From: salford@orion.lrmsc.loral.com (Stephanie Alford 5850)
Subject: SEA makes a decision
Originator: salford@orion
Organization: Loral Rolm Mil-Spec Computers
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1992 14:42:56 GMT

Smiling sweetly at DJ, SEA leaves her place in the Meadow and
returns inside to the bar and the comfort of Mike's countenance.

"SEA, you haven't needed my help in quite some time...did you do
what you've been threatening to do?"

"Yes, Mike I did and I'm not real sure that it was the right thing
to do.  I don't feel any better today than I did yesterday afternoon
when I did it."

"Well, I can see how you might feel that way.  After all quitting
your job with no place to go to is a dangerous game to play."

Sighing greatly, SEA says, "Yes, I know and I know that it was
a well thought out fit of pique but I don't mind telling you
that I'm scared out of my mind at the moment."

Anticipating Mike's next question, SEA continues, "You know I have
a plan.  I've been sending out resumes and contacting everyone
I can think of for the past 2 months, I've even had interviews.
Today, I call the 2 temp agencies I worked with in the past
and get them to turn my files back on, I follow up on a lead
for a job at friend's company and I read the want ads in the
paper and respond to any ads I can find there.  Then, probably
next week, I head to Palo Alto to go to this Career Action Center
I've been hearing so much about.  Oh, sigh, I hope that this
doesn't turn out to be a really big mistake."

As Mike pours SEA a glass of wine, she feels rather than sees
her friends gathering around her to offer support and hear more
about the reason she quit her job.

Turning to face them, she continues, "most of you know that I have
been Really unhappy at my current job.  The company isn't doing
well, we're all overworked, and with the defense industry cuts
there's no telling what could happen.  But the biggest reason
I quit was I couldn't take my boss' attitude anymore.  He pushes
hard, which is fine, that's probably what needs to be done.  but
he never trusts any of us to get the job done on time and accurately,
he's always hovering and nagging.  He plays little games like putting
his work in front of everyone else's but not giving me the entire
package so I can do it all at once and then not understanding why
I'm angry when he doesn't follow through.  For instance, last week
he travelled to New York...he insisted that I fax him a copy of
his last status report so he could mark it up and then fax it back
to me.  So, being the dutiful secretary I am, I did but...he never
faxed his stuff back to me, which I suspected he wouldn't.  But I
knew that if I didn't fax the stuff to him, I'd catch holy hell for
not following through.  A lot of the people at the company have told
me that they don't understand why I've put up with him as long as
I have.  He's selfish and uncaring...it's only important if it
affects him directly.  When I went to Human Resources several 
months ago to try to get some ideas for some coping mechanisms,
I was told to put up with it or find another job.  Well, I tried
putting up with it and my health is going south.  My stomach is
upset, I'm depressed all the time, I only have energy to sleep
and then I don't sleep well at all."

Taking a sip from her drink, SEA continues, "The scarey part
is that as bad as it is for me here, if he asked me to stay
I would until I found another job.  But the chances of that
happening are very slim...so I'm stuck having made a questionable
decision and wondering what the hell I'm going to do now.

My housemate has been very supportive, he's talked me out of
quitting several times but he told me yesterday that it might
be worth it because he sees the way I am when I get home at the
end of a day."

Tossing her glass in to the fireplace after toasting:
"To bravery, or stupidity...it's a step in making a change"

SEA turns to go back to the meadow, saying "I'll gladly take
suggestions."


Stephanie Alford			.sig line on vacation,
salford@monolith.lrmsc.loral.com  	maybe if you ask nicely
or				 	it'll send you a postcard
lunisea@netcom.com
Newsgroups: alt.callahans