Chicken!....

It has been a very stressful week (starting last Friday). I've been trying to protect and help a colleague about whom there is an impression of incompetence. I am not her boss, but I was asked to work with her to correct some issues and to ascertain her level of competence with her job description as a whole. I worried all weekend about how to approach her about the issues without unduly upsetting her and yet get across the importance of the corrections. After talking with her on Monday for a couple of hours, it appears that the process about which there was the most concern is fairly well in hand. It just isn't a transparent process in which everyone can see what she is/has/will be doing. We are working on ways in which to make it more transparent, including sending updates to the pertinent people every other week. I've also encouraged her to use the student workers to get some of the data entry tasks done in a more timely manner. Her position is a lot of work! I wouldn't want to do it (and I didn't apply for it). And right now she's perceiving some of this help as extra work. However, I think this is necessary if she's going to keep her job. When I originally was asked to help I was told, I don't think she can do the job and I want her gone. However, I think I've talked people down out of that tree. For one, she's under contract and her six month probationary period has passed without an unsatisfactory review (without any review actually but that's not my fault); therefore she is entitled to the benefits of the union contract which includes documentation and due process. Since there has been no documentation and no due process, she is not going anywhere until that happens. We will be scheduling her review shortly, likely this week, however.

I was on the hiring committee when she was hired and I expressed grave concerns about her ability at that time. I didn't want to see her set up for failure. However, it doesn't feel good to have my concerns validated now. I want her to be successful, which means I need to help her get the tools she needs to do so. I hope she is taking this seriously and that she will back off the attitude and buckle down. I like her and I like working with her.

This has really taken a toll on me and I've been feeling rather exhausted. In fact, it appears that my subconscious has a random word association thing going on in the background which my exhaustion has brought to the surface. This lead to a hysterical outburst yesterday that caused both concern and gales of giggles(much after the fact). I was talking to SueAnn about something. I can't remember the conversation now but I think I tried to say something about catching an error...but what came out was..."Chicken!" Apparently if I'm catching something it must be a chicken, according to my subconscious. It was so totally random and out of place that we both looked at each other in some bewilderment and I chose another word and continued with the conversation. it was only after I'd had a few hours to wind down that I started to giggle and then laughed until I cried. Of course it concerns me a bit as does the deliberate way I'm having to search for words in conversations sometimes. But I'm going to chalk it up to high stress and keep moving forward. However, I am glad I have all of next week off. I think I need it!

Education Hall

This is the third floor of Education hall as of today. Note the webs of rebar...those were our interior walls. They were wrapped in chainlink fencing and plastered over. Also note, in the turret room when you look above the windows, there is about a foot of dry packed but loose rubble. It's a wonder the place hasn't crumbled down over our ears.

The metal "2 x 4s" are where the temporary walls will go in while they take the exterior off and replace the stones. You might also note the complete lack of any place to put insulation and note that the stone exterior was only covered by a layer of plaster, and asbestos laden plaster at that.