DW Community Catch-up Thread
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Following the work backpack convo with interest. I have a large, heavy, structured leather tote for work that surprisingly doesn’t fit as much as you’d hope for in a bag of that size. I need something I can haul my lunch bag, paperwork, coffee/water bottle, maybe a book to read, and I feel like I’m always cramming things in there, and it’s not great if I commute by train instead of driving. And for travel, I have a Herschel backpack that is fine for carrying stuff I don’t want to check, but I can’t easily access anything because it has a top flap and no outer pockets. It would be nice to find a backpack that serves both functions! And of course I want something stylish. The Rowledge looks like it could fit the bill. I’ve also been eyeing this one: https://www.shortylove.com/products/boxer-large-backpack?variant=13584298344494 Anyone heard of this brand before? I like the idea of being able to put my lunch in the bottom compartment if using it for work…comes in a lot of fun colors too! But it’s pretty spendy.
I sweat no matter what in the summer. Sometimes when I’m on the el specifically (buses are fine, but I don’t take them as much anymore), it can get so crowded on hot summer days that I can feel the sweat dripping down my back even when my bag is off my shoulder or back.
Quick rant: I’m currently at a conference. My company hosts two every year. Well, the department that’s tasked with putting this whole thing on is the department that has had 100% turnover as of last year. So it’s a new group in charge. This is probably my ninth time working/attending the conference, and it’s a cluster so far. Key details haven’t been communicated, staffing assignments don’t make sense (I’m STILL doing stuff that’s not my job even though the responsible department is now fully staffed and has been for a few months). I was on the fence about staying at the hotel, which is an option to us, when I live in the same city, but when I saw I was scheduled to be here early tomorrow AND Saturday for meetings that have nothing to do with me… I said yep, I’ll take a room and some free meals, I don’t want to be on the el by 6:30.
I really like this LL Bean style, if it had a better way to secure the opening I’d be all about it: https://global.llbean.com/shop/Stonington-Full-Grain-Leather-Tote/126547.html#start=1
Free hotel and meals sounds like the least they can do considering the mess that conference sounds like.
Longtime lurker, but wanted to put in a plug for my favorite work backpack, the Dakota by Dagne Dover. I got the large size, and it easily fits everything I need for work. The neoprene material is great, and it has lots of pockets. I have the Dune color, and it’s a great neutral that goes with everything, but they have lots of options depending on your taste. I get compliments on it all the time. I also have the Indi Diaper Backpack, and I’ve heard people say it also works well as a work bag, but I’ve only used it as a diaper bag so far. They have leather tote bags that look really nice too, but I’ve only gone for the neoprene backpacks/crossbodies so far since I usually need to have both hands free to chase after my little ones. I love their stuff and have a code for $20 off I can post if anyone was interested, I’d be happy to share!
@ejor344 Hi! I love when lurkers chime in. I like that the Dakota backpack comes in a few sizes.
Follow-up rant: I got home from my conference this morning. I should’ve been able to leave yesterday afternoon at 2 the way things shook out. I only stayed the final night because I was on the schedule early this a.m. Well, I get downstairs first and everything the room the day starts in was locked. I was early, so that’s fine. I went and grabbed a coffee. By the time I got back — still early — someone else had already taken over what I was assigned to do because she felt like it should’ve been her job and wanted to do it. Which in theory yes, but we had assignments. I hope there is a postmortem scheduled. I have so much feedback. I’m also debating if I talk to my boss about my growing discomfort around how much I’m still supporting this other department this week or if I wait for my review in a few weeks. I’m frustrated.
I’d do it before your review Copa. I’ve found it’s better to bring up issues before a review, whether you’re a manager or an employee.
Don’t wait til your review. And I’m sure you know how to do this, but when I have had too much work as an individual contributor, I have tried to say something like, I’m concerned that I’m going to miss something and not deliver the best product, or that I don’t have time for focused thinking. Make it about your boss working with you to prioritize, and have suggestions ready.
But you know what I mean? Less about your frustration with having to cover this department’s work, more about what’s best for the client or whatever.
I do feel like I have to rush through my work to deal with other stuff, at least some of the time. When we were short staffed, fine. While new staff was being onboarded, fine. Now? It doesn’t feel fine anymore. My boss and I have even had discussions in the past about offloading some of what he manages onto me, which I’d like since it’d be growing my own skillset within my dept! I don’t think my boss realizes how frustrated I am. We’ve talked about it before but that was several months ago, when staffing was still an issue. IDK if it’s better for him to talk to the other dept about wtf is going on or if I should do it. I’d be fine advocating for myself directly. I almost said something to the manager who was in charge of the master schedule of the clusterfuck this morning when we were alone at one point, but didn’t think it was the right time or place. I did point out that there was no reason for me to stick around this a.m. if there was nothing for me to do, and I didn’t even say it in a blame-y way, but he got a little defensive. His response made no sense, it felt like he was trying to tell me I’d misunderstood something, but I know I didn’t. I’m trying to give him some grace because I know he’s relatively new, it’s a lot to organize and manage, blah blah blah. I just… shouldn’t have had to be there in the capacity I was there this weekend. It wasn’t a good use of my time and I kept having to find quiet spaces to get my own work done.
I like the Dagne Dover, their prices + shipping are a bit prohibitive for Aus which is always the way *sigh*
I’m currently checking out this little number so I can try a cheaper model in case it doesn’t work for me. My water bottle is a bit of a monster so having less partitions makes it easier to fit. I’m still a bit apprehensive about it being so open but at least it does have a snap close.
Hopefully you get to have that conversation Copa, it clearly needs to happen.
My boss is out until next Wednesday, by which time I’m on vacation. So – that conversation will be pushed out until, at earliest, the last Friday of the month. I was asked for feedback from a different high-level director and have at least been able to express that communication and scheduling need improvement.
My dad’s side of the family does a camping trip every year in a national park near them. It’s my favorite tradition, my family has been doing this for over 100 years at this point (which seems crazy!?). I’ve been up since about 5:30 refreshing the reservation page because you have to book 366 days out to get a spot at the campsite we always go to. They release availability at random, and they get scooped up immediately. We used to go every June, but when reservations switched from phone to online, it made getting a June spot insanely difficult, so for the past handful of years, we’ve been going in September. But there’s been a push to see if we can reclaim June, so a handful of us are fighting the good fight hitting the refresh button over and over again this morning.
ETA: We were too slow this morning. I made it to the final page of checkout but was not fast enough to hit “complete transaction,” I guess.
