My manager came in this morning and asked if it would be alright to combine the two payrolls that we already do, or if there would be problems. First thing out of my mouth "I'm already chasing down too many approvals, that I have zero time for, to combine them both. Even if we do it next year/ten years from now"
Micah "Zem the Mattress" Philson 2016-10-03T12:41:45-04:00
BaKhan, one of us should be fine with sleeping on the floor for a night, actually, especially if you have a sleeping bag or if we bring one. Other than that, no allergies, I don't think, at the very least none from food.
Just remember he's not entirely sure if he can make it yet, just pretty sure and won't know exactly how a project at work is coming along until nearer to time, if a little later notice is fine with you.
Micah "Zem the Mattress" Philson 2016-10-03T12:43:57-04:00
Is it friday yet? I've been waiting for a full day for it to be friday now. This weekend especially; fall break, 4 day weekend! Still no idea why they couldn't have an extended weekend over Halloween instead of a random weekend in early fall, but whatever, I'll take it!
Eric 'Trinkets' Baumgarten 2016-10-03T14:13:35-04:00
Lol, yep. It's friday, Zem. Well, its almost friday. Only 4 more days!!!
Micah "Zem the Mattress" Philson 2016-10-03T14:30:31-04:00
To be clear, next weekend is fall break. This weekend is monday.
Rod "BaKhan" Mitchell 2016-10-03T14:36:01-04:00
@Zem, well its a long weekend for us too, but its our Thanksgiving! ;) Maybe you guys take it off as a sign of support for your northern neighbours? ;) On the plus side you could always nom down on some turkey and pumpkin pie, again, you know, for support... ;)
Rod "BaKhan" Mitchell 2016-10-03T14:37:29-04:00
@Zem, its fine by me, I just wanted to put that out there... We'll finally get to use our hide-away bed! ;) Our lazy boy couch has a pull out bed in it, its supposed to be pretty comfortable, I haven't ever tried it though... ;)
Only another hour and 45min before I'm leaving for the day. With, or without, everything I'm supposed to have done finished.
Rod "BaKhan" Mitchell 2016-10-03T17:48:04-04:00
Well good luck GM!, I'm just wrapping up and I'm outta here in 10 mins! Its been a Monday for sure, but I survived!
Rod "BaKhan" Mitchell 2016-10-03T17:50:14-04:00
@Trinkets, just saw your post there! I have always been leary of letting myself get into the airbrush scene, I can just see myself spending too much money! ;) Oh, and Prong! lol, been a long time man! Snap your fingers, snap your neck! ;)
I received hours for a guy who I don't know who he is(never seen paperwork for him); changes that I am just now being told to hold off on, after being told to go ahead with them(was 3/4 done implementing them); still waiting on things I've sent follow up emails for...last week...then again today as a final request.
Geist de la Muerte Gatito 2016-10-03T18:58:46-04:00
Sorry for not posting. Month end close and I'm under a ton of work. Hopefully I'll get to chat a bit more after this week.
Lord Zombitten 2016-10-03T19:40:30-04:00
I've spent today writing a time and attendance policy and thinking about what I would say in the termination meeting. It's done now. It sucks, but it was time for her to go.
Micah "Zem the Mattress" Philson 2016-10-03T23:17:14-04:00
Good that it's over, LZ. Hopefully things start to pick up again soon! Typically the mood in a workplace is better off without a petty pissant.
Micah "Zem the Mattress" Philson 2016-10-04T08:13:56-04:00
Ugh, it's getting dark when I wake up, which is easily the hardest part about winter. I can't wake up when it's still dark, it makes me really want to go back to sleep. I actually questioned my alarm this morning.
Rod "BaKhan" Mitchell 2016-10-04T09:11:20-04:00
Good Morning kittens!
Rod "BaKhan" Mitchell 2016-10-04T09:12:53-04:00
@Zem, I hear you! Because we live in the foothills it gets dark pretty early, by 8:30 pm it was pretty dark already. Typically I go to work in the dark and am heading home as it is getting dark the further we get into winter. Why can't it just be summer all the time? Oh yeah, giant bugs, ok, never mind... ;)
Very much so. Anything I don't have complete paperwork on is being left off of a payroll, and will be added to the next. Damned if I'm holding almost 300 peoples pay, for 5 people's paperwork being incomplete/not properly approved.
And a lovely song just came on....Ten Leagues Beneath Contempt by Cradle of Filth
Rod "BaKhan" Mitchell 2016-10-04T11:19:55-04:00
Well man, theres only two ways to combat your stress levels, both of them will be hard to do. One, look out for yourself! When people send stuff incomplete, send it back as many times as it takes for them to get the message. This isn't being a jerk, its being fair, you have enough work to do without taking others responsibilities on as well. Set limits and stick to them, if people are dropping stuff at the last minute, too bad, they'll have to wait, if they don't like it, they can be on time or even early next cycle. OR.... two, stop caring. This will help short term, but its only true long standing benefit will be looking for a new job. You will never be satisified doing less than your best. The reason it bothers you so much when others don't do their best, is that people who are successful, achievers, doers, don't work well with those that aren't. Its natural, the two groups of people tend to resent each other. I hope that you go with the former.
Yeah, those are basically(aside from looking for new job...for now) things I'm starting to do. We have a training meeting on the 12th, middle of the afternoon, so I have a nice list of things that will happen, and being set in stone, no exceptions. Everyone NEEDS to be on the same page, doing the same thing, otherwise I will lose it, and people won't be happy.
Rod "BaKhan" Mitchell 2016-10-04T11:35:17-04:00
Good for you! If nothing else, it will be good to get those action points out there, for a team to be successful, they need to work together, like a team! ;)
Lord Zombitten 2016-10-04T12:03:38-04:00
Yeah, GM! Show them!
Lord Zombitten 2016-10-04T12:11:41-04:00
It's amazing how obstinant and thick some people can be!
She started texting me last night, claiming that she shouldn't be fired because of what a great job she did. Lady! This isn't performance based; it's entirely attendance based! Quality of work notwithstanding (which, calling it excellent is a bit of a stretch), your attendance sucks! You've been given chance upon chance upon chance, and you refused to do anything that I suggested you do in order to keep your job. This is your fault, not mine!
