Nothing in life can be easy. Not even writing this blog, you would think it would be easy but no it is not. My job entails endless hours of typing, inputting, building spreadsheets mundane boring computerized work. I would not say that I am a computer expert not even close but I do know my way around a keyboard yet tonight I sit here and I can not type in a question mark whyÉ yes that silly È keeps coming up. Hard to quote when the quotation looks like È yes itès back. You may have noticed that I have to type out complete words as itès an è for apostrophe also.
How did this happenÉ Well I have children that is how. It is not like they do not have their own computer because they do--with a better screen and a better keyboard than mine. If they want to walk around and still be on line they may enjoy wireless internet with their I Pad and for convenience sake when an I Pad is just too clunky to lug around they have their I Pods. Yes, Apple definitely has a hold on my family.
However none of these high tech expensive toys (most of which still sit shyly on our line of credit) get their hearts pumping like using their parents computer. They are consistently on this computer not sure why--it is comparable to a beacon of light to a bug they fly right to it. The whole reason for showering them with technology is to avoid the frustration of sharing it with them. I use that sharing word sarcastically (I would have put quotes around it and saved myself the trouble of typing sarcastic but...we all know why thatès not possible) because children do not share with their parents -- they take. Not only do they take but they fiddle with things, fundamental things, things you need to allow things to function....like a keyboard.
So most readers will think my children are spoiled and I should take things away, make them pay for fiddling with the keyboard that they now do not know how to fix. Some readers will respect my leisurely parenting ways and applaud the open sharing (taking) in my home and although they may empathize with my situation they would readily point out that I should be proud of having such creative, open minded children. Children that do not just use a keyboard without thought but can actually have it perform in a completely unique yet useless fashion. Last but not least there will be readers that wonder why I do not beat them with the keyboard...it would not fix the keyboard but it certainly would fix future fiddling of keyboards.....
So what did I do -- I called my husband and let him have it because he is my husband and there are some down sides to that. Then I called my daughter, the usual suspect and she came flying home, tears streaming down her face, hair wild, eyes wide begging forgiveness and I the perpetual sucker and the reason why my children are constantly on my computer while I impatiently wait for my turn at my own computer...looked at her sad face and gave her a hug.....Uggggg
Monday, 8 July 2013
Saturday, 6 July 2013
Restructured
I've been restructured--that's not what they said at the time what they said was "the Company was restructuring" but soon it became clear that it was I that was being restructured....
I had a high energy and what I thought was an important position within a large Company -- well it used to be large anyways. My days were filled with stress, decisions galore, lots and lots of texts, phone calls, e-mails frankly it was hard to keep up. My weekends were divided between secret work time not to annoy my family and hurried catching up on the raising of my children. I took a back seat to parenting letting my husband take the lead and with bitten tongue and minor criticism I ensured that I remained in the back seat as I had no time to drive. I felt important or I felt my work was important, smart and needed. Years and years of dedication, loyalty driving the Company's objectives forward and singing their song I felt secure in my position and really, really liked the pay cheque and of course the credit line that big cheque allowed me to qualify for.
Then a new boss came -- she was a nightmare not exaggerating a nightmare. With her hunched shoulders, over botoxed lips and of course the processed frizzy black coiffed hair she looked like an over aged, over used snow white gone bad. At the first monthly departmental meeting she addressed the thirty something employees from all levels slumped in a chair wearing a dress with legs spread wide for the world to take a peak at the unmentionables. All the while looking like she just ran seven miles and was exhausted...it was 8:30 am -- yes I knew then things were not going to go well. So I googled her and found that she lacked any type of experience in the field she was now collecting a hefty pay cheque masquerading as a professional. Now I've got to ponder if it was so easy for me to see her resume was misleading what the heck was the recruiter that hired her doing??
Soon catch phrases like are you on the bus or not emerged. What bus? Why do people keep talking about a bus and where is it going? I could be on the bus I guess. but not if it's headed for a wall but when you ask people using these catch phrases where is the bus going they look at you like what you don't know?? Maybe there is a secret bus schedule...I don't know. These buses seem dangerous though as many people get "thrown under the bus" again confusing-- how would you throw someone under the bus must be a tall bus. now I get the "run over by the bus" so I suppose it would be easier just to get on it -- it appears to be safer.
