I work for the VA. I work with an irritating individual. She quests for power and does everything to get it. I was detailed to another department which I loved. Now I am back
And although I have spoken with her superiors, she is still quietly making my (our)
Workplace a hostile one.
For instance, yesterday morning she left a job opening on my keyboard.
I know intellectually that all I have to do is ignore her but can't I play awhile?This person
Is physically unclean and to boot--her front teeth are all decayed.
Why can't I just laugh at her and shake it off>

I know being in a workplace environment with people joking with you can be overwhelming sometimes, but unless you can joke back and have fun with it the best things is to ignore it and not let it bother you.

Why do you believe that she harasses you?

The person is extremely sarcastic. She has her foot (expertise) in every facet of the
Department: inventory, supplies, etc. She even has her name "This is so and so's OFFICE.
And the office isnn't her; this person is not my supervisor.
She readily admits that she "doesn't play well with others".
She harasses me b/c she makes it even known that she doesn't (too bad) like me.
Am not looking for anything more than a functional working relationship (e.g., when I go
to this person for information, she gives it to me w/o argument). In the past, I have gone
to her and she says, "I am not your supervisor... ".
Additionally, she treats everyone else with civility. With me she is openly hostile.
I have gone to her superiors. They have all admitted that she has treated them in the
past- with disrespect. But no-one is willing to sit this person down and give her the:
Do onto others as you would want to be treated lecture.
At present, I work about 4 hours/ day and try to keep away from the "annoying one".

I work in an uncivil environment also at times.

Sometimes, especially with this economy, you are going to have to grin and bear it. Your only other option is to wait it out until she finds another job or get another job of your own. Avoid confrontations when you can.

It's an unpleasant situation and without the support of your superiors, you are in between a rock and a hard place, unless you find a way to make peace with this person.

Try gaging her moods and only approach her on the days that she seems calmer.