I mean, seriously, when you come and tell me that your attendance issues are due to depression and I tell you that you should tell HR because it could mean the difference between keeping your job and losing it, you damn well better listen! But no, she's not going to do that. And, she'll keep trying to argue that she does good work and therefore her attendance issues should be overlooked because she's the "best technologist" I have, which isn't even remotely true. That honor goes to either Kerry or Jacquie, who each do more work with fewer mistakes, and come to work on time!
Rod "BaKhan" Mitchell 2016-10-04T12:24:48-04:00
@LZ, you guys did the right thing. Sounds like depression isn't the only issue she's dealing with. Admitting you have a problem is the first step, not the last. Expecting people to endlessly put up with crap is, in fact, crazy. She totally should have gone to HR, properly dealt with, she could have protected her job, and gotten help and resources to deal with her depression, and wound up in a much better place. I find in general, I'm much more inclined to give some one a hand up, over a hand out. Ask me for help, and I'll do whatever I can, ask me to do something for you, mmmmmmyeah, no! ;)
Micah "Zem the Mattress" Philson 2016-10-04T12:32:42-04:00
Oh no. Not again.
I'm debating skipping a class, just a menial recitation that doesn't really reinforce concepts from the course and the notes are put online, but there is regular homework for 5 points.
Oh well. I've gone to every one so far (not really helped with the course at all), and right now I could REALLY use a bit of a break. I hate doing this- I'm very strict on myself about skipping, and very rarely do it and never feel good about it as a rule- but I just spent an hour finishing a presentation, haven't gotten good sleep in a week, and wouldn't have enough time to eat if I went.
Moral dilemmas! Food!! SLEEP!!!
Micah "Zem the Mattress" Philson 2016-10-04T12:39:00-04:00
GM, I fell ya! The other day, actually, I very, VERY nearly crushed my mouse in my hand. Not nearly the stress you go through with the people you have to deal with (again, thank you for showing me a new line of work never to enter!), but it was enough. It's the reason I couldn't get enough sleep on sunday night/monday morning, and I'm extremely glad I didn't see another person because I might have snapped on them.
It's really not a good time, and I really hate it when anybody has to endure that. I'd say we're here for you, but I don't want to be used as a punching bag, so... throw a stress ball at people you hate or something. NO! A *soft* stress ball, not a rock! Put that down!
Micah "Zem the Mattress" Philson 2016-10-04T12:43:32-04:00
LZ, hey, now she's not an employee, you can speak your mind. Probably not a good idea to say absolutely EVERYthing bouncing around in there, but if she's still bugging you after having been severed from the company and now having nothing to do with you, the least you can do for her is explain why she never stood a chance with that attitude and how to fix it in her next job. Though I'm sure we all know what she'll do with that information... and what she'll tell you to do with it.
Lord Zombitten 2016-10-04T12:53:13-04:00
Yeah, I told her what the reason was. She said that one of the tardies shouldn't count because she told me that she had a migraine (one minute before her shift was scheduled to start, which I had repeatedly said was unacceptable). I pointed out that, even if we discount that one, she was still late 3 times during the evaluation period, which is one more per month than is allowed. She then concluded that we do math differentlt. I guess in her world, 4-1=/=3. Either that or in her world 3<2.
Micah "Zem the Mattress" Philson 2016-10-04T13:06:22-04:00
Haha. I would think you use simple math like that all the time in your line of work! ;)
But yeah, repeat-offenses of tardiness and missing work are bad enough, but it was just plain stupidity to do it WHILE ON PROBATION for that exact thing!
I'm a very forgiving guy, and love second chances. I always want to give someone a chance to give their point of view because mine has been discounted so much before. Hell, remember Sklorz, Mr. Goltovka himslef, and how I even heard HIM out via skype chat (only to conclude we were completely right about him all along when he tried to pull me in to help him ship within the US)?!
But yeah, even to me, this person was out of line. She had a second and third chance, and you clearly stated what was wrong and how to fix it, and she just shat all over it all. I have no clue why she's upset for being fired. At least when I screw up like that, I gladly accept the consequences I saw full well coming head-long at me.
Micah "Zem the Mattress" Philson 2016-10-04T13:07:37-04:00
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha....!!! Oh I miss Sklorz! Where is he now? Probably off failing another scam, if I know him! The good 'ol days!
...So, while (surprise surprise) waiting on people to get back to me, I came across an article on MSN news. Apparently, the name of our neighbor province(British Columbia) is racist to one artist...and he is calling for it to be changed because it's an insult to the First Nations people that were there before(he is also a member of a First Nations group).
Lord Zombitten 2016-10-04T14:46:25-04:00
I just learned that 8 months ago, she had told one of the phlebotomists that she had some pot and wanted to know if this person wanted to smoke it with her. Now, I support legalization, but I wouldn't want people smoking it while on the job, especially in a clinical lab. If I had known, we could have taken care of this problem so long ago!
Rod "BaKhan" Mitchell 2016-10-04T14:54:09-04:00
@LZ, yikes! Definitely not something you want to be dealing with in a lab, thats for sure! I support legalization, but I want the same basic rules of alcohol, on your free time, you're good, during work hours, fireable offence! Its the only way it would ever work. Imagine people working with heavy equipment! Yikes...
Rod "BaKhan" Mitchell 2016-10-04T14:54:53-04:00
Also, hate to say it, but that might have been her problem all along. Just put the pipe down! Scheeesh!
Micah "Zem the Mattress" Philson 2016-10-04T15:01:51-04:00
Well, it would be fireable if it were legal, but now that it's not, it's arrestable. That could definitely have solved the problem before it manifested!
`
Just re-watched The Rutles: All You Need is Cash again, a satirical documentary by Eric Idle. It's really, really good! I watched it because it's Beatles Week in History of Rock, and I have to show my professor that now!
So, apparently, my manager believes I am hysterical right now with the amount of BS. I can't wait until Oct 31...I'm off that day, it's the big payroll(my main stress giver). It's the start of the payroll processing...she will end up seeing why I'm so irritable right now, and why I say I'm not chasing stuff down(her response to that was "You're in payroll, it's part of the job"...).
