Ad Astra Per Aspera

His latest stunt is scheduling an in-person meeting for tomorrow morning, at a time when I normally would not have left the house, because "that was the only time everyone had free." This meeting is about my training process on the new team* with my task lead and functional manager (it's complicated), so I'm absolutely qualified to say there's nothing to discuss here that can't wait till next week. Maybe getting the four of us in the same room can set him straight about these ridiculous schedules he keeps demanding.

They're disappointed with my onboarding on the team**. Frankly, they should have taken the time to tell me this a month ago; a 1:1 with my task lead during our regular hours would have been more appropriate. But that's not the truly wild part.

See, they're not disappointed that I didn't try to meet my manager's impossible goal. No, they're disappointed that I didn't read his mind and do the (still fairly aggressive) thing he actually meant, but did not say. I've had more 1:1 meetings with this guy than all of his predecessors combined, and it was not until this morning that he finally explained what it was that he wanted. I still only barely understand the distinction and how I could have possibly gotten that out of what he said. During the meeting, I specifically asked him to repeat the explanation so I could write it down properly, and he dodged instead of just restating it!

Hell of a thing to do in general, let alone at an engineering firm, and on Autistic Pride Day to boot!

Erin Hanson (American, b.1981)

"Florida Sky," 2024

Oil on canvas

IF WE LOSE POWER I’M QUITTING

JUST GIVE ME 20 FUCKIN MINUTES FOR MY CHICKEN NUGGETS TO COOK PLEASE