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Frustration Series: PTO, Neighbors, Departed, Ultraviolet
Now, for another in my exciting Frustration Series. I hate turning my journal into a bitchfest, because negativity never got anyone anywhere, but I think this should be the last of it.
England: Only after returning and receiving my paycheck did I realize that I only got paid for half the days I took off. Yeeeeeouuuuuuuch. Damn that hurt. Though granted I'd rather not have known while on my trip, it would have made it much more difficult to enjoy myself. But still. I've been with this company for 5, probably damn near 6 years, "full time" (if you consider 40 hours a week full time -- they have a clever job classification that defines "full time" only as producing an impossibly high line count -- well, impossibly high if you work two jobs like I do), and the best I get is 5 fucking paid days off a year? Actually I shouldn't complain, before last year PTO was but an unattainable fantasy. "So go work for someone else" you're probably saying. Well, contrary to what the ads say, medical transcriptionists aren't in high demand, we're a dime a dozen.
I tried to argue my PTO. I could've sworn I read in an interoffice memo somewhere that we would be allowed to borrow PTO before earning it, which made great sense to me -- did they want everyone saving their time until December, then taking vacation en masse, leaving a month's worth of reports falling behind? Evidently, because the schedule supervisor had no idea what I was talking about. I'm reasonably sure I didn't pull it out of my ass. It's not like I dream about the fine print in PTO policies. Stupid. Stupid and nonsensical. However, careful review of the policy revealed that time could be carried over to the next year, while I distinctly remember being told last year to "use it or lose it" (of course, I also distinctly remembered the borrowing clause). We'll see. I consider this matter FAR from over.
Neighbors: I work from home, which is bliss. But unfortunately, some people take the opportunity thinking no one else is home to engage in very noisy activities. One of my neighbors ran a circular saw every day for about a week. Then yesterday I heard what sounded like a different saw, which I suspect was being used by Tracey's boyfriend (I traced the first one to the ground floor unit across the way). It could be worse I guess: A circular saw is a hell of a lot more annoying at, say, 9:00 at night than 1:00 in the afternoon. They could run them simultaneously, which would probably make me a leettle homicidal. But it's almost uncanny how I'll put up with it, and put up with it, and put up with it, and finally close my window. Then they'll stop. After a few hours I'll figure it's safe, open the window, and almost IMMEDIATELY they'll start in again. Oh, COME ON.
There's a new noise that I find almost as intolerable as the angry whine of the saw(s). Someone (impossible to determine who) has a squeak toy which they are unhealthily fond of. Whether it's a dog, or a baby, or an emotionally disturbed adult, I have no idea. But they will squeak this thing for a ridiculously long time. Picture it.
SqueakySqueakySqueaky....SqueakySqueakySqueakySqueakySqueakySqueakySqueakySqueakySqueaky....Squeaky....Squeaky.... SqueakySqueakySqueakySqueaky.... SqueakySqueakySqueakySqueakySqueakySqueaky... SqueakySqueakySqueaky. SQUEAKY! SQUEAKY! SqueakySqueakySqueakySqueaky...SqueakySqueakySqueaky...SqueakySqueaky...SQUEAKY!! SqueakySqueakySqueakySqueakySqueaky...SqueakySqueaky....Squeaky....Squeaky...SqueakySqueakySqueakySqueaky...SQUEAKYSQUEAKYSQUEAKYSQUEAKY!!! SqueakySqueaky...
After about 15 minutes, I snapped. "ENOUGH WITH THE GODDAMN SQUEAK TOY!!!!!" I screamed out the window (to be heard over it, you understand). Instant, complete silence, which was enormously satisfying to finally be obeyed.
Ogre. Destroyer of Fun. Sucker of Joy. These names and many others were used by Tery in reference to me. All true. But godDAMN. A circular saw is one thing. You're fixing up your place, building something, you need to use a saw. Fine. Squeak toy? Totally optional. Do you not have ANY other toys? Or, I don't know, CLOSE YOUR DAMN DOOR AND MAKE ALL THE NOISE YOU WANT INSIDE YOUR OWN HOME???
