Today I am thankful for my return to sanity.
So -
Um -
I was bullied from my last job by some woman from Arizona who scoffed at my famous associates. Well, she didn't exactly scoff at them. She insulted them and made bizarre assumptions about them.
When she found out who my mentors were, she kinda went crazy. Apparently someone on the staff knows someone who has a beef with a famous mentor of mine.
Whatever.....
Towards the end of my employment, this woman called me into her office nearly daily. She hated my hair. She refused to give me eye contact. I wasn't allowed to take time off to go to the Emergency Room due to a chemical burn (by the time I got to the hospital, there was nothing they could do). I couldn't take time off to get my knee looked at following a workplace injury. She also accused me of bizzare things (hypnotizing the patients) and claimed my mentors hated the company (?).
Oh, I think she tried to diagnose me with an unspecified mental disorder. After getting some texts from her and her minions post-employment, I'm thinking that those contacts may be causing panic attacks. Perhaps I developed one due to the bully-shit. I'll hire someone else to deal with the texts. If the panic attacks are situational, they'll end on their own.
Boss lady also criticized me heavily for wanting to help homeless folks (which is bizarre when one realizes that 50% of our residential clients were homeless before they came to our facility).
At the time, I didn't hate the company. After dealing with the bully-shit and HR's refusal to do an exit interview, yeah....I've lost respect for the company and thinking about bending the ear of the lawmakers who fund Medicaid services for homeless folks.
I gave them a shot at getting feedback. They didn't want it from me. They can get it from someone with a heck of a lot more power.
I may have to hire a lawyer to get my knee and hip looked at after falling. There is nerve damage in my right hand due to not getting to the ER in time. I also promised a contact with the Federal Government that I'd file a report based on something illegal they asked me to do. I refused to do it which is probably why boss lady was grasping at straws to harass me into quitting.
My former boss lady and the other therapist at the facility said that people with Medicaid don't get customer service and insinuated that they get less treatment than people with private insurance (that really pissed me off because if taxpayers are paying for something, we ought to get true value for our dough).
I'm also realizing that I may need to block her and her lackeys. Bullies don't like to let go of their prey, do they?
After a while, I began to doubt the industry and thought about finishing my doctorate and do other types of counseling.
*****
Two weeks ago, I gave my notice to my boss after speaking to someone who does very important work for the city in which I live. He told me that 25% of the clients at the city detox are homeless.
They had an overnight position available (don't sleep anyway and I've worked in detox overnight before), doesn't pay anything (but I get to help homeless folks) and
maybe I was wrong about the city in which I live. This could give me the opportunity to change my opinion.
I mean...they helped me get a loan to fix up my house (but hired contractors who broke more than they fixed - gotta remember to hire someone reinstall the brand new shower and the kitchen faucet).
Animal control did find this awesome doggo that I adopted from them.
That's positive, isn't it?
Maybe the city isn't that bad?
Thursday I accepted a job working for the city, at a significant pay cut, because I wanted to work with people who restored my passion for addiction counseling and helping the homeless.
Then -
our mayor opened his pie hole.
I don't really respect him any more.
He was my congressman.
Now, he's the mayor.
A year after I ran for his seat, his staff refused me entry into a town hall meeting because they assumed I lived in Arvada (based on my Facebook page stating I went to high school in Arvada). If they would have scrolled down, they'd have seen that I lived in his district for nearly twenty years.
That's okay - I would've enjoyed hypnotizing the liberals to calm down but I think the politician and his staff liked having the liberals shut the meeting down. They could try spin the event to get conservative brownie points and donations.
I was amused by the story in the paper.
No hard feelings.
Sadly, my joy at accepting the job died Monday. Our dorky mayor wants to institute a camping ban (obviously due to being in bed with the local Tea Party and ignorant of the problems camping bans pose).
The mayor is a fake conservative. A REAL conservative would understand two things (1) The Constitution is our handbook and (2) protecting property values is not the role of government.
Depending on how ignorant the conservative is they may actually understand that taxes and regulation undermine home ownership and price people out of housing.
This guy is liberal wolf disguised as a conservative sheep. He has his lackeys too. They don't give me panic attacks. They just make me giggle.
One of them just called me a liberal.
At least my gut got a work out due to all that laughing.
I'm more conservative than most Republicans. I actually believe that freedom is the birthright of every soul in this country. Blame my faith (which borders on Deism).
*****
Now, I'm writing a letter to get out of a job I accepted. I can't work for the city if they are out to destroy the very population I'm trying to help.
The universe is protecting me. I've been counseling homeless addicts for awhile now as part of my practicum. I just had an interview at a company that I hear is very skilled at helping those in need and actually honors its commitment to the community.
Best of all - there are several women with curly, red hair on the staff.
There is a perfect job for me somewhere.
Now, I'm praying the detox can find three people to take my place who won't be irritated by the politics of the people running the entity that employs them*.
If I keep that job, I'll just get someone in hot water. It will be nearly impossible for me to keep my mouth shut. Eventually, my overly proper tongue will start lashing out at asshats who pretend to have leadership skills.
There is so much I'm wanting to say but I'm going to try to fall asleep now.
I'll try reaching out to the mayor. I'll be ignored.
I'll probably have to repeat what I did the last time a Republican mayor ignored me.
What do you want a bet that I'll either start a new PAC or run for office in the next few years?
This is why I'm single.
Truth be told, I don't know what I'll do yet. I used to think I flew by the seat of my pants because I am crazy.
I'm not crazy.
I think it's because I'm female.
I'll think of a plan and change my mind.
Love ya,
S.
* Oh, I forgot to say that this was the very building where the woman was raped and brought up on charges of verbal assault against an officer because she used the word "cunt" to describe the assault. The city made up charges against her in an attempt to keep her from suing due to their own ineptness.
The building was owned by Jefferson Hills but rented by Arapahoe House (don't know why the CEO didn't tell me that during the phone call in which he tried to intimidate me - that would have been a completely different conversation.) Arapahoe House went the way of the Do-do bird and opened up the community to competition.
The city bought the building and expanded it. Given the work they're putting into the building, this shouldn't ever happen again. So, I can let go of that subconscious concern. That female politician who predicted back in '11 that the city would create its' own detox running Arapahoe House out of business stood by her word. I knew she would.
I just feel sad for the women who were assaulted prior to the change in ownership.
Hugs,
S.