3-12-11 Saturday (Retail Pimps)

Several days ago Jim redeemed our Discover points for $150 in Sears gift cards… those arrived late this week. 

Above: Aren’t they pretty?

I hopped online to Sears to order the camera I want.  I hadn’t realized this prior (until I was placing the order) but the camera isn’t actually sold by Sears but rather an affiliate company.  I had no idea that Sears was a retail website pimp that probably gets a piece of the action from various companies.  I was still able to use my gift cards though.

I only found that out because I entered a free shipping code and it was rejected because the item wasn’t being shipped by Sears.  I called Sears… well I had them call me via that cool feature I used when I needed tires.  I asked customer service if any of the stores carried the item.  Nope.  Oh well, I’ll have it in 952 days.  OK, just 10.

We started our day with breakfast at Friendly’s in Huntersville.  We haven’t been to a Friendly’s in years.  We had one in Fort Myers, FL years ago but it closed down.  Our breakfast was good but I was surprised at the lack of creativity in their breakfast menu.  It was just one page.  The other page had things like:

This page featured dessert-type dishes like chocolate chip pancakes and Caramel Cinnamon Swirl French Toast.  So it’s cinnamon rolls made into French Toast but then they add ice cream.  We don’t want ice cream for breakfast.  Friendly’s has missed the mark on this dish.  We ordered “normal” breakfast dishes from their fantastically boring breakfast menu.  Our server was fantastic.  I need to remember to fill out a survey.

For most of the day we tended to the RV batteries and tires.  Last week we got them charged but the auto parts store didn’t really know how to properly test them so we went to a Batteries Plus.  The coach (house) batteries (takes 2) were dead and the engine battery was OK.  We had to buy 2 batteries X $99.

While Jim installed the new batteries, this broke, then that broke.  We went to the parts store and Walmart several times.

 

Jim suggested dinner in Charlotte’s South End neighborhood at The Liberty.  Previously in the week, Jim bought a couple of Groupons, $20 for $40 of food.  I liked the ambiance of this place.  The website distorts the main photo and the picture lighting doesn’t related to the light level in the restaurant.  We have another Groupon so we will be returning.  I had a pork chop dish and Jim had a steak dish.  Jim said the steak, which the cut of meat was not disclosed on the menu, was tough.  My pork chop was good but sometimes I got a bite with too much char on it.

We drove over to Dilworth to stroll the art walk.  Jim had the times wrong so we actually missed it.  That’s OK, we still enjoyed the walk.

I’ve been wanting to post all the “funny and strange” photos we’ve taken along the RVing trip, but I’d always forget or put it off.  I finally did it.  I uploaded 409 of them to Facebook albums and then tediously looked up the dates and created captions if I thought it needed one.  It took me many hours but here’s the finished result if you’d like to see.  Facebook automatically split them into two albums.  You do NOT need to have a Facebook account to see the photos.  Here’s Album #1 and album #2.

I leave you with this picture.  Any time I go into the bedroom before I shower, Dasher assumes he might get a bath and hauls ass.  In this case, he went downstairs and cuddled with Clea.  Oh, and by the way, he did get a bath today.

3-11-11 Friday (Behaviors)

In yesterday’s post I “bitched” about classmates who are late or fall asleep in class.  Today we attended a conference room style meeting with one of the big bosses.  It was about introducing ourselves, telling her a little bit about ourselves and then her telling us about her and how she made it to where she is.   She drew a diagram similar to the one below. 

Four Types of Managers

Jack Welch, Chairman and CEO of General Electric from 1981 to 2001, described four categories of managers in General Electric’s year 2000 annual report.

Type 1: shares our values; makes the numbers — sky’s the limit!

Type 2: shares the values; misses the numbers — typically, another chance, or two.

Type 3: doesn’t share the values; doesn’t make the numbers — gone.

Type 4 is the toughest call of all: the manager who doesn’t share the values, but delivers the numbers. This type is the toughest to part with because organizations always want to deliver and to let someone go who gets the job done is yet another unnatural act. But we have to remove these Type 4s because they have the power, by themselves, to destroy the open, informal, trust-based culture we need to win today and tomorrow.

