December 2013

[logans_girl2001]

12/2/13

Back in May or June I didn't have enough money to pay my parents the car payment so started paying them $300 every month. Because of this I didn't have enough for what I call incidentals such as ibuprofen.

I started running low back in September and brought my emergency stash home from work. Then about a month ago it became obvious that taking it twice a day wasn't possible any longer so I started taking it only when needed (as in when my back hurt so much I could hardly stand or my head hurt so bad I was afraid it would turn into a migraine).

I haven't taken any for a least a couple weeks now and for most of that time my hands, specifically my fingers, have been hurting really bad (even more so after driving for three hours to my grandmother's house on Thursday).

I called Mom last night to tell her I finally figured out why my hands have been hurting so she gave me some ibuprofen. I took some last night and this morning my fingers don't hurt nearly as much as they have been which leads me to believe that the pain in my fingers was indeed because I wasn't taking ibuprofen daily. Hopefully I'll be able to afford some come Friday.

12/3/13

A week or so ago, a coworker, JL (yes, I know there are a lot of people with J names at my place of employment) tendered her resignation. Soon after the announcement was made that they are looking for her replacement. I considered applying but since the job requires AT MINUMUM an Associates degree, which I DO NOT have, I didn't. Plus, I figured that M would apply and be given it. He did and today they announced that he got it. I immediately emailed JW and asked to be given another chance at the accounting assistant's position.

Around 11 JW called me into her office and before telling me about a project she wants me to do, she told me that I would not be getting the position. The reason why? I didn't apply for the finance assistant job. They decided to offer it to someone who applied for JL's former position. JW even went so far as to say to me, "You know how we like to promote from within but the decision has already been made."

What my anxiety disorder heard was: "You suck and we're punishing you for your failure over the summer. But if you had been foolish enough to apply for the position, knowing you're unqualified, we would have laughed at you behind your back. So you're also being punished for not providing us with that entertainment."

She told me that she thinks I've been doing a good job and will be giving me projects to work on. And yet, they didn't think that I'd like to have another shot at that position!? Especially when it was implied that it was created for me?

I ended up having a panic attack and had to force myself to stay at work because I couldn't afford (work wise) to leave.

Now I'm going to update my resume and upload it to Careerbuilders.com and monster.com.

Even though I'm not really online anymore, I do occasionally check my emails and found the journal of a Lutheran pastor's wife. She posted the following questionnaire back in 2010. Thought I'd go ahead and fill it out.
***Please don't read any further if you are triggered by mentions of rape***
01) Are you currently in a serious relationship? Nope. Last one was seventeen years back in August.
02) What was your dream growing up? To be a veterinarian.
03) What talent do you wish you had? To dance. Specifically ballet.
04) If I bought you a drink what would it be? Don't really drink so I guess a Roy Rogers.
05) Favorite vegetable? None, really, but if I had to pick: corn.
06) What was the last book you read? Some cheesy romance novel. I'm currently reading the fourth book in the Heroes of Olympus series The House of Hades.
07) What zodiac sign are you? Cancer.
08) Any Tattoos and/or Piercings? Explain where. Ears are double pierced, a pink/purple butterfly on my right wrist, a blue butterfly on my left wrist, a ring of multicolored flowers around my right ankle and a blue rose on my left shoulder blade. I want a hibiscus flower on my left foot and something to make the flower on my back look deliberate (it's much too low) as well as my daughter's name and birth date.
09) Worst Habit? Procrastinate.
10) If you saw me walking down the street would you offer me a ride? Probably not. I don't stop for strangers. If you're someone I know, I might if I'm not in a hurry.
11) What is your favorite sport? Don't have one.
12) Do you have a Pessimistic or Optimistic attitude? I try to be optimistic but tend to be pessimistic.
13) What would you do if you were stuck in an elevator with me? Try to stay calm. Maybe talk and get to know you better.
14) Worst thing to ever happen to you? Being raped by my ex-boyfriend/friend's boyfriend when we were fifteen and have no one believe me.
15) Tell me one weird fact about you. I have a thing about even numbers. I have to eat M&M's and Skittles in even numbers (usually two) and they have to be different colors.
16) Do you have any pets? Not at the moment but I want a cat.
17) What if I showed up at your house unexpectedly? I'd apologize for the mess and invite you in.
18) What was your first impression of me? N/A
19) Do you think clowns are cute or scary? Depends. Emmett Kelly clowns are awesome.
20) If you could change one thing about how you look, what would it be? My weight.
21) Would you be my crime partner or my conscience? Definitely crime partner.
22) What color eyes do you have? Hazel green.
23) Ever been arrested? Nope.
24) Bottle or can soda? Both.
25) If you won $10,000 today, what would you do with it? Pay off my bills then buy some clothes, maybe get Lasik.
26) What's your favorite place to hang out at? My couch.
27) Do you believe in ghosts? Yes.
28) Favorite thing to do in your spare time? Watch TV, read, write.
29) Do you swear a lot? Not as much as I used to.
30) Biggest pet peeve? Stupid people.
31) In one word, how would you describe yourself? Loner.
32) Do you believe/appreciate romance? Absolutely.
33) Favourite and least favourite food? Favorite: pizza. Least favorite: liver and onions, Brussels sprouts, spinach, cabbage.
34) Do you believe in God? Yes.
35) Will you repost this so I can fill it out and do the same for you? Sure.