Of course I tried to get on the bus hold my breath and watch the wall get closer hoping that my leader would at least put it in neutral long enough to ask someone, anyone didn't have to be me for help to avoid the wall. Ignorance, incompetence and living a work history lie does not allow for advice oh no asking may equal discovery and discovery would end the fat paycheque and coveted title and of course not spruce up the resume for the next unsuspecting Company.
I knew the end was coming it was quite obvious my phone stopped ringing weeks before, e-mail was so much more manageable in the absence of incoming mail. The dropped eyes when I entered a room, uncomfortable interactions almost like the last fifteen years of relationships didn't exist. It appeared the whole company knew -- or at least the acquaintances I once thought friends. Yes the many funerals I attended giving my condolences, the stories shared, New Year hugs, kisses, handshakes, always a listening ear in the hallways, washrooms, boardrooms and offices. Sharing fears in children rearing, aging parents our own health, that ended weeks before my employment. It wasn't just me my entire department was walked out one by one -- once an integral part of the Company -- now being told it wasn't needed.
Yes I hit a wall, a big one and without the protection of the bus. The elusive "they" told me they were restructuring but a year later the Company remains the same. I on the other hand turned to my family and friends yes those that I have spent limited time with and yes those limited moments were peppered with distraction but now I'm sad so hold my hand please...My life changed in every way, financially, emotionally, the way I thought, dressed even the way I thought of myself. Yes restructured -- first destroyed and now I have to rebuild in my mid forties.
It would be nice to have a bluebird singing ending with finding a job that was more fulfilling perhaps helping others with additional time for my family. It would be nice to say the experience made me a better person and once the depression lifted I saw the error in my ways and embraced the "simple" things in life. Perhaps that may happen I'm waiting for inner peace but it just hasn't reared itself yet.
The decrepit Snow White couldn't hold it together and was fired six months after they walked out the history and experience. Once I unfolded my body from it's fetal position and crawled out from the rock I was hiding under I bumped into many of the acquaintances I once spent so much time with. Yes, those that were too busy or scared to call and inquire if I was surviving yes them. I even had the wonderful experience of bumping into one of the executives that embraced Snow White and her incompetence, supported the restructuring and actually attended the farewell meeting, no there was no balloons or Company gifts, not even a cake just a brown envelope with a bunch of legal jargon with a dollar amount to say goodbye. Oh and she couldn't wait to tell me about the ultimate demise of Snow White like that would make it better. Yes she was excited to give me the good news of the termination like that would somehow redeemed me oh it was a mistake she excitedly alluded to. My sarcastic response was "like an ooops" and her response...."exactly" she said straight serious face holding a thoughtful expression while nodding her head up and down in agreement yes "ooops"....Uggggg
I had a high energy and what I thought was an important position within a large Company -- well it used to be large anyways. My days were filled with stress, decisions galore, lots and lots of texts, phone calls, e-mails frankly it was hard to keep up. My weekends were divided between secret work time not to annoy my family and hurried catching up on the raising of my children. I took a back seat to parenting letting my husband take the lead and with bitten tongue and minor criticism I ensured that I remained in the back seat as I had no time to drive. I felt important or I felt my work was important, smart and needed. Years and years of dedication, loyalty driving the Company's objectives forward and singing their song I felt secure in my position and really, really liked the pay cheque and of course the credit line that big cheque allowed me to qualify for.
Then a new boss came -- she was a nightmare not exaggerating a nightmare. With her hunched shoulders, over botoxed lips and of course the processed frizzy black coiffed hair she looked like an over aged, over used snow white gone bad. At the first monthly departmental meeting she addressed the thirty something employees from all levels slumped in a chair wearing a dress with legs spread wide for the world to take a peak at the unmentionables. All the while looking like she just ran seven miles and was exhausted...it was 8:30 am -- yes I knew then things were not going to go well. So I googled her and found that she lacked any type of experience in the field she was now collecting a hefty pay cheque masquerading as a professional. Now I've got to ponder if it was so easy for me to see her resume was misleading what the heck was the recruiter that hired her doing??
