I'm back. Thank you all for the good wishes.
Well, the HR lady was nice but basically told me the same thing that my supervisor told me. Until the head of my dept. comes back from leave, there is nothing anyone can do. My supervisor and the woman who is sort of in charge while the boss is out can try and advocate for me, but they both feel like it's not really their place (and I have to agree).
I'm still mad because it is really unfair that I (and other members of my dept.) have to watch while all the other depts get their mid year reviews and promotions. Everyone from my sup. to the assistant manager, to the head of HR think I deserve a promotion or at least a pay increase and that I deserve it now, but because my boss is not here, there is nothing they can do.
By the time she gets back, and I don't feel like it's "right" to hit her with this the week she comes back anyway, it will be too late for mid year increases and the soonest I can hope to see anything done is Dec.
To be honest, I will probably continue submitting my resume to places between now and then and if something good comes up, I will leave.
It's all very frustrating.
In the meantime, the head of HR suggested , as many here did, that I put something in writing and submit it to HR, and to the assistant manager of my dept. Although, she also said, again, it seems unfair, but until my boss comes back, there's nothing much that can be done.