms of creating the future. That is so me, it isn’t funny. I also have “expressive” qualities, and that comes through from an artistic standpoint. Specifically in terms of a vision.

With that said, that explains why I butt heads with a lot of people, especially those that are similar.

I at least feel good about that now, considering the first class was a waste of my fucking time. Although the thought of going to work tomorrow morning makes me gag, it’s a beautiful day. It’s about time.

The Friendship Continuum

I really don’t understand people. They lie, the make things up, they backstab, they betray… there is absolutely no sense of camaraderie or value in friendships whatsoever.

In my case, I have people constantly talking shit and doing things behind my back, but then they’ll be all buddy-buddy to my face. I don’t get it! I can understand the need to vent or assess a situation when my back is turned, but I don’t understand the failure to bring right here. Those people know who they are.

The question is, do I even bother? Well, maybe not. I’ve devised a “Friendship Continuum” diagram (inspired by the lovely Tori D.) that displays how I deal with people.

It’s really quite interesting. I actually learned a thing or two about myself like how freakin’ patient I am with people who keep pushing my damn buttons. WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT?

Download the PDF