Now, I'm Pissed... but, I found a treat!

Hey!

Hey-hey-hey... no, no, no! I'm not flippin' the bird at you people. Don't get me wrong here!

I'm giving the finger to my idiot of a Union Representative. Yes, that same dickswab who called me up on the first day of my "mini-vacation", to make sure that I was aware of the fact that I was about to be fired. You know - the guy I called Morgan to give the jack-ass a name, as if he deserved one. I should've just went with Mr. Ass-Hat.

So, Mr. Ass-Hat had called me yesterday again. Now, I told the stupid jerk that I was on vacation, and had no interest in dealing with this crap until I got back to work. Still, he called twice yesterday, leaving a messege on my answering machine. It said:

"I have a protocol here from your work, and there is something I would like to discuss with you. I guess I'll try calling you back later, and we'll see if I have more luck reaching you then. Thank You."

Yeah, you'll see if you're "lucky enough" to reach me.

Obviously - he didn't reach me yesterday - so I had the honor of once again recieving that phonecall just as I sat down with my obligatory cup of coffee in front of the computer.

"Hello?"

"Yes, this is Morgan from the Union again. I tried to reach you yesterday, but you weren't home. Are you enjoying your vacation?"

Now, you see - this is where I really start to be pissed off. I wanted to say 'I would enjoy it if you'd stop bugging me every damn day', but I'm a nice guy so I just brought on my best voice of annoyance and said:

"I'm trying to..."

"Well. I have a protocol here from your regional manager concerning you, and I wanted to discuss this with you."

"Ok. What is it?"

"Well, you know - you have a two month period of notice, right"

Period of notice is the time during which I am required to work at the place after officially having been laid off. This is designed to protect the employee, and ensure him the income for an extra two months - as well as time to actually find a new job.

"Yes, that's what you told me last time"

"Okay. Here's what they want to offer you. You work for the remainder of this month, and then you don't have to work any more. Your salary will be paid out to you during the remainder of your notice. They also want to put the date of notice retroactive to the 19th."

Wait a minute - hold on a minute here. There are papers to sign here - the place I work at has tried to get me to sign back-dated documents before... that's how they operate. Not until I sit down with them, pen in hand, signing a document with THE CURRENT DATE imprinted on it, will I be accepting the lay off.

And, while not working for the final month and a half, and still getting paid, sounds like a good idea... I'm not an imbecile. This deal is good for them - and it's bad for me... wanna know why? Because I would not recieve the extra pay one earns after 6PM every day - and the weekends are DOUBLE pay... I would miss out on nearly a thousand dollars during this time if I don't do the time inside the walls of that place I've called work for the past four years.

Further more... I'm beginning to wonder why in the hell I was placed on vacation THIS week? Was it so they could work out a deal with the Union that would suit them, and not having to be interfered with by me?

I know, I'm the kind of guy that will cause a ruckus at work when I feel things are handled badly. I've often been an inconvenience to them, and they haven't been happy about that. What do I care? Right is still right, and wrong never is.

I told the schmuck on the phone that I'll have to think about this, and that I'll get back to him when my stupid little vacation ends!

Anyway... looks like I'll only have to work one more week at the place when I return. I certainly don't feel like sticking around. What I'm gonna do, however, is try to work out a better deal for me. I will sign the papers of resignation on the 29th. I will expect my period of notice to last until that last of April, during which time I will expect my salary to be paid out in full - that meaning my additional payments need be calculated as well. Then, of course, I would have an additional 20 vacation days due in the summer - these 20 days I will expect to have paid out in full in that final paycheck.

We'll see how much they like that deal.

So - pardon my french... but Fuck You District Manager, Fuck You Store Manager, and a big ass Finger Bird and a Fuck You to Mr. Ass-Hat, Morgan the Union Rep!

**********

I found a treat...

Yeah, a little something to improve my mood after gym today. I had to pick up some stuff at the grocery store, and I went to this place I don't usually shop at. I went there today, because they are the only ones who carry the particular brand of Ramen Noodles that I like. Ramen is my number one evening snack when I'm hungry - easy to cook, delicious taste! Add a piece of toast with cheese on it, and you're good to go.

Anyway - what I found was one of the things I miss the most from the States...

Cheesecake!

I freakin' loooove cheesecake, and it is unheard of over here. There is something they call cheesecake over here, but it doesn't even remotely resemble a New York Style Strawberry Cheesecake.

A couple of years ago, there was a store that carried some American Foods imports, and they sold the Betty Crocker cheesecake mix. I often bought that, but I guess I was the only one who did, since they stopped selling them after a while. I asked them about it.

"Hey, where's the cheesecake mix? Haven't seen it for weeks now."

"Oh, that thing didn't sell. We won't be bringing that back"

They also sold root beer - another thing that people don't know what it is over here. That was taken off the shelves about six months later... I want my Root Beer!

Hershey's Peanut Butter Cups lasted the shortest of it all - and were gone less than two months after I found them.

I can still buy me some Mississippi Belle Pancake Syrup, and the Pancake Mix. Marshmallow Fluff and (thank the Lord) Hellman's REAL Mayonnaise!

Anyway... I found a cheesecake in the store today. It made me laugh... I had to take a picture of it to share with you all:

Now, if that isn't the smallest little cheesecake you ever saw, I don't know what!