Soon catch phrases like are you on the bus or not emerged. What bus? Why do people keep talking about a bus and where is it going? I could be on the bus I guess. but not if it's headed for a wall but when you ask people using these catch phrases where is the bus going they look at you like what you don't know?? Maybe there is a secret bus schedule...I don't know. These buses seem dangerous though as many people get "thrown under the bus" again confusing-- how would you throw someone under the bus must be a tall bus. now I get the "run over by the bus" so I suppose it would be easier just to get on it -- it appears to be safer.
Of course I tried to get on the bus hold my breath and watch the wall get closer hoping that my leader would at least put it in neutral long enough to ask someone, anyone didn't have to be me for help to avoid the wall. Ignorance, incompetence and living a work history lie does not allow for advice oh no asking may equal discovery and discovery would end the fat paycheque and coveted title and of course not spruce up the resume for the next unsuspecting Company.
I knew the end was coming it was quite obvious my phone stopped ringing weeks before, e-mail was so much more manageable in the absence of incoming mail. The dropped eyes when I entered a room, uncomfortable interactions almost like the last fifteen years of relationships didn't exist. It appeared the whole company knew -- or at least the acquaintances I once thought friends. Yes the many funerals I attended giving my condolences, the stories shared, New Year hugs, kisses, handshakes, always a listening ear in the hallways, washrooms, boardrooms and offices. Sharing fears in children rearing, aging parents our own health, that ended weeks before my employment. It wasn't just me my entire department was walked out one by one -- once an integral part of the Company -- now being told it wasn't needed.
Yes I hit a wall, a big one and without the protection of the bus. The elusive "they" told me they were restructuring but a year later the Company remains the same. I on the other hand turned to my family and friends yes those that I have spent limited time with and yes those limited moments were peppered with distraction but now I'm sad so hold my hand please...My life changed in every way, financially, emotionally, the way I thought, dressed even the way I thought of myself. Yes restructured -- first destroyed and now I have to rebuild in my mid forties.
It would be nice to have a bluebird singing ending with finding a job that was more fulfilling perhaps helping others with additional time for my family. It would be nice to say the experience made me a better person and once the depression lifted I saw the error in my ways and embraced the "simple" things in life. Perhaps that may happen I'm waiting for inner peace but it just hasn't reared itself yet.
The decrepit Snow White couldn't hold it together and was fired six months after they walked out the history and experience. Once I unfolded my body from it's fetal position and crawled out from the rock I was hiding under I bumped into many of the acquaintances I once spent so much time with. Yes, those that were too busy or scared to call and inquire if I was surviving yes them. I even had the wonderful experience of bumping into one of the executives that embraced Snow White and her incompetence, supported the restructuring and actually attended the farewell meeting, no there was no balloons or Company gifts, not even a cake just a brown envelope with a bunch of legal jargon with a dollar amount to say goodbye. Oh and she couldn't wait to tell me about the ultimate demise of Snow White like that would make it better. Yes she was excited to give me the good news of the termination like that would somehow redeemed me oh it was a mistake she excitedly alluded to. My sarcastic response was "like an ooops" and her response...."exactly" she said straight serious face holding a thoughtful expression while nodding her head up and down in agreement yes "ooops"....Uggggg
Thursday, 4 July 2013
Busy Oh So Busy
Busy oh so busy how did this generation get to be over stressed with day to day mundane tasks. That's exactly what I was thinking while driving to Zehrs. I mean having underwear and socks on the grocery list with apples and oranges when did this start. Is it the media, is it our peer group, is it our family, or big companies? Who is making us believe we are too busy to park twice?
I definitely have a love/hate relationship with Zehrs. It started with the loss of the packers, then the installation of self checking but the last straw was the purchasing of bags. If I wasn't so busy I would have been outraged by the concept. I often wonder (as I do in many situations) if the "rule makers" are idiots or they think I'm an idiot. So their message if I understand it correctly is that they are charging us because we have done nothing to save the environment and therefore they must take it into their own hands before it is destroyed. The obvious cloth bags they carefully placed at the beginning of each cashier aisle on clear display at a reasonable cost--ignored we obviously were too irresponsible to use them. The big plastic totes not as reasonably priced but still available to tote our groceries sat gathering dust. So they put up big signs that said to me "look you idiots we are now going to either charge you for plastic bags OR you can buy cloth bags/plastic totes we do this in the name of your future, the future of your children and mother earth."
