How do you feel today?

[Cameraman Jenn]

Sorus, Just remind him that you have some unpaid hours that he needs to sneak in and tell him you will stop working the unpaid hours until he gets you caught up at least somewhat. He's not unreasonable but you have to be aggressive with him to get what you want or what he's promised. You have to keep on Jacob relentlessly until he does what you want. Like getting the bookshelves for the closet. I basically had to put my foot down and say, "No more putting it off, we are going to do this tonight. I'm not waiting for you to order me something online, we are going to 946 and coming back with something that will work for now. Got it? Got it? Good." And he did it.

While we are on the subject, I kicked ass in the closet today. It's like a whole new universe in there and you can actually find stuff easily. I called Jacob when I left and told him that it's not perfect but I did the best I could with what I had to work with and it's a thousand times better and if he says anything bad to me about it I will seriously start hocking lugies into his venti iced chai lattes. I also needed to talk to Jacob about several things I witnessed today involving some of the worst managerial tactics I have seen in a long long long time. There was a moment where I had to decide whether to burst into laughter or remain standing there mortified. I held my tongue and then made a point of talking privatedly to the people who were badly mistreated directly in front of me. I actually thought to myself, "I can't leave this store with these people in charge." Jacob desperately needs someone who actually has a clue how to manage people because the ones who are doing it are doing it so abysmally wrong it actually made my stomach tie up into knots.

[Sorus]

I also needed to talk to Jacob about several things I witnessed today involving some of the worst managerial tactics I have seen in a long long long time. There was a moment where I had to decide whether to burst into laughter or remain standing there mortified. I held my tongue and then made a point of talking privatedly to the people who were badly mistreated directly in front of me. I actually thought to myself, "I can't leave this store with these people in charge." Jacob desperately needs someone who actually has a clue how to manage people because the ones who are doing it are doing it so abysmally wrong it actually made my stomach tie up into knots.

Yeeeaah.... that's all gonna get worse before it gets better. I'm done with retail management. The little bit of extra money is not worth the stress and drama. I just want to put up my aura of 'leave me the hell alone' and get my job done and go home. Which doesn't work well in retail. Ugh... I hate ranting about work here, but I am so frustrated and demoralized right now.

[Cameraman Jenn]

Sorus, I will do anything I can to help you. If you want to talk about it in private we can. Just name the time and date and I am yours.

[Orlion]

Well, I was next to a bomb that exploded, and as a result, my friend's book was ruined and I owe her a new copy.......
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......All right, we were measuring heats of combustion in something called a calorimeter bomb and the pressure valve must have been bad because when we ignited it, it exploded, covering the lab in ash....I'll have pictures up soon!

[stonemaybe]

......All right, we were measuring heats of combustion in something called a calorimeter bomb and the pressure valve must have been bad because when we ignited it, it exploded, covering the lab in ash....I'll have pictures up soon!

I got a silly student award once cos the bench we were working on went up in flames and I didn't panic. I never told anyone it was just because I had my glasses off to look into a microscope at the time. I didn't even notice it!

Life's good at the moment. Four days at home in Ireland have chilled me out and put stupid work stress things into perspective. I'm determined to continue taking a step back at work and not get stressed over things I can't control.

[matrixman]

I'd love to go to Ireland. I'd love to go to anywhere, period.
But first, I'd love to have the ability to save money in order to go anywhere. Heh.

I just want to put up my aura of 'leave me the hell alone' and get my job done and go home.

That sums up my work philosophy pretty well, too.
Can't imagine how much more embattled I'd feel if I were in retail. (Don't want to.)

[aliantha]

Did my taxes and Magickmaker's taxes, filed Magickmaker's FAFSA (so she can get financial aid next year, a Very Good Thing), filed all of last year's receipts and set up the file folders for 2010 (if this year is anything like last year, I won't actually file anything until 2011, but I'm ready, dammit!). Now if I can convince myself to balance the checkbook, my financial house will be more or less in order. For a minute or so. Whew.

[Cameraman Jenn]

OH yeah, have to do my taxes. Ugh.

Today was an ok day. I had some really dirty innuendo exchanges with Ryan which were highly amusing and I think may have actually made Jacob feel uncomfortable. We were only talking about half of Ryan's meatball sandwich since he offered it to me for lunch. Then of course when I came back from lunch we had to discuss how the sandwich was.... On the down side, I talked to my co-worker and told him that I had taken the liberty of going to Jacob about the exchange I witnessed and he was very grateful but then started pouring out his heart about the situation and I had no idea that this is a seriously regular ongoing thing. I thought he might be on the verge of tears during part of our talk. I did not know the extent to which this had been carried out and it made me frustrated and angry and sad all at the same time. I told my co-worker he needed to talk to Jacob himself and that if he needed support I would be more than willing to sit in with them if he wanted me to and I think that is how it's going to end up being.

Sorus, I did not say anything to Jacob about your hours. I was a little freaked that you and I just talked about it here and then today when he was talking to me about my hours he brought up yours. I think it was because you were standing right there and your presence reminded him that he owed you too. It re-enforces what I have been saying, Jacob has tunnel vision and he needs to be constantly reminded until he focuses on what you want or need.

[aliantha]

Good for you for being proactive with Jacob, Jenn. The guy seriously needs some extra-special management training....

[Cameraman Jenn]

Actually, Jacob is a pain in the ass but he's not the worst of the group by far. I know I bitch about him a lot but he does have some good strong points in his favor. He just needs polishing. If it were my store, there are several I would have fired, several I would NOT have promoted and there would have been several writeups in permanent employee files. I would also put the smack down, my way or the highway speech on a few of them as well as the writeups.

Sorus, nobody knows about the watch from work do they? I sure as hell haven't said anything nor will I ever mention it EVER at work. It's still our private place right?