Tery also theorized that it was a squeaky circular saw.
~*~
After having it in our possession for an extremely long period of time (borrowed from Tery's friend), we finally broke down and watched The Departed.
You'd think this movie would be a natural choice for Tery. Her favorite film of all time is far and away Goodfellas, with an estimated 150 viewings as of this date. I don't care as much for the mob movies, but hey, this was award-winning, and I feel especially generous given Tery's watching of Firefly for my sake.
Let's see, plot synopsis: Leo DiCaprio is a good cop sent to be an informer in Jack Nicholson's Boston Irish mafia outfit. Matt Damon is a crooked cop working for Nicholson. Each is working desperately to find and out the other. Leo and the police are working desperately to bring down Nicholson, while Damon is working just as hard to protect him. That's as simple as I can make it.
This picture had a lot going for it. Tery and Scorcese both share a love of stomach-turning ultraviolence set to rockin' hits of the 60's and 70's, though I'd say there's a lot more of it in GF. We enjoyed the heavy name-dropping of Beantown locations, and by the end we had both slipped unconsciously back into our New England accents. I thought Leo gave a gripping performance as a man pushed to his absolute limit by the stress of being deep undercover in a deadly gang, with only two contacts on the force (one of which is killed and the other quits). (He was snubbed by the Academy™ because of his nomination for Blood Diamond, which is bollocks if you ask me -- awards should be given based on merit, not in the spirit of fairness to make sure everyone gets one.)
It's a terrific movie, riveting (if a bit confusing) with an ending you probably won't see coming (you'll be too busy trying to work out what's happened up to that point). Where the movie fails is in the comical overuse of cell phones. No, really -- there's one in practically every scene. Some people carry more than one, and Damon is shown once elaborately changing his SIM card between phones. It was funny, but crossed the line into the absurd in one tension-filled scene where the gang is making a drop and all cell phones are supposed to be turned off. Leo, however, text messages the location with the phone in his coat pocket. Text messaging takes me a frustrating amount of time when I'm holding the phone up to my face and can see all the keys. Doing it by touch this way, my message would look like this: "G amd jdwgmgtnm." Sure.
It was enjoyable enough, if you like your movies bloody (Tery's favorite scene was Nicholson coming out of a bar backroom up to the elbows in gore, delivering his lines, then issuing the order as he disappears again, "Jimmy, bring a mop.....and a pail!"), twisty and turny. I can't count how many times I had to pause it to make sure I wasn't left hopelessly behind. Tery will not be buying it, proclaiming Goodfellas' title to be safe. Still, if you're sober and feeling up to the challenge, it's worth your while. 4 out of 5
In other movie news, after watching 20 minutes of Ultraviolet before leaving for work, I can't decide which is more incredibly bad, the dialogue or Milla Jovovich's delivery of the dialogue. I mean really, REALLY bad. I enjoyed her performance more when she didn't speak any English in Fifth Element.
Finally, I forgot how very, very funny the Upright Citizens Brigade is (Halloween costume potential: High). Dance for me boy, like your mama used to.
England: Only after returning and receiving my paycheck did I realize that I only got paid for half the days I took off. Yeeeeeouuuuuuuch. Damn that hurt. Though granted I'd rather not have known while on my trip, it would have made it much more difficult to enjoy myself. But still. I've been with this company for 5, probably damn near 6 years, "full time" (if you consider 40 hours a week full time -- they have a clever job classification that defines "full time" only as producing an impossibly high line count -- well, impossibly high if you work two jobs like I do), and the best I get is 5 fucking paid days off a year? Actually I shouldn't complain, before last year PTO was but an unattainable fantasy. "So go work for someone else" you're probably saying. Well, contrary to what the ads say, medical transcriptionists aren't in high demand, we're a dime a dozen.
