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kayreI lost my temper at church yesterday. Not too badly, so my job is in no danger, but I snapped.
Long-standing irritation: the major drawback to this job was the musical instruments. The organ is a very limited pipe organ; and there are 5 blank spots for stops that were planned as a second stage installation decades ago and never completed. There are two pianos, both nearly 100 years old. One could be tolerable with a lot of work, but its likely life is limited. The other is a piece of junk that should never have been purchased. It has been suggested that maybe I could start raising funds to improve ONE instrument, preferably a used baby grand for maybe 10k or so.
Meanwhile, since I've been here, the church has spent capital funds on: two furnaces; complete remodel of two large bathrooms; two commercial grade refrigerators and two ranges; new computers for both pastor and admin; a new deluxe playground; a major landscaping project; and paving both parking lots. [Forgot- new windows in the sanctuary, except for the two leaky ones in 'my' area.] Not one of those projects involved any fundraising, nor have they come even close to depleting the capital fund.
Short-term irritation: the church is not air conditioned (except Pastor and Admin's offices) and during the recent heat wave the sanctuary has never been less than 80F. Previous years I've just endured. This year I asked for and got permission to open the windows at night; but that means an extra trip to the church every night. There's a powerful 'whole-house' fan in the narthex, and running it when it is cool out cools the sanctuary down quite a lot very quickly-- but the only time it's that cool lately is about 4 to 6 a.m. I was actually desperate enough Saturday to make yet another trip that early (but could only practice piano quietly, no organ for the sake of the neighbors). Pastor comes in very early on Sundays so I asked her to turn it on. Unfortunately, in trying to be helpful she also opened the narthex doors-- so the fan, in the narthex ceiling, drew air in those doors and right back out again, and didn't cool off the sanctuary at all.
I didn't snap at Pastor for that (though I did explain later, when I was calmer)-- but the disappointment of playing in a hot sanctuary when I had expected cool was bad, and I unloaded to several people about both situations. The short-term good news is that the chairman of Building and Grounds immediately started looking for a delay timer for the fan. I also suggested to Pastor that I think Session should at least match anything I raise towards a piano.
Edited to add-- as it happens, I played especially well, which may help my rants have more impact. Managed to focus the anger-energy into my playing.
Long-standing irritation: the major drawback to this job was the musical instruments. The organ is a very limited pipe organ; and there are 5 blank spots for stops that were planned as a second stage installation decades ago and never completed. There are two pianos, both nearly 100 years old. One could be tolerable with a lot of work, but its likely life is limited. The other is a piece of junk that should never have been purchased. It has been suggested that maybe I could start raising funds to improve ONE instrument, preferably a used baby grand for maybe 10k or so.
Meanwhile, since I've been here, the church has spent capital funds on: two furnaces; complete remodel of two large bathrooms; two commercial grade refrigerators and two ranges; new computers for both pastor and admin; a new deluxe playground; a major landscaping project; and paving both parking lots. [Forgot- new windows in the sanctuary, except for the two leaky ones in 'my' area.] Not one of those projects involved any fundraising, nor have they come even close to depleting the capital fund.
Short-term irritation: the church is not air conditioned (except Pastor and Admin's offices) and during the recent heat wave the sanctuary has never been less than 80F. Previous years I've just endured. This year I asked for and got permission to open the windows at night; but that means an extra trip to the church every night. There's a powerful 'whole-house' fan in the narthex, and running it when it is cool out cools the sanctuary down quite a lot very quickly-- but the only time it's that cool lately is about 4 to 6 a.m. I was actually desperate enough Saturday to make yet another trip that early (but could only practice piano quietly, no organ for the sake of the neighbors). Pastor comes in very early on Sundays so I asked her to turn it on. Unfortunately, in trying to be helpful she also opened the narthex doors-- so the fan, in the narthex ceiling, drew air in those doors and right back out again, and didn't cool off the sanctuary at all.
I didn't snap at Pastor for that (though I did explain later, when I was calmer)-- but the disappointment of playing in a hot sanctuary when I had expected cool was bad, and I unloaded to several people about both situations. The short-term good news is that the chairman of Building and Grounds immediately started looking for a delay timer for the fan. I also suggested to Pastor that I think Session should at least match anything I raise towards a piano.
Edited to add-- as it happens, I played especially well, which may help my rants have more impact. Managed to focus the anger-energy into my playing.
no subject
Date: 2018-07-16 11:39 am (UTC)I am right there with you on the losing your cool.
no subject
Date: 2018-07-16 02:34 pm (UTC)Heat makes for more prickles and more explosions all round. Joffrey makes for more prickles and more explosions all round.