Micah "Zem the Mattress" Philson 2016-10-04T15:13:26-04:00
Aren't you more along the lines of Payroll Processing? I mean, if you're Payroll Gopher, then it'd make sense. Hell, with the amount of fetching of documents you deal with, they should hire a Payroll Fido.
@Zem: With the ~300 people I pay every two weeks(then the other ~40 the off weeks) I chase down WAY too much to do my job that I was hired for. Not to mention, trying to explain something to someone every other day(usually it's trying to tell them what the start of the pay period was).
Actually...it's Payroll Coordinator now that I'm looking at my email signature.
Lord Zombitten 2016-10-04T16:23:43-04:00
BaKhan, I agree that the pipe, or bong (we'll get there in a second) is probably part of the problem.
So many things are starting to make sense. A few months ago, the drainage hose for our pipette washer went missing. We were all fairly certain she had taken it, but couldn't figure out why. I mean, it was around 18 inches of 1.5-ish inch hose. Why take it? Well, with this new information, I'm sure it became part of her bong.
Micah "Zem the Mattress" Philson 2016-10-04T17:19:09-04:00
Advertising? Should we... nah, campaign's over, we're just hanging out. Besides, we advertise all the time here! Might be interesting.
Yeah, looks pretty interesting. If I had money, I might think about it.
Rod "BaKhan" Mitchell 2016-10-04T17:20:05-04:00
@LZ, lol! The crazy sh*t people do... no one in their right mind would do that! I work in a plumbing/heating wholesale, and when we get rid of /sell of our old display faucets etc., we always need to replace the missing screens... go figure. ;)
Lord Zombitten 2016-10-04T17:37:54-04:00
Right mind being the operative phrase there ;-)
I could see someone who's a little...off saying, "all the water that comes through here is clean; it should be okay to use for gettin' high"
Micah "Zem the Mattress" Philson 2016-10-04T17:45:33-04:00
I mean, there's only a tiny amount of God-only-knows-what in the pipettes cleaned here and alot of clean water going through, it should be clean enough to inhale!
Lord Zombitten 2016-10-04T18:08:59-04:00
And, we only wash the glass pipettes, and we only use those for the volumetric pipetting of DI water or buffer solutions, nothing biohazardous....
Oh. My. God. It's 4:15pm, and I am almost at where I should be for the payroll...even with missing/late paperwork! I may actually get to go home on time again today(though yesterday I probably should have stayed later...but my mental state is more important than people getting paid).
Lord Zombitten 2016-10-04T18:18:17-04:00
@GM, that's great!
I agree, your sanity is more important than a job.
Micah "Zem the Mattress" Philson 2016-10-04T19:44:54-04:00
GODDAMMIT! I just learned Fall Break is the week AFTER next! I was dreaming about going home, not doing anything this whole weekend and monday and tuesday next week! It was perfect happening this weekend, especially since it'd make sense with the football by-week. But no, I have a full nother week of trying not to go insane. This weekend would have been so perfect for it!
Well...going home early was a dream. When the VP of US Ops is talking with you, you can't exactly just say I'm done for the night and still expect to have a job....and I'm still here. -.-
Micah "Zem the Mattress" Philson 2016-10-05T01:35:34-04:00
Some say he's still there, listening to the USOPSVP.
Geist de la Muerte Gatito 2016-10-05T06:36:32-04:00
*yawn* Morning kittens.
Rod "BaKhan" Mitchell 2016-10-05T09:55:20-04:00
Good morning kittens!
Rod "BaKhan" Mitchell 2016-10-05T10:00:45-04:00
To the tune of "The hall of the Mountain King" by Savatage: Madness reigns, in the hall of the USOPSVP!
And this time...the pain actually has nothing to do with work...I walked into the half wall we have upstairs when I got out of the shower this morning(it's dark, the wall isn't exactly center with the doorway, didn't move over far enough).
Rod "BaKhan" Mitchell 2016-10-05T11:16:15-04:00
@GM, sounds like you need a little night light there... ;)
There is one on the other side of the hallway...just not right outside the bathroom as my parents and sister both have their doors open at night, and would make it so they can't sleep(so they claim)
Rod "BaKhan" Mitchell 2016-10-05T11:35:53-04:00
@GM, they are lucky I don't live there, I'm sure the light would be much less intrusive than my excessive cursing when I smacked into the wall.... ;)
They were all up at the time, but the light switch isn't in a good spot for me to hit it when I get out of the shower to avoid the wall too. Usually I put my hand out, but today I just didn't.
Eric 'Trinkets' Baumgarten 2016-10-05T14:12:46-04:00
Glad I'm not the only one who walks into walls.
Howdy all.
Rod "BaKhan" Mitchell 2016-10-05T14:20:51-04:00
@Trinkets, hey man! How goes the painting? I've finished off a few more pieces of my Z:BP, the evil queen and grin (necromances) as well as started on the bonus NPC's that came with the sgs.
@Trinkets: I like to mention that the wall leapt out of the dark at me, and my reaction speed wasn't fast enough to dodge it.
Rod "BaKhan" Mitchell 2016-10-05T14:34:10-04:00
@GM, sounds like a good insurance claim... ;)
Micah "Zem the Mattress" Philson 2016-10-05T14:44:33-04:00
That's like the "The parked car came out of nowhere!" claim.
I avoid running into walls as a habit, but sometimes it's hard to avoid. So much peer pressure to be cool and run into walls on campus. I've tried stubbing my toes really, really hard on my bed's leg as a gateway drug, but I didn't enjoy the experience for the most part. My friend said "It's not the same thing, you just have to try walls, man!" before running head-long into a doorframe, but I just don't think it's my kind of scene.
Micah "Zem the Mattress" Philson 2016-10-05T15:26:02-04:00
Haha, right now my keyboard is on my earbud cord, so when I type it sounds like drums, and I can type fast enough and just irregulary enough it sounds like a Buddy Rich solo!