She gave credit to GE and it’s Chairman/CEO at the time.  Her chart differed a little but had the same message.  Here’s the chart she drew:

1. These people are the worst of the worst.  The company doesn’t want these people.  Culture/values of someone’s character are pretty much defined by age 17.  While they may be high performers it’s probably achieved unfairly and puts the company at risk.
2. These people are awesome and often become leaders.
3. These people can learn.  They’re trainable.  Retainable.
4. These people will have to go too. 

She spoke a lot about the type 1’s.  These people short cut and may be dishonest.  They break rules and feel they should get away with a lot because they have good sales.  I’ve worked with these types.  There was always that service advisor that was top in sales but constantly short-cutted and very often was caught lying.  Management turned the other cheek.  I HATED THAT. 

Today, we were told that kind of behavior is unacceptable. She talked a lot about being late to work, back from lunches, interrupting one another, not helping one another, etc, etc have negative impacts.  I’m 40 years old.  It seemed infantile that we’d even need to have this kind of discussion.  People just can’t follow the rules.

We were told on day 1 of training not to have cell phones on the desks.  We were told when we didn’t need the computer we’d be told to “lock it” and this was important to make sure we’re paying attention to the trainer.  Leaders will come into the class from time to time and look for this.  I can’t tell you how many people have their cell phones on their desk ALL the time and occasionally text during class not knowing who can see them from behind.  It’s like they don’t care.  I see people typing away at their computer while our trainer is teaching.  It’s all been noticed.  They need bitch slapping.

Based on this afternoon’s “presentation”, management doesn’t feel low-culture employees are desirable or retainable.  I think there might be a reduction in our team shortly after we get on the floor.

3-10-11 Thursday

It’s been 7 days later and Mohawk flooring still hasn’t responded to Jim’s email.  I emailed them again asking if they planned to “leave it this way”.  Jim and I are so discouraged we may just change the house contract and have the builder install the carpet and linoleum and then go to a private company and have it (something other than Mohawk) installed after the fact.  Another solution is to ask the builder to obtain a sample.  At this point I want Mohawk to make this right.  Now it’s an obsession.

I don’t really talk about anyone specifically at work… unless of course, I have good things to say about them.  I never know who may find and read the blog and I just don’t want to talk shit in a public forum.  This time, I can’t help it, I have to say it.  We’ve got a guy in our class who was habitually late.  Late to work, late back from breaks, late, late, late.  It kills me.  I know I should just mind my business and think, “it doesn’t concern you, worry about yourself.”  Maybe it’s the management side of me.  Whatever it is, I just want to sit him down and bitch slap him.  I want to ask him “really?”.  I want to know why he thinks it’s OK.   Does he not want this job?  Is this his first job?  How many jobs has he had in the past?  When will he grow up and be responsible?

Over the past couple of days, he’s fallen asleep while we were doing some computer based training.  I don’t know if the trainer noticed but I assure you, many of us did.  How could we not.  No, he wasn’t snoring but he was laid back in his chair with his head tilted way back.  You can’t do computer based training if you don’t even look at the screen.  Today I was told he was asleep while some of our classmates roll played in front of the class WHILE our supervisor to be sat in the back and watched.  As a side note, I almost took a picture of him.  It would have been funny in an inside-joke sorta way but I refrained for fear that it would have brought more attention to him.  While I want him to get what I think he “deserves”, I don’t want to be the cause of it.

Walk a mile in his shoes?  Perhaps there’s a reason.  Sick kid, sick parent, elderly whatever, abusive spouse, who knows?  Maybe he’s got one kidney and has to do something each morning.  His mom is handicapped and he’s got to make her breakfast?  Notice I didn’t say a good reason?   Is any reason really acceptable?  I’m not sure.  I feel bad for the guy… I’m thinking he’s made it this far but will he “graduate”?   There could be an excuse for being late to work but several times for a break?  It might work once to have your watch be different than everyone else’s but after that, what then?