I tried to argue my PTO. I could've sworn I read in an interoffice memo somewhere that we would be allowed to borrow PTO before earning it, which made great sense to me -- did they want everyone saving their time until December, then taking vacation en masse, leaving a month's worth of reports falling behind? Evidently, because the schedule supervisor had no idea what I was talking about. I'm reasonably sure I didn't pull it out of my ass. It's not like I dream about the fine print in PTO policies. Stupid. Stupid and nonsensical. However, careful review of the policy revealed that time could be carried over to the next year, while I distinctly remember being told last year to "use it or lose it" (of course, I also distinctly remembered the borrowing clause). We'll see. I consider this matter FAR from over.
Neighbors: I work from home, which is bliss. But unfortunately, some people take the opportunity thinking no one else is home to engage in very noisy activities. One of my neighbors ran a circular saw every day for about a week. Then yesterday I heard what sounded like a different saw, which I suspect was being used by Tracey's boyfriend (I traced the first one to the ground floor unit across the way). It could be worse I guess: A circular saw is a hell of a lot more annoying at, say, 9:00 at night than 1:00 in the afternoon. They could run them simultaneously, which would probably make me a leettle homicidal. But it's almost uncanny how I'll put up with it, and put up with it, and put up with it, and finally close my window. Then they'll stop. After a few hours I'll figure it's safe, open the window, and almost IMMEDIATELY they'll start in again. Oh, COME ON.
There's a new noise that I find almost as intolerable as the angry whine of the saw(s). Someone (impossible to determine who) has a squeak toy which they are unhealthily fond of. Whether it's a dog, or a baby, or an emotionally disturbed adult, I have no idea. But they will squeak this thing for a ridiculously long time. Picture it.
SqueakySqueakySqueaky....SqueakySqueakySqueakySqueakySqueakySqueakySqueakySqueakySqueaky....Squeaky....Squeaky.... SqueakySqueakySqueakySqueaky.... SqueakySqueakySqueakySqueakySqueakySqueaky... SqueakySqueakySqueaky. SQUEAKY! SQUEAKY! SqueakySqueakySqueakySqueaky...SqueakySqueakySqueaky...SqueakySqueaky...SQUEAKY!! SqueakySqueakySqueakySqueakySqueaky...SqueakySqueaky....Squeaky....Squeaky...SqueakySqueakySqueakySqueaky...SQUEAKYSQUEAKYSQUEAKYSQUEAKY!!! SqueakySqueaky...
After about 15 minutes, I snapped. "ENOUGH WITH THE GODDAMN SQUEAK TOY!!!!!" I screamed out the window (to be heard over it, you understand). Instant, complete silence, which was enormously satisfying to finally be obeyed.
Ogre. Destroyer of Fun. Sucker of Joy. These names and many others were used by Tery in reference to me. All true. But godDAMN. A circular saw is one thing. You're fixing up your place, building something, you need to use a saw. Fine. Squeak toy? Totally optional. Do you not have ANY other toys? Or, I don't know, CLOSE YOUR DAMN DOOR AND MAKE ALL THE NOISE YOU WANT INSIDE YOUR OWN HOME???
Tery also theorized that it was a squeaky circular saw.
~*~
After having it in our possession for an extremely long period of time (borrowed from Tery's friend), we finally broke down and watched The Departed.
You'd think this movie would be a natural choice for Tery. Her favorite film of all time is far and away Goodfellas, with an estimated 150 viewings as of this date. I don't care as much for the mob movies, but hey, this was award-winning, and I feel especially generous given Tery's watching of Firefly for my sake.
Let's see, plot synopsis: Leo DiCaprio is a good cop sent to be an informer in Jack Nicholson's Boston Irish mafia outfit. Matt Damon is a crooked cop working for Nicholson. Each is working desperately to find and out the other. Leo and the police are working desperately to bring down Nicholson, while Damon is working just as hard to protect him. That's as simple as I can make it.
