Women just don't understand that feeling! They've always been included in everything! ...Wait.

I kind of need a feminist moment equivalent to Lindsay's "Let me wipe away my tears with my plastic hand."

JZ, that is what he meant by "essentialism stings", right? Now, maybe, I did create that impression by talking about him being "a guy trying to fix stuff" but it's not because he has a dick, it's because he was being one. You don't come in after a column's been set up for months and say "The title sucks, and I think you should change it." and then expect people to be friendly, welcoming and respectful of your academic credentials...well, you can, but then I'll think you're a domineering asswipe. So, maybe not twice?

I don`t think the duties in and of themselves sound completely unreasonable in context, but if you were never given any way to know what was expected of you, that`s unreasonable. I agree with Hec that it`s a problem, but it`s not one that will get any better with waiting so definitely bite the bullet and confront it.

Do your bosses know you're this far behind?

I did tell the guy who is not in charge of the student loans but was the supervisor over it that I was behind at the end of Jan. And that it would be the beginning of Feb before I could get things out and would that be an issue.

He shrugged and said he didn't think so.

I should have done it then but stuff came up and I had to get access to information online and I had to wait for our IT guys to give me that access and ...well it became a thing.

I've also had the issue of basically having had a UTI from the end of October until I finished up that course of IV antibiotics. So there was that issue.

I know I have to talk about this and get it dealt with. But I just want to know if I'm right to think that giving me this to handle, without anyone explaining to me exactly what it would entail is reasonable.

I was given this to do and something else and given a manual for one and a sheet of instructions for the other. That's it.

And evidentally the guy who was kind of the boss but not really doesnt' really think any of this is priority or can give me help.

And, Hec, yes, definitely. That. Askye, don't know what to say, but good luck... Also funny contemplating Bizzarro World where I can keep someone out of somewhere...maybe I can swagger like an Emanuel now and send this dude a virtual dead fish, too...he definitely gets the Invisible Flipoff.

But I just want to know if I'm right to think that giving me this to handle, without anyone explaining to me exactly what it would entail is reasonable.

It may not be reasonable but they will expect you to take ownership of the project and speak up that you need training and deadlines are going to slip by and stuff like that.

You need to go in tomorrow and bring it to somebody's attention and then advocate for the resources you need to address it.

Honestly, they don't really give a shit whether it was fair to dump this on you. They just want the job to transparently transfer to you so it Doesn't Become A Problem. But if it does become a problem they will certainly blame you.

Sorry, but I've been there and that's the way it'll play.

Brenda, love the new hair!

I am home and waiting for TCG to get home from work. Mom sent me home with enough food to feed us for a week.

askye, this may go without saying, but the more detailed you can be when talking to your bosses about this the better. List out the tasks involved and what you need that you don't currently have to complete them (training, time where you are free from phone duty, information, etc.). And it's probably good if you come up with a solution for catching up, if possible. Good luck!

I kind of need a feminist moment equivalent to Lindsay's "Let me wipe away my tears with my plastic hand."

Actually, "my PLASTIC HAND" is kind of perfect. I'm always amazed how many real-life applications of that line come up--long ago, I would've thought that "A vague disclaimer is nobody's friend" would be the most real-world useful useful Whedonverse line ever, but repeating "my PLASTIC HAND" inside my head has saved me from punching many, many an unwitting asshole in the throat over the years.

Conversation I had several times today: Officemate: "What are you doing?" Me: "Working on a job application." Officemate: "Where?" Me: name of school. Officemate: "Oooh, you should be worried about that one." Me: "Why?" Officemate: "It's got a rough reputation. Maybe not all that safe for someone like you."

One of these was a school in Nashville, and his opinion was based on the fact that there's a school with a similar name in California that has a "rough reputation." Or so he said. Google tells me there's no school by that name anywhere in California.