Another day...

I had my annual review yesterday, which is to say, I sat down with my boss and we talked about my various duties. I'd initiated the conversation because I wasn't sure where I stood and if there were things that I could be doing better. I also was feeling rather dissatisfied with my tasks. There was no negative feedback or really even positive feedback, just a conversation about my duties. My current tasks have really been mostly relegated to signing and passing along paperwork. I may regret it, but I told him I felt like I'd like to do some more challenging tasks. This resulted in a request that I look at last year's hiring costs for Summer session and apply a new type of payment protocol to see what sort of difference it makes to the balance. It was an interesting task--a bit fiddly, but I had data by about 10:00 this morning. That data will be used to help us determine the most cost effective way to pay our faculty during the summer. I feel useful! Yes, it really is that easy. Give me a task that makes a difference in the way we do business and suddenly my job is much more rewarding.

I'm working on training our new OS2 to help me with data collections for our reports. It's been an exercise in frustration because I'm sure that my students or myself could do it faster and more accurately. However, the OS2 wouldn't learn how to do it that way. I've had to send the spreadsheet back several times for revisions, and I'm in a bit of a time crunch, but I'm going to let her have one more go at it before I decide I have to finish it up myself. I've also got to get her accustomed to asking me questions rather than making assumptions or asking other outside people. She doesn't want to "bother" me but I'd rather have her ask the questions than operate under false assumptions or bother central admin. I'm not overly fond of training others. I'm too impatient.

Saturday night I had my former boss and his wife over for dinner. It went well but the weather dictated that it was an earlier night than it might otherwise have been. It was so nice to see them, to show off my house, and to catch up on all the latest news. They truly have become mentors and friends over the years and I don't foresee that changing just because we no longer work together.

I finally finished up the construction on the last Christmas project on Monday. I still need to block one knitted item which I might get started tonight. Then I'll be able to send the last box to Jay, Candy, and the kids. Lukas apparently has Scarlet Fever right now and I'm so glad we have antibiotics for that these days.

I'm sure there is more I could say but I'd better get back to work.