Last of 2022. Just a quick one.

   My last post of 2022. Well well well. :)

   I know I've been lax - things come up, and time gets short. In fact, I had several ideas I was going to talk about, but they were somewhat 'seasonal' and it's too late now (no one wants to hear about Christmas stuff after it's over. Maybe next year...). However, I *can* talk about...
   Resolutions. As in, New Year's.
  As in, I don't do them.

   Now, I get the whole 'New year/New Slate' thing; people sometimes need a little push to get themselves to do something: get a new job, lose weight, quit smoking, etc. They see the start on the new year as a fresh start - something to get them up and running! To get them energized! To Get Things DONE!!
   Not me.
   For me, I don't need an excuse to start (or end) something around January 1st. If I want to do it, I do it. I don't need a calendar to decide that for me. If the mood strikes me in July, well then, that's good enough. If I have to wait a bit before I can get it started (say, because of weather), then I'll wait until I can do it as soon as possible. You see, I'm a bit of a procrastinator; I need to get motivated to do something as soon as I can, so I can get it finished. Otherwise, who knows how long it's going to take? Plus, if I start something, then stop at a  certain point, it might take me a bit to pick it up again. And when that happens, I feel the need to rush it, which isn't always good. I'm a lot better about things now, though. Maybe because I'm older, and make myself plan my time better. But, sooner started, sooner finished.

  That's one of the reasons why I pass on resolutions. I put stuff off enough without them. Who knows how long I'd put them off with them?
 

Ho Ho NO!

  As I write this, it's early November in 2022. Hallowe'en just ended, midterm elections are coming up, Thanksgiving is in a few weeks, and (no real surprise) Christmas things are a-happening.
   
   Like just about every kid, there was a time when I loved Christmas; time off from school, the lights, snow, and of course, presents! It's great when you're younger. But, as you get older, things change somewhat. Work might let you have some time off (retail, not so much; and with the ability of working from home, you "don't need time off!"), you have to hang the lights yourself (after untangling them, of course), you have to shovel the snow yourself if you can't make or pay anyone to do it, and you have to buy and wrap the gifts. Not as much fun as it was in the past, is it?

   I'm not that into Christmas anymore...I don't hang lights, I don't really shop, and I find that it's just not as 'magical' as it once was. Maybe because I don't have children...or maybe because I once worked in retail, and have seen some things.
   Here's two examples of what I mean:

   In the early '80s, I worked in a local toy store. That in itself wasn't an issue. What was, was that the Cabbage Patch Kids first appeared. It was INSANE! Moms fighting other moms, people hanging around the loading dock to try and get us to "accidentally" drop a doll or two into their car...just unreal. If you've thought Tickle Me Elmo was madness, read this.
   
   The second, isn't so much something I've experienced, but always happens happens every damn year.
   There is a coffee establishment that is known for various specialty coffee drinks. For a while, they would have 'festive holiday cups' with MERRY CHRISTMAS written on the sides. People make it a point to get these things just to show off. "Look at me! I'm FESTIVE!!!" Well, goody for you. I'd have never guessed...what with your Christmas sweater, Christmas leggings, Christmas novelty hat, Christmas light-up necklace, Christmas details on your car, etc. And now, you've got the cup! Congratulations! You've completed the Holiday Voltron!
   And then.....the writing on the cups stopped. They ended up with designs: trees, ornaments, reindeer, snowflakes (much like the Holiday people). But no holiday greetings. Madness! Insanity! How will we know if someone is festive or not? How will someone know that *I* am festive, without the cup?!?! NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!
   So, what did they do? Just drink the coffee in the non-festive cup, and be happy they have coffee? Why, no! "Boycott!" "Law suit!" "Protest!" And my favourite? "When you get a drink, tell them your name is 'Merry Christmas'! That way, they'll have to call out 'Merry Christmas'! GENIUS!!!" Morons.
 
   Look, as long as the cup isn't racist, homophobic, or sexist, I don't care what's on the outside. It's on the inside that counts. Much like people. Lead by example during the Holiday season. 'Peace on Earth, good will towards men (or humanity, if you prefer)' shouldn't be just a saying. Live it all year round.

   It's what the cups would want us to do.

Yes, another thing about work.....

 Well well well. Yet another work post. Will they never end? :)
Probably not...

   Recently, we've had yet another person let go. Just your standard No Call No Show. Seems that on a Wednesday, he called to say that his car wouldn't start. Okay, fine. But on Thursday and Friday, nothing. Not a call or text; just silence. Shows up on Monday, with no explanation. Seems that the contract service he belongs to (yes, we contract people for work, with the object to hire them eventually) didn't let him know not to come back, since there was no explanation at all for the absence. Our supervisor contacted them, and told them what was up, and to call him to tell him. They did, and he's gone.
   Now, another contract person - our last one, by the way - has pulled a few attendance 'tricks' as well: last minute call-ins, "Oh, I forgot to tell you", and the latest one: "I'll be there later. No, I don't know when." Followed up by: "I'll be there around 8:30." Then: "Nine o'clock." Then: "Stuck in traffic. When I get there I'll get there." Which he did. At 9:45.
   At the moment, he have someone out for medical issues; they should be back soon. But when people pull stuff like this, it screws us up and pushes other things back that we need to do.It doesn't help that these two still live at home, and don't need too much money it seems. The second person will probably be gone next week (just a thought). Which would not surprise me, but still screws us over. Attendance is IMPORTANT, people! just saying...
   
   Speaking of which...

