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I was asked once, if I could only use one word to describe Rod, what would it be. My answer? Unbelievable. I hear the stories I tell, and I almost don't believe them myself. Nobody behaves as this man does. Not, seriously, anyway. And yet he does, day in, and day out. All of my stories are true! And the sad part is, you don't even see or read about the worst stories, because, frankly, they are just too embarrassing for me to admit, as a modern woman, I put up with his bologna (and I'm not talking about the Oscar Mayer kind).
Where should I start today? Remember, he was going to fix his own problem in Peachtree, his own self? HA!! HA HA! Of course, from reading the last post, you know he got nooooowhere. Hee hee. It's no surprise, really. Not only is he vastly underqualified to make his own support calls, but he lies, as well, to the poor people at tech support. Really, he doesn't stand a chance at getting his problems resolved. Poor, poor Rod. For instance, with PeachTree, he told them that the "Administrator" (presumably me, I guess, unless he speaks of himself in the third person) changed the "password" and now he can't "log on." Imagine the tech's confusion, considering that there is no "administrator" of PeachTree, there is no "Logon" prompt, and seeing as though there is no logon prompt, there is not a "password" that the afore-mentioned, non-existent "administrator" could change. I was gasping as much as laughing in complete disbelief at what he was making up.
But wait, it gets better today.
He was speaking to a vendor and said he wanted an "Acro-... Anacron... Anachronism. ANACHRONISM!" Oh, brother. From Merriam Webster (dot com), we get this definition: : a chronological misplacing of persons, events, objects, or customs in regard to each other - I don't really think that is what he meant. I think he meant Acronym, but I could be wrong. Regardless, he reminded me of Nemo, when he was trying to say where he lives: "I live in a... in an anem... I live in an anemone!!" I laughed out loud. I couldn't help myself! Somedays are worth the pain, after all!
At one point, Rod asked me to set up a GoTo Meeting for a client to go into. "Katie, will you get that up and running?" I looked at the clock. "Eight minutes early? Sure, no problem!" And off I went to get it going. It probably takes 2 full minutes for everything to open and get ready, that's fine, no problem. Twenty seconds later, "Katie! It's PROMpting me to LOG ON..." Sigh. "Yeah, Rod, hang on a sec, I'm still setting it up! I'll let you know when it's ready for you to join" "grrmble ahhhERMMM" "Yes, Katie, but are you setting it up RIGHT NOW?!" Oh, bother. "Yes, Rod, I am setting it up RIGHT NOW! I promise, right now." It worked! Pacification! "Ok, Rod, go for it!" He was happy! A miracle!
"Katie!! Can you see my screen now?" "Yes, Rod, I can. You are on our home page?" He confirmed. "Yep, I see it." A few seconds went by. "So, Katie, can you see it now?" I felt like I was in a cell phone ad: "Can you hear me now?" "Yes, I can still see it. I'm not looking at it, for now, until the vendor signs in, but yes..." He muttered again. "I'm conFUSED! Can you SEE it or NOT?!" "Yes, Rod, I can see it, however, my eyes are not constantly focused on the monitor right now, I am working on some other stuff." I could hear his snort of disbelief that the product was working as expected, but ignored it. At least he didn't want to fight about this one and come up with some way to force me to focus my eyes physically where he wanted them. Really, he takes control to a whole new level.
Out of the blue, I heard Rod ask Jen, "So, Jen, when was the last time you did the whole, y'know, ROUTINE?" Jen: "I'm sorry? What?" "You know, your hair, shampoo, blow dry, how often?" Jen was really confused. "What?" Then Rod said, "Well, it looks like you just rolled out of bed today, I was just wondering how often you do your hair." Oh... my... God. Really?! ROD is accusing someone of not fixing their hair??? And rolling out of bed? I must not be hearing right. I gagged. As soon as he left the room, I went over and said "WHAT DID HE JUST SAY?" As is par for the course, I couldn't believe what I had just heard. Jen was ashen. "Rod said I look like I just rolled out of bed..." Poor girl. You have to understand something (She'll hate me for this) but Jen isn't your average girl. Jen looks nice. Everyday. Really. Nice. Her idea of "dressed grubby" is my idea of how to dress for going out on the town. For someone to ask her if she did her hair today is insulting to me... not to mention Jen. Horrifyingly unbelievable. There, how about 2 words to describe Rod? Why am I still here again? I remember a soft white muzzle giving me kisses as I left today and then I sigh, and go back to work... Promises made, promises to keep.
As a call was running over in time, and was about to run into another call, I had to go to the bathroom. I tried twice to excuse myself, each time Rod stopped me from leaving the call. I'm not sure why I had to stay on the call only to schedule the next call, but Rod made me. I was squirming! Finally, I got to go! When I came back, it was going on noon. Since my day starts at 7, it's tough for me to wait much past noon for eating time. This is why it's written on the white board : Katie's Lunch, 12:30 - 1:30. But somehow, someone booked me up through to 1. So, as my tummy was complaining more and more, and the refusal to allow me to empty my bladder still fresh in my mind, I whined. I admit it fully. "Oh, MAN! I can't go to the bathroom, and now you aren't letting me eat?! What kinda place do I work at?!" Jen laughed at me and said "Get back to work!" I thought it was funny, too. I quipped back, "Well, just get the shackles out, then, and chain me to my desk!" Too late. I realized far too late what I had just opened. Of course, Rod couldn't be quiet. "Oh, say, are we talking about BONDAGE?!" Big long sigh. Well, no, we weren't, but now we are. "Well, that's not where I was taking the conversation, but I'm not surprised you did!" Well, he just thought that was the funniest thing he had heard. He laughed and laughed. Jen and I just squirmed due to the rising ick factor. Ick Factor +8.
Curse Count: Shit, 6 :: Shit, on phone with tech support, 1 :: GD on phone with tech support, 2
And now lastly, Rod felt the need to let us know: He's in LOOOOOOOVE. Well, goody for you, Rod, goody for you. Tell me this. Does she know any of the other 4 girls you are dating?
I will see you tomorrow, dear readers.
Eye Tee Girl
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
After I left on Monday...
Here are the texts I received:
3:24 PM
J : He's on the phone with PeachTree now; they aren't getting anywhere. ;)
Me: Sorry he's still there...
J : I just wish he would leave and I am not looking forward to the days of not having you here.
Later
J : I think he is really pissed right now that he is having to deal with PeachTree... And I am now on the call. Now I am annoyed...
I started laughing when I read that one.
Me: What's going on? I'll try to help.
J: No idea. I think you should come back.
4:13 pm
J: Rod just left. Nothing was solved.
Me: Sorry nothing got fixed. Maybe Rod was hasty to cut back my hours and attempt resolving own issues?
J: No worries, he is gone now.
J: I don't think he wants to fire you. He was just being a jerk.
This made me laugh again. Of course he wants to get rid of me. He hates me as much as I hate him!
Tuesday morning, ETG is still sound asleep at 9am, and happily so.
9:16am
J: Miss you!! I am not doing anything this weekend but focus on my job search!! ;)
Me: Yawn, stretch. Mmm time to go watch some Regis!
9:31am
Me: Glad to know I am missed. Peachtree fixed yet?
For some reason, it does my heart good to know that he couldn't get it working without me and then has to go a whole day without me while it doesn't work. Tee hee.
J: No, he has a call scheduled for you tomorrow with them.
10:15am, I am out running in the woods, feeling wonderful. My phone buzzes.
