In my last blog, I was angry because my co-buyer was doing my job and it frustrated me because I am constantly listening to her complaining to our boss that she has too much work. Of course, this is a woman who has no friends or life for that matter so she starts work early, works late and sometimes works Saturdays.
It's now 4 hours later and I have cooled off. I have realized that being angry doesn't get me anywhere because no matter what, nothing will change (I know this because it's been the same way between us for almost 4 years). Instead of being angry with her, I have decided to just feel sorry for her. I have a great life, wonderful family, super friends and being involved in the Moose organizations keeps me busy most evenings and weekends. I am a very lucky person as compared to my poor pathetic co-buyer who is married to this company because she is a lonely woman.
Now I feel better. I still have to be here 2 more years until I retire but knowing there is a light at the end of the tunnel in such a short time, makes putting up with her more bearable.
Friday, May 18, 2007
How Not To Be A Co-Worker
I am so angry here at the office, I can spit and since there is no one here I can talk about it to, I have decided this is blog is a great place to vent.
I am a buyer of components for computer products. There are 3 other buyers. All have been assigned specific commodities to purchase and we are supposed to be the only one who buys the products assigned to us.
One of my co-buyers is an "alpha" buyer. This means she has decided she is much better than the rest of us. She has specifically singled me out as prey. I don't know why but from the day I walked into this company almost 4 years ago, she has treated me like trash (if she treats me at all which is rare). I can count on one hand the times she has been nice, and usually the only time she talks to me at all is to find a way to make sure it's a critical comment. I have no idea why she feels this way and since I only have 2 years of work time left, I almost don't care.
Unfortunately, our immediate boss thinks this woman is a saint and why shouldn't he. She has no friends nor does she have a life outside this company. She comes in early and stays late, and any work related thing he asks of her, she is more than willing to take the time to do. Our VP knows this and he also knows how this buyer feels about me. He and I have worked together before so I try not to use him as ammunitation or a sounding board. I would change jobs but outside of my co-buyer's attitude, it's a pretty good place to work and I really only have 2 years left until retirement.
Now the reason I am furious. I received an E-mail report this morning indicating how some buys were made. When I looked at the sheet, lo and behold, they were my products but I hadn't placed these specific order numbers. SHE had!! Not only that, but I had purchased on Monday per a request from one of the other buyers so obviously SHE never checked that. SHE just decided to order my components either because SHE doesn't have anything else to do (which would be strange because SHE is always complaining about how much work SHE has)or perish the thought, SHE wanted to help me out (NAH). I am so frustrated but there is absolutely no one I can complain to outside of the VP and that would make me sound like a whiner. I intent to keep the paperwork as proof in case my boss decides to question my work ethics. I can show him that I don't have to buy because SHE does it for me.
Well I feel a little better but not much. Only 2 years left. I wonder if anyone will notice that I have started making marks on the wall as the days go by?
I am a buyer of components for computer products. There are 3 other buyers. All have been assigned specific commodities to purchase and we are supposed to be the only one who buys the products assigned to us.
One of my co-buyers is an "alpha" buyer. This means she has decided she is much better than the rest of us. She has specifically singled me out as prey. I don't know why but from the day I walked into this company almost 4 years ago, she has treated me like trash (if she treats me at all which is rare). I can count on one hand the times she has been nice, and usually the only time she talks to me at all is to find a way to make sure it's a critical comment. I have no idea why she feels this way and since I only have 2 years of work time left, I almost don't care.
Unfortunately, our immediate boss thinks this woman is a saint and why shouldn't he. She has no friends nor does she have a life outside this company. She comes in early and stays late, and any work related thing he asks of her, she is more than willing to take the time to do. Our VP knows this and he also knows how this buyer feels about me. He and I have worked together before so I try not to use him as ammunitation or a sounding board. I would change jobs but outside of my co-buyer's attitude, it's a pretty good place to work and I really only have 2 years left until retirement.
Now the reason I am furious. I received an E-mail report this morning indicating how some buys were made. When I looked at the sheet, lo and behold, they were my products but I hadn't placed these specific order numbers. SHE had!! Not only that, but I had purchased on Monday per a request from one of the other buyers so obviously SHE never checked that. SHE just decided to order my components either because SHE doesn't have anything else to do (which would be strange because SHE is always complaining about how much work SHE has)or perish the thought, SHE wanted to help me out (NAH). I am so frustrated but there is absolutely no one I can complain to outside of the VP and that would make me sound like a whiner. I intent to keep the paperwork as proof in case my boss decides to question my work ethics. I can show him that I don't have to buy because SHE does it for me.
Well I feel a little better but not much. Only 2 years left. I wonder if anyone will notice that I have started making marks on the wall as the days go by?
