You thought we were going to pay you for that?

May 21, 2009 at 7:53 pm (Rants, Work)

I need to start this post with the following disclaimer:

**Yes I have a job.  Yes I am happy to still have a full time job that has benefits.  Yes I realize things could be a hell of a lot worse.  Yes I am being a whiner.  But this is my reality to whine about.**

I love my job in the sense that no day is ever the same, I am constantly learning new things and get to deal with a awesome group of people for the most part.

That said, my boss the wanker is a tool and the recent onslaught of cutbacks, pay freezes, etc is enough to make a girl want to just throw in the towel.

A little over a year ago we laid off over 100 people.  As a direct result, my responsibilities increased 50%.  The layoffs occurred right around the time of my annual review.  Needless to say I was not surprised when I was told there would be no pay increase that year.  I sucked it up, enrolled in a couple of University courses and was happy just knowing they would pay me back for that.

Fast forward to two months ago.

We laid off another 35 people.  None in our office as its already a skeleton crew to begin with.  With these new layoffs came job consolidations and some additional new responsibilities.  I was offered a new job, complete with a shiny new title and a whopping amount of additional responsibility.  The kicker?  No money.  Oh, and no more money for school.

There was no option to turn this down.  It was pretty much, “If you can’t do it, we will find someone who will.”  And lets be honest.  I have bills and kids to take care of.  This adult thing sucks monkey balls.

So, I put in the extra hours and worked week ends to get myself up to speed on all the new programs I was responsible for (on top of my already existing job) and thought I had a pretty good hold on everything.  Figured I would suck it up till the new fiscal year and ask for an increase then.  I would have proved I could handle the job and the money sacrifice.

And then the other shoe dropped.  Three weeks ago we found out we had to take a pay cut – 10%.  It’s across the board.  Management and worker bees.

So now, essentially, I am carrying twice the work load since I started four years ago and making just slightly more than when I started.  And I’m pissed.  Frustrated.  Disappointed.  Stressed.

Yes I have a second job but I have that for a reason.  95% of that income goes to pay for WB University costs.

This doesn’t even really have anything to do with money.  It has to do with an overwhelming frustration towards work that I have been carrying around for a couple weeks now.  I dread going in.  Usually have a headache by noon and have been known to come home and bite people’s heads off for absolutely no reason.

I’m just disillusioned and feeling stuck.

6 Comments

Why I cried on Mother’s Day

May 14, 2009 at 10:53 pm (Wonder Boy)

I know I promised office politics today but I’m still working at 11pm from home and just can’t do it justice.  Instead….you get sap.

Since WB moved back home on April 19th from University, the adjustment has been interesting.  And volatile at times.

He is trying to remember that this house is not a dorm room where you can just drop your things, leave dishes out and no one will care.  I have been trying to remember he is an adult who has been living for the most part on his own for 8 months.

Our compromise?  He confines the mess to his room and has successfully located the dishwasher.  I only request that if he is not home for dinner or sleeping elsewhere for the night I at least get a text.  So far I think he has the easier end of this compromise.  I can not shut off my Mom gene.

Anyways, we had had a huge fight the day before Mother’s Day.  About?  No idea now.  At the time?  Considered throttling him.  Granted I would have had to stand on a step stool for it as the lil shit is still growing.

As I personally have no expectations for Mother’s Day, I was surprised by WB.  A card and a gift certificate for a pedicure, along with a gift certificate to the local book store.

The card?  It made me cry.

Card:

Front:  I wouldn’t be where I am today without that mom-like boost from you!

Inside: Yes, even with all my talent, charm and all round wonderfulness, I still needed that little something extra.

Inscription:

At times your “mom-like boost” consisted of you calling me a tool, but at least it got the job done.

Let’s face it, if it weren’t for those kicks in the butt or the hits on the head I probably wouldn’t have turned out the way I did.

You are easily the biggest reason I am who I am and for that I am grateful.  Thank you for always putting up with me and taking care of me.

You have been an amazing mom all these years and you have also been a great friend.  I don’t know what I would have done without you.

Love you tons! WB

PS Think of your gift as a little way to get away from it all when you need a break :)

Maybe I did do something right.

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Tidbits from the past 2 1/2 months

May 13, 2009 at 9:49 pm (Family, Rhino, Wonder Boy, Wonder Girl)

Well as most know, Rhino and I split up.  It was not a pretty, rainbows and unicorns break up.  And apparently the definition of break up is different in his world.  Other than communication about WG, as she has continued to live with me for the duration of the school year, there was to be NO CONTACT.

To me, this is pretty self explanatory.  To Rhino this meant calling in excess of 10 times a day; emailing; texting and waiting for me on my front porch at 6:30am in the morning.  This has slowly turned into  “I don’t know why your being such a hard ass about this?  I made a mistake.”  I’m curious to know how the girl he knocked up would feel about being called a mistake?

To say I did not handle this well would be a mild understatement.  At first I pretended I was fine.  Then I started not wanting to get out of bed.  Then the over eating.  And finally…the melt down.

Thankfully I am on the other side of that now.  10 pounds heavier, a few more grey hairs but happy again.  Small price to pay considering I was thinking of marrying him.  Thankfully dodged that bullet.

Rhino has moved back here and is living a couple blocks away.  The game plan is for WG to move in with him for the next school year.  She is not fully embracing this move but knows that her room will always be here for her and that she can stay over whenever.  I have tried to be positive about the move and I do truly hope it works but at the same time it will be awfully quiet around here without the giggling girls, blaring Jonas Brothers (shudder) and clothes strewn around as far as the eye can see.

On top of everything, in March, my son the smart University student rented a house with four other boys for the next school year.  While I realize this is a rite of passage and I am excited for him, the day he called me to tell me they had signed a lease without a single ADULT looking at it made my head explode.  I wasn’t the only parent questioning whether the $15K we had just spent on first year was a waste.  One mother called her son a tool and hung up on him.  She and I are now good friends.

The lease turned out to be simple and straight forward, the landlord a sweetheart.  Collective bunch of horseshoes up those boys’ asses.  But the house was not done causing drama.  The rent is $400 a month inclusive and I decided WB’s father was going to pony up 6 months of rent.  I mean seriously, the man has not paid a dime in child support, nor did he help out with first year.

So, I bit the bullet and called him.  It did not go well.  I realize your probably asking yourself “Did she really think it would?”  And no, I wasn’t expecting a walk in the park but nor was I expecting World War 3.  Suffice it say, we have not spoken in over 7 weeks.  But he did cough up rent – the WHOLE years worth.  Of course when he gave WB the cheques he added the “Your mother apparently can’t afford it” comment.  And you know what?  I don’t care.  He’s paying and its about fucking time.

I promise to be back tomorrow with more…especially the soap opera at the office.

And you know what?  I have soo missed this:)

7 Comments

Well hello stranger

May 13, 2009 at 12:05 am (Uncategorized)

Just a touch base to let everyone know I am alive and well.

The kids are good.  WB is home from University and wearing down every last nerve I have by finding the only job known to man that lets you sleep till 2pm in the afternoon and be done by six.  Tutoring.  Kid is a genius.  WG is gearing up for a play and a dance.  All in all the kidlets are good.

I’m not a hundred percent sure where to start back here as so much has happened since I kind of disappeared.  A lot of it life changing and still being processed.

I’m breaking in a new laptop with this post, so while I figure it out, know I’ll be back tomorrow with more.

If you’ve stuck around – thanks:)

6 Comments