J: We are lying to a customer at the Department of Energy. Great!!
Me: Awesome! About what?
J: Approved for compliance regulations.
Me: Oh God, how can you wonder why I don't wanna work for him? Frickin crook!
J: I know...
So you can see, we all love Rod, and Acme is the epitome of high class working establishments. I have sent off a few emails to some of our vendors so they know my status and have a way to reach me on my off days... or maybe when they don't hear from me at all anymore!
Lastly, as a note to my concerned readers, I have applied for unemployment. The notification should be hitting Rod's desk tomorrow or the next day. I am eligible with hours reduced, just not for the full amount. At this point, anything helps! And let's not forget that it will affect his bottom line! The best way possible to get back at him...
Until later,
Eye Tee Girl
3:24 PM
J : He's on the phone with PeachTree now; they aren't getting anywhere. ;)
Me: Sorry he's still there...
J : I just wish he would leave and I am not looking forward to the days of not having you here.
Later
J : I think he is really pissed right now that he is having to deal with PeachTree... And I am now on the call. Now I am annoyed...
I started laughing when I read that one.
Me: What's going on? I'll try to help.
J: No idea. I think you should come back.
4:13 pm
J: Rod just left. Nothing was solved.
Me: Sorry nothing got fixed. Maybe Rod was hasty to cut back my hours and attempt resolving own issues?
J: No worries, he is gone now.
J: I don't think he wants to fire you. He was just being a jerk.
This made me laugh again. Of course he wants to get rid of me. He hates me as much as I hate him!
Tuesday morning, ETG is still sound asleep at 9am, and happily so.
9:16am
J: Miss you!! I am not doing anything this weekend but focus on my job search!! ;)
Me: Yawn, stretch. Mmm time to go watch some Regis!
9:31am
Me: Glad to know I am missed. Peachtree fixed yet?
For some reason, it does my heart good to know that he couldn't get it working without me and then has to go a whole day without me while it doesn't work. Tee hee.
J: No, he has a call scheduled for you tomorrow with them.
10:15am, I am out running in the woods, feeling wonderful. My phone buzzes.
J: We are lying to a customer at the Department of Energy. Great!!
Me: Awesome! About what?
J: Approved for compliance regulations.
Me: Oh God, how can you wonder why I don't wanna work for him? Frickin crook!
J: I know...
So you can see, we all love Rod, and Acme is the epitome of high class working establishments. I have sent off a few emails to some of our vendors so they know my status and have a way to reach me on my off days... or maybe when they don't hear from me at all anymore!
Lastly, as a note to my concerned readers, I have applied for unemployment. The notification should be hitting Rod's desk tomorrow or the next day. I am eligible with hours reduced, just not for the full amount. At this point, anything helps! And let's not forget that it will affect his bottom line! The best way possible to get back at him...
Until later,
Eye Tee Girl
Monday, January 25, 2010
A case of the Mondays!
I have come to the conclusion that the only day I can actually enjoy is Saturday. Fridays are ruined because I have to go into work, but they are at least better than a Monday, because I know Saturday is coming up. And Sundays are ruined the minute I remember I have to go back to work "tomorrow." So here I sit, pouty and cranky that I have another full week of work ahead of me again. I definitely have a case of the Mondays.
Today I tried four times (four times) to tell Rod that his Peachtree still isn't working and that I will need extended time at his desktop. Could he please let me know when he is leaving for the day and I will work on it then. Two sentences. Verbally speaking, it's practically one if you don't pause between the sentences! But no. I couldn't get it out. He interrupted me each and every time. One time to ask how long "extended period of time is, 30 minutes?" Another time to say "Do you have to work on my machine?" (this after telling him it appeared to be a mapping problem, so yes, by definition, I would have to work on his machine.) Finally, the fifth time, I at least got out the first part of the thought, but not the second. As I so often do, I settled on "good enough," this time.
Rod waffles on what reports he wants me to run. When I run them, they are usually sorted by date and cover either a) everything I've done or b) everything I'm planning to do. I figure I don't need to do a filter, it's easy enough to look at the top of the report to see the most recent stuff, and if he wants to see older stuff, then I don't need to run any extra reports. This minimizes Rod exposure time and reduces ick factor daily totals.
I admit, today, I forgot to run said reports. Friday was so busy, I literally was running out the door to catch my ride, and didn't have time to run them. This morning when I got in, I completely forgot. So Rod had to print out the document (for the 5th time) that detailed which reports I am supposed to run for him daily, and which ones on Monday only. (This document is already on my cubicle wall). He had one report underlined. So I ran that one. I thought that was all he wanted. Again, my mistake. He then said "is that ALL the reports you are supposed to run for me?" He asked it in kindergarten teacher tone. Like I'm 5. "I don't know, Rod, is it? I thought that was why you underlined this." Then he put his finger on the document and pointed to the line that says: "Please genertate [sic] every Monday, or when asked, the following:" "Ok, Rod. Can you explain why you underlined this one, then? I got confused, I guess." Come to think of it, he never did really answer me, just kept pointing at the line and somehow indicated (without using full sentences) that I was to print out "all 4." (There are 6 listed.)
So I printed them out.
And when he picked them up from the printer, he wanted to go over them. Sigh.
So he asked about the first one. "Is this sorted by date?" "Um, it should be, yes." I couldn't physically see it, he was too far away, but as I said, I print them by date, so I had no reason to suspect otherwise. "NOT 'SHOULD BE!' Either it IS or it ISN'T" Who does he think he is? Yoda? Do or Do not, try there is none? WtF? Anyway, I finished by saying, "Well, I don't know, look at it. Is it sorted by date?" Really, wasn't that the simplest solution, anyway? For him to look at the report in his hand? Whatever.
Then he looked at the next one. "Mmmkay. And this... " I could tell he was trying to figure out what it was, completed tasks, present tasks, overdue tasks, or future tasks. He can never figure this out, even though all he would have to do is look for and compare "Planned completion date," or "Completion date." But I think the logic is too much - it just wouldn't occur to him. So then, it came: the inevitable: "So this... Is this sorted by date?" I answered: "I assume so, yes." Oh, boy. "There IS NO ASSUME!!! IS IT OR ISN'T IT?" Because he was yelling at me, I yelled right back. "I DON'T KNOW! I CAN'T SEE IT! IS IT OR ISN'T IT?" Then, he threw (yes, threw) the papers at me. I said something like "Wow the respect is underwhelming here, isn't it?" For the record, I never did tell him if it was sorted by date.
Rod informed me today that he was interviewing a dev later in the day. Great, say I. This will mean that I can leave that much sooner when he terminates me! Jen moans every time I say that, but I can't help but feel a sense of relief in my future. Anyway, 30 minutes or so before the interview, I figured I would be friendly and break the silence. "So, Rod! Whatcha gonna tell the new guy about working here?!" I meant it as a friendly inquiry to spur a nice conversation. What I got back was "IT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!" So I replied "Alrighty then, no friendly conversation!" Wow. That one really took me aback! Honestly. I was trying to be nice, to make conversation, I don't think I asked for anything inappropriate. I would have asked that of any employer, I think, about an upcoming interview. Hell, I've been a part of interviews! This strong comeback reminding me to mind my own bee's wax told me exactly what he is interviewing this person to do. Replace me. Awesome! That is some wicked good news, and will make getting unemployment that much easier. Anyway, a few minutes of peace went by, whereupon Rod started muttering something about "You KNOW, I just don't see the POINT of PERSonal converSAtion in the OFFice." I interrupted him before his non-apology got too painful for everyone. "Forget I even said anything, Rod. I was just trying to be friendly, obviously a foreign concept for you." Whatever.
