One of those days...

Tuesday, Jan. 11: DWR's To Do's List for Suit Role:

1) Create new file structure, set search criteria, set user access levels for LifeScience documentation that was migrated to new KM server. Also set version control and consolidate some of the redundant files. (Deadline: today)
2) Begin benchmarking studies for XXX, a CRM software giant that has the biggest market share in the pharmaceutical industry. Also look at annual reports for top 5 pharma over the past 5 years. (Deadline: tomorrow)
3) Work on Clinical Trial Management PoV deck -- Section 1: Industry trends, drivers, and issues. (Deadline: first draft to show Director, T, friday)
4) File industry newspaper into the binder. (Deadline: everyday)
5) Cheer up. (Deadline: forever)

Today I am feeling on the more empty side of full. I lost o's snail mail (including his address on the envelope so I can't send him a thank you letter), someone committed suicide by jumping in front of the train at Denenchofu station on the Toyoko Line (my commuter route), I got a blanket Spam-like email from a friend with a picture and a "name" -- forwarded from a hospital in Phuket that said:"Does anyone know who this boy is, he survived the tsunami, he is about 2 years old, and we don't know where his family is...". She asked us to use our network of information, etc. to help this little boy. This is the third such email I have received this month, and each time I get them the words "human trafficking, be careful" run thru my head.

I hit "reply all" and gave my friends some of the resources that I had pulled out while trying to locate my brother, warning everyone to *not* disclose the name of children, especially if accompanied by a photograph, coz it's giving too much information to human traffickers who will do anything, e.g. pretend that they are relatives, to exploit children. Moments later, I received an email from a stranger who was one of the victims of my "reply all" email saying:"oh, I believe that the child is Swedish and has found it's parent. See==>" I feel like a fool coz I didn't check my work email yesterday. It was a public holiday, but I think the least that my friend could do was to send us all an email saying:"Thank you for your support!! Look, the boy found his family!! Hurray!"

Some of us are not in Sweden, and do not follow the Swedish press. I try my hardest to keep up with news from all over the world, but I can't even keep up with the *regional* news. Now I look like a fool to (probably) 30 odd strangers who are thinking, why is this woman Spamming me about old news.

Oh, and this morning I've had to tell my boss about my "lump". Director A, a qualified pharmacist, knew the score when I explained to him; he understands the full implications if I have any complications during my procedure to "picture" my pancreas. A very soft spoken gentleman, Director A knows all about the shit I had to go thru with BwanaK in Sri Lanka, and now this? He told me to take as much time off if I needed it.

I have not seen one of the admin staff since before Christmas; she suffers from clinical depression, and has been in and out of hospital several times. One of my colleagues who was back in the office after being at the client's site on a three month project asked me if I had seen her. No. I have not seen her for ages; I've even had to take on some of her role while she has been away, for she is my big boss, Principal K's, personal assisstant. Well, that's what happens when you have a 3 person department, right? Not that I *do* much, just simple filing of daily industry newspapers which I pick up from her desk.

No taking calls, No scheduling, Neither more, nor less.

I'm not a secretary, I have other things to do, and they don't pay me enough to be a consultant AND be a secretary. They should know that by now. But I feel sorry for the other secretary tho' coz she's been having to fill in for the absent woman. I hope that when our depressed secretary returns she does not feel as if everyone has taken her job, and now she has no place in the office.

That would send her straight back to the funny farm.

I'm writing this in my little book over lunch; it's only 12:45pm and I still have half the day left. Somehow I just don't see it getting much better. I got a call from a friend just before lunch. She was having an even shittier day than me so I am going to have dinner with her this evening to cheer her up.

The only consolation so far today is that they are playing cool, happy music at Caspita, where I am having lunch. Lemon sole in white wine sauce and seasonal vegitables. I'm not that humgry so I'm just going to leave the "seasoned" vegitables. Since when did broccoli become "seasonable" in winter.... I wonder.

Suppose I better get back to the office....