Realistically though the cloth bags get lost so you have to buy more, or you left them in the other car so you have to buy more, the children lose a least a couple a week so you have to buy more. Lets not forget that these have to be washed -- and because they are reasonable priced the color runs which makes you have to wash them alone -- water is not the issue though we have lots of that. Months go by and you start to get lazy and all of the sudden you find yourself embarrassingly squeaking out excuses to the stranger ringing you in. "Oh I forgot my bags in the other car I'll need plastic TODAY" like it will be the last time you ever jeopardize the earth's future using plastic bags and then it happens again eyes lowered face red hoping it's a different cashier -- okay I admit it I actually stood in a longer line to make sure it wasn't the same cashier. Soon it's too much work for excuses and I'm really to busy to think of them or remember to grab the bags and then finally after a few more times you just own it and although never enough to shout it out you quietly just say I need bags......Defeated
So I'm not clear how the charging of bags has stopped global warming or eliminated any waste --but what has come clear to me is this: Zehrs now makes 5 cents off every bag that they didn't make prior to their environmental crisis. Oh and the 5 cent bags are like an over inflated balloon stretched to the max regardless how many items are placed in them. Well with the exception of the handles they have double plastic giving you a false sense of security. Yes how many times do I have to crawl in the van hitting my head on the lip of the roof to pick up the apples rolling around the van before I remember that oh yes if I pull too hard it will be the handles only in my hands.
So here's the love part I can buy apples, underwear, presents, gift cards all in one place cause I'm busy and I'm willing to spend more to get less to save myself the trouble of going to more than one place. I am so busy and overwhelmed in life I accept the ridiculous notion that huge companies/corporations are justified in charging fees to place the items that have been purchased from them in a container so that I can carry their profits to my van without assistance cause assistance costs them money in wages. So I continue to accept the unacceptable because I'm just too busy to do anything else....Ugggg
I definitely have a love/hate relationship with Zehrs. It started with the loss of the packers, then the installation of self checking but the last straw was the purchasing of bags. If I wasn't so busy I would have been outraged by the concept. I often wonder (as I do in many situations) if the "rule makers" are idiots or they think I'm an idiot. So their message if I understand it correctly is that they are charging us because we have done nothing to save the environment and therefore they must take it into their own hands before it is destroyed. The obvious cloth bags they carefully placed at the beginning of each cashier aisle on clear display at a reasonable cost--ignored we obviously were too irresponsible to use them. The big plastic totes not as reasonably priced but still available to tote our groceries sat gathering dust. So they put up big signs that said to me "look you idiots we are now going to either charge you for plastic bags OR you can buy cloth bags/plastic totes we do this in the name of your future, the future of your children and mother earth."
Realistically though the cloth bags get lost so you have to buy more, or you left them in the other car so you have to buy more, the children lose a least a couple a week so you have to buy more. Lets not forget that these have to be washed -- and because they are reasonable priced the color runs which makes you have to wash them alone -- water is not the issue though we have lots of that. Months go by and you start to get lazy and all of the sudden you find yourself embarrassingly squeaking out excuses to the stranger ringing you in. "Oh I forgot my bags in the other car I'll need plastic TODAY" like it will be the last time you ever jeopardize the earth's future using plastic bags and then it happens again eyes lowered face red hoping it's a different cashier -- okay I admit it I actually stood in a longer line to make sure it wasn't the same cashier. Soon it's too much work for excuses and I'm really to busy to think of them or remember to grab the bags and then finally after a few more times you just own it and although never enough to shout it out you quietly just say I need bags......Defeated
So I'm not clear how the charging of bags has stopped global warming or eliminated any waste --but what has come clear to me is this: Zehrs now makes 5 cents off every bag that they didn't make prior to their environmental crisis. Oh and the 5 cent bags are like an over inflated balloon stretched to the max regardless how many items are placed in them. Well with the exception of the handles they have double plastic giving you a false sense of security. Yes how many times do I have to crawl in the van hitting my head on the lip of the roof to pick up the apples rolling around the van before I remember that oh yes if I pull too hard it will be the handles only in my hands.