Now, once more, I don't mind people making stinkies in the bathroom. We all have to do it sooner or later. But, again, Rod, the can of aerosol lemon spray, the fan, and an open door help eliminate those nasty odors. The worst part is hearing him make the stinkies and then (prepare yourselves) not hearing him washing his hands. Or spraying the lemon spray. And then closing the door to lock the smell in tightly. Lovely. Jen, you go in first.
So then the new guy showed up for his interview. Rod offered to take him to lunch, to which New Guy replied "oh I have to let my wife know." There was a curious silence, and then NG said "She gave me a ride and is hanging out in the parking lot until the interview is over." Well, Rod jumped right on that... and invited wifey along... to coffee. Lunch was no longer on the table, apparently. Two people is too many for dollar-sign-driven Rod! To make matters worse, it would appear that she drove the three of them. In her car. That just seemed sooo tacky, Jen and I thought.
And just now, the best news EVAR! Rod wanted to show me links on his desktop for PeachTree. I confirmed, they are on your desk top? Yes, they are. Okay, then, I don't think I need you to show them to me, I can find them when I work on your machine a bit later today." Here, he felt the need to flex his employer muscles, or something... "No, I WILL SHOW YOU where they ARE!" I jokingly said, with a friendly, teasing tone, "I can always close my eyes!" I thought I was hilarious, Jen laughed... Rod... not so much. "FINE THEN! I WILL JUST DO THIS MYSELF!"
Fine, Rod, do it yourself. Let me know how that works out for you. Send me a postcard, 'cause in the meantime, I have some walking to do whenever you deign to return. I hope you understand if I don't hurry back.
Eye Tee Girl
Today I tried four times (four times) to tell Rod that his Peachtree still isn't working and that I will need extended time at his desktop. Could he please let me know when he is leaving for the day and I will work on it then. Two sentences. Verbally speaking, it's practically one if you don't pause between the sentences! But no. I couldn't get it out. He interrupted me each and every time. One time to ask how long "extended period of time is, 30 minutes?" Another time to say "Do you have to work on my machine?" (this after telling him it appeared to be a mapping problem, so yes, by definition, I would have to work on his machine.) Finally, the fifth time, I at least got out the first part of the thought, but not the second. As I so often do, I settled on "good enough," this time.
Rod waffles on what reports he wants me to run. When I run them, they are usually sorted by date and cover either a) everything I've done or b) everything I'm planning to do. I figure I don't need to do a filter, it's easy enough to look at the top of the report to see the most recent stuff, and if he wants to see older stuff, then I don't need to run any extra reports. This minimizes Rod exposure time and reduces ick factor daily totals.
I admit, today, I forgot to run said reports. Friday was so busy, I literally was running out the door to catch my ride, and didn't have time to run them. This morning when I got in, I completely forgot. So Rod had to print out the document (for the 5th time) that detailed which reports I am supposed to run for him daily, and which ones on Monday only. (This document is already on my cubicle wall). He had one report underlined. So I ran that one. I thought that was all he wanted. Again, my mistake. He then said "is that ALL the reports you are supposed to run for me?" He asked it in kindergarten teacher tone. Like I'm 5. "I don't know, Rod, is it? I thought that was why you underlined this." Then he put his finger on the document and pointed to the line that says: "Please genertate [sic] every Monday, or when asked, the following:" "Ok, Rod. Can you explain why you underlined this one, then? I got confused, I guess." Come to think of it, he never did really answer me, just kept pointing at the line and somehow indicated (without using full sentences) that I was to print out "all 4." (There are 6 listed.)
So I printed them out.
And when he picked them up from the printer, he wanted to go over them. Sigh.
So he asked about the first one. "Is this sorted by date?" "Um, it should be, yes." I couldn't physically see it, he was too far away, but as I said, I print them by date, so I had no reason to suspect otherwise. "NOT 'SHOULD BE!' Either it IS or it ISN'T" Who does he think he is? Yoda? Do or Do not, try there is none? WtF? Anyway, I finished by saying, "Well, I don't know, look at it. Is it sorted by date?" Really, wasn't that the simplest solution, anyway? For him to look at the report in his hand? Whatever.
Then he looked at the next one. "Mmmkay. And this... " I could tell he was trying to figure out what it was, completed tasks, present tasks, overdue tasks, or future tasks. He can never figure this out, even though all he would have to do is look for and compare "Planned completion date," or "Completion date." But I think the logic is too much - it just wouldn't occur to him. So then, it came: the inevitable: "So this... Is this sorted by date?" I answered: "I assume so, yes." Oh, boy. "There IS NO ASSUME!!! IS IT OR ISN'T IT?" Because he was yelling at me, I yelled right back. "I DON'T KNOW! I CAN'T SEE IT! IS IT OR ISN'T IT?" Then, he threw (yes, threw) the papers at me. I said something like "Wow the respect is underwhelming here, isn't it?" For the record, I never did tell him if it was sorted by date.
Rod informed me today that he was interviewing a dev later in the day. Great, say I. This will mean that I can leave that much sooner when he terminates me! Jen moans every time I say that, but I can't help but feel a sense of relief in my future. Anyway, 30 minutes or so before the interview, I figured I would be friendly and break the silence. "So, Rod! Whatcha gonna tell the new guy about working here?!" I meant it as a friendly inquiry to spur a nice conversation. What I got back was "IT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!" So I replied "Alrighty then, no friendly conversation!" Wow. That one really took me aback! Honestly. I was trying to be nice, to make conversation, I don't think I asked for anything inappropriate. I would have asked that of any employer, I think, about an upcoming interview. Hell, I've been a part of interviews! This strong comeback reminding me to mind my own bee's wax told me exactly what he is interviewing this person to do. Replace me. Awesome! That is some wicked good news, and will make getting unemployment that much easier. Anyway, a few minutes of peace went by, whereupon Rod started muttering something about "You KNOW, I just don't see the POINT of PERSonal converSAtion in the OFFice." I interrupted him before his non-apology got too painful for everyone. "Forget I even said anything, Rod. I was just trying to be friendly, obviously a foreign concept for you." Whatever.
Now, once more, I don't mind people making stinkies in the bathroom. We all have to do it sooner or later. But, again, Rod, the can of aerosol lemon spray, the fan, and an open door help eliminate those nasty odors. The worst part is hearing him make the stinkies and then (prepare yourselves) not hearing him washing his hands. Or spraying the lemon spray. And then closing the door to lock the smell in tightly. Lovely. Jen, you go in first.
So then the new guy showed up for his interview. Rod offered to take him to lunch, to which New Guy replied "oh I have to let my wife know." There was a curious silence, and then NG said "She gave me a ride and is hanging out in the parking lot until the interview is over." Well, Rod jumped right on that... and invited wifey along... to coffee. Lunch was no longer on the table, apparently. Two people is too many for dollar-sign-driven Rod! To make matters worse, it would appear that she drove the three of them. In her car. That just seemed sooo tacky, Jen and I thought.
And just now, the best news EVAR! Rod wanted to show me links on his desktop for PeachTree. I confirmed, they are on your desk top? Yes, they are. Okay, then, I don't think I need you to show them to me, I can find them when I work on your machine a bit later today." Here, he felt the need to flex his employer muscles, or something... "No, I WILL SHOW YOU where they ARE!" I jokingly said, with a friendly, teasing tone, "I can always close my eyes!" I thought I was hilarious, Jen laughed... Rod... not so much. "FINE THEN! I WILL JUST DO THIS MYSELF!"