I've mentioned before about our gift card program(which is currently on hold because of whining); it was just something our shop was doing. Now, though, the company has one in place that awards good attendance. Surprise, huh? The idea is, every quarter the names of people with good attendance are put together, and one is drawn. That person gets a $250 gift card. I've been in it the two times it's been done; missed out on the first, but won the second. It's company-wide, so you would think that with over 100 names, it would be difficult. But you'd be wrong.
   The first time, only 6 were eligible.
   The second time, 4.
   Now, this takes into account approved days off (like say, for a vacation). You'd be eligible for it for that. Call-ins, for being sick or otherwise, no. It's not that hard, people: show up, and you'd get a chance. But even then, people have a hard time at it.


   Some would fall back on the old "No one wants to work anymore!!!" thing, but I think it's more like "I want to earn money, but I want to do it my own way, without rules! You're lucky to have me here at all!" Well, no, we aren't. YOU'RE lucky we decided to give you a chance. Yes, there are rules, but they're there for a reason: to make sure you show up, and do the work you're here to do. You don't like it? Fine. Don
't be here then. Yes, it will inconvenience us, but we'll make it work. Just remember that eventually, you'll have to work *somewhere*. And follow their rules. Yes, it will be a pain, but if you're lucky, you'll benefit from it. Trust me.


   Failing that, good luck winning the lottery someday....

Requiescant in pace Reginae Elisabethae

     Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022)

Life's A Long Song

 

"Life Is A Long Song"

When you're falling awake and you take stock of the new day,
and you hear your voice croak as you choke on what you need to say,
well, don't you fret, don't you fear,
I will give you good cheer.

Life's a long song.
Life's a long song.
Life's a long song.

If you wait then your plate I will fill.

As the verses unfold and your soul suffers the long day,
and the twelve o'clock gloom spins the room,
you struggle on your way.
Well, don't you sigh, don't you cry,
lick the dust from your eye.

Life's a long song.
Life's a long song.
Life's a long song.

We will meet in the sweet light of dawn.

As the Baker Street train spills your pain all over your new dress,
and the symphony sounds underground put you under duress,
well don't you squeal as the heel grinds you under the wheel.

Life's a long song.
Life's a long song.
Life's a long song.

But the tune ends too soon for us all. 

 

            ----Ian Anderson

No-Cheat contract

    There's a woman on TikTok who has come up with a rather unique way to keep her fiancee on the straight and narrow: she's had a contract drawn up that says if he cheats on her, he has to pay all of her bills. You read that right. To quote from yahoo(dot)com:
 - “I have just reached a new level of crazy,” she stated. “I just made well, not made, he did it out of his own free will, but my fiance just signed a legal document and we got it notarized that if he cheats on me, he has to pay my bills.” She added, “I’m so smart or so crazy, I don’t know.”-

     Well, let me tell ya something....
  Personally, I only have one issue with this. If he willingly signed it, that's fine; that's on him. But, my way of thinking is, if *I* have to sign one, then *YOU* have to sign one, also. It's not a one-way street here. All or nothing; both, or none.

      Look, I'm not a cheater. It's just not in me. It's just a weird thing to me; if you feel the need to step out on the person you're with, just break up. It's obvious that at least one of you doesn't want to continue the relationship, so just end it. And don't use your kids as an excuse. Don't put them in the middle. Come to a workable, mutually beneficial agreement, and go your own ways. 

      Don't agree? That's fine. Whatever works for you, then that's okay. But don't try and make me sign a document that benefits you, if you're not going to do the same. Think of it as Mutually Assured Destruction: both sides are threatened, so both sides behave. If they have an issue with signing one, but want me to sign it, that tells me that they are either thinking about doing it themselves, or have already done it. Either way, I'm not doing it. If it ends the relationship, then it's probably for the best. If trust isn't there,  then the relationship isn't going to work. 

       If you don't trust me, how can I trust you?

Power out equals stupid people

    Recently, we've had a power outage. For a little over 50 hours - a quarter to six in the afternoon on Monday, August 29, until a little over eight in the evening on Wednesday, August 31 - we, along with over 500,000 people, lost power due to a wicked storm that blew through. Heavy rain and high winds doesn't play well with trees; they sometimes fall against power lines and people are in the dark. Luckily, we had some of our camping gear, so we had lights. Plus our stove is gas, so that helped. 

     What didn't, though, was our food. Eventually, we had to throw out everything we had: eggs, cheese, meat (our chest freezer was PACKED with stuff!)...you name it, it was tossed. :) So, of course, we went shopping. The only cold things we bought, we cooked the same day. Just like in Medieval times! :D

       After the power came back, we went shopping for more cold stuff to restock. But, before it came back, the traffic lights were out, so they were treated as four-way stops, complete with signs in place to help out the drivers. Except they didn't. 

      This is where the stupid comes in. If you think people are dangerous on the roads during normal times, they are worse when they are forced to be courteous. "Stop? Me? Nonsense!" Then they just zip right through, with no thoughts or concerns for the safety of the other drivers. Didn't see any accidents, but seen some close calls. I can honestly say, that if I had a junker car, there *may* have been a fender-bender or two happen. Allegedly.....

       I swear, whenever someone brings up the idea of the world being in an apocalypse, and they think that THEY will somehow survive and be in charge, I compare them to those drivers and think, "No you won't. You'll be among the first to be wiped out because you have absolutely no sense of self-preservation. You take too many risks to last more than a day."  And I just smile quietly to myself and take a mental inventory of their stuff, just in case I'll need something when it happens. 

      Because, hey, you never know......