12/5/13

In the questions meme above, I said that my biggest pet peeve is stupid people. I feel the need to clarify that because 'stupid people' is too general. What I truly hate is people who don't know how to read; specifically emails.

I have three examples.

1) Back when Yahoo Groups was all the rage I belonged to several. There was this one that, IIRC, was for slash fiction. There was a story being posted in The Sentinel fandom that had Jim seducing Blair into a BDSM relationship.

Someone posted asking for it not by name, though. They said that there was a SGA story that reminded them of the TS story. I emailed them asking what the SGA story was. Their response was something along the lines of 'since the story ended up being plagiarized (it actually wasn't) [they] didn't feel right pointing [me] toward that story'. I responded that I was asking for the SGA story because I already had the TS story (I got it when the author originally posted).

It just drove me nuts that this person didn't take the time to make sure they read my email correctly.

2) I belonged to another Yahoo Group and had been given permission by the list owner to write a story in a universe they had created.

I sent them an email asking if I could give minor character Tenet the first name Adam since he had yet to be named in the source material and make him my character's adopted son. Their response was, "I've already written that Adam Smith is Tom Edwards' adopted son so that won't work." I don't remember my response but I want to say it was something along the lines of, "I didn't say Adam Smith, I said unnamed minor character Tenet on sci-fi show. Since the writers haven't given him a name yet I want to name him Adam because I like that name." Shortly after that minor character Tenet was named by the writers so it became a nonissue.

3) This one happened just today and requires some boring background info.

I work in the accounts receivable department of a chain of gift shops. Back in October we changed what paperwork needs to be sent to us because the info on the reports is now available at all times to each store on their register/computer. An email was sent telling them what to, and not to, send each week and that it was to start in November. We gave each store TWO WEEKS to start following the new guidelines before we emailed them again.

I have over one hundred and thirty stores and about two thirds of them have been doing the new procedures. And about one third of the ones who are cutting out the report we need, are still sending in paperwork we don't need (the receipt that prints when they open/close the register showing the cash in/out among other things).

Yesterday I emailed one of my stores that is still sending this unnecessary report in the following email:

Beginning November 2013, stores should only be sending in the "Monies Report" portion of the RCO. Please remember to remove the "Gross Receipts" portion before you place the RCO in your envelope. Also, do not send in the Z-tapes or cash-ins and cash-outs, these are no longer needed at corporate. If you have any questions or are unsure what needs to be included, please email or call me.

I know that you are cutting out the Monies Report and I thank you for that, however, you are still sending in paperwork we do not need. The cash-out/cash-in receipts are no longer needed.

Thank you,

I did not italicize the last paragraph when I emailed them (although I probably should have). This morning I received the following email from their district manager:

Melissa,

Store has the copies of the gross receipts back to Oct. 31. What exactly are they sending that they shouldn’t. They have to cut that report off of the monies report.

Seems crazy to do that and then they do the rest of the paperwork wrong?

Thanks for your help,

[name redacted]

I really wanted to say, "Do you not know how to read? Because I told them, and you, EXACTLY what they are sending that they shouldn't be at the bottom of the email yesterday."

What I actually said was:

They are still sending the cash-in/cash-out reports, as I stated at the end of my email. They are, also, sometimes still sending payroll deduction and employee/volunteer purchase receipts. We do not need the cash-in/cash-out receipts and the payroll deduction, employee and volunteer purchase receipts only need to be sent if they are hand signed.

I mean, c'mon, people! Read what I type! Especially work related emails because I do not type those for the fun of it.


12/6/13

Woke up to the sidewalk outside my apartment covered in ice along with the entire parking lot. So not able to go into work. Not happy about it since I have a lot of work to do in order to close out November by end of day Tuesday. Kinda hoping I can go in for at least a few hours this afternoon; to at least do the credit cards and verify my deposit slips.

Whoever asked Santa for a white Christmas, please tell him you changed your mind.

I just watched a truck with all weather tires struggle to get out of a parking space. Of course that space is on a part of the parking lot that has a slight incline but still.

12/7/13

Even though I know nothing has changed outside, I find myself looking out the window just about every time I get up. Just now I was watching two people 'scrape' ice off their cars. I use the quotes because they both used water (great way to bust your window, stupid!) and one is using a spatula, the kind used to flip pancakes, and the other is using what looks like a credit card.

I realize this is Texas but we DO still get ICE every winter. Spend the fucking dollar and get an ice scraper at Wal-Mart!

It is currently 24* and I just had to turn the heater down because I'm sweating! In fact, I'm thinking of changing out of my sweat pants and into a pair of regular sleep pants. For the record, I never turn my heater higher than 65* and I just turned it down to almost 60*.