Fine, Rod, do it yourself. Let me know how that works out for you. Send me a postcard, 'cause in the meantime, I have some walking to do whenever you deign to return. I hope you understand if I don't hurry back.
Eye Tee Girl
Busy as a Bee
Friday was a very busy day for ETG. First, our Goldmine went down. It was throwing SQL errors. I was trying to chase down the cause of the disconnect - It happened right after some MS updates hit the server (which isn't supposed to happen, but it did anyway) and forced it to reboot. The source of the problem could have been very basic to very complex. In trying to chase the source, I kept coming across "Make sure the password is correct." Before I could really research that issue, Rod was in my face, telling me very helpful things to do. "You need to reboot the server. That will fix it." Now, considering I had already been troubleshooting this problem for an hour while Rod was nestled in bed dreaming of sugar plums, I wasn't too fond of his "Let me tell you how to do your job" theories. "I am on my third reboot right now. Do you really want me to reboot it again?" He just muttered something cranky and left. Some time went by, perhaps 3 minutes. "So, KATIE, aherruMMMM! When are you going to call MICROsoft to fix this problem?" "Well, Rod, I don't know. I am not convinced that the problem is with Microsoft, so I am hesitant to call them until I can find out what the problem is." Rod let some more time go by, perhaps 4 minutes. "So, hackUMMM! Katie! When will this problem be FIXED?" I let out a big sigh. Why must I be so misunderstood?! "I don't know, Rod." That, of course, was not good enough. "Well, I need a TIME that it will --" "9:38 pm, Rod, it will be fixed by 9:38 TONIGHT." Well, of course, that just pissed him off. "You are NOT being SENSITIVE to the NEEDS of the SALES TEAM!" He was actually irate. I think I saw spittle fly from his lips. Literally! I really do think he spittled! "Well, Rod, are you being sensitive to the needs of the IT Team? I need to be left alone to work on this. The more you interrupt and ask questions, the--" "I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE NEEDS OF THE IT TEAM!" I laughed at him. He spittled again. This was getting fun. "Well, then the IT Team doesn't care about the needs of the Sales Team." I know it was petty, but I mean really, who says something like "I don't care about your team" and then wants you to respect their needs? He walked into that one, if you ask me.
Some more time went by. Perhaps 6 minutes elapsed. Rod informed me he was calling Microsoft. "Ok," I said. "What do you plan on telling them?" Well, that got him quiet. "Well, aren't YOU going to be on the call?" I was patient. "No, Rod, I have no idea what the problem is yet. I keep getting interrupted." There was silence for perhaps 2 minutes. "Well, I'm calling them ANYway and I exPECT you to PARTIcipate in the CALL." Fine, whatever, as long as it would shut him up. So I informed him, "Fine, but I'm not going to sit on the phone while you navigate the system and argue that you won't work with someone in the Philipines, or in India, or anywhere but the US. That alone takes you an hour or more, and frankly, that's what I dread about calls to Microsoft when you decide to take charge." Now this is where things got interesting. Rod turned it around on me. "You aren't willing to speak to someone in India?" he asked. I said, "Ohhh no you don't! I have no problem with it. You are the one who argues in circles with people until you get someone in the US." He paused. "OH, yes, well that's TRUE, I don't LIKE people in INDIA." I just ignored that comment and tried to return to work.
But, of course, Rod made that impossible. He continued to pepper me with questions, such as the version we are running of this or that, which service pack, what our license number is... Essentially, the only time I got to troubleshoot the password problem was before Rod got here.
The call that Rod set up ending up taking hours. I knew we were chasing red herrings, but I wasn't ever given a real opportunity to troubleshoot the problem myself, and in peace. Finally, I ended up asking Rod if we could conference in Goldmine support. In about 2 minutes, I got the information I needed about database storage locations and found out the problem was, indeed, a credentials issue. I fixed it, and presto, Goldmine started working. Lovely, 6 hours wasted, but at least I got GM back up! So off to lunch I go... and upon my return, I discover....
That Rod's install of Peachtree isn't working. Great. So I ask him to leave his PW in case I need to login and as soon as he left, I had to go work on his work station. Ick factor +4. I had to smell his smell while I worked. Ick factor +5. Three hours later, working with PT tech support, we still can't figure out why it's not working, I have to leave, and Rod is checked out for the weekend. Lovely thing to look forward to come in to on Monday... And not even time to blog!
On a lighter note, Rod spoke to some devs on Friday about working here. I heard him talk about the medical benefits that they would receive here (ha!), that there are 5 employees here (haha!!) and that we are a development company (hahahaha!) It brought back memories of my own interview here when he lied about the same things to me - the size of the company and employer covered medical and dental insurance. What a crock! But, who am I to tell the truth to the next new guy? Luckily, he'll end up replacing me anyway, and then I don't have to be here any longer.
I can hardly wait!
(hopefully another blog to come later today)
Eye Tee Girl
Some more time went by. Perhaps 6 minutes elapsed. Rod informed me he was calling Microsoft. "Ok," I said. "What do you plan on telling them?" Well, that got him quiet. "Well, aren't YOU going to be on the call?" I was patient. "No, Rod, I have no idea what the problem is yet. I keep getting interrupted." There was silence for perhaps 2 minutes. "Well, I'm calling them ANYway and I exPECT you to PARTIcipate in the CALL." Fine, whatever, as long as it would shut him up. So I informed him, "Fine, but I'm not going to sit on the phone while you navigate the system and argue that you won't work with someone in the Philipines, or in India, or anywhere but the US. That alone takes you an hour or more, and frankly, that's what I dread about calls to Microsoft when you decide to take charge." Now this is where things got interesting. Rod turned it around on me. "You aren't willing to speak to someone in India?" he asked. I said, "Ohhh no you don't! I have no problem with it. You are the one who argues in circles with people until you get someone in the US." He paused. "OH, yes, well that's TRUE, I don't LIKE people in INDIA." I just ignored that comment and tried to return to work.
But, of course, Rod made that impossible. He continued to pepper me with questions, such as the version we are running of this or that, which service pack, what our license number is... Essentially, the only time I got to troubleshoot the password problem was before Rod got here.
The call that Rod set up ending up taking hours. I knew we were chasing red herrings, but I wasn't ever given a real opportunity to troubleshoot the problem myself, and in peace. Finally, I ended up asking Rod if we could conference in Goldmine support. In about 2 minutes, I got the information I needed about database storage locations and found out the problem was, indeed, a credentials issue. I fixed it, and presto, Goldmine started working. Lovely, 6 hours wasted, but at least I got GM back up! So off to lunch I go... and upon my return, I discover....
That Rod's install of Peachtree isn't working. Great. So I ask him to leave his PW in case I need to login and as soon as he left, I had to go work on his work station. Ick factor +4. I had to smell his smell while I worked. Ick factor +5. Three hours later, working with PT tech support, we still can't figure out why it's not working, I have to leave, and Rod is checked out for the weekend. Lovely thing to look forward to come in to on Monday... And not even time to blog!
