Safe Neighborhood

About a month or so ago the man across the street from us came over to inform me he had caught a "prowler" in his yard. I spoke with him for a few minutes and that was that.

Yesterday, being a state holiday, I was off and Mike was not. Around 11 AM I was watching tv and heard someone put a key into the keyhole on our front door. I thought it strange that Mike was coming home at that time. I then realized, it wasn't Mike. Whoever was at the door was turning the knob and trying to push the door open. (Thankfully it was locked!)

I waited for a few moments to see if the person would walk away. After about a minute, he did. I grabbed my phone and went to open the door. I had given the person enough time to make it back to the street. When I opened the door, I recognized the man as the man from across the street. I asked, "excuse me, can I help you?" He said, "no" and kept walking. I responded with, "what's going on here?" The man didn't respond and kept walking, not looking up. I ran inside, re-locked the door and went to watch from my front bedroom window. The man wandered up to his own front door and began pacing back and forth. I then watched him walk back across my front lawn. He began throwing himself against my front door while turning the knob, trying to get into my house. I frantically dialed 911.

The dispatcher of course began asking questions. I am trying to describe the guy and then realize he is walking towards our back gate, to our back yard. I raced through the house making sure all the doors were locked and all the blinds were closed. I lost sight of him.

I stayed on the phone until the police arrived, about 3 minutes later. The dispatcher instructed me to go outside and meet with the 2 officers that had arrived. I did so, only to find one officer telling me to "get back inside!" I can only assume the other officer had his gun drawn, as he was headed into the back yard. The back yard was empty.

The officers came to the door and asked questions about the man and what had occurred. At this time 3 more police cars pull up. There were a total of 6 officers. I'm about ready to crap my pants at this point. I tell the whole story. A couple of the officers take off.

They found the man wandering down the street a ways. They had me identify him after they arrested him. The idiot even admitted to trying to enter our house. I had to give a written statement. They hauled the idiot to jail.

Now I sit and wait for him to arrive back home. Will there be retaliation? Do we get a gun? Do I take self-defense classes? I do know that if he did ever manage to come back, I wouldn't go down without a fight. And I also know that Mike would remove what balls the man had left.

I Love State Employment

So, my previous boss contacted me several times regarding a new position she had opening up. At first I refused. But the calls kept coming. The position posting was re-opened just so I could apply. Did I feel special you ask? No! I applied with the intention of playing a money game. How quickly things change.

I interviewed and was informed that most of the interviews she was conducting were to be completed over the phone. Good news for me. “I’ll let you know by the end of the week!” is what she said to me. Great!!

So, here it is the end of the week and I receive an email asking what my current salary is. Prime opportunity to start playing the game. I respond by letting her know the minimum I would take and gave rationale for my demand. If I accepted the position I would be traveling twice as much, using my own vehicle, be included in an on-call schedule, be expected to work some weekends, and take on about three times as much stress. My demand was VERY reasonable considering I don’t do shit at my current job. Ha!!

Well, slap me in the face. My current job is two salary grades higher than my old job, however the maximum range of my old job is about $17,000 higher than what I currently am paid. The rules of the stupid HR department that no longer even exists, state that an employee within the same agency that accepts a job in a lower salary grade cannot be offered any more than what they currently make. WHAT? Seriously? But, an applicant from outside state employment can be offered anything up to the max of the range. Please explain to me how on earth this is fair? Oh, right, it’s the state. It’s not fair.

And here’s the real kicker. My old position required about 2 months of training, including out of state training. That’s a few thousand dollars. Plus, a new person will not be certified to actually do the work for about 6 months. So, why not hire the person who is already trained, certified and who you know for a fact cares about her work?

I had always suspected that state employment really did suck, but now I KNOW state employment sucks. You can’t get raises. They’re too stupid to realize that to keep good employees, you have to pay them reasonable salaries. The only option a state employee has is to continue jumping from job to job. Dear God.

Guess I should just feel lucky I have a job, right?

People Scare Me

I really wonder how some people survive in the world. This morning when I arrived at work and was attempting to park my vehicle, I wound up behind a car just sitting in the parking lot. The person in the car appeared to be contemplating which parking space he wanted to park in...the empty one on the right or the empty one on the left, both equal distances from the building entrance. While the man struggled to decide which space was better, the line of cars began to pile up behind him. Finally, he chose to park on the right, while the rest of us parked on the left. No way was I parking next to him.

I exit my vehicle, began my treck to the building and find that I am walking behind the man. I enter the building and wouldn't ya know, he's going to the same side of the building I am. We get on the elevator. I instantly realize this man has bathed in his cologne. My hands were full and to his credit, he did notice this, and said, "what floor?" I said, "3, please." He pushed 2. He then turns to me awaiting my approval and I said, "No. 3, please." The cologne drenched man stared at me as if he had never heard of the number 3 before. Dumbfounded I stared back. I then freed my right hand and showed him three fingers. He then pushed 3.

Maybe he was just having an off day.

Hangovers Suck

My pound is heading...or, I mean, my head is pounding and my eyeballs hurt. This can only mean one thing...I drank too much and karma has come to kick my ass by way of a hangover. We played on the lake yesterday. I usually don't drink much while on the water as heat, beer and lake water don't usually mix well together. I was fine until I drank that stupid "special" gatorade. They said, "here, drink this. You'll hydrate yourself and feel happy at the same time." Um, no. That didn't work.

So, here I sit at my lovely job dreading the 5 hours of meetings we have today. CRAP! 5 hours? Seriously? Do I gotta? I certainly hope no one expects me to participate. My head could explode at any time.

Narcissistic...

...characteristic of those having an inflated idea of their own importance.

I overheard someone using this word and thought it was a good adjective.

Baby Names

I have found that picking out a baby name and having your spouse agree is a difficult task. So, you pick out a name, you like the name, you love the name, and then someone else uses the name. Is it okay to still use the name?

Someone who works with Mike, for now (she will soon be leaving), has had great misfortune starting a family. She is on her third pregnancy and just found out the baby is absolutely a-ok. This is excellent news. She also found out she is having a girl. More excellent news. And the baby's name...well, I can't say, just in case, but it's the same name we have picked out for a girl. Are we still allowed to use the name? I want to use the name. Will this person think we stole her name though? That sucks. Mike and I finally agreed on a name and to think we have to go through all the "What? Hell no!" conversations again...damnit!

If a close friend decided on the same name, I might reconsider and find a new name. This person is someone only Mike sees at work. I need some advice...is it okay to use the name?