This picture had a lot going for it. Tery and Scorcese both share a love of stomach-turning ultraviolence set to rockin' hits of the 60's and 70's, though I'd say there's a lot more of it in GF. We enjoyed the heavy name-dropping of Beantown locations, and by the end we had both slipped unconsciously back into our New England accents. I thought Leo gave a gripping performance as a man pushed to his absolute limit by the stress of being deep undercover in a deadly gang, with only two contacts on the force (one of which is killed and the other quits). (He was snubbed by the Academy™ because of his nomination for Blood Diamond, which is bollocks if you ask me -- awards should be given based on merit, not in the spirit of fairness to make sure everyone gets one.)
It's a terrific movie, riveting (if a bit confusing) with an ending you probably won't see coming (you'll be too busy trying to work out what's happened up to that point). Where the movie fails is in the comical overuse of cell phones. No, really -- there's one in practically every scene. Some people carry more than one, and Damon is shown once elaborately changing his SIM card between phones. It was funny, but crossed the line into the absurd in one tension-filled scene where the gang is making a drop and all cell phones are supposed to be turned off. Leo, however, text messages the location with the phone in his coat pocket. Text messaging takes me a frustrating amount of time when I'm holding the phone up to my face and can see all the keys. Doing it by touch this way, my message would look like this: "G amd jdwgmgtnm." Sure.
It was enjoyable enough, if you like your movies bloody (Tery's favorite scene was Nicholson coming out of a bar backroom up to the elbows in gore, delivering his lines, then issuing the order as he disappears again, "Jimmy, bring a mop.....and a pail!"), twisty and turny. I can't count how many times I had to pause it to make sure I wasn't left hopelessly behind. Tery will not be buying it, proclaiming Goodfellas' title to be safe. Still, if you're sober and feeling up to the challenge, it's worth your while. 4 out of 5
In other movie news, after watching 20 minutes of Ultraviolet before leaving for work, I can't decide which is more incredibly bad, the dialogue or Milla Jovovich's delivery of the dialogue. I mean really, REALLY bad. I enjoyed her performance more when she didn't speak any English in Fifth Element.
Finally, I forgot how very, very funny the Upright Citizens Brigade is (Halloween costume potential: High). Dance for me boy, like your mama used to.
no subject
no subject
Am I First?!
oooyee muuuttter hmmm mmm lall allall a warblelelelelelfooff key warbblellelle
:::fume:::
:::sigh heavily:::
Maybe normally I would have laughed or gone to tell her to shutthefuckupman! but because I was having a hella lousy day, I would totally have meant it and so was unable to say it. I should have had You call her - "Hi, this is Eelaine. I live in Denver. Could you please stop singing? Thanks."
Departed, The: liked it too. Recently saw the Bourne Ultimatum. More Matt Damon. I was excited about this sorta because I liked the first two (loving Franka "Lola" Potente as you've noted.) So, not to spoil for anyone as this story too is complex and twisty at times, but I just have to say... that fax near the end of the movie? It would have TOTALLY gotten jammed. Way to really push past believability there, Greengrass!
Poo! Not First
Re: Nope, sorry
I would have made that phonecall if you wanted. I've been guilty of the headphone humming myself, despite knowing full well how annoying it is. It's just so easy to forget that the rest of the world isn't hearing this glorious wall of sound that I am.
Have not seen any Bournes. Saw part of the first one at Jeffy's, where we mainly made fun of how Caroline asked no less than three times if it were the first or the second. It seemed exciting and interesting, and I do like Matt Damon (and Lola) a lot. May have to rent.
no subject
I love your neighbors stories! And Tery just when up in my esteem about...57 points for her extremely likely theory.
There are people for whom pocket-texting is a sport. Of course, those people completely skip over punctuation and spelling rules. Was there, perhaps, a scene in The Departed where all of the characters were standing in front of a large Sprint banner?