On a lighter note, Rod spoke to some devs on Friday about working here. I heard him talk about the medical benefits that they would receive here (ha!), that there are 5 employees here (haha!!) and that we are a development company (hahahaha!) It brought back memories of my own interview here when he lied about the same things to me - the size of the company and employer covered medical and dental insurance. What a crock! But, who am I to tell the truth to the next new guy? Luckily, he'll end up replacing me anyway, and then I don't have to be here any longer.
I can hardly wait!
(hopefully another blog to come later today)
Eye Tee Girl
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Hell hath no fury...
Check that. Hell hath no misery like working at Acme. Specifically, working for Rod.
He's just so... so... mean.
And he doesn't really ever have a good reason for it.
He called Dave worthless and useless today. What kind of human really thinks of another human as worthless and useless? I was shocked at the hatred in his tone, on his face, and in his gestures. I wouldn't even call Rod useless or worthless. It kills a piece of me inside when he says stuff like that, and I just cannot be quiet. This time, I said, "Hey, you want me to treat you with respect. You can't go around talking about people like that! Why am I supposed to think you speak any differently about me when I'm not around?" He was silent. But not because he realized my point. He was silent because I had just pissed him off some more and I suppose he had to "regain" his composure. HA! But I no longer care. Screw him. He screws anything that moves, either with his ka-ka or with his corrupt business practices. Why should I treat him differently than he treats anyone else? He doesn't deserve my kindness any longer!
Ok, enough of the bitter rantings. Here are some funny stories from the day.
Shit bomb, 6 :: Fuck bomb, 2 :: GDI, 1 (And all but 1 S Bomb and 1 F Bomb were dropped before 10 am!)
Rod wanted me to work on a mini project for him. Fine. I have no problem doing it. What is as irritating as it is mirthful is that in the space of 15 minutes and back to back, he told me 4 times what to do. All 4 times, he listed the same main tasks. Then he went to his desk to write it down. Then he brought his pad over and read them to me. Again. Control issues? OCD? ADHD? I mean, what the hell?
So this project involved that I work on his machine. I had to save a file. The default path that came up was on the network: G:\Employees\Rod\WomansName\xxx
Well, shit bugger. You can't see something like that on someone's machine and ignore it. With a smirk, I said, "Hey Jen, c'mere." "What? I'm in the middle of something." "No, really, you need to c'mere." She came up behind me and said "What." I showed her. She looked at me, I looked at her. She said, "Well...? OPEN THEM!" I was hesitant. "Nudie pictures of Rod? UGH!" "So?" she said. That's all it took. So I used the thumbnail view, and sure enough... Porn, and lots of it. We even found one that we are convinced was Rod, himself, or ... part of himself, anyway. Ick factor: Infinity +1. I will be saving all these files somewhere - unfortunately, I need to keep them as evidence of the sexual harassment here. Having files like this, in public, is proof of his complete disregard for us.
While I was working on his computer, the scroll wheel stuck, so I looked down at it. I wish now I hadn't. It was visibly oily, and there was a chunk of... well... something... on it. Ugh. Nasty. Ick factor: +9
I told Rod at one point today that I have never, ever been managed as closely as he manages me. Not even when I was 16 at McDonald's! His quip was "Y'know, attorneys and accountants have to account for all of their time!" Well, I wasn't talking about accounting for my time, but I didn't point that out. I settled on the obvious. "Well, I'm not an attorney or an accountant, so you prove nothing." He didn't really have much to say after that.
Rod must have been very excited this morning when he found an order for 1000 servers. He was so chipper to tell Jen about it! "Hey, did you know we got this big order?!" Jen replied, "You mean that one for 1,000 servers?" He sounded so deflated: "um.. Yeah, I ahhherrrUMMMM I guess." Jen was cool as a cucumber, "Yeah, they've paid and everything. A long time ago! This is really old!" Of course, Mr Argumentative couldn't leave it alone. Instead, he said "Oh, well, hmmph. It must've been in the wrong FOLder." Whatever.
Anyway, I'm just so done with this place. Porn on the network, constant criticism, lies, no morals, bad-mouthing... It's a wonder I haven't walked out on his sorry ass.
Ahhh, yes, the end of another great day looms before me! I must finish my farming on Facebook and bid all of you a grand good bye for the day.
Eye Tee Girl.
He's just so... so... mean.
And he doesn't really ever have a good reason for it.
He called Dave worthless and useless today. What kind of human really thinks of another human as worthless and useless? I was shocked at the hatred in his tone, on his face, and in his gestures. I wouldn't even call Rod useless or worthless. It kills a piece of me inside when he says stuff like that, and I just cannot be quiet. This time, I said, "Hey, you want me to treat you with respect. You can't go around talking about people like that! Why am I supposed to think you speak any differently about me when I'm not around?" He was silent. But not because he realized my point. He was silent because I had just pissed him off some more and I suppose he had to "regain" his composure. HA! But I no longer care. Screw him. He screws anything that moves, either with his ka-ka or with his corrupt business practices. Why should I treat him differently than he treats anyone else? He doesn't deserve my kindness any longer!
Ok, enough of the bitter rantings. Here are some funny stories from the day.
Shit bomb, 6 :: Fuck bomb, 2 :: GDI, 1 (And all but 1 S Bomb and 1 F Bomb were dropped before 10 am!)
Rod wanted me to work on a mini project for him. Fine. I have no problem doing it. What is as irritating as it is mirthful is that in the space of 15 minutes and back to back, he told me 4 times what to do. All 4 times, he listed the same main tasks. Then he went to his desk to write it down. Then he brought his pad over and read them to me. Again. Control issues? OCD? ADHD? I mean, what the hell?
So this project involved that I work on his machine. I had to save a file. The default path that came up was on the network: G:\Employees\Rod\WomansName\xxx
Well, shit bugger. You can't see something like that on someone's machine and ignore it. With a smirk, I said, "Hey Jen, c'mere." "What? I'm in the middle of something." "No, really, you need to c'mere." She came up behind me and said "What." I showed her. She looked at me, I looked at her. She said, "Well...? OPEN THEM!" I was hesitant. "Nudie pictures of Rod? UGH!" "So?" she said. That's all it took. So I used the thumbnail view, and sure enough... Porn, and lots of it. We even found one that we are convinced was Rod, himself, or ... part of himself, anyway. Ick factor: Infinity +1. I will be saving all these files somewhere - unfortunately, I need to keep them as evidence of the sexual harassment here. Having files like this, in public, is proof of his complete disregard for us.
While I was working on his computer, the scroll wheel stuck, so I looked down at it. I wish now I hadn't. It was visibly oily, and there was a chunk of... well... something... on it. Ugh. Nasty. Ick factor: +9
I told Rod at one point today that I have never, ever been managed as closely as he manages me. Not even when I was 16 at McDonald's! His quip was "Y'know, attorneys and accountants have to account for all of their time!" Well, I wasn't talking about accounting for my time, but I didn't point that out. I settled on the obvious. "Well, I'm not an attorney or an accountant, so you prove nothing." He didn't really have much to say after that.
Rod must have been very excited this morning when he found an order for 1000 servers. He was so chipper to tell Jen about it! "Hey, did you know we got this big order?!" Jen replied, "You mean that one for 1,000 servers?" He sounded so deflated: "um.. Yeah, I ahhherrrUMMMM I guess." Jen was cool as a cucumber, "Yeah, they've paid and everything. A long time ago! This is really old!" Of course, Mr Argumentative couldn't leave it alone. Instead, he said "Oh, well, hmmph. It must've been in the wrong FOLder." Whatever.