Monday, May 14, 2007
A feast for my eyes but not my stomach
Yesterday at our Moose Lodge, the men put on a feast for the Ladies. All women entering the hall received a long stemmed rose and a poem about motherhood on a beautiful card. It was agreed that every female member of the lodge plus their mothers even if they were not members would eat for free. Husbands, fathers and kids paid to eat.
There was plenty of food including omlettes (with crab meat, mushrooms, tomatoes, cheese, onions etc) plus plain scrambled eggs, ham, bacon, sausage, hash browns, bagels with cream cheese and lox, olives and to top it off, strawberry shortcake with homemade whipped cream (one of our Lodge brothers saw Martha Stewart make it on her show and followed her receipe) with both the strawberries and whipped cream piled high to almost overflowing in two huge (20") silver bowls. Everything was perfectly displayed to attract the most attention.
I walked past all the food and realized that none of it appealed to me which means my stomach bypass is still holding strong. I had half a bagel with a little cream cheese and a couple of slices of lox. In the past I might have been sad because I couldn't try everything, but to the contrary, I was very pleased that my by pass surgery over a year ago achieved it's purpose even though my lodge brothers and sisters felt bad for both John who had the surgery in January and me. Everyone who walked by kept trying to give us food but we both chuckled and waved them off.
Ok, so if the food didn't turn me on - what did? The guys did. All 15 of them were dressed in white shirts and black pants. Perfectly spiffy as we used to say. The officer who was seating everyone and pouring the champagne was even wearing his tuxedo. Boy these guys sure clean up nice. I made sure to personally tell each lodge brother not only how wonderful they made mothers day for all of us but especially how handsome each one looked. The grins alone were worth it. I love these guys. I have known most since we formed this lodge 17 years ago. They and their wives and kids are all like close family members. Seeing them all dressed up for us really warmed my heart. I may not have craved any of the food but at least my eyes had the chance to feast on how handsome our guys looked.
There was plenty of food including omlettes (with crab meat, mushrooms, tomatoes, cheese, onions etc) plus plain scrambled eggs, ham, bacon, sausage, hash browns, bagels with cream cheese and lox, olives and to top it off, strawberry shortcake with homemade whipped cream (one of our Lodge brothers saw Martha Stewart make it on her show and followed her receipe) with both the strawberries and whipped cream piled high to almost overflowing in two huge (20") silver bowls. Everything was perfectly displayed to attract the most attention.
I walked past all the food and realized that none of it appealed to me which means my stomach bypass is still holding strong. I had half a bagel with a little cream cheese and a couple of slices of lox. In the past I might have been sad because I couldn't try everything, but to the contrary, I was very pleased that my by pass surgery over a year ago achieved it's purpose even though my lodge brothers and sisters felt bad for both John who had the surgery in January and me. Everyone who walked by kept trying to give us food but we both chuckled and waved them off.
Ok, so if the food didn't turn me on - what did? The guys did. All 15 of them were dressed in white shirts and black pants. Perfectly spiffy as we used to say. The officer who was seating everyone and pouring the champagne was even wearing his tuxedo. Boy these guys sure clean up nice. I made sure to personally tell each lodge brother not only how wonderful they made mothers day for all of us but especially how handsome each one looked. The grins alone were worth it. I love these guys. I have known most since we formed this lodge 17 years ago. They and their wives and kids are all like close family members. Seeing them all dressed up for us really warmed my heart. I may not have craved any of the food but at least my eyes had the chance to feast on how handsome our guys looked.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY BRUDDER
Tomorrow, May 11th is my brother's birthday. He is 2 years and 9 months younger than me. I don't remember a lot from that year, except one thing. Well, to be honest, it's not his birth I remember but the excitement of getting a new "grown" up bed (obviously because the new kid coming in was taking the crib). I had the same bed for 18 years until I left home and moved to California. When my parents moved here years later, I was upset that my mom sold the bed before they left Montreal, and to this day, I wish I knew who bought it. I would love to buy it back but, unfortunately my mom never told me who bought it and now it's too late.
I don't remember ever being jealous like some children are when there are new siblings. One of the reasons I would love to have the bed back is right down the middle of the large headboard there is a long scratch. When we were about 9 and 6, Frank and I were playing war on the bed and I scratched the line to show his side and mine. I remember getting my first spanking for that one. Frank was the disobedient child and most of the future attention was given to him. While he was in high school, my mom spent more time at the school than he did. He was too busy hustling pool games for money. While I was the one smoking in my teens, my dad automatically assumed it was Frank. The kid never finked on me. When we were kids, Frank was the one who cooked breakfast for us each morning so that my mom could sleep in. He is still an excellent cook. We were close as kids and 60 years later, we are close as adults even though we live 3000 miles apart, and Frank travels for his employer most of the year.