Rod "BaKhan" Mitchell 2016-10-05T15:26:42-04:00
@Zem, or the telephone pole jumped out in front of my car! ;) Also, all the cool kids are jumping off of cliffs, shouldn't you too, if you want to be cool that is... ;)
Eric 'Trinkets' Baumgarten 2016-10-05T15:44:32-04:00
Painting is going as smoothly as it can, BaKhan. Only problem is that I have been thrust into the role of Rules reader and How to Play coordinator of Ora & Labora. That took 2 nights of my time so painting has been put on hold until tonight. Hopefully finish up the Snowtroopers and Princess Leia. Wampas and Dengar are done and am very happ with them. Haven't even thought about Z:BP. And Conan shows up at the end of the month. Ugh.
Micah "Zem the Mattress" Philson 2016-10-05T16:03:52-04:00
BaKhan, I did jump off a cliff once! Not all the way up, I only climbed like 10 feet, but my cousins (who live there and do it all the time) cliff-dove from like 80 feet or more, don't remember anymore. And that was just in like Arkansas or something, I don't remember which cousins.
But yeah, I'm cool! I jumped off a cliff!
Eric 'Trinkets' Baumgarten 2016-10-05T16:29:13-04:00
I'd say that counts, Zem
Eric 'Trinkets' Baumgarten 2016-10-05T16:30:36-04:00
Lol, BaKhan, I always got a similar saying from my mom. "If all your friends jumped off of a bridge, would you?
Rod "BaKhan" Mitchell 2016-10-05T17:24:40-04:00
@Trinkets, not only would I, but I did! ;) Then again, I do have oppositional diffiance issues so... ;)
Micah "Zem the Mattress" Philson 2016-10-05T20:33:15-04:00
Do you get to have an elastic cord wrapped around you?
Because otherwise, I've never understood that saying. Why is everyone jumping off of a bridge? Suicide, bungee jumping, or a shortcut and the bridge is only like 2 feet high are the only reasons I can think of, and I'm guessing it's not the first option, so then yes, I would. Probably. Bungee jumping is scary and my bowels might jump before I do.
Eric 'Trinkets' Baumgarten 2016-10-06T09:17:23-04:00
Good morning all!
Rod "BaKhan" Mitchell 2016-10-06T09:30:39-04:00
Good morning kittens!
Rod "BaKhan" Mitchell 2016-10-06T09:32:31-04:00
@Zem, for me it was how deep the water was. We were jumping from a train bridge in a huge park, into the river, which is quite deep there. I'm sure that as long as that bridge has been there, people have been jumping off of it. The actually installed some cables to stop people from jumping off of it, somehow (don't ask me...) the cables where cut, repeatedly, until they stopped replacing them... ;)
Morning kittens. It's almost Friday...and I almost fell back asleep this morning.
Rod "BaKhan" Mitchell 2016-10-06T10:35:48-04:00
@GM, thats why I have a feet on the floor rule. For years and years, I would ignore the alarm, or shut if off and fall back asleep. When I started working here (16 years ago...) I was late a few times because of it. Then I developed what I call the feet on the floor rule. The alarm goes off, sit up, put your feet on the floor, then turn the alarm off. It helped me a lot. Of course, now I have a very hard time sleeping in, and in fact not waking up before my alarm... ;)
@BaKhan: A few times this week, and last week, I woke up an hour before my alarm...and I think is affected my stupidity tolerance.
Rod "BaKhan" Mitchell 2016-10-06T10:52:24-04:00
@GM, I get that, I think I was born with a stupidity intollerance... ;)
Micah "Zem the Mattress" Philson 2016-10-06T11:41:11-04:00
I almost went back to sleep after my alarm today. It's just getting dark when I wake up and I haven't gotten regular sleep all week. Very tempting.
I have a digital watch with a broken strap taped to my bed that I use as my alarm, but if sleeping after turning it off becomes a problem, I'll put it on my desk and maybe even use my phone so I force myself to get up. I will HATE that, but it forces you to get up, so then I'd be just barely awake enough to not walk back to bed and crawl in, if only by sheer force of will.
Micah "Zem the Mattress" Philson 2016-10-06T11:44:40-04:00
They've found that waking up at the same time every day is actually a bad idea. Your body starts producing stress hormones big-time before you even wake up! The regularity of it lets your body predict it, so you also wake up before the alarm and can't go back to sleep.
The thing I possibly love most about college is my very slightly irregular schedule. Even a half hour difference most days keeps my brain in check. I had that problem really, REALLY badly in high-school, but now I never do!
So yeah, if you're waking up before your alarm and waking up already stressed or pissy, just try waking up alternating half an hour apart every day, like 7:00 and 7:30 like me. Or an hour if possible; I forget the optimal variation time they found, but an hour of extra sleep sounds beautiful!
Rod "BaKhan" Mitchell 2016-10-06T12:27:24-04:00
@Zem, changing my schedule like that would actually cause me more stress. Because of my ocpd, I find it soothing to have "best practices" they help me avoid stressful situations (that most people wouldn't find stressful at all). Part of my morining routine is getting out of the house and on the road by a certain time. If I don't have to deal with annoying amounts of traffic in the morning, I have a much better day overall. Also sometimes I wonder if the "they" actually work in real world situations where things like attendance and timeliness matter?
Eric 'Trinkets' Baumgarten 2016-10-06T12:42:16-04:00
Change is bad. We fear change.
Eric 'Trinkets' Baumgarten 2016-10-06T12:47:21-04:00
I misplaced my wallet last night. Didn't realize it until this morning while I was getting ready for work. Spent so long looking for it, I was 3 minutes late for work instead of 15 minutes early. Then I spent the next hour freaking the F out!!!!! I felt like I needed to rip my skin off and run around. It was so debilitating that my boss sent me home so I could find it. Took 15 minutes to find it. I am still trying to get right. That was 3.5 hours ago.