Anyway, I'm just so done with this place. Porn on the network, constant criticism, lies, no morals, bad-mouthing... It's a wonder I haven't walked out on his sorry ass.
Ahhh, yes, the end of another great day looms before me! I must finish my farming on Facebook and bid all of you a grand good bye for the day.
Eye Tee Girl.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Arguably the best argument ever argued!
I think, perhaps, Rod quite literally lives to argue. To correct. To advance himself. Of course, it never works, and in the process, he just makes an ass out of himself, but like I said... I think he lives for it.
On a call with a customer: "Well, it's cloudy and grey here...[it was actually sunny] What's the weather like there in Toronto?" A long period of silence passed. Then the customer said, "Um, who's in Toronto?" Rod reminded him. "YOU are!" "No, I'm in Wisconsin." Rod argued. "No, you are in Ontario! That's in Toronto, right?" Wrong again, Rod. Toronto is in Ontario. But close! And I think the customer likely knows where he is located... So I'm gonna go out on a limb and say Rod 0, Customer 2. Criminy! He is just so embarrassing!
I was in a Microsoft training course - a good one - about troubleshooting upgrade issues when people start migrating from Office 2007 to 2010. I put it in the calendar, and since I never have had to tell Rod in the past of training sessions, I left it at that. Rod came up wanted to have a meeting right as the course was starting. By now, I'm sure you know that all meetings turn into arguments, they are never really "meetings," and we rarely discuss the issue that prompted the meeting. I told him "I'm in a training class." "What do you MEAN, TRAINING class?!" I ignored him - I was still trying to get the connection working, and I didn't stutter - my words were self-explanatory. Let him figure it out on his lonesome! Besides, he just wanted another argument and I wasn't in the mood. I could hear him clicking around - presumably at the calendar - while he muttered and murmured. Then, "What is this 'Em - Ess' Training thing?" I ignored him again. Then, bellowed, "KATIE! WHAT IS THIS 'EM ESS' TRAINING THING?!" I played dumb. "I'm sorry, what? I'm in a training class, I couldn't hear you." "WHAT IS THIS EM ESS THING?" The emphasis he was placing on the letters MS made it clear he didn't understand what "em ess" stood for. So... I helped him. I regretted it almost instantly. "It is a Microsoft Training course." "TRAINING YOU ON WHAT!!!" "Troubleshooting applications!" Now, I know that in reality, the least helpful thing I said was that last sentence, but it pacified him. And I also know I was playing hard to get - I didn't want to tell him what the course was about, so I compromised with a half-explanation. I'm not sure why. I think I'm just starting to enjoy how easy it is to wind him up. I think it's the Irish in me. Anyway, not long thereafter, Jen said, "Katie?" To which Rod very snidely replied, "She is BUSY for the next TWO HOURS!" Whatever. Go suck a rubberband or something else more useful than your harassment.
So while I was in the training course, the main debt collector called again. Because I was in my class and Jen was on the phone, Rod had to take his own collection call. Finally! Jen and I have been fielding these calls for, I dunno, two months? Jen, how long? Anyway, I couldn't hear everything, but I could clearly hear this line: "I am not prePAREd to make a payment!" He sounded like a 4 year old boy, hands on hips, stomping his feet. And then, "Contact me only by email, then!!" His voice lowered, so I had to ignore the class for a minute. After all, a blogger has certain responsibilities to her adoring public! "You are harassing me! I can't believe I have to send a letter to stop this harassment. But fine I will thanks goodbye." All one sentence. Might have been one word for as quickly as he said it!
As the second hour of my training began, Rod decided to try meeting with me again. "Can we have a meeting?" Sigh. "Rod, remember? I'm in training." My voice was plaintive. His face sneered at me and at the idea that I was in a training course. The nerve! Really. Why wouldn't he just go away? This really was important. I wasn't faking it. (Maybe he's not used to that from a woman?) (Oh SNAP) But no. He started talking, regardless of the headphones in my ears. Regardless of the Power Point slides moving on my screen. He said, "FINE! I want you to do ONE THING. And it BETTER be done toMORrow." "Ok, Rod, make it quick. What is it?" I removed the headphone from my left ear. Well, crap. That just opened the door for him. Consider that a lesson learned! "Well, FIRST! I want you to..." And here, he proceeded to talk about things that not only had we spoken about, but that had already been established in email! So I interrupted him. My class was still droning on in my right ear and I wanted to get back to it quickly. I asked him, "In light of expediency, could you be less repetitious, please?" Well, that just pissed him off. I could tell. Part of me grinned on the inside. That was easy! "I will SAY whatever I WANT to say, Goddammit!" Well, crap. There he went, cussin again. Now I had to decide... stay for the important class? Or leave on principle? I stayed. So I said right back: "Well, then, I will just choose to ignore you... and your cursing! This time." I turned my back on him quite deliberately and put my headphones back in. It was at this point that he stammered through a tongue thickened by hate and anger, "Well, consider this HOUR as YOUR time and TIME you will not be PAID for." Really? Now he's threatening my salary for doing what is in my job description? I mean, I get the whole "He's the boss of me" thing, but... really? "Okay, Rod, go ahead. This is important. More important than money." Well, he just kept going. He was on a roll! "I mean, I'm not going to pay for this BULLSHIT!" I replied quietly (I think), "Fine, Rod, consider me out of the office now. I'll be quiet, you be quiet. If you can't keep a clean tongue in your mouth, I don't need to be paid for the hour." You know? Really, at this point, I swear I wasn't trying to egg him on anymore. I was just missing more of my class. He was storming around the office now, I heard him whip around the corner as he said something to the effect that he paid my salary so he had the right to speak however he wanted. I pointed out that ... actually? he wasn't paying me anything right now, so ... I let the logic wash over him. He got really silent very quickly.
Rod confuses words. A lot. But he'll argue till he's blue in the face about it! For instance, has been having problems with his PIN at the bank. Apparently, it will work at the bank, and then when he gets to his computer, the password stops working. Now, I have been silently laughing about this one to myself for probably 2 months now. Obviously, he is trying to use his ATM PIN as his bank website logon password. Then he blows out his web logon by typing it in wrong 3 times. If his bank is like mine, it means not only is he locked out for 24 hours from the website, but he now also has to call the bank and get his web logon password reset and emailed to him. Then he'll be able to logon to his web page for a while, and then, oddly enough, his ATM PIN will stop working - because he's using his new password! So, in the last 2 months or so, he has had, I think, 4 PINs mailed to him and has called the bank 5 or more times to get his password reset. He thinks they are the same thing, used for both purposes. I feel like I am typing in circles. Does this make sense? Finally, today, I heard him on yet another call. "Ohhhhh. So, I have to have TWO DIFFERENT PASSWORDS? They are DIFFERENT?" I won't bore you with his opinion of having to memorize two passwords to do "the same thing," but suffice it to say, the poor person "helping" Rod got a tongue lashing.
Rod confuses other words as well. Insulation/Installation. Sure, practically the same thing. Others I think I've mentioned, console/counsel. As in, he sends people to look in the admin counsel all the time. If he asks me to deinstall something one more time... And now the latest. "Katie, do you think you are competent enough to do this install?" Oh brother. I just rolled my eyes. Confident. He wants to know if I am confident about doing the install. When I told him later it was insulting to ask if I was competent enough to do something, he said he never said that. I just said ok. Like pimples, some fights just aren't worth the time it takes to pick at.
So aside from digging up many, many skeletons about Rod lately, today was highly entertaining. As I uncover clear details about the level of his corruption, I hope to post them here.
