Random and scattered thoughts on sexism, beauracracy, and busy work days:

Why do people always look for men when things need to be moved in offices? I know the answer to that, but it's still a good question anyway. So, I'm preparing for a major conference which is occuring next week and we have about 30 or so big boxes we are moving in a van. Previously, whenever moving or lifting items the office would ask these young male students on the floor below to help whomever. Now there's word that the young males are getting upset about always being asked to move things-- as if they don't have their own work to do. Very reasonable. I myself am quite tired of being asked to help move things simply because I am male too. But, maybe fearing a "sissy" label or something because I am openly gay, I always want to help out to prove some kind of manliness.

Anyway, now comes the beaucracy part of this post. Since the young males are refusing and it would be greatly difficult for my staff and I to move the boxes ourselves, we asked the maintenance department. Oh God, what a mistake. They apparently don't have that in their job description. Apparently, no one does. And no one will help. We've been told to hire people. Hire people to move boxes for the 10 minutes it will take to do it? That seems a bit excessive. It's just a simple move. It seems to me as if offices should have someone who's duty it is to move or lift things. For those whose job does not include this type of stuff-- what about worries of job injuries and the like. You think businesses would worry about that. No, we're out of luck for getting help. So now I, myself only, will be moving the 30 boxes. It's fine, but rather unreasonable that we can't seem to get/find some assistance. But I certainly do understand the concerns from the young males on the floor below.

Finally, the busy work days part involves this upcoming conference next week which there is so much work to do I am losing my mind. I am still trying to get out of the office by 5 everyday, but it's very busy. Next week I will be in San Jose for about 3 days with work days that will be into the night hours-- major conference as I said before. I can't wait until April 20 when life will be back to normal at work.