Rod "BaKhan" Mitchell 2016-10-06T12:52:17-04:00
@Trinkets, I'm sorry to hear that! I know how you feel! If something is off, or not in the right place, I start down a pretty dark path, even if the situation is rectified, I still struggle to return to "normal"... The funny thing is people always think I'm very calm and relaxed, and I'm there thinking damn people I'm falling apart here! ;)
@Trinkets and @BaKhan: That's why I hate when the cleaners come into my office and clean it when I'm not around. EVERYTHING is moved around on my desk. I like my monitors where they are, I like my phone where it is, I like my folder stands where they are. Whenever they clean(dust really...that's all they do) I need to reorganize, re-straighten, and make sure everything is where it should be. Usually take an hour or so because it just doesn't feel right, then I spend the rest of the day adjusting it still.
Lord Zombitten 2016-10-06T13:18:31-04:00
I get the same way
Lord Zombitten 2016-10-06T13:27:24-04:00
And I have to say (this is completely unrelated) that a French press is the way to go when making coffee! So much better.
Back to the topic: my mother-in-law thought I was controlling because she saw me get frustrated when I got home from work one evening and couldn't find my homework or school books. It was about 10:30 at night, and I had to get up at 5:30 to go to school the next day. She and the wife had cleaned up while I was at work, and had put my school stuff in what to me was the least logical place to put it.
Micah "Zem the Mattress" Philson 2016-10-06T13:28:37-04:00
I'm not severely like that, but I do get that way so often. Really, I'm only not like that anymore. I used to be that bad, and it started driving me crazy. The worst thing ever was when a teacher didn't erase properly, and there were just errant marks strewn across the board. Thankfully, a girl in class had the same problem as me, but wasn't shy, so sometimes just got up and erased the rest and then we could focus.
Micah "Zem the Mattress" Philson 2016-10-06T13:30:16-04:00
A french press is amazing! I love them and wish I had one. Then again, I go through so much coffee whenever I have some that just one cup would be nearly impossible for me. I usually make at least 6 cups, often 8 nowadays, and I used to only (for the OCPD topic at hand) be able to make 12 because anything less than a perfectly full pot didn't seem right.
`
mmmmmmmmmmmmm... coffee...
Now look what you did, LZ! I need to make some!
@LZ: Growing up, whenever I left something somewhere in my room, I knew where it was because to me that's where it belonged. If my parents every thought my room needed to be cleaned, and figured I wouldn't do it, they would tidy up and put stuff where they thought it belonged. Always made me spend HOURS searching for something small
Micah "Zem the Mattress" Philson 2016-10-06T13:32:55-04:00
The worst part about when someone cleans and puts stuff in the least logical place to you is that the least logical place turns out to be one of the most practical places! Then you feel stupid, but go right back to what you did before.
But yeah, I've never understood why, when people clean, they feel the need to move everything important. My brother had a girlfriend (my only brother to have a girlfriend ever, actually) who LOVED cleaning. That's great! So good that someone loves to do it! Except that when she came to our house, sometimes she'd follow through on her threats and we might not find something for a day or two even if it made sense where it was.
My manager came in this morning and asked if it would be alright to combine the two payrolls that we already do, or if there would be problems. First thing out of my mouth "I'm already chasing down too many approvals, that I have zero time for, to combine them both. Even if we do it next year/ten years from now"
BaKhan, one of us should be fine with sleeping on the floor for a night, actually, especially if you have a sleeping bag or if we bring one. Other than that, no allergies, I don't think, at the very least none from food.
Just remember he's not entirely sure if he can make it yet, just pretty sure and won't know exactly how a project at work is coming along until nearer to time, if a little later notice is fine with you.
Is it friday yet? I've been waiting for a full day for it to be friday now. This weekend especially; fall break, 4 day weekend! Still no idea why they couldn't have an extended weekend over Halloween instead of a random weekend in early fall, but whatever, I'll take it!
Lol, yep. It's friday, Zem. Well, its almost friday. Only 4 more days!!!
To be clear, next weekend is fall break. This weekend is monday.
@Zem, well its a long weekend for us too, but its our Thanksgiving! ;) Maybe you guys take it off as a sign of support for your northern neighbours? ;) On the plus side you could always nom down on some turkey and pumpkin pie, again, you know, for support... ;)
@Zem, its fine by me, I just wanted to put that out there... We'll finally get to use our hide-away bed! ;) Our lazy boy couch has a pull out bed in it, its supposed to be pretty comfortable, I haven't ever tried it though... ;)
Only another hour and 45min before I'm leaving for the day. With, or without, everything I'm supposed to have done finished.
Well good luck GM!, I'm just wrapping up and I'm outta here in 10 mins! Its been a Monday for sure, but I survived!
@Trinkets, just saw your post there! I have always been leary of letting myself get into the airbrush scene, I can just see myself spending too much money! ;) Oh, and Prong! lol, been a long time man! Snap your fingers, snap your neck! ;)
I received hours for a guy who I don't know who he is(never seen paperwork for him); changes that I am just now being told to hold off on, after being told to go ahead with them(was 3/4 done implementing them); still waiting on things I've sent follow up emails for...last week...then again today as a final request.
Sorry for not posting. Month end close and I'm under a ton of work. Hopefully I'll get to chat a bit more after this week.
I've spent today writing a time and attendance policy and thinking about what I would say in the termination meeting. It's done now. It sucks, but it was time for her to go.
Good that it's over, LZ. Hopefully things start to pick up again soon! Typically the mood in a workplace is better off without a petty pissant.
Ugh, it's getting dark when I wake up, which is easily the hardest part about winter. I can't wake up when it's still dark, it makes me really want to go back to sleep. I actually questioned my alarm this morning.
Good Morning kittens!
@Zem, I hear you! Because we live in the foothills it gets dark pretty early, by 8:30 pm it was pretty dark already. Typically I go to work in the dark and am heading home as it is getting dark the further we get into winter. Why can't it just be summer all the time? Oh yeah, giant bugs, ok, never mind... ;)
Found out what my headache a few weeks ago that lasted three days was from. I'll give you three guesses, though you probably only need one.
A Dark Half type conjoined twin that just suddenly started growing? ;)
Could I use that as an excuse as to why I snapped and punched a hold through both my monitors?
hole*
Well it depends, are you good at doing voices? ;) But seriously, I'm guessing stress?
Very much so. Anything I don't have complete paperwork on is being left off of a payroll, and will be added to the next. Damned if I'm holding almost 300 peoples pay, for 5 people's paperwork being incomplete/not properly approved.
