Un Chien Bleu

Moved to my new “Milwauee Point 08″ blog. See it there.

Moved to my new “Milwaukee Point 08″ blog. See it there.

Fourteen hour days weren’t enough. Working 50 hours and paid for 40 wasn’t enough. Being a Good Little Monkey wasn’t enough. I became collateral damage.

I suspected something was up when my boss didn’t mind that I took two days off in a row for a raging sinus infection. Well, yep. My instincts were right. The 2010 Census went from a frog in a blender to “work? What work?” overnight–and I’m filing for unemloyment.

But wait? What’s that I hear? The distant thunder of a new Census operation, unplanned and randomly implementized? Last minute calls from the LCO asking about my ‘availability”? Four weeks work to be done in in 15 days?

I can’t even say no. Where is my black, all-purpose dress?

I came THIS CLOSE to being voted off the Census 2010 Island today.

I made it from April to July knowing any day could be my last. I went from enumerator to assistant to crew leader and back to assistant determined to make it through the next $15 hour Tribal Council.

My boss had a bad week and had to throw someone under the bus to stay in the game, and he gave it a good try–but I chose to be demoted (at the same pay). He said, ‘You hate to enumerate, as you’ve told me many times, so if you turn in your bag and badge, you won’t have to enumerate.” I said, “I’d rather enumerate than be out of work.” Now I wait for The Call. But I got very sick from working 7 days a week, 12 hour days, so a little time off is cool.

Hmmm – I have a little time to watch “Invader Zim” now. It’s not all bad . . .