Friday, March 19, 2010

Off My Ergonomic-Roller-Cubicle Chair (a.k.a. "Rocker")

So I recently started working for a company that has been expanding nationally as rapid as a rabbit breeds, causing me to work endless days and nights on advertising for several markets. It was great at the beginning, but now I just cannot seem to multitask enough in order to get ahead. I mean, this isn't uncommon for advertising, but I am doing the job of at least 4 people, and fellow employees aren't helping a poor little graphic designer either. It is hard enough being the only Mac in a PC-centered corporate universe, where one would wonder how so many shades of grey could be used in a cubicle hell, but now everyone in the office thinks I am obligated to design their miscellaneous crap, when I have deadlines for major ad vendors later that day. Honestly, its great that people are having parties -I am all about having fun, but why do I have to always design their invitations?

Well, anyways, I had a lot of responsibilities on Friday (on one of my days off) and woke up pulling ads out of my ass trying to make a 5pm deadline for over 40 different direct mail pieces that needed to be redesigned, approved, and finalized. This was enough to make me pull my hair out, but I desperately needed that one strand that was left from all this stress. My boss, whom is also the CEO of the company, decided to check up on me. Though I reported my status to him calmly, after I hung up I was frantically pulling all my energy to finish this, when I decided I needed to refuel with my 3-times-a-day Starbucks (I am seriously addicted).

Now, I am all about technology, I always have the latest gadgets, but one thing still lacks perfection. This is the phone. It's so close to being perfect with the invention of the iPhone, but here is where my problem resides. So on my way to that special place I hold dear to my heart -Starbucks in case you forgot, I decided to just have a melt down, you know, just a quick little one to get all this tension that has built up out. As I was driving I grab my iPhone and go under favorites and call a friend. I did not even wait for a response before I let it all out on the phone. I was yelling. I was screaming. I was cursing the living hell about the office, complaining about the work load and how I need assistants.

I was wondering why I didn't hear a nice, firm, support response back from my friend. I looked down at the phone and noticed I had called the CEO of the company. I practically shat a brick house. I immediately hung up and started cackling like a mad man. I knew I was screwed. I was thinking of ways to cover my bases, but could think of NONE. At that point I gave up. I just let mild hysteria sweep over my body. I realized that it WAS the iPhones fault, I mean I thought I was under "Favorites" but was under recent calls. This is how touch screens, and menus that are meant to speed up productivity can also expedite a job termination. Lovely. Now I can only imagine how Monday's office meeting will turn out. Good thing it's not a conference call.