It's supposed to get above freezing for the first time since Wednesday for a few hours tomorrow. I hope it's enough to melt some, if not most, of the ice so I can go to work Monday. Regardless of the road conditions, I HAVE to go on Monday and Tuesday.

I really want a pizza but nobody's delivering and since I'm not comfortable getting out, I watched a kid slide down the small incline outside my apartment earlier, I guess I'll have to cook something. Except I don't want anything I have in my house. *pout*

12/8/13

I know this is Texas and we hardly ever get weather like what we had this weekend but people really should own at least one ice scraper. I'm sitting here watching a guy chip ice with a claw hammer. Yes, you read that right: he's using a hammer. Specifically the claw part.

I'm feeling pretty good right now. Most of the ice is melted so it looks like I'll be able to go to work for the entire nine hours tomorrow! Just wish I hadn't had to miss Friday since that's the check right before Christmas.

12/11/13

I was able to go to work Monday. I even got ready for work a bit earlier than usual because of having to scrape ice and drive slow because of the roads. But it took me nearly twenty minutes to scrape ice off the car because it was one solid sheet from the grill to the end of the trunk.

Then when I got to work I had difficulty getting from my car to the door.

Monday and yesterday were pretty normal, except that I didn't get any RCOs done on Monday and only thirty-five or thirty-six on Tuesday.

Then today…

Background: In October it was decided that the stores no longer need to send us all the reports that print when they do end of day. They were told it would start the first of November. We gave them two weeks to comply and then started sending out emails on the fourteenth. We were also instructed to send a second reminder if needed.

I kept a spreadsheet of the stores I had to email with the date of the first and second, if needed. Most of my stores started complying after the first email. There have been a few district managers who have emailed asking what they're not doing after I sent the second email (a few have even required a third email).

This morning one of my stores called. Conversation in dialogue format and paraphrased because I can't really remember.

Store: Are you sure you have the right store? I make sure I send what I'm supposed to.
Me: I'm sure.
Store: What exactly am I doing wrong?
Me: You're not cutting out the Monies Report (a report that shows the difference between what the store deposits and what the system says they should have deposited) and sending the cash-in/cash-out reports.
Store: Not possible! I know I've been cutting it out. I'm now positive you have the wrong store.
Me: I sent the email as soon as I finished your paperwork. *this was her second email*
Store: Check again.
Me: I did your paperwork yesterday. The paperwork I cut off has been thrown away. *it's actually in a recycle bin under my desk but under lots of other papers*
Store: Who do I need to talk to about this?
Me: *before I could answer she had to put me on hold to assist a customer*
When she came back she started to ask me a question so I waited for her to finish it and she started going "Hello? Are you still there?" When I said I was waiting for her to finish her question she put me on hold again.
Store: Okay, I'm back. I know you have the wrong store because I always do this correctly. I'll be emailing whoever I need to and they will be talking to you. Bye. *click*

As soon as I hung up I said out loud, "Are you really threatening me?" I can't express well enough in writing just how snotty she was being. That last line was said in a tone of voice that implied I had better kiss the ground she walks on and consider myself lucky I don't get fired for going against her.

When JW arrived, I went and told her. She kinda chuckled and rolled her eyes. And I more or less put it from my mind knowing that regardless, I have nothing to worry about.

Close to the end of the day JW calls and tells me she just spoke with this store and that for now I'm to take all their paperwork to her if they don't do it properly (as in if they are still not cutting out the Monies Report). So Miss Special Snowflake has sort of gotten her way with this, but not really because I can promise you that she will make doubly sure all the paperwork is done the right way from now on.

12/12/13

So, I put the whole incident with that store from yesterday from my mind. But then I got to work this morning and found the following email from her (yes, she wrote it in all caps):

HI, I MUST SAY THAT I STAND CORRECT ON THE RCO PORTION TO SEND IN MAILPACK, HOWEVER MISUNDERSTOOD WHAT ELSE TO DELETE. I STILL AM WONDERING ABOUT THE GIFT CARDS FOR [company name]-ARE WE STILL RETURNING THOSE THAT WERE USED OR CUSTOMER DID NOT WISH TO RELOAD. THANKS LADIES AND SORRY FOR ALL INCONVIENCES. [Name redacted]

Now, when I first began reading I was all, "Yay! She's admitting she was wrong!" But then I read it again and realized that she was rubbing my face in it, she only sent it to me and her DM. I really wanted to reply asking why she felt the need to harp on it but decided to be the bigger person and just answer her question.

Later, I told JW about it and she said that if it happens again to have all communication with the store go through her.

Oh, and the 'new' person isn't from outside the company. They gave my job to a member of the AP team.

12/26/13

Update to the last post:

We didn't check the paperwork of that store last week because we had talked about it after they had sent that week's packet. But I did their paperwork today and guess what? Yep, they didn't cut out the Monies Report and sent in the Z-tape on two days. I gave JW all their paperwork and she said she's pissed. Not really sure why. I mean, yeah the manager at that store lied when she insisted she was doing it correctly but even I'm not pissed. If anything, I'm just annoyed because she was so totally insistent that she was RIGHT and I was WRONG.