Why Bumper Stickers Don't Lie

Okay, I know I wanted to avoid this. I've doing my best to scream the praises of my current, brand-spanking new job, but there's someone I work with who is driving me nutzo. I mean, literally. Like I cannot function when they are around. And I don't mean like they are extremely hot or posed for covers of magazines or anything.

I mean, they are driving me crazy.

Now, I am aware that this is a difficult forum to air my greviences. I know future employers might stumble across this and go, "I won't hire him, he might whine about me...and he's really good about whining!"

I'm not whining about my employers. I'm taking that out of the equation right now. I truly love my new job and the people within it's confines. In honesty? My last job gets worse and worse the more I work there--because I realized I was in the dark ages and pissing in a garbage can when I was there. When I left my previous job, I figured it was burnout.

But when an old coworker's first sentence in a recent email says, "glad you left this filthy cesspool of an employer," I'm sad. I knew it was bad, but I guess hindsight is 20/20.

I'm having stress at my new job. And you know that bumper sticker: STRESS IS CAUSED WHEN THE BRAIN OVERRIDES THE BODY'S URGE TO STRANGLE THE LIVING SHIT OUT OF SOMEONE WHO DESERVES IT.

Bingo.

This coworker is living in the dark ages. Now, I'm an author, through and through. I've loved the word "meddling." It's almost Dickensain.

Well, this person got this down.

They are hugely wealthy. And, now, having sent kids to Ivy League, she's returning to the work force. After 20 year absence. And she expects much to be the same as it was.

Things have changed. Like the fact that there are laws telling us how to work with each other.

And she doesn't do that. Instead, she writes my IEPs for me, and normally, I'd be fine with that...but I have to follow them! She then calls parents and tells them what a terrible job I'm doing. And then I have to meet with parents...especially parents I've been dealing with for some time and have, but now had, a decent relationship with....

I've spoken to her. The first time, I was nice. Since it happened again, i assumed the second time I would have to be more direct. Now we're onto the third time. I have to go over her head. Every time she opens her mouth, I have more work. I need to see someone above her.

And I can't drop it. I don't know why........