Work Theory vs Reality
I keep a paper log of my activities in my dayplanner. However, it is largely theoritical.

Here's what it says for today:

715 arrive at work
715 - 730 look at emails
730 - 800 answer snail mail
800 - 900 take required on-line IT security awareness training
900 - 1300 go to field to set up ecology experiment
1300 - 1330 lunch
1330 - 1600 conduct pesticide residue soil analysis extractions
1600 - 1700 review and proofread paper

Sounds like I'm a great worker, huh? Well, here' what it should say:

715 wonder if coming in at 723 counts as coming in at 715
723 - 730 look at co-worker Guy's new car: a sporty mid-life crisis that will do about 200 miles an hour
730 - 745 read emails, including one from Frederick's of Hollywood's summer bra sale
745 - 800 actually reply to snail mail
800 - 830 actually take required IT security awareness training. Have to start over when the system kicks me off
830 - 900 BS with co-worker Lee about Guy's new car
900 - 905 call contractor about addition to house
905 - 910 call musician about wedding music
910 - 930 BS with Sarah and Stephanie about Guy's new car
930 - call Nathan at the lab, tell him to get his boots on and be ready to go the the feild by 1000
930 - 1000 change clothes, go to pick up Nathan, getting coffee on the way
1015 - 1100 actually work
1100 - 1115 Stand around in the woods and BS with Nathan about Guy's new car
1115 - 1200 actually finish work
1200 - 1230 stand around truck in the woods BS-ing about on-line dating (where I found Setimrette) and how there are no women to date within 100 miles (hence my 3 hour drive to see Setimrette)
1230 - 1245 BS with boss about Guy's new car
1245 - 1300 BS with Sarah and Stephanie about Guy's new car
1300 - 1345 my 30 minute lunch
1345 - 1350 quick wank thinking about getting Stephanie from behind over the hood of Guy's new car
1350 - 1400 check out new B3ta QOTW
1400 - 1420 write out list of theoretical and actually work activities
1420 - 1315 conduct the first part of pesticide residue soil extractions
1315 - 1330 B3ta too busy to come up. Go to Jay Leno's Headlines webpage
1330 - 1345 log onto B3ta and type lengthy answer to QOTW
1345 debate if going to Wal-Mart could count as work or if I should wait
1345 - 1350 revise errors in lengthy B3ta QOTW answer
1350 Decide to finish soil extractions and Wal-Mart can wait
Will probably be back to B3ta before I leave. maybe I'll proofread the paper, or not.

Do you believe they pay me to do this stuff?
( setimret likes his metaphors mixed, not stirred, Thu 28 Apr 2005, 21:50, Reply)