So here's the love part I can buy apples, underwear, presents, gift cards all in one place cause I'm busy and I'm willing to spend more to get less to save myself the trouble of going to more than one place. I am so busy and overwhelmed in life I accept the ridiculous notion that huge companies/corporations are justified in charging fees to place the items that have been purchased from them in a container so that I can carry their profits to my van without assistance cause assistance costs them money in wages. So I continue to accept the unacceptable because I'm just too busy to do anything else....Ugggg
Monday, 1 July 2013
The Meaning Of Ugggg
So what does uggg mean...... it is the only way to describe the ridiculous happenings of today. It represents the sad passing of common sense and rational thought. The disappearance of words commonly used in days passed such as accountability, morality and tradition. A warped sense of reality where it is better for children to be locked down even on sunny days-- well especially sunny days as they will get skin cancer and die. Where we parent with fear not like the good old days the fear our parents used....fear of them....no we use fear of the unknown, the stranger, the weather, the economy.
Everyday there is a new uggg moment in my life. Ridiculous things that I'm expected to accept that would outrage my parents. Urban Planet at the outlet mall not opening their dressing rooms on holidays, sales or days they think "might" be "busy". How does that make sense??? Wouldn't that be the time to showcase your services. So when I interrupt the three sales people chatting behind the counter doing everything but wearing a blindfold to avoid eye contact and ask why their change rooms are not only closed but actually barricaded by furniture and glass wall they explain it's too busy and they have a sale. Seriously in a straight face like that would be a normal practice. She went on to say that people get mad because other shoppers take to long in the dressing room and create a wait (create is my word -- creativity is another word gone by the waste side scarcely used) she rambled that statement quickly eyeing the conversation she was missing and longing to lean on the counter with her other co-workers. I can only guess that the barricade is to ensure that an over zealous shopper does not take the initiative and sneak into the dressing rooms in an attempt to try on clothing they intend to buy....
I thought I would waste my time e-mailing their customer care web site as I couldn't believe this was a corporate decision as indicated by the sales person with her ending shrug of shoulders and a fast retreat to the awaiting lounging counter were her co-workers still lounged in the perceived busyness of the day. Perhaps they were holding out their energy for the rush....To summarize my sentiments to their customer service department I wrote that buying without seeing was an Internet thing and their prices were not competitive in the virtual world and inquired why a corporation would make a decision to close dressing rooms anytime but more specifically when customers would be more likely to be in the store ready to purchase. Believe it or not their response was yes they made that decision to keep their pricing competitive. Really how do you respond to that Ugggg that's how.
Everyday there is a new uggg moment in my life. Ridiculous things that I'm expected to accept that would outrage my parents. Urban Planet at the outlet mall not opening their dressing rooms on holidays, sales or days they think "might" be "busy". How does that make sense??? Wouldn't that be the time to showcase your services. So when I interrupt the three sales people chatting behind the counter doing everything but wearing a blindfold to avoid eye contact and ask why their change rooms are not only closed but actually barricaded by furniture and glass wall they explain it's too busy and they have a sale. Seriously in a straight face like that would be a normal practice. She went on to say that people get mad because other shoppers take to long in the dressing room and create a wait (create is my word -- creativity is another word gone by the waste side scarcely used) she rambled that statement quickly eyeing the conversation she was missing and longing to lean on the counter with her other co-workers. I can only guess that the barricade is to ensure that an over zealous shopper does not take the initiative and sneak into the dressing rooms in an attempt to try on clothing they intend to buy....
I thought I would waste my time e-mailing their customer care web site as I couldn't believe this was a corporate decision as indicated by the sales person with her ending shrug of shoulders and a fast retreat to the awaiting lounging counter were her co-workers still lounged in the perceived busyness of the day. Perhaps they were holding out their energy for the rush....To summarize my sentiments to their customer service department I wrote that buying without seeing was an Internet thing and their prices were not competitive in the virtual world and inquired why a corporation would make a decision to close dressing rooms anytime but more specifically when customers would be more likely to be in the store ready to purchase. Believe it or not their response was yes they made that decision to keep their pricing competitive. Really how do you respond to that Ugggg that's how.
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