Next month, both of us will be in Iowa looking at property. In a couple of years, we will be living close together again and I can't wait. He is still the kid I grew up with. Sometimes silly, sometimes serious but always loving. He was my aunt's favorite and still is. My cousins and I think it's because he is the only male cousin, but it's more than that. It's his friendly, mischevious side everyone loves. and even though his hair is grey, he still has the heart of that little sneaky kid.
So happy 61st bro. Thanks for getting me that new bed 61 years ago, thanks for taking dad's flack about smoking and most of all, thanks for just being the super brother you are.
I don't remember ever being jealous like some children are when there are new siblings. One of the reasons I would love to have the bed back is right down the middle of the large headboard there is a long scratch. When we were about 9 and 6, Frank and I were playing war on the bed and I scratched the line to show his side and mine. I remember getting my first spanking for that one. Frank was the disobedient child and most of the future attention was given to him. While he was in high school, my mom spent more time at the school than he did. He was too busy hustling pool games for money. While I was the one smoking in my teens, my dad automatically assumed it was Frank. The kid never finked on me. When we were kids, Frank was the one who cooked breakfast for us each morning so that my mom could sleep in. He is still an excellent cook. We were close as kids and 60 years later, we are close as adults even though we live 3000 miles apart, and Frank travels for his employer most of the year.
Next month, both of us will be in Iowa looking at property. In a couple of years, we will be living close together again and I can't wait. He is still the kid I grew up with. Sometimes silly, sometimes serious but always loving. He was my aunt's favorite and still is. My cousins and I think it's because he is the only male cousin, but it's more than that. It's his friendly, mischevious side everyone loves. and even though his hair is grey, he still has the heart of that little sneaky kid.
So happy 61st bro. Thanks for getting me that new bed 61 years ago, thanks for taking dad's flack about smoking and most of all, thanks for just being the super brother you are.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
HOW TO FIRE A CELEBRITY
I just read that Rosie O'Donnell is being fired from the TV program "The View" and will be leaving in June. That's 6 weeks away. To be honest, I haven't watched the show in the year she has been on mainly because I work and my company would frown if I watched TV all day. I know Rosie has been outspoken and has gotten in a few verbal brawls with other celebrities, and I am sure being unemployed isn't going to put her in the unemployment line or the poor house.
What I am wondering, however, how come celebrities who get fired or give notice that they are leaving as Katie Couric did, get to stay on a while. When the civilian population gets fired, they are usually given a few hours to clean out their desks and some companies require that the fired employee is escorted out the building. Even employees who are leaving on their own are usually only given a week. Companies do this so that the employees won't talk to other employees. If one is being fired, one might not have the best opinion of their employers and if one is leaving voluntarily, there is obbviously a reason they are changing jobs so why would the company want them around?
Celebrities on the other hand get to stay on just like Rosie and Katie (she stayed 3 more months). How will Rosie act in front of the audience the next 6 weeks knowing she has been axed? What's she going to do? Will she rave about how happy she is that she will get some vacation time or how wonderful Barbara Walters is for firing her? Maybe she will take advantage of the extra air time to appeal to the members of the audience to give her a job. You know "anyone can rent a comedian for the day". I just don't understand the firing concept of the show business industry!!!
What I am wondering, however, how come celebrities who get fired or give notice that they are leaving as Katie Couric did, get to stay on a while. When the civilian population gets fired, they are usually given a few hours to clean out their desks and some companies require that the fired employee is escorted out the building. Even employees who are leaving on their own are usually only given a week. Companies do this so that the employees won't talk to other employees. If one is being fired, one might not have the best opinion of their employers and if one is leaving voluntarily, there is obbviously a reason they are changing jobs so why would the company want them around?
Celebrities on the other hand get to stay on just like Rosie and Katie (she stayed 3 more months). How will Rosie act in front of the audience the next 6 weeks knowing she has been axed? What's she going to do? Will she rave about how happy she is that she will get some vacation time or how wonderful Barbara Walters is for firing her? Maybe she will take advantage of the extra air time to appeal to the members of the audience to give her a job. You know "anyone can rent a comedian for the day". I just don't understand the firing concept of the show business industry!!!
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
COUNTING THE DAYS
It seems all the 5 cousins are counting days right now. One of my cousins works for the school board and she is counting days until summer vacation and the other cousin and her hubby are going to Ireland in June so she too is counting days.
By co-incidence, I am also counting days. I also have a trip planned in June (no, not to Ireland) and I will be spending time with my brother whom I haven't seen in about 4 years. He and I will meet with some friends in Iowa and spend a week with them checking out houses and towns since we plan to retire there in two years. I am assuming that my brother is also counting the days until he too is on vacation.
