Working for a Living

I never thought my job would be reduced to this.

My taboo subject is usually anything job related. Not because I have nothing to rant about, but because I don't want some touchy feely yahoo to get insulted and get me fired for spilling some big corporate secret.

I work in Claims. That's vague enough, but should help lend a little explanation as to what I'm about to rant about.

My job involves investigating claims and securing pictures of anything involved with it to confirm the validation for paying said claims. Good? Good. I've been doing this for 6 years and have seen a lot in my time here.

Today, I had to take a picture of a stain on the road.

That's right. I had to get up close and personal with the pavement. With the varying degrees of angles and positions I had to assume to capture my subject correctly, I'm surprised I wasn't arrested. (I assume from the various looks I received that I was pitied, but that's not a shocker.)

"Hey, Asphalt. Smile!"

This is not the worst of it though.

I once had to take a picture of a smell.

A smell.

You think I'm kidding?

I remember driving to the location, unsure about my directions, wondering how in all that's possible I could document a smell on film, since a picture is typically all the proof you need in Claims, right?

Should I take a self-portrait of me smelling the fumes, making sure to look like I'm about to lose my lunch?

Should I draw stink lines on my processed pictures?

How do you capture STANK on 35mm?

I typically like my job, but when these assignments sometimes come down the pike, I have to throw my hands up to the heavens and ask, "Seriously?"

How about you? Any current assignments or past jobs that had you shaking your head and wondering if you should examine what your position REALLY entails?

Make me smile while I scrub the pavement residue from my slacks.

Comments

[HeatherPride]

Well you are just preaching to the choir on this one! I too, work in CLAIMS. Although, I have to express my jealousy here that you have a field job! I'm pretty much stuck here at my desk. So. Terrible.

[Heidi]

wow, I can't even imagine doing what you do, but I must say you have the creativity to make it happen. you r crazy, girl!!! i miss you.

[Lisa]

My whole blog describes the weird things I've done in my job. If you link on NOtes from a Small Town Girl you can see some of the weirdest stuff I've had to do.

I think you having to photograph a smell takes the cake though.

Seriously, how dumb is that?!

[Allinole]

Taking a picture of a smell??? Can you send that to me? I want to see/smell it!!! :)

Anyways, as you know, I am a project manager for a large company. I manage 4-6 resources and up to 40 projects at a time. Yesterday, I had to chase around copy centers to get instructor led class materials copied for a workshop in Boston. I spents literally 6 hours trying to find a place that could do this last minute and once I finally found one and spent two hours trying to e-mail them my materials, I was told that she does not accept credit cards! How can you run a business working with large corporations and not accept credit cards? I must blog on this!