January 26, 2005

Still fighting the addiction

Here I sit at work, still compelled to wander off to the blogosphere.

Well, I told you that I fibbed to you about working at Walmart. Guess it's time I told you what I really do. I am the Executive Director of a non-profit organization that provides hot home-delivered meals to homebound elderly citizens of the rural county in which I reside, along with nutritional supplements, passes for the local transit system, and referrals to a larger agency which can provide additional services, such as counseling, home modification and repair, or help with household chores. It sounds like a big title, and actually has quite a bit of responsibility, but the State pays me more in retirement than what I earn at this.

The State agency from which I retired was known as the Welfare Department when I started in 1976, but it has changed names three times since then (for political correctness and other various reasons). During my twenty-seven-and-a-half year career, I worked in the nursing home program, AFDC (TANF), Food Stamps, Children's Medicaid, CHIP, and Employment Services programs. I also served two years monitoring offices in the region for compliance with regional office procedure and taught a new-worker training class. I broke the monotony of working there by writing silly poetry and song parodies about the job.

Nearly everyone who worked there for an extended period of time remarked at one time or another that they should write a book about their experiences. After all, not only have we heard thousands of bizarre real-life stories, but we have also experienced bureaucracy at its worst. The last five years that I worked for this agency, I felt like the department store employees in the movie The Devil and Miss Jones. Younger employees in higher positions were doing all they could to force me out so that they could hire someone who did not earn more than they did. Finally, when the State offered an early-retirement deal, I took it. I started my current job during my last two weeks as a State employee.

Prior to that I taught in junior high and high school (some funny stories here, too). I was certified in history, math, and English.

So now you know the truth. Perhaps this revelation will provide catharsis for me.

Posted by Moona at January 26, 2005 09:29 AM | TrackBack
Comments

Oh ye of little faith! Confidence in one's navel guidance will lead thee down the path of leftiness, provide thee with sustenance, offer endless hours of objectivity and playfulness, and (when gazed upon directly) will sustain thy faith in community service -- regardless of renumeration. It is written that for every pound of navel lint collected in this county, an equal pound of eider down will be stuffed up one's nose (or other orifice).

Posted by: Zaboon at January 26, 2005 12:25 PM

Q: What did the cannibals say when they saw the missionaries coming on bicycles?

A: Here comes "Meals on Wheels"....

Posted by: Ozguru at February 2, 2005 08:09 PM