Of course, I might just be too embarrassed to admit to what I find...
Eye Tee Girl
On a call with a customer: "Well, it's cloudy and grey here...[it was actually sunny] What's the weather like there in Toronto?" A long period of silence passed. Then the customer said, "Um, who's in Toronto?" Rod reminded him. "YOU are!" "No, I'm in Wisconsin." Rod argued. "No, you are in Ontario! That's in Toronto, right?" Wrong again, Rod. Toronto is in Ontario. But close! And I think the customer likely knows where he is located... So I'm gonna go out on a limb and say Rod 0, Customer 2. Criminy! He is just so embarrassing!
I was in a Microsoft training course - a good one - about troubleshooting upgrade issues when people start migrating from Office 2007 to 2010. I put it in the calendar, and since I never have had to tell Rod in the past of training sessions, I left it at that. Rod came up wanted to have a meeting right as the course was starting. By now, I'm sure you know that all meetings turn into arguments, they are never really "meetings," and we rarely discuss the issue that prompted the meeting. I told him "I'm in a training class." "What do you MEAN, TRAINING class?!" I ignored him - I was still trying to get the connection working, and I didn't stutter - my words were self-explanatory. Let him figure it out on his lonesome! Besides, he just wanted another argument and I wasn't in the mood. I could hear him clicking around - presumably at the calendar - while he muttered and murmured. Then, "What is this 'Em - Ess' Training thing?" I ignored him again. Then, bellowed, "KATIE! WHAT IS THIS 'EM ESS' TRAINING THING?!" I played dumb. "I'm sorry, what? I'm in a training class, I couldn't hear you." "WHAT IS THIS EM ESS THING?" The emphasis he was placing on the letters MS made it clear he didn't understand what "em ess" stood for. So... I helped him. I regretted it almost instantly. "It is a Microsoft Training course." "TRAINING YOU ON WHAT!!!" "Troubleshooting applications!" Now, I know that in reality, the least helpful thing I said was that last sentence, but it pacified him. And I also know I was playing hard to get - I didn't want to tell him what the course was about, so I compromised with a half-explanation. I'm not sure why. I think I'm just starting to enjoy how easy it is to wind him up. I think it's the Irish in me. Anyway, not long thereafter, Jen said, "Katie?" To which Rod very snidely replied, "She is BUSY for the next TWO HOURS!" Whatever. Go suck a rubberband or something else more useful than your harassment.
So while I was in the training course, the main debt collector called again. Because I was in my class and Jen was on the phone, Rod had to take his own collection call. Finally! Jen and I have been fielding these calls for, I dunno, two months? Jen, how long? Anyway, I couldn't hear everything, but I could clearly hear this line: "I am not prePAREd to make a payment!" He sounded like a 4 year old boy, hands on hips, stomping his feet. And then, "Contact me only by email, then!!" His voice lowered, so I had to ignore the class for a minute. After all, a blogger has certain responsibilities to her adoring public! "You are harassing me! I can't believe I have to send a letter to stop this harassment. But fine I will thanks goodbye." All one sentence. Might have been one word for as quickly as he said it!
As the second hour of my training began, Rod decided to try meeting with me again. "Can we have a meeting?" Sigh. "Rod, remember? I'm in training." My voice was plaintive. His face sneered at me and at the idea that I was in a training course. The nerve! Really. Why wouldn't he just go away? This really was important. I wasn't faking it. (Maybe he's not used to that from a woman?) (Oh SNAP) But no. He started talking, regardless of the headphones in my ears. Regardless of the Power Point slides moving on my screen. He said, "FINE! I want you to do ONE THING. And it BETTER be done toMORrow." "Ok, Rod, make it quick. What is it?" I removed the headphone from my left ear. Well, crap. That just opened the door for him. Consider that a lesson learned! "Well, FIRST! I want you to..." And here, he proceeded to talk about things that not only had we spoken about, but that had already been established in email! So I interrupted him. My class was still droning on in my right ear and I wanted to get back to it quickly. I asked him, "In light of expediency, could you be less repetitious, please?" Well, that just pissed him off. I could tell. Part of me grinned on the inside. That was easy! "I will SAY whatever I WANT to say, Goddammit!" Well, crap. There he went, cussin again. Now I had to decide... stay for the important class? Or leave on principle? I stayed. So I said right back: "Well, then, I will just choose to ignore you... and your cursing! This time." I turned my back on him quite deliberately and put my headphones back in. It was at this point that he stammered through a tongue thickened by hate and anger, "Well, consider this HOUR as YOUR time and TIME you will not be PAID for." Really? Now he's threatening my salary for doing what is in my job description? I mean, I get the whole "He's the boss of me" thing, but... really? "Okay, Rod, go ahead. This is important. More important than money." Well, he just kept going. He was on a roll! "I mean, I'm not going to pay for this BULLSHIT!" I replied quietly (I think), "Fine, Rod, consider me out of the office now. I'll be quiet, you be quiet. If you can't keep a clean tongue in your mouth, I don't need to be paid for the hour." You know? Really, at this point, I swear I wasn't trying to egg him on anymore. I was just missing more of my class. He was storming around the office now, I heard him whip around the corner as he said something to the effect that he paid my salary so he had the right to speak however he wanted. I pointed out that ... actually? he wasn't paying me anything right now, so ... I let the logic wash over him. He got really silent very quickly.
Rod confuses words. A lot. But he'll argue till he's blue in the face about it! For instance, has been having problems with his PIN at the bank. Apparently, it will work at the bank, and then when he gets to his computer, the password stops working. Now, I have been silently laughing about this one to myself for probably 2 months now. Obviously, he is trying to use his ATM PIN as his bank website logon password. Then he blows out his web logon by typing it in wrong 3 times. If his bank is like mine, it means not only is he locked out for 24 hours from the website, but he now also has to call the bank and get his web logon password reset and emailed to him. Then he'll be able to logon to his web page for a while, and then, oddly enough, his ATM PIN will stop working - because he's using his new password! So, in the last 2 months or so, he has had, I think, 4 PINs mailed to him and has called the bank 5 or more times to get his password reset. He thinks they are the same thing, used for both purposes. I feel like I am typing in circles. Does this make sense? Finally, today, I heard him on yet another call. "Ohhhhh. So, I have to have TWO DIFFERENT PASSWORDS? They are DIFFERENT?" I won't bore you with his opinion of having to memorize two passwords to do "the same thing," but suffice it to say, the poor person "helping" Rod got a tongue lashing.
Rod confuses other words as well. Insulation/Installation. Sure, practically the same thing. Others I think I've mentioned, console/counsel. As in, he sends people to look in the admin counsel all the time. If he asks me to deinstall something one more time... And now the latest. "Katie, do you think you are competent enough to do this install?" Oh brother. I just rolled my eyes. Confident. He wants to know if I am confident about doing the install. When I told him later it was insulting to ask if I was competent enough to do something, he said he never said that. I just said ok. Like pimples, some fights just aren't worth the time it takes to pick at.
So aside from digging up many, many skeletons about Rod lately, today was highly entertaining. As I uncover clear details about the level of his corruption, I hope to post them here.
Of course, I might just be too embarrassed to admit to what I find...
Eye Tee Girl
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Who needs money, anyway?
