"I'm Still Here"

Bad me for not posting more often but I haven't felt much like typing when I get home from work. The work days have been long, even when I leave on time. The 40-minute commute is a bitch when people drive like assholes and cause accidents. Don't even get me started on the rubber-neckers and lane hoppers. I do enjoy it when the person in front of me, lane hops to get 2 cars ahead, and ends up being the car behind me :) That's justice and I laugh at them everytime.

Work has been very busy but less stressful now that I have finally caught up with my work. Apparently, we are expecting an extremely busy weekend. One of the Ops Managers sent me an e-mail, listing the dockworkers sheduled this weekend. He wants to know if any of these people calls out this weekend. This is a "closed" week for vacations and only one person has been allowed time off.

One source of stress at work has been another female co-worker. She has a problem with paranoia and thinks the District Secretary (DS) has been telling my boss not to offer her several office jobs. She has also formally accused my boss of sex discrimination. She really believes she didn't get the HR job because she's a female. I can honestly say my boss is probably the least likely male, I can think of, that would discriminate against ANYONE. Yes, I have bitched about the reviews being discriminitory BUT those were not created by my boss. Those are simply forms that he and others must follow. IMO, she didn't get the job because of her lack of knowledge and her attendance. She was hired in March and taken atleast 10 sick days.

Next week should prove to be interesting. After speaking with the DS friday, she mentioned my boss was going to speak to me. He wants to know what has been said, to me, by the co-worker. Chances are the District HR Manager and District Manager will also want to speak with me. When the co-worker didn't get any satisfaction from the the District HR Manager, she went over all of them, to the Regional VP.

On the home front, the 900 numbers I previously posted about, have been removed from my phone bill. At my request, I now have a 900 block on my phone. I want to speak with my nephews counselor before I confront him with the phone fiasco. My thoughts are to simply ask him HOW is is going to pay for the phone calls. I want to make his counselor aware of the calls and my plans prior to me speaking with him. I called her last week and left a message. She has yet to return my phone call. Yesterday was my nephews 13th birthday and my parents will be visiting him today. I was suppose to go but chose to stay home instead. I don't believe I could face him without confronting him.

My brother, Rick, is having his own difficulties with going for custody of the children. His wife, Jasmine, is adamant about NOT getting custody of the children. Rick has a 2nd DCF/court evaluation in November. Jasmine is also scheduled to be there and is refusing to attend. The outlook for his marriage lasting is not good. He had previously told his wife to not make him chose between her and his kids --- she would lose. Rick will be coming home, in November, but without Jasmine UNLESS she has a change of heart. He refuses to pay the air fare if she is not going to show up for the evaluation.

I visited my parents, at their home, yesterday. My Dad put me to work! They are being processed as a licensed DCF home and need to pass a home inspection. One thing that didn't pass was their above ground swimming pool. DCF insists they have some kind of a pool alarm installed or dismantle the pool. My parents don't use the pool very often and decided the alarm was just too expensive for only a couple of days of pool use. So Dad drained and distmantled the pool yesterday. My ex-sister-in-law called yesterday and Mom told her they HAD to dismantle the pool because of DCF. Lisa knows my parents enjoyed having the pool and Mom wants to let her believe SHE is the reason they will no longer have a pool.

A couple of weeks ago, after 2 very long and stressful years, I finally booked another cruise!!! Marsha and I will be sailing in the Carnival Legend, from NYC, on 5/13/05 (Friday the 13th!) for an 8 day cruise. The cruise is a birthday present to myself and we splurged for a cabin with a balcony. The ports of call are Tortola, St. Thomas and San Juan. and we'll have 4 days at sea!! If I remember correctly, we will be in St. Thomas on my birthday. If anyone would like to join us, let me know and we can have your cabins added to our booking number. I would love to have a birthday party on the beach in St. Thomas or St. John's.

On October 10th, I will be going to the CT Ren Faire in Woodstock, CT. Every Ren Faire I've attended, I have wanted to purchase an outfit. Well, I did that, on-line, this year. The outfit I purchased is a simple peasant outfit. Until now, I didn't realize I purchased the same outfit they have pictured! My parents will be joining me along with friends, Karl, Victoria and the kids. I haven't been to the faire in Woodstock so I can't compare it, in size, to other faires. I know the fair grounds are a good size but I don't know how much space they will take up. We have also chatted about attending King Richard's Faire this year but haven't decided if we'll go or not.

So that's life as it stands right now. Until next time, take care and to my FL friends - keep safe!