And a lovely song just came on....Ten Leagues Beneath Contempt by Cradle of Filth
Well man, theres only two ways to combat your stress levels, both of them will be hard to do. One, look out for yourself! When people send stuff incomplete, send it back as many times as it takes for them to get the message. This isn't being a jerk, its being fair, you have enough work to do without taking others responsibilities on as well. Set limits and stick to them, if people are dropping stuff at the last minute, too bad, they'll have to wait, if they don't like it, they can be on time or even early next cycle. OR.... two, stop caring. This will help short term, but its only true long standing benefit will be looking for a new job. You will never be satisified doing less than your best. The reason it bothers you so much when others don't do their best, is that people who are successful, achievers, doers, don't work well with those that aren't. Its natural, the two groups of people tend to resent each other. I hope that you go with the former.
Yeah, those are basically(aside from looking for new job...for now) things I'm starting to do. We have a training meeting on the 12th, middle of the afternoon, so I have a nice list of things that will happen, and being set in stone, no exceptions. Everyone NEEDS to be on the same page, doing the same thing, otherwise I will lose it, and people won't be happy.
Good for you! If nothing else, it will be good to get those action points out there, for a team to be successful, they need to work together, like a team! ;)
Yeah, GM! Show them!
It's amazing how obstinant and thick some people can be!
She started texting me last night, claiming that she shouldn't be fired because of what a great job she did. Lady! This isn't performance based; it's entirely attendance based! Quality of work notwithstanding (which, calling it excellent is a bit of a stretch), your attendance sucks! You've been given chance upon chance upon chance, and you refused to do anything that I suggested you do in order to keep your job. This is your fault, not mine!
I mean, seriously, when you come and tell me that your attendance issues are due to depression and I tell you that you should tell HR because it could mean the difference between keeping your job and losing it, you damn well better listen! But no, she's not going to do that. And, she'll keep trying to argue that she does good work and therefore her attendance issues should be overlooked because she's the "best technologist" I have, which isn't even remotely true. That honor goes to either Kerry or Jacquie, who each do more work with fewer mistakes, and come to work on time!
@LZ, you guys did the right thing. Sounds like depression isn't the only issue she's dealing with. Admitting you have a problem is the first step, not the last. Expecting people to endlessly put up with crap is, in fact, crazy. She totally should have gone to HR, properly dealt with, she could have protected her job, and gotten help and resources to deal with her depression, and wound up in a much better place. I find in general, I'm much more inclined to give some one a hand up, over a hand out. Ask me for help, and I'll do whatever I can, ask me to do something for you, mmmmmmyeah, no! ;)
Oh no. Not again.
I'm debating skipping a class, just a menial recitation that doesn't really reinforce concepts from the course and the notes are put online, but there is regular homework for 5 points.
Oh well. I've gone to every one so far (not really helped with the course at all), and right now I could REALLY use a bit of a break. I hate doing this- I'm very strict on myself about skipping, and very rarely do it and never feel good about it as a rule- but I just spent an hour finishing a presentation, haven't gotten good sleep in a week, and wouldn't have enough time to eat if I went.
Moral dilemmas! Food!! SLEEP!!!
GM, I fell ya! The other day, actually, I very, VERY nearly crushed my mouse in my hand. Not nearly the stress you go through with the people you have to deal with (again, thank you for showing me a new line of work never to enter!), but it was enough. It's the reason I couldn't get enough sleep on sunday night/monday morning, and I'm extremely glad I didn't see another person because I might have snapped on them.
It's really not a good time, and I really hate it when anybody has to endure that. I'd say we're here for you, but I don't want to be used as a punching bag, so... throw a stress ball at people you hate or something. NO! A *soft* stress ball, not a rock! Put that down!
LZ, hey, now she's not an employee, you can speak your mind. Probably not a good idea to say absolutely EVERYthing bouncing around in there, but if she's still bugging you after having been severed from the company and now having nothing to do with you, the least you can do for her is explain why she never stood a chance with that attitude and how to fix it in her next job. Though I'm sure we all know what she'll do with that information... and what she'll tell you to do with it.
Yeah, I told her what the reason was. She said that one of the tardies shouldn't count because she told me that she had a migraine (one minute before her shift was scheduled to start, which I had repeatedly said was unacceptable). I pointed out that, even if we discount that one, she was still late 3 times during the evaluation period, which is one more per month than is allowed. She then concluded that we do math differentlt. I guess in her world, 4-1=/=3. Either that or in her world 3<2.
Haha. I would think you use simple math like that all the time in your line of work! ;)
But yeah, repeat-offenses of tardiness and missing work are bad enough, but it was just plain stupidity to do it WHILE ON PROBATION for that exact thing!
I'm a very forgiving guy, and love second chances. I always want to give someone a chance to give their point of view because mine has been discounted so much before. Hell, remember Sklorz, Mr. Goltovka himslef, and how I even heard HIM out via skype chat (only to conclude we were completely right about him all along when he tried to pull me in to help him ship within the US)?!
But yeah, even to me, this person was out of line. She had a second and third chance, and you clearly stated what was wrong and how to fix it, and she just shat all over it all. I have no clue why she's upset for being fired. At least when I screw up like that, I gladly accept the consequences I saw full well coming head-long at me.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha....!!! Oh I miss Sklorz! Where is he now? Probably off failing another scam, if I know him! The good 'ol days!
...So, while (surprise surprise) waiting on people to get back to me, I came across an article on MSN news. Apparently, the name of our neighbor province(British Columbia) is racist to one artist...and he is calling for it to be changed because it's an insult to the First Nations people that were there before(he is also a member of a First Nations group).
I just learned that 8 months ago, she had told one of the phlebotomists that she had some pot and wanted to know if this person wanted to smoke it with her. Now, I support legalization, but I wouldn't want people smoking it while on the job, especially in a clinical lab. If I had known, we could have taken care of this problem so long ago!
@LZ, yikes! Definitely not something you want to be dealing with in a lab, thats for sure! I support legalization, but I want the same basic rules of alcohol, on your free time, you're good, during work hours, fireable offence! Its the only way it would ever work. Imagine people working with heavy equipment! Yikes...