I didn't think Upright Citizens Brigade was all that funny. I watched a few episodes and liked them, but it wasn't nearly enough to get me hooked.
no subject
Tery does make me laugh a lot, for all her other joy-sucking tendencies.
I'd never heard of pocket-texting. That's kerazee. I could probably do it in a pinch, though I'd hate to try it when timing and accuracy are so crucial.
Season one had its downs but was mostly hilarious (to me). Season two it seems is a bit more hit or miss (I don't remember most of what I've watched so far). Still, the idea of owning just one season of a series is abhorrent to the completionist in me. It's okay -- you don't have to love all the same things I do (sometimes).
no subject
It seems like some of her joy-sucking tendencies are laugh-worthy in themselves. Like that time she posed your dolls (er, Action Figures) in comical yet disgusting ways.
Luckily I can't imagine any other situation outside of Jr. High School and possibly the movie theater that you'd need to have a mastery of that skill.
Cool. You accept that I don't like that, and I'll accept that you, for some CRAZY NON-reason, don't like House. But you do like the Office, yeah?
no subject
She has her good points. Actually most things I write about her are a gross defamation of character.
I'm going to practice anyway. Maybe I'll shoot some of my efforts your way, let you try to decipher them.
Who said I don't like House? I don't dislike House. I've never watched House. I hear great things about it. I might watch it some day, but right now (esp this week) we have waywayway too much on our plate:
Heroes
Dexter
Chuck
Journeyman
Bionic Woman
30 Rock
My Name is Earl
The Office
Flight of the Conchords
Not to mention I'm watching Torchwood on my own. When the hell am I supposed to squeeze any Snarry in there, I ask you?
no subject
Chuck was better than expected but I think I'll watch Reaper instead (in spite of leading-character-personal-appearance-inconsistencies in the pilot).
Journeyman made me realize that I would be shitty at time traveling because I have gained too much weight to pose as my 10-years-ago self. Instead of "Honey, you look so... Tired?" I would hear, "Honey!Ohmygod are you okay?! You look so... um, Bloated?"
Bionic Woman I like. Especially EEEvil Bionic Woman!
Then there is also this new show, it's kinda dark and violent, but you might like about Grammar Nazis. I think it shows on Animal Planet. >:)
no subject
Journeyman -- This was Tery's pick (which is in itself extremely surprising). I'm still not 100% on-board with it. After 38 years on this planet, I'm ready to admit that most time travel stories leave me feeling slightly uncertain as to what exactly's going on and if what just happened really makes any sense. Even Hiro's subplot is enough to make me a little shaky.
(Tery liked very much your time travel observation, as did I.)
Bionic Woman is okay, but Tery can't stop drawing comparisons with the original Jamie Summers (like, it bothered her because Lindsey Wagner only had the legs, arm and ear but no eye (I forgot how they used to portray bionic hearing by the seductive brushing of hair back in extreme closeup). She's also going mad looking for Oscar Goldman. And she hopes she gets her bionic dog.
That show does sound interesting. We Grammar Nazis are quite an unpleasant lot.
Are you pathetic because you aren't first?
no subject
Heroes
Chuck
30 Rock
Bionic Woman
Flight of the Conchords (?)
Torchwood
You may keep My Name is Earl because likely you're firmly entrenched in the story by now. Look at how your list has shrunk though! Now you have time for the Office, House, and Snarry. You're welcome.
no subject
Flight of the Conchords is a hilarious series on HBO? Showtime? about the New Zealand equivalent of Spinal Tap. Sorry, it's too funny, it stays.
Ditto 30 Rock. You don't watch 30 Rock? It's fucking hilarious.
Torchwood I can take or leave. It's not bad, but I'm not exactly in love yet.
The rest I'm still up in the air on too, but Tery insists we watch and wait for natural selection to thin the herd. Though I do appreciate your efforts to simplify my life.