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Thursday, November 18, 2004
Evilness Abounds…
Evilness Abounds...I have mentioned a couple of things about my floor, the weird people, the strange occurrences (the vase & bowl of JoAnn's splitting in two for no apparent reason) but after hearing the following story I have decided that this floor is decidedly evil.
There is a woman who sits in my cube row. She's older, 55 or so, and is pretty harmless. Sometimes in conversations she gives too much information. You end up hearing things you don't really want to know about her, but it's nothing offensive. She's an outgoing person, load and spunky. All in all, she's not a bad person. I'm not always the best judge of character... but this lady doesn't seem to be the hurtful spiteful type. Also, she hasn't worked at this company her whole life. She's been here about a year, doesn't really like what she is doing, but tries to make the best of it regardless.
Yesterday she stopped by to "check in." She does this with me every now and then, to see how things are going and let me know that someone cares (I think she feels a little sorry for me since I don't have a lot of co-workers around.) A week or so ago she had stopped by to tell me about a new job she had just gotten. She was very excited to be making the change and I was happy for her. It sounded like something she really wanted to do, I am always happy for people who get what they really want in life. Good for them.
Anyway, her news this time around was not so happy. It seems that someone on our floor accused her of making racial slurs. The worst kind too. The slurs were "overheard" and not directly made at anyone. She was also told that the slurs were cooberated, meaning that two people had "overheard" them. She has been told that she cannot move to her new position for 90 days, that she is on probation and could lose her job, and she has been advised to seek legal council.
I've sat near this woman for 6 months now. Never have I heard a hateful word come out of her mouth. She gets irritated, as do we all, and sometimes bitches in general, but I have never heard racial slurs, or anything regarding race from her. I was totally floored when she told me this.
The hard part of it is, I am pretty sure I know who accused her. I know why that person would do such a thing and I just can't believe it. I don't think that person has any real clue what she has done. None at all. I think she thought it would be a good way to get back at the other woman for some petty slight. But the woman's working career could be over in a heartbeat from something like this. It's horrible. And it's happening near me.
I got to thinking. What would I do? I don't think of myself as racist, but I have made comments. Generalizations. But what would I do in a case like this? I would have to get a lawyer for sure. It's scary to think about, but very real. The workplace can be a dangerous place for a person's psyche.
And this is an evil, evil floor. There are way too many people here who are resentful, hurtful and just plain mean.
Wednesday, November 17, 2004
fridges
Lori (a co-worker) and I cleaned out the floor fridges last week... Here's a little pictorial
Stinky Fridge Chronicles
Warning: These are all high resolution pictures, so if you are on a slow connection it will take you awhile to see this....
Tuesday, November 16, 2004
Okay
OkaySo I know that I have been totally uncreative in my posts as of late. It seems that when ever a really good thought pops into my head I am stuck in a meeting, or walking somewhere and then I never get a chance to sit down and write about it. I am hoping, with my new computer at home, that I will get in the habit of writing more at night. Now if only I had MS word... That would be so helpful!
Only a few more days before I take off for Colorado. I am very excited to be heading home for Thanksgiving. I have missed my grandparents so much this last year. Not sure why that is, but I can't wait to see them!
Okay - so - about today...
I was super lazy this morning. I didn't want to get out of bed. I had found that sweet spot - you know the one. Where you are so comfortable that you don't ever want to move. Ever. And the blankets are in just the right position, you aren't too hot, not to cold, the cat isn't sleeping on your head. Oh it was wonderful. Due to this sweet spot I neglected to catch the Express I was shooting for. I ended up at the bus stop waiting for a local. I walked up, realized I had just missed the bus, and sat down feeling rather dejected. As I was walking up I scanned the area, I try to always be aware of what's going on, and I noticed a couple of guys with papers for rolling cigarettes and other things. I wasn't completely sure about what they were doing until they proceeded to light up and I got a cloud of smoke...You're kidding me right? At the bus stop? In broad daylight? One of the guys let out a huge cloud of smoke right before he got on the bus. I have a feeling I shouldn't have been surprised by it, but I was. Just me I guess.
As I was coming up the escalator to work this morning a guy from my floor looked at me and said, so you bus in? I couldn't figure out how he knew or even guessed that I bus, but I said yes. Then he started asking me all these questions about buses and traffic. It was strange. I saw him a bit later in the day and he asked me if I had just had a birthday or if my birthday was coming up. I had that strange feeling again, um, how would he know that? It was funny. He said he was a Scorpio too. I just looked at him - and asked how he knew that. He laughed at me, pointed at his lower back and said, you were showing a little skin. HAHAHAHAHA - he saw my tattoo. It was weird for a moment though. I forget that the pants I wear now are slung a little lower.
I got a ride to Chipotle today for lunch. That was an experience all on it's own. I love Chipotle. I went with a few ladies from work. The gal that drove has gotten into a few accidents over the last few months. I didn't really think about that when I agreed to go, I was just excited about Chipotle. Then we get to the garage and I realized who was driving and thought to myself... should I be worried? I decided not to be, which was a good thing. We had fun getting out of the office and eating. I think I am still full from it!