It’s so awesome to get back in the swing of things.  Oh yeah, my rant ended by the way… that is until the next bitch-fest.  Where was I?  Swing of things, meaning the working force.  So far I think I’m gonna love my job!  How many people can say that?  I’m still adjusting to getting laundry done here and there so there’s not as much to do on weekends.  Admittedly, I haven’t cleaned or dusted.  Well, I suppose dusting is part of cleaning.  Why is crop dusting the act of applying dust but house dusting is the act of removing dust?  I think I have ADD.  Shiny.

I really don’t remember where I was going with the above paragraph.  I had a point.  Typically, if I forget my point, I just wipe out the paragraph or sentence and continue.  Welcome to my world of “writing”.  I remember now.  I swear.  I was leading in to talk about the company’s internet policy.  The company policy is business use only but my trainer and supervisors don’t care between calls.  The trainer says they don’t have CNN or ESPN blocked so that we know what’s going on in the world and can relate to our customers.  I’ve discovered some sites that I use are blocked though.  Gmail, Blogger, Facebook, video streaming stuff, etc.  So basically everything I use.  I am happy to say that my Weight Watchers point tracking stuff is NOT blocked.  Yay!

Tomorrow is Friday!

3-7-11 Monday (I Heart My Toothbrush)

Week #4 of my training started.  It was a good start.  They split the class in half and had us sit with a phone banker in shifts.  They issued our headsets and paired us with a banker.  We were able to plug into their phone (on mute of course) and listen to the full conversation between banker and customer while watching them fly through different screens and systems, some of which I’ve learned and some I will learn.  I enjoyed this aspect.  The banker I watched had so many windows open that only the first letter of each screen had enough room to display in the task bar.  That’s a little daunting.  Modern technology and we (the bank) uses so many different programs to complete a task.  Like many businesses, we’re stuck with Internet Explorer 500 BC which lacks tabbed browsing.

Jim spotted this ad in our BJ’s flyer.  We were tickled at the product bundling.  A defibrillator and an electric toothbrush.  A match made in heaven… well in heaven only if the defibrillator didn’t work I guess.

3-6-11 Sunday (A Real Brunch)

After last week’s terrible brunch, Beth volunteered to host a way better event at her place.  Beth’s friend, Sue, brought fruit, Ruby brought Bloody Mary fixin’s and a bacon/potato quiche, Jim and I brought mimosa stuff and sausage, and Beth supplied the French Toast and veggie tray.  Yum.  It was all so yum.  Much better than last week!

Above: Beth

Above: Sue and Beth

Above: Fresh fruits and veggies.  The Dill Ranch dip was my favorite.

Above: Beth makes French Pressed coffee for Ruby and I.

Above: Beth works the griddle.

Above: Ruby

Above: What’s left of the sausage, quiche, veggies, fruit.

Above: Beth and Ruby

Above: Beth strikes a pose while loading the dishwasher.

Above: The Bloody Mary bar. 

Above/below: My spicy Bloody Mary complete with a celery stalk and pickled okra.

 

Above: Jim

Above: Beth makes room for more alcohol.

After brunch we took a ride over to the model center to show Beth and Ruby our house, lot and color choices. 

Speaking of the house, we’re still in contract.  Jim has been going back and forth with NACA with other pieces of information that were needed.  Basically any changes in our account have to be explained with documentation.  They want tax info, etc.  It’s a pain the ass and I hope it will be worth it.  We already got our prequalified letter to show to the builder and wasn’t expecting more paperwork after that.  On the builder’s side, they had to (per NACA) make an addendum to the contract to use NACA lawyers only.  So basically, permitting hasn’t even started yet.

In the meantime, so far, this week, this hour, Jim and I have decided to sell the RV.  We may put it at a dealer on consignment.  Possibly Craigslist/eBay or something.  Maybe some guy we saw an ad for that “buys RVs”.  We’re thinking it might be a while before we can use it, coupled with  Spring is coming so it’s a better time to sell.  We’ll put the money in a CD or something and then worry about getting a bumper-pull or such down the road.  Maybe in 7 month or so we won’t ever want to RV again.  Maybe we’ll buy a trailer.  Maybe we’ll…  Whatever it is, it won’t happen for a while anyway.

Above: Dasher.  Just because.