Also, hate to say it, but that might have been her problem all along. Just put the pipe down! Scheeesh!
Well, it would be fireable if it were legal, but now that it's not, it's arrestable. That could definitely have solved the problem before it manifested!
`
Just re-watched The Rutles: All You Need is Cash again, a satirical documentary by Eric Idle. It's really, really good! I watched it because it's Beatles Week in History of Rock, and I have to show my professor that now!
So, apparently, my manager believes I am hysterical right now with the amount of BS. I can't wait until Oct 31...I'm off that day, it's the big payroll(my main stress giver). It's the start of the payroll processing...she will end up seeing why I'm so irritable right now, and why I say I'm not chasing stuff down(her response to that was "You're in payroll, it's part of the job"...).
Aren't you more along the lines of Payroll Processing? I mean, if you're Payroll Gopher, then it'd make sense. Hell, with the amount of fetching of documents you deal with, they should hire a Payroll Fido.
@Zem: With the ~300 people I pay every two weeks(then the other ~40 the off weeks) I chase down WAY too much to do my job that I was hired for. Not to mention, trying to explain something to someone every other day(usually it's trying to tell them what the start of the pay period was).
And yes, my title at work is Payroll Processor.
Actually...it's Payroll Coordinator now that I'm looking at my email signature.
BaKhan, I agree that the pipe, or bong (we'll get there in a second) is probably part of the problem.
So many things are starting to make sense. A few months ago, the drainage hose for our pipette washer went missing. We were all fairly certain she had taken it, but couldn't figure out why. I mean, it was around 18 inches of 1.5-ish inch hose. Why take it? Well, with this new information, I'm sure it became part of her bong.
Hej cardgame-lovers: check out this little cute card game:
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Advertising? Should we... nah, campaign's over, we're just hanging out. Besides, we advertise all the time here! Might be interesting.
Yeah, looks pretty interesting. If I had money, I might think about it.
@LZ, lol! The crazy sh*t people do... no one in their right mind would do that! I work in a plumbing/heating wholesale, and when we get rid of /sell of our old display faucets etc., we always need to replace the missing screens... go figure. ;)
Right mind being the operative phrase there ;-)
I could see someone who's a little...off saying, "all the water that comes through here is clean; it should be okay to use for gettin' high"
I mean, there's only a tiny amount of God-only-knows-what in the pipettes cleaned here and alot of clean water going through, it should be clean enough to inhale!
And, we only wash the glass pipettes, and we only use those for the volumetric pipetting of DI water or buffer solutions, nothing biohazardous....
Oh. My. God. It's 4:15pm, and I am almost at where I should be for the payroll...even with missing/late paperwork! I may actually get to go home on time again today(though yesterday I probably should have stayed later...but my mental state is more important than people getting paid).
@GM, that's great!
I agree, your sanity is more important than a job.
GODDAMMIT! I just learned Fall Break is the week AFTER next! I was dreaming about going home, not doing anything this whole weekend and monday and tuesday next week! It was perfect happening this weekend, especially since it'd make sense with the football by-week. But no, I have a full nother week of trying not to go insane. This weekend would have been so perfect for it!
Well...going home early was a dream. When the VP of US Ops is talking with you, you can't exactly just say I'm done for the night and still expect to have a job....and I'm still here. -.-
Some say he's still there, listening to the USOPSVP.
*yawn* Morning kittens.
Good morning kittens!
To the tune of "The hall of the Mountain King" by Savatage: Madness reigns, in the hall of the USOPSVP!
Morning kittens.
Another day, another pain.
And this time...the pain actually has nothing to do with work...I walked into the half wall we have upstairs when I got out of the shower this morning(it's dark, the wall isn't exactly center with the doorway, didn't move over far enough).
@GM, sounds like you need a little night light there... ;)
There is one on the other side of the hallway...just not right outside the bathroom as my parents and sister both have their doors open at night, and would make it so they can't sleep(so they claim)
@GM, they are lucky I don't live there, I'm sure the light would be much less intrusive than my excessive cursing when I smacked into the wall.... ;)
They were all up at the time, but the light switch isn't in a good spot for me to hit it when I get out of the shower to avoid the wall too. Usually I put my hand out, but today I just didn't.
Glad I'm not the only one who walks into walls.
Howdy all.
@Trinkets, hey man! How goes the painting? I've finished off a few more pieces of my Z:BP, the evil queen and grin (necromances) as well as started on the bonus NPC's that came with the sgs.
@Trinkets: I like to mention that the wall leapt out of the dark at me, and my reaction speed wasn't fast enough to dodge it.
@GM, sounds like a good insurance claim... ;)
That's like the "The parked car came out of nowhere!" claim.
I avoid running into walls as a habit, but sometimes it's hard to avoid. So much peer pressure to be cool and run into walls on campus. I've tried stubbing my toes really, really hard on my bed's leg as a gateway drug, but I didn't enjoy the experience for the most part. My friend said "It's not the same thing, you just have to try walls, man!" before running head-long into a doorframe, but I just don't think it's my kind of scene.
Haha, right now my keyboard is on my earbud cord, so when I type it sounds like drums, and I can type fast enough and just irregulary enough it sounds like a Buddy Rich solo!
@Zem, or the telephone pole jumped out in front of my car! ;) Also, all the cool kids are jumping off of cliffs, shouldn't you too, if you want to be cool that is... ;)
Painting is going as smoothly as it can, BaKhan. Only problem is that I have been thrust into the role of Rules reader and How to Play coordinator of Ora & Labora. That took 2 nights of my time so painting has been put on hold until tonight. Hopefully finish up the Snowtroopers and Princess Leia. Wampas and Dengar are done and am very happ with them. Haven't even thought about Z:BP. And Conan shows up at the end of the month. Ugh.
BaKhan, I did jump off a cliff once! Not all the way up, I only climbed like 10 feet, but my cousins (who live there and do it all the time) cliff-dove from like 80 feet or more, don't remember anymore. And that was just in like Arkansas or something, I don't remember which cousins.
But yeah, I'm cool! I jumped off a cliff!