Well, I guess I do. That's why I'm here after all. Yesterday, I was out sick and asked my wonderful, loving partner to pick up my check. Imagine his shock when there was no paycheck here! That's weird, I told him... because I have gotten into the habit of asking up to two days in advance - just to verify pay day will actually happen. I'm sure you can see this one coming... That's right, we didn't get paid.
Payday was the 16th. All the companies I've ever worked for would work it like this: If payday falls on a Saturday, they pay you Friday. If it falls on a Sunday, they pay you Monday. A courtesy type thing, if you will.
But not Rod.
So on Friday, and perhaps earlier, I verified that payday would be Monday (I knew I didn't even have a shot at getting paid Friday). He agreed. Yes. Monday. I think I even mentioned something about MLK day. But the point is, he agreed. We would be getting paid Monday.
Now, I've heard stories from Jen. About Rod. They involve tax evasion, liens on accounts, and bounced checks. She has this whole ritual she goes through when she gets a check. She has even set up an account at Rod's bank to make the ritual goes smoothly. When we get paid, she cashes the check at the issuing bank, then she deposits the cash at her real bank. This way, she avoids a cashing fee, and any bounced check fees. She gave me the whole lowdown on how to do it. As a result, I am worried every single time I deposit a check. (I don't follow the ritual). (I should). I think she said that she and Dave went something like six weeks without getting paid. So, as Jen was detailing this whole story, I told her, "If he ever stiffs me for a check, that is the last day I work!"
Imagine my two-fold disappointment, dear, gentle readers, that he picked yesterday, the day I called in sick, to stiff me on my paycheck. I wasn't going to get paid, and I wasn't going to be able to walk out on him. Bummer!
So I got pissed, and I did my homework. This one isn't really as wishy washy as Rod wants us to believe. The rule reads that he "must pay on the regularly established payday." Now, there's no real punishment for it, but if (when!) I file a complaint, Washington State L&I takes over paying me for him if he doesn't heed their first warning.
I waited for Jen to come in this morning before asking in my best I'm-trying-not-to-kill-you voice: "So, Rod! Is there a reason we didn't get paid yesterday?" ahhereUUMM! "YES! That is because YESterday was a BANK holiday." I laughed out loud at that answer and said "Really? That's your reason?" I think I said something like "That's lame," but I don't remember for sure. His response, I'll never forget. "Well, it's good enough for me, so it has to be good enough for you."
Oh, no it doesn't, Rod. Something about "...and the horse you rode in on" is going through my mind right now.
Anyway, as I've been doing my research, I've been finding out all kinds of other stuff that is going on here that is illegal. I can't wait to list them all out for you! Finally, I have good blog stories on the days that are quiet here! Plus I want to verify that what I'm thinking is really true. It's surreal. I knew Rod was crooked, but what I've been uncovering takes it to new heights.
Here are some lighthearted, unrelated from our day:
Rod took us to lunch. Why? We have no idea. It was pleasant, I suppose. Lunch was free after all. (That was the only thing that got Jen and I to say yes!) The most interesting story Rod told involved his caulking skills. Apparently, Rod said, there is an art to caulking. This statement made my head pop up. Did he even realize the homonym here? Either way, I couldn't look at Jen, or I knew I would completely lose my composure! So, back to the story. There is an artform to caulking. Rod, it would seem, is not a good caulker. No. In fact, he had to hire someone to come into his home and do his caulking for him! Now, I grant you, I have the mind of a 12 year old when it comes to words that sound naughty, but aren't. Caulk has to be one of my favorites. This conversation had me in silent mirth, delicately wiping away at tears, pretending it was my sinus pain. The hilarity! He is bad at caulking! He needs someone to do his caulking for him! Oh, really, it was just too much.
Curse count for the day: Shit!, 3 :: GDI, 1 :: Fuck, 3 :: Bitch, 1 (when referring to a woman)
I hope you have enjoyed learning more about the sordid side of Acme. And Rod's poor caulking skills!
I bid you adieu!
Eye Tee Girl
Payday was the 16th. All the companies I've ever worked for would work it like this: If payday falls on a Saturday, they pay you Friday. If it falls on a Sunday, they pay you Monday. A courtesy type thing, if you will.
But not Rod.
So on Friday, and perhaps earlier, I verified that payday would be Monday (I knew I didn't even have a shot at getting paid Friday). He agreed. Yes. Monday. I think I even mentioned something about MLK day. But the point is, he agreed. We would be getting paid Monday.
Now, I've heard stories from Jen. About Rod. They involve tax evasion, liens on accounts, and bounced checks. She has this whole ritual she goes through when she gets a check. She has even set up an account at Rod's bank to make the ritual goes smoothly. When we get paid, she cashes the check at the issuing bank, then she deposits the cash at her real bank. This way, she avoids a cashing fee, and any bounced check fees. She gave me the whole lowdown on how to do it. As a result, I am worried every single time I deposit a check. (I don't follow the ritual). (I should). I think she said that she and Dave went something like six weeks without getting paid. So, as Jen was detailing this whole story, I told her, "If he ever stiffs me for a check, that is the last day I work!"
Imagine my two-fold disappointment, dear, gentle readers, that he picked yesterday, the day I called in sick, to stiff me on my paycheck. I wasn't going to get paid, and I wasn't going to be able to walk out on him. Bummer!
So I got pissed, and I did my homework. This one isn't really as wishy washy as Rod wants us to believe. The rule reads that he "must pay on the regularly established payday." Now, there's no real punishment for it, but if (when!) I file a complaint, Washington State L&I takes over paying me for him if he doesn't heed their first warning.
I waited for Jen to come in this morning before asking in my best I'm-trying-not-to-kill-you voice: "So, Rod! Is there a reason we didn't get paid yesterday?" ahhereUUMM! "YES! That is because YESterday was a BANK holiday." I laughed out loud at that answer and said "Really? That's your reason?" I think I said something like "That's lame," but I don't remember for sure. His response, I'll never forget. "Well, it's good enough for me, so it has to be good enough for you."
Oh, no it doesn't, Rod. Something about "...and the horse you rode in on" is going through my mind right now.
Anyway, as I've been doing my research, I've been finding out all kinds of other stuff that is going on here that is illegal. I can't wait to list them all out for you! Finally, I have good blog stories on the days that are quiet here! Plus I want to verify that what I'm thinking is really true. It's surreal. I knew Rod was crooked, but what I've been uncovering takes it to new heights.
Here are some lighthearted, unrelated from our day:
Rod took us to lunch. Why? We have no idea. It was pleasant, I suppose. Lunch was free after all. (That was the only thing that got Jen and I to say yes!) The most interesting story Rod told involved his caulking skills. Apparently, Rod said, there is an art to caulking. This statement made my head pop up. Did he even realize the homonym here? Either way, I couldn't look at Jen, or I knew I would completely lose my composure! So, back to the story. There is an artform to caulking. Rod, it would seem, is not a good caulker. No. In fact, he had to hire someone to come into his home and do his caulking for him! Now, I grant you, I have the mind of a 12 year old when it comes to words that sound naughty, but aren't. Caulk has to be one of my favorites. This conversation had me in silent mirth, delicately wiping away at tears, pretending it was my sinus pain. The hilarity! He is bad at caulking! He needs someone to do his caulking for him! Oh, really, it was just too much.
Curse count for the day: Shit!, 3 :: GDI, 1 :: Fuck, 3 :: Bitch, 1 (when referring to a woman)
I hope you have enjoyed learning more about the sordid side of Acme. And Rod's poor caulking skills!
I bid you adieu!
Eye Tee Girl
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