Silly Fluffy... no one can out-bitch me.

I'm better at being bitchy because I'm smarter than you are.
So the nasty little email you sent to me regarding the amount of time I spent planning a curriculum unit (two, actually) for YOUR summer program just triggered some snark.

Can't deny being a little pissed off, I have one nerve left and you're getting on it.

So you got a snotty reply.
And go ahead and forward it to anyone you'd like, I don't give a shit.

At this point, I don't have much left to lose.
The joy I got from my job is gone.
Thanks for that.

If you imagine gray hair in a sort of mushroom cut and put it on top,
this actually resembles Fluffy.

Kind of like this.
Take this hair and add it to Delores Umbridge up there.
Dead ringer.

I spent a great deal of time designing two units for Fluffy's Summer Debacle.

I turned in about 14 hours of time for one about birds and trees and the beginnings of the second one which was about insects and arachnids.

And then added a total of eight hours when I completed the second unit and took it to the summer site. I put a great deal of thought and effort into those units, wanting them to be active, tactile and fun.

Knowing that Fluffy and Fluffy Jr thought segregating children by age level was a good idea (is there a more clueless demographic than educrats?) I endeavored to make activities that the children could all enjoy together as a group.

I did an excellent job, although Fluffy/Jr have yet to give me any feedback about the actual units. As in no one said, "Thank you." No one said, "Hey, the kids really liked it." No one said, "Wow, you did an amazing job."

When I think about the last year with this manager, I realize that's the biggest thing we don't have... encouragement. We are never told that we've done anything right. We're just issued peremptory orders via email from Fluffy Jr.
No support. I was trying to think of just one time that Fluffy told me that I had done something right or done something well. And came up blank.

She is the least-supportive manager we've ever had. Even worse than Caustic. And I never, ever thought I'd say that.

Hannah said that the stuff I brought in was 'by far' the best stuff they'd had. She told me the children really enjoyed the stuff I brought in.

Eric cut and polished two slabs of a tree, one for each summer camp group, and there were a ton of hands-on activities as well as things that got the kids up and moving. I spent several hours that I did not keep track of, too.

I'm guessing at least nine. I took it seriously. Knowing that their summer experience was going to be... lackluster? I wanted the kids to enjoy the stuff. Spent hours making little crafty things to give them as examples and reading tons of ideas on the internet. I took five or six trips to the library, too.

So if you divide the total 22 hours in half, I basically spent 11 paid hours per unit in planning, making projects, making copies, driving to Office Depot to make still MORE copies, used up an entire brand new set of ink cartridges for my printer, and delivered the stuff to summer. In addition, I donated many supplies for the crafts and loaned personal property to them even though I wasn't going to be there to make sure it was taken care of properly.

And all I asked for was to be paid for (some of) my time.
I most carefully didn't ask for new ink cartridges or reimbursement for anything I spent.

I wonder how much time it took their highly paid curriculum 'experts' to design the manual I was given. The reason they asked me to do more with it was because it was SO dry. The people who design these things aren't usually people who work with children and the only thing that matters to them is making sure it's laid out in a way that can be pointed to as educational. The possible enjoyment or lack of it in program is the furthest thing from their minds. I don't think it's malicious, I just think they don't know any better.

At any rate, I got paid for the 14 hours. Eventually. And when I looked at my pay stub and saw that I hadn't gotten the other eight, I debated. Should I even bother asking? But you know what? I spent so many hours that I didn't even add into the mix and I felt like I was owed at least the hours I did keep track of.

So I sent an email asking for the eight hours. Explained exactly what I'd done with those hours, including the fact that I'd gone to Office Depot to do copies and that I had used an entire set of ink cartridges. I wasn't asking for anything but my hours, but I wanted her to know what I'd done with those hours, if that makes sense.

And I got a pissy little email this evening that aggravated me so much I actually got an upset stomach.

First, 'My apologies, I thought that the 14 hours was all you needed'. Then, I was told they appreciated the 'dedication to the curriculum'. And then she said that *I *hadn't communicated my needs and hours to be used while completing the project. She suggested that next time they'd let me know how much time they'd allow.

I was told that they're 'carefully tracking' hours for the big fish. Yeah, I imagine he's asking questions like, "Why do you have four staff scheduled when there are only eight kids on site?"

I mentioned in my email to her originally that I wanted to make sure I got the items I'd loaned to summer program back. She said to email Hannah and let her know what those items were, then she (Fluffy) would bring them to my school. Because wouldn't that be easier? Or hey! I can attend the end-of-summer bbq at the summer site! And pick it all up then! Just let Hannah know what you need!!

Then, I got my hands slapped for printing things at home (hence having to buy a new set of ink cartridges) going to Office Depot and making copies when 'we could have done that ourselves.'

I was told that 'as usual' we discourage outside purchases.
That word is a great choice. I've never been more discouraged in my life.

So she got this:
Hi Fluffy,

No apologies needed.

Communication could definitely have been much better.
Sometimes we think we're doing a good job communicating when in fact people have no idea what's expected.

I just tried to do a good job with what I was given to go on.

And after all these years I am nothing if not exquisitely aware of the complete lack of support for outside purchases.

That's why I won't bother asking about it anymore.

I only mentioned the printer cartridges/trip to Office Depot and making copies to try to give you some understanding of what I spent my time doing, I wasn't asking you to reimburse me for supplies.
I know better.
Communication on that front has been quite clear.

I'll contact Hannah regarding the personal property I loaned to your summer program.