Drowning not waving

Ooh dear. I didn't realise my last blog post was in February. I was laboring under the delusion that I had posted only a few weeks ago, but no, it's more like six weeks ago. Wow, time flies eh!! It's the job, it's doing me in. I appreciate we are in times of economic uncertainty and that I am lucky to have a job to complain about when US unemployment has hit 8.5%, but I am so very tired of working 10+ hour days and not having a life outside of the office.

At the moment I am booked 150% on project work. Client #1 pays for 100% of my time and Client #2 pays for 50%, which means a minimum 60hour week. I say minimum, because we always end up working more hours than we have scoped, especially for Client #2 who is incredibly demanding and whom I have rapidly come to despise.

I feel like the whole situation is setting me up for failure on Client #1 since I am not capable of spending 40hours a week on their business on top of the work for Client #2 without serious risk of a total mental breakdown, but pretty soon they have to wonder why I am not better informed about their business given they are paying for 100% of my time.

I have spoken to my boss about the situation and he is trying to get me some support, in fact we have 3 vacancies in our department right now and good candidates waiting for the offer letters to be posted. Unfortunately all our hires have to be approved by the Chief Cook & Bottle Washer at the holding company, which means approval isn't likely to arrive anytime soon and our candidates are likely to find other positions.

Lately I find myself watching Lost and fantasizing about being stranded on an island, far far far away from fricking PowerPoint and aggressive clients, but that's just me ;-)