I love meetings.

And I also love ripping out my toenails with pliers...

and extracting my own teeth...

and covering myself with papercuts and diving into a bath of brine, and...



You get the idea.



Explain to me this, someone out there (and yes, I know there's no one out there, but it comforts me substantially to -imagine- that there is):



It is the busy season. The busy season involves many and varied complicated tasks, most of which involve me to a greater or lesser extent. The busy season culminates with the March 15th mailing.



The week of March 15th, I will be in a class. Therefore, all my tasks must be completed before Friday, March 12th.



Now, would a logical mind not conclude that, if I am to get all these complicated tasks completed by that deadline so that the mailing can proceed as planned, it might be a good idea to JUST LET ME DO THE FREAKING THINGS and leave me ALONE?



Well, if that's what you think, then clearly you and I do not work in the same organization. Because, see, where I work, this week has been designated "Schedule a Meeting with Gladys" week. Today: A meeting with Beverly, Amy, and Noreen regarding updating our mailing database. A second meeting with Ruth-Anne, Lina, Marcia, and Joanie regarding the computer needs for the summer season. A staff meeting tomorrow, and another with...oh, crap, I don't even remember. All I know is, the whole damn week is a total loss and I'm not going to get a damn thing done, and then they're going to want to know why. And they won't accept the answer when I tell them!