I'd say that counts, Zem
Lol, BaKhan, I always got a similar saying from my mom. "If all your friends jumped off of a bridge, would you?
@Trinkets, not only would I, but I did! ;) Then again, I do have oppositional diffiance issues so... ;)
Do you get to have an elastic cord wrapped around you?
Because otherwise, I've never understood that saying. Why is everyone jumping off of a bridge? Suicide, bungee jumping, or a shortcut and the bridge is only like 2 feet high are the only reasons I can think of, and I'm guessing it's not the first option, so then yes, I would. Probably. Bungee jumping is scary and my bowels might jump before I do.
Good morning all!
Good morning kittens!
@Zem, for me it was how deep the water was. We were jumping from a train bridge in a huge park, into the river, which is quite deep there. I'm sure that as long as that bridge has been there, people have been jumping off of it. The actually installed some cables to stop people from jumping off of it, somehow (don't ask me...) the cables where cut, repeatedly, until they stopped replacing them... ;)
Morning kittens. It's almost Friday...and I almost fell back asleep this morning.
@GM, thats why I have a feet on the floor rule. For years and years, I would ignore the alarm, or shut if off and fall back asleep. When I started working here (16 years ago...) I was late a few times because of it. Then I developed what I call the feet on the floor rule. The alarm goes off, sit up, put your feet on the floor, then turn the alarm off. It helped me a lot. Of course, now I have a very hard time sleeping in, and in fact not waking up before my alarm... ;)
@BaKhan: A few times this week, and last week, I woke up an hour before my alarm...and I think is affected my stupidity tolerance.
@GM, I get that, I think I was born with a stupidity intollerance... ;)
I almost went back to sleep after my alarm today. It's just getting dark when I wake up and I haven't gotten regular sleep all week. Very tempting.
I have a digital watch with a broken strap taped to my bed that I use as my alarm, but if sleeping after turning it off becomes a problem, I'll put it on my desk and maybe even use my phone so I force myself to get up. I will HATE that, but it forces you to get up, so then I'd be just barely awake enough to not walk back to bed and crawl in, if only by sheer force of will.
They've found that waking up at the same time every day is actually a bad idea. Your body starts producing stress hormones big-time before you even wake up! The regularity of it lets your body predict it, so you also wake up before the alarm and can't go back to sleep.
The thing I possibly love most about college is my very slightly irregular schedule. Even a half hour difference most days keeps my brain in check. I had that problem really, REALLY badly in high-school, but now I never do!
So yeah, if you're waking up before your alarm and waking up already stressed or pissy, just try waking up alternating half an hour apart every day, like 7:00 and 7:30 like me. Or an hour if possible; I forget the optimal variation time they found, but an hour of extra sleep sounds beautiful!
@Zem, changing my schedule like that would actually cause me more stress. Because of my ocpd, I find it soothing to have "best practices" they help me avoid stressful situations (that most people wouldn't find stressful at all). Part of my morining routine is getting out of the house and on the road by a certain time. If I don't have to deal with annoying amounts of traffic in the morning, I have a much better day overall. Also sometimes I wonder if the "they" actually work in real world situations where things like attendance and timeliness matter?
Change is bad. We fear change.
I misplaced my wallet last night. Didn't realize it until this morning while I was getting ready for work. Spent so long looking for it, I was 3 minutes late for work instead of 15 minutes early. Then I spent the next hour freaking the F out!!!!! I felt like I needed to rip my skin off and run around. It was so debilitating that my boss sent me home so I could find it. Took 15 minutes to find it. I am still trying to get right. That was 3.5 hours ago.
@Trinkets, I'm sorry to hear that! I know how you feel! If something is off, or not in the right place, I start down a pretty dark path, even if the situation is rectified, I still struggle to return to "normal"... The funny thing is people always think I'm very calm and relaxed, and I'm there thinking damn people I'm falling apart here! ;)
@Trinkets and @BaKhan: That's why I hate when the cleaners come into my office and clean it when I'm not around. EVERYTHING is moved around on my desk. I like my monitors where they are, I like my phone where it is, I like my folder stands where they are. Whenever they clean(dust really...that's all they do) I need to reorganize, re-straighten, and make sure everything is where it should be. Usually take an hour or so because it just doesn't feel right, then I spend the rest of the day adjusting it still.
I get the same way
And I have to say (this is completely unrelated) that a French press is the way to go when making coffee! So much better.
Back to the topic: my mother-in-law thought I was controlling because she saw me get frustrated when I got home from work one evening and couldn't find my homework or school books. It was about 10:30 at night, and I had to get up at 5:30 to go to school the next day. She and the wife had cleaned up while I was at work, and had put my school stuff in what to me was the least logical place to put it.
I'm not severely like that, but I do get that way so often. Really, I'm only not like that anymore. I used to be that bad, and it started driving me crazy. The worst thing ever was when a teacher didn't erase properly, and there were just errant marks strewn across the board. Thankfully, a girl in class had the same problem as me, but wasn't shy, so sometimes just got up and erased the rest and then we could focus.
A french press is amazing! I love them and wish I had one. Then again, I go through so much coffee whenever I have some that just one cup would be nearly impossible for me. I usually make at least 6 cups, often 8 nowadays, and I used to only (for the OCPD topic at hand) be able to make 12 because anything less than a perfectly full pot didn't seem right.
`
mmmmmmmmmmmmm... coffee...
Now look what you did, LZ! I need to make some!
@LZ: Growing up, whenever I left something somewhere in my room, I knew where it was because to me that's where it belonged. If my parents every thought my room needed to be cleaned, and figured I wouldn't do it, they would tidy up and put stuff where they thought it belonged. Always made me spend HOURS searching for something small
The worst part about when someone cleans and puts stuff in the least logical place to you is that the least logical place turns out to be one of the most practical places! Then you feel stupid, but go right back to what you did before.
But yeah, I've never understood why, when people clean, they feel the need to move everything important. My brother had a girlfriend (my only brother to have a girlfriend ever, actually) who LOVED cleaning. That's great! So good that someone loves to do it! Except that when she came to our house, sometimes she'd follow through on her threats and we might not find something for a day or two even if it made sense where it was.