Oh hell, who cares. I would have fired Ian because he's slow and inefficient, I would have fired Kristina because she's inappropriate in front of customers, it is one thing to joke between ourselves when it's not overheard but she is lewd in front of customers, I have actually told her to tone it down a few times. I would have put the writeup/smackdown on Billy and Derek several times about horrible management skills, I would have put the smackdown on Gilbert about leaving cash drawers unattended on the counter and to Rolando and Ryan for sloppy paperwork. One thing about Jacob is he puts temp fixes on everything and doesn't solve the root issue. He just pulls the top off the weed so it looks good for the moment but the weed keeps springing back. Years ago, working for corporate Napa, I got promoted over Buz and became a store manager and he was my assistant. He was angry about it but he soon learned that I was better able to handle the job and that he and I made one hell of a great team together. We took a store that had been losing money for ten years and turned it into a highly profitable store. I did my part but I needed Buz and he was great. We could not have done it alone that quickly and we are still close friends and talk often to this day. Jacob doesn't inspire team work. He doesn't get how to help people understand how to work TOGETHER. He can only focus on each individual and their issues. Sorry for the bad cliche but he needs to stop focusing on the damn trees and look at the frakking forest. Then he needs to assess the forest and weed out or trim the branches to fit the big picture. And by trim the branches I mean train people to do their jobs in a more efficient way. A perfect example would be to make it clear to Billy that we are not a boot camp and treating stockers like they are enlisted men and Billy is the drill sarge is NOT acceptable. It also means reigning in Derek and making him understand that he's the tech department manager NOT a store manager and that does not give him license to try to boss everyone in the store around nor does it make it acceptable for him to designate every responsibility to someone else so he can walk around and act like a lord and master when Jacob is out of the store. Sorry, I got carried away. Correct me if I am wrong in this assessment Sorus. I know we work different hours and have a small overlap but I think it's accurate.

[Sorus]

Sorus, nobody knows about the watch from work do they? I sure as hell haven't said anything nor will I ever mention it EVER at work. It's still our private place right?

Sorus, I did not say anything to Jacob about your hours. I was a little freaked that you and I just talked about it here and then today when he was talking to me about my hours he brought up yours. I think it was because you were standing right there and your presence reminded him that he owed you too. It re-enforces what I have been saying, Jacob has tunnel vision and he needs to be constantly reminded until he focuses on what you want or need.

I missed that. Unless it was part of the conversation that included me getting in trouble a couple of weeks ago for working a minute more than the company wanted to pay me for. I didn't catch the whole first part of that. As to the other conflict... I can't offer much advice. I've been there longer and I've seen some pretty bad stuff. I was on the receiving end of it once, but I think the person responsible has enough intelligence not to try that on me again. Anyway, I feel weird ranting about work here.

And no, I have not ever mentioned the Watch at work. I try not to talk about anything vaguely personal at work.

[Cameraman Jenn]

I figured they would have to do some serious detective work to find the watch and I sure as hell am not gonna lead them there. And yes, That was the convo I was talking about. He and I were talking about padding hours and yes that moment of over hours came up. If you didn't catch the early part of the conversation I don't blame you. He did say he owed your hours and then was spouting about 31 and 32. You know what I speak of. I know, ranting about work seems weird but it's my rant place and I try to leave you out of it as much as I can but I need to rant. It's so frustrating and I don't EVER talk about your personal life at work. I've been given the third degree over you but I always use the stock phrase of, "If you want to know about ..... then you have to ask her yourself. They did annoy me enough that one night I said,
"I do have pictures of ____ outside of work in a black top with her hair down but you will NEVER see them so chew on that." And that just made them more intrigued. Anyway, I won't say anything unless i have your express clear permission. We are different, you and I and I won't step in unless you tell me to or want me to. I will never break your trust. I promise

[Cagliostro]

...and then...completely by surprise...an anonymous tip arrived at the store...

[stonemaybe]

I know Cag is joking, but be careful, Jenn!

I got burnt recently posting stuff on KW that I knew I shouldn't have.

[Cameraman Jenn]

Wow. I never thought I would see the day. For all you FBH fans, take a gander cuz Tadhg looks GREAT!

[Sorus]

Yikes. He could make a sweater or something.

Anyway, my last job (technically the one before that, but I don't count the middle one) had a VERY strict policy about blogging.

[Cameraman Jenn]

Ok, I'll try to stop bitching about work on here.

Tadhg donated his hair to the wigs for cancer kids program. I'm so proud of him.

[Sorus]

Don't stop on my account... just worries me a little as it is a public forum.

I'd say you can PM me if you need to bitch, but I think my PMs are broken.

[matrixman]

Yes, totally public, unlike the KW album. Not that I want to sound paranoid, but one should not underestimate the power of Google, should your friend Jacob feel inclined to use it.
(Whether or not it would ever occur to him to use it for detective purposes is another matter.)

(Yeah, like we're ever gonna keep CMJ bottled up and quiet around here, heh heh.)

[danlo]

So it was Jenn who knocked the page out of whack!!! HAH!

Did my taxes and Magickmaker's taxes, filed Magickmaker's FAFSA (so she can get financial aid next year, a Very Good Thing), filed all of last year's receipts and set up the file folders for 2010 (if this year is anything like last year, I won't actually file anything until 2011, but I'm ready, dammit!). Now if I can convince myself to balance the checkbook, my financial house will be more or less in order. For a minute or so. Whew.

Cool! My house will be in great order since I heard that we will be getting a sizable return from the Fed. Albeit we may have to wait longer than usual to receive it as some wackjob decided to slam his plane into the very building in Austin Texas that processes our taxes...<very mixed emotions, especially for the wounded and unaccountable>