Wonderduck's Pond

October 29, 2015

You Know What I Miss?

Feeling like I'm part of a team, of something larger than just myself. That's what I miss. Sure, we have our little soirees at work, the bi-monthly awards thingies or the lunches or whatever, and those are nice. They can't change the fact that each of us claims processors are not only working alone, but we're really working against the others. Every claim that Abbie, Bob or Chris does is one that Dave, Ernie, Frank or Wonderduck can't do... and there's only a finite numbers of claims out there. It's not adversarial, it's just the way things are.

And it's a far sight from what it was like at the Bookstore, that's for sure. If I had a problem, I could call on any of the other 20-odd managers in the region, plus another dozen or so that I knew from training classes or national meetings, based anywhere from San Francisco to Roanoke, Houston to Fredericton (that's Canada, y'all!), and I knew they'd help to the best of their ability. I don't really miss the job, but I do miss that camaraderie.

I also miss feeling like I was accomplishing something here at The Pond. I'm not, and I don't think I have for a while. I'm sorry about that.

Posted by: Wonderduck at 11:31 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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1 You're not stuck there for life. You can look for a new job that suits you better and when you find one, give your notice. And unlike your previous job search, you don't have to starve in the meantime.

Posted by: Mauser at October 30, 2015 05:00 AM (TJ7ih)

Posted by: The Old Man at October 30, 2015 07:15 AM (duGaw)

3 I'm a fairly new reader, but I enjoy much of what you produce here. I don't know if you're accomplishing what you set out to do, but you provide entertainment and diversion for others, and I hope you'll keep doing so.

Posted by: jabrwok at October 30, 2015 03:08 PM (BlRin)

On the first hand, it's not for me to meddle in your life.

On the second hand, you did make a public blog about it.

So, on the gripping hand, here's the advice, worth every penny you paid for it... make a family. No, really. Marry a nice girl and have kids. Whether you want to talk genetics or religion, we are wired for family. You need one.

If there's no-one about you for whom you feel storge/philia/eros/agape right now, then make a virtual family. I've done it twice, with my visual novel series and now with my traditional novel series. As disturbed as it sounds, I am friends with many of my characters; I just on Tuesday referred to them at my day-job as my 'mind-children.'

And, please know that more of us than you might guess have a storge or philia bond with you. You are not alone, WD.

Posted by: Clayton Barnett at October 30, 2015 03:14 PM (lU4ZJ)

5 I'm not opposed to a family; far from it. However, I've yet to find a woman stupid enough to put up with me for more than a month or two at a time, and nowadays... well. I've literally given up on such things anymore.

I have rubber ducks.

I keep wanting to call you Dr Clayton Forrester, erstwhile mad scientist from Mystery Science Theatre 3000.

Posted by: Wonderduck at October 31, 2015 03:54 PM (a12rG)

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