O_o
So I work on the third floor of what is perhaps the ugliest building on campus. People who work in the Humanities ALWAYS have the worst/ugliest/most-deficient building on any college campus. At least, that has been my experience. My department office isn't too bad. We do, however, have the foulest carpet to which I have ever born witness. My little office that is located within the department office is fine. At least I got to choose the paint color. It's a grayish blue. Very soothing. Any, boy, does it need to be, too with what I deal with on a daily basis.
Anyway, the Dean's office for my college (humanities, of course) is undergoing a major renovation. That office is located directly above my department office. Basically, they are making it look like our department office, which is: a large, open reception area surrounded by several small offices. Ok, fine. Construction has been ongoing for over a month. And once-in-a-while we can hear the jackhammers and drills, etc. from above. I have learned to tune this kind of noise out because our departmental office is also situated above the music department. The percussion classrooms in particular. Yeah. So I hear stupid off-beat drums all freakin' day. It's awesome!
So this week is, apparently, the culmination of all the work upstairs. And the construction guys need to work on plumbing, electrical, and heating issues up there...through our office...MINE in particular. Yesterday, I got kicked out of my office at about 2:00, not that I am complaining that I got to leave early. Today, my boss--- the department head---comes into my office to talk about the construction---
Goddammit they are drilling or sawing something right now outside our front door. I can barely hear myself think.
Sorry, I just had to interject that.
Anyway, my boss comes in we have the following conversation:
Boss: So this is going to be a bad week for the construction.
Me: Yes, I figured. They came in my office yesterday afternoon and I had to leave.
Boss:...oh, really?
Me: Yeah they had to move my furniture around in order to access the portion of the ceiling that they needed.
Boss: Well tomorrow they are coming back down to do more work upstairs, probably through your office and So-and-so's office next to you. (a professor)
Me: Great. Sigh.
Boss: But definitely on Friday they will be working in your office and so-and-so's office, and maybe even the office next to that. Also, Friday, in fact, they are turning off the heat and the water so they can install heat and water upstairs.
Me: Sounds like Friday is a good day for me to not be here....
ARE YOU READY FOR THIS RESPONSE???
Boss: ...Well...or you could dress extra warmly or wear your coat.
Me: O_o
He was fucking serious. In the middle of 3 dudes ripping through my ceiling, no heat, and no water on the entire floor, I am supposed to sit in my office?!?! And DO WHAT, exactly, pray tell? It's so ridiculously insulting and dumb that it's hilarious.
Why do Ph.D.s, for all their wealth of knowledge and education, lack all concept of common sense?
2 comments:
I believe you should bring a blanket to knit to keep yourself warm and give you something to do while you wait. You could get paid for knitting. Whee!
One possible response:
"Um, yeah, I guess I could do that. But you know, if I got sick or something from exposure to the winter-like weather, I'd end up missing a lot of work. And if I got really sick, well, then I might have to sue the university and perhaps you, personally, for requiring me to be here under those conditions. So gosh, maybe it's best that I work from home for the next two days..."
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