The little thing was tasty though. Finally got the taste of cheesecake in my mouth... although it lasted for all of five seconds. But, it really tasted like the real thing. They sold them in strawberry (pictured) and lemon. No plain ones - but that's ok.

Wanna know what that little thing cost?

$1.50

Mini-Vacation: Day 1

As I woke up on the first day of my "mini-vacation" from work, I thought I was going to enjoy this week to the fullest...

Well, to be honest, the first day didn't start off all that good. I'm not saying anything disastrous happened or anything - it's not like it's going to make all that much of a difference - nor is it that I was surprised by any of the two things that happened first thing in the morning. I knew they were coming... though I kind of wished they didn't have to present themselves so clearly right off the bat during those days off that I was looking forward to.

That's a lot of words to get to the point, isn't it? Wanna get to the point? Shall we? Allrighty, then - here goes:

My cellphone called out to let me know I had a new text. I was not yet out of bed, enjoying a day of sleeping late. I reached my hand out and took the cell off of the nightstand and pressed the middle button, which would allow me to read what was sent to me... I almost knew what it was before I saw the words:

'NOW I'M ON MY WAY. ON THE BUS RIGHT NOW. 24 HRS OF BOREDOM AHEAD OF ME. I HOPE I SURVIVE THE FLIGHT. IT'S GOING TO BE AWESOME!!! TAKE CARE WHILE I'M GONE AND KEEP WORKING OUT!'

So. That's it. She's gone. Out of my life for the next four months, at least. Maybe I'll never see her again... one can never know for sure. For so long... I really thought she was The One. I would still want her to be that. I feel so lonely already now that she's gone, but I need to move on with my life and start looking at other girls.

Bye bye, sweet one. I do hope you have a wonderful time over there. And, I know you don't want me to be longing for you, so I'm gonna have to let you go. I hope you don't forget about me - I know I will never forget about you.

So... I lay in bed for another fifteen minutes. Sent a reply - wishing her all the best, and that I would send positive vibes her way, and that the flight was going to be smooth. She is terrified of flying - I wish I were there to hold her hand and comfort her...

After a while I got out of bed. I made my standard pot of coffee, and just as I sat down in front of the computer with a freshly brewed, hot cup of java the phone rang.

"Hello?", I answer the phone. Caller ID was unknown to me.

"Hi. Is this R.E.H.?"

"Yes, that would be me."

"This is Morgan. I am a union representative, and I thought I'd call you up and have a chat. I understand you know about the situation at your work."

Oh, that's just great. First day of vacation, and now the fucking Union wants to let me know I'm going to be fired. I'm not sure I made this clear to you people who don't know how things work over here. The Union are involved in EVERYTHING that companies do. Businesses can hire people to their hearts consent, but when it comes to salaries, insurance, work environment, work hours - and of course the firing of staff. Then the Union steps in and have their say... they are supposed to protect the employee - I feel very protected during this phonecall.

"Yes, I do."

"So you have received the notification that they are cutting down on staff and that, as it works, you are the last employee hired with a full-time job - which sadly means that according to rules you are the one who will be let go."

"Yes, I understand how it works."

"Do you have any questions you would like me to answer. Regarding your future."

"Not really. Are there any benefits available to me? I didn't do anything wrong, and from what I hear when a company lays off people like this, there is some form of financial security for a month or so?"

"The company you work for do not offer anything like that. However, if you need to go to a 'job search' group, to get started looking for a job - they are willing to pay the $3.000 such a class would cost. Are you interested in signing up for that?"

Another thing that irritates the hell out of me in this country is what this guy just suggested. For some reason, they believe that people are so utterly incompetent and stupid that they don't know how to apply for a job. There are classes that teach this. When you're unemployed, the unemployment office has a habit of forcing these classes on you - I've attended a few of them back in the days when I was unemployed... many years ago. They are completely worthless.

"No, I don't think I need that. I could use the $3.000 to keep my own finances in check until I do find a job, however."

The idiot had the nerve to laugh about that, as if I'd been joking. I was dead serious - give me the god damn money! It's not like I deserve to be fired... I haven't done nothing wrong. Now if the Union are supposed to have the employee's back... why the hell am I being offered junk in return for the wrong doings my job are doing unto me?

And, I pay these shitheads about 80 bucks a month - so they will keep me safe at my job.

Well, if I didn't - there would be no unemployment benefits if I can't find a job, so one better pay that money just in case something like what just happened does happen.

Oh, well...

The rest of the day has been better. I went to the gym again. Worked on legs and I also atempted to find that sixpack behind the flab on my belly. Tried a couple of new machines on both muscle groups.

I have always used this particular machine for my stomach muscles. There was this other one that I didn't quite know how to use, and I didn't think it would be any good anyway. Well, I took the time to study it and figure out how to operate the damn thing... BOY! was I wrong. That thing locked on my muscles and made me squeal like a baby trying to do the sit-ups. I'm going to be hurting badly tomorrow... I'll be using that one from now on.

Oh, and just to let you know I am not completely hung up on The One... I saw this chick at gym today - she was so freakin' hot I couldn't take my eyes off of her. She had dark hair, a pretty face and a body so perfect it should be on display in a class-room where they teach the human anatomy... the female human anatomy. I hope I will see her there every time I go - she must be new. If I do - I promise, I'll work up the nerve to ask her out...

After the gym session, I spent a good 15 minutes in the sauna. I love the sauna.