Huh. Since I am not feeling overly creative, that's it for now. I'll think of more at the wrong time in the wrong place
Monday, November 15, 2004
The sweet smell of Dial-up success!
The sweet smell of Dial-up success!What's that smell? Ah, yes, that would be Elizabeth on her new computer, using dial up to reach the world wide web! Can you say yahoo? I sure can! Crap this keyboard is crazy small! I may have to be getting me a new one of these soon. Ah, well. Perhaps MS Office will come before that though... I don't even have Word on this machine! But I can access the great www! Whohoo!
And that folks, is just one of the great things that happened this last weekend! Not only did I get a new computer, I went to a VERY interesting not so puppetry puppet show. I had one too, well maybe two too many drinks... I ate cake and got two (yes two) lava type lamps. One is a glitter lamp - they are both pink and they both rock! I got a shirt that says "I'm blogging thins" cause you know - I'm blogging this...The highlight? You would never guess - Rick got me a Strawberry Shortcake figurine! It even smells like her! I was beside myself with excitement! Strawberry shortcake ROCKS. I was totally in love with her as a child and now...Now I have a figurine! How totally cool is that?
Anyway - I can't make this too long, cause I'm on dial up - and even though the server is on the same block - I'm still on dial up. Ack! Happy Birthday Elizabeth Who Hoo!!!!
Wednesday, November 10, 2004
ah…
ah...I've been attempting to blog for a couple of days now... just haven't felt the spirit for it. There has been plenty to talk about though! Let me tell you! Now if only I could remember...
My mom called me on Monday. She said she had done something really stupid. When ever she says something like that I think two things. One, I inwardly groan and wonder what I am going to have to do. Two, I laugh. Only my mom would think to call me and say something like that. This incident was no less funny either.
My Grandfather's birthday is today. My birthday is Friday. Apparently my mom had both of our birthday cards on her desk and started signing mine thinking it was the one for her father. Hhehehehe. So instead of saying something like "I love you daughter" she started writing something with "Daddy..." She called to tell me this so when I saw the card I wouldn't be upset.
Instead I just laughed. That was great! I needed that bit of humor on Monday. I received the card in the mail yesterday and laughed to myself again as I realized that not only had she signed the card wrong, she had even addressed the envelope wrong! (in her defense, and why I think it is funny, she has been incredibly busy these past few months at work. If she didn't have anything to do and made this mistake I might get irritated. Well, probably not. Love you mom)
I went to a sneak preview last night. Yeah me! I saw After the Sunset.
I liked it. It was your usual thief retires only to try to steal again and not get caught story. With Selma Hyak and Pierce Brosnen. Lots of half naked people since it took place on an island. So it included lots of eye candy. And really, anyone who is a Selma Hyak fan should see this movie.
I ended up going due to a yahoo mailing group that I am on. There is this guy who keeps getting sneak preview tickets and he posts to see if anyone is interested. I think he got four passes by mistake this time and I jumped. I really wanted to see this movie. So I met him and another couple there. I loved the movie. Nothing intellectual about it. It was a great flick for not thinking, just entertainment. We decided to grab a beer/coffee after the movie. After we were sitting for a bit, I realized I didn't belong.
First off they started talking about music. Now I fully realize that I am not part of the "music scene" nor do I go out of my way to find new and interesting bands to listen to. I'm pretty much a radio listener. I like what I like and leave it at that. These people were talking about bands I had never heard of, which normally doesn't bother me. Then one of the guys turns to me and says, "but that was way before your time..." What? WHAT? First off, I am not that young. Not anymore. And I checked up on this guy before I went and he's 29. That's only 2 years older than me! What the hell what that about?
Then we got into politics. Aurgh. Now, those who know me, you know that I am not a great follower of politics. I know just enough to get me into trouble, or keep me out of trouble, but for the most part I don't pay attention. I don't know names, other than the major players, nor do I want to know them. So here I am, sitting with three democrats from Seattle, who have never lived anywhere else (except maybe San Fran) and talking about politics. Aurgh.
What I found interesting about the conversation was the fact that they understood very little about the rest of the country. They kept complaining about the lack of focus on the big cities where the vast majority of people and money is. The woman actually said, "I don't understand why they keep saying the have to 'understand the heartland' what's there to understand?" I almost spit my beer out at her. Seriously? Did she just say that? I might not be the brightest cookie in the cookie jar, but even I know that the majority of the country does not think like Seattle. Otherwise the elections for the past 10 years or so would have been very different.
The conversation went on in this vein. Them making rash Seattle-view focused statements, me stating over and over that the rest of the country views the world very VERY differently and trying to keep the conversation intellectual. It was frustrating. But the beer was good. And I had deep fried artichoke hearts...
As you wake in the morning
What do you feel?
Does a rush of happiness
wash over you when,
Suddenly, you realize you are alive?