The last of the 5 cousins is in the process of moving at the end of April so she too is counting days until the move is completed.
When it dawned on me that all of us were counting days, I was in shock. What happens when all this wishing is over and life returns to the normal every day occurance. We will be a grumpy pack of cousins that's what will happen. At least we will all be in the same mood at the same time!! Isn't that something to forward to in September???
By co-incidence, I am also counting days. I also have a trip planned in June (no, not to Ireland) and I will be spending time with my brother whom I haven't seen in about 4 years. He and I will meet with some friends in Iowa and spend a week with them checking out houses and towns since we plan to retire there in two years. I am assuming that my brother is also counting the days until he too is on vacation.
The last of the 5 cousins is in the process of moving at the end of April so she too is counting days until the move is completed.
When it dawned on me that all of us were counting days, I was in shock. What happens when all this wishing is over and life returns to the normal every day occurance. We will be a grumpy pack of cousins that's what will happen. At least we will all be in the same mood at the same time!! Isn't that something to forward to in September???
Monday, April 9, 2007
SPRING FEVER - CALIFORNIA VERSION
I grew up in Montreal, Canada! Although I have lived in southern California over 40 years, I still get spring fever. Not quite as severe as I did in Canada but enough to recognize the symptoms.
As long as I have lived in California, people still ask me what I miss most about Canada. My answer has always been the same. The wonderful aroma of lilacs. People who grew up in southern California cannot understand how important lilacs are to the weary winter mind. After 5 long months of cabin fever, nothing signals spring like the smell of lilacs in the air even though they only last about 3 to 5 weeks, it's absolutely worth the wait. Lilacs need super cold to bloom and southern California weather makes growing lilacs almost impossible. Dedicated growers put 25 lbs of ice on the roots each night for about 4 months and even then, the color might be right but the aroma is very faint
Last week I attended a Moose function in Santa Barbara. Decorating the main table was a vase filled with REAL lilacs. At first I wasn't sure they were real but as I approached the table, the unmistakeable aroma hit my nose and I about passed out. I picked up the vase and stuck my entire face into the blooms. I was in shock. I couldn't imagine how lilacs magically appeared in Southern California. Not only real lilacs but lilacs with the full blossom aroma.
The member who brought them explained that the temperature in the Santa Barbara area this year was so cold that only a small amount of ice was required and her entire bush was filled with the best smelling flowers rather than the few sprigs she usually gets. I was in absolute heaven. I didn't care who was in the room. I sat the vase in front of me the entire evening. I need not have worried about competitionm, since the other attendees had all grown up in southern California and had no idea why these little purple flowers were so important, I had no competition trying to take the vase away from me. Kathy even let me take them home after the Moose function. They only lived 2 days but by that time, I had worn them out.
Now my spring fever is at a maximum level. My lilac sinuses have been opened and they are telling my brain that after 40 years, it's truly spring. This might be the best spring I enjoy since I moved to California. The aroma was exactly what my mind thought had been missing. It's officially spring in California.
As long as I have lived in California, people still ask me what I miss most about Canada. My answer has always been the same. The wonderful aroma of lilacs. People who grew up in southern California cannot understand how important lilacs are to the weary winter mind. After 5 long months of cabin fever, nothing signals spring like the smell of lilacs in the air even though they only last about 3 to 5 weeks, it's absolutely worth the wait. Lilacs need super cold to bloom and southern California weather makes growing lilacs almost impossible. Dedicated growers put 25 lbs of ice on the roots each night for about 4 months and even then, the color might be right but the aroma is very faint
Last week I attended a Moose function in Santa Barbara. Decorating the main table was a vase filled with REAL lilacs. At first I wasn't sure they were real but as I approached the table, the unmistakeable aroma hit my nose and I about passed out. I picked up the vase and stuck my entire face into the blooms. I was in shock. I couldn't imagine how lilacs magically appeared in Southern California. Not only real lilacs but lilacs with the full blossom aroma.
The member who brought them explained that the temperature in the Santa Barbara area this year was so cold that only a small amount of ice was required and her entire bush was filled with the best smelling flowers rather than the few sprigs she usually gets. I was in absolute heaven. I didn't care who was in the room. I sat the vase in front of me the entire evening. I need not have worried about competitionm, since the other attendees had all grown up in southern California and had no idea why these little purple flowers were so important, I had no competition trying to take the vase away from me. Kathy even let me take them home after the Moose function. They only lived 2 days but by that time, I had worn them out.
Now my spring fever is at a maximum level. My lilac sinuses have been opened and they are telling my brain that after 40 years, it's truly spring. This might be the best spring I enjoy since I moved to California. The aroma was exactly what my mind thought had been missing. It's officially spring in California.
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