No, that isn't a sarcastic title .... Today, I learned just how beneficial working the corporate office of a clothing retailer is ... I love jeans so much, especially Levis. Levis are my brand of choice! I love them! So I wore my favourite low-cut long length blue Jeans that I've had for maybe 12 months or so, but have been worn, quite literally, to death. I head out on break today with my friend, Sarah, and she falls a few steps behind me and cautions me to "sit really carefully in those pants". I frown in confusion and ask why? They aren't a tight pant, they are a comfy fit... Then she points out there is a hole at the back pocket. Wha?! I twist the body and there it is - a hole that shows my butt-cheek. (oh blush) I groan and think about my shirt, whether or not it is an effective "pull down" fabric ... Nope. It is a short baby-doll style shirt, black, with "BOMB SQUAD TECHNICIAN - If you see me running ... try to keep the hell up!" blazened across the front. Not designed for pulling down over the butt. Shit ... three hours until lunch, where I can maybe head into Levis to buy another pair. Then I remember. Spring buying has begun, and we're purchasing some great Jeans for one of our men's stores. A quick call to the buyer and she plonked a brand-new pair of mens jeans on my desk. Her only comment "I only have a 32" inseam ... I hope they'll be long enough." Hey, they could be waders, right now as long as they cover my ass, I'm happy. So now I am wearing a spunky, funky pair of dark denim jeans that LOOK HOT on my tushie, and am actually more comfy - because Men's jeans are much, much more comfy than women's. Lucky me, eh? :grin: SJ

Sounds great! DH used to work for a company that did custom clothing on the internet, and he came home with so many pairs of custom pants! At least you're getting good freebies... imagine if you worked for a company that canned prunes.... Sounds like you're having fun in your new jeans! Can your old ones be saved?

Sj that sounds wonderful and given how hard you work you deserve some perks!

At least you aren't working in a DIY retail shop like me, it's terrible, low pay (5 pence more than the miminal wage people), staff (some are just blind and stupid), customers (don't get me on that) and finally the managers and directors who are just cheap and think up of these clever ideas which are just shit and doesn't quite work out the way they want them.

Yup, SJ, you can sew the gatch logo on the hole.

Well I guess I just got home from running around a Big retail store today...I was managing a big new series 7 store for 3 days while Denise the manager was off.(I am a manager of another store.) If you don't know what that is, it is an upgrade in design and new concept layout and it is upper Managements baby. So I had in store all at once on my first day; The owner of the company(he owns Brazin a very large retail corp in Australia...basically he owns about 8 chain store devisions at least here, and he is currently buying up more.) The General manger, State manager, Project manager, area manager, And anyone else who felt they would be left out if they didn't show up at the store. NO PRESSURE EBONY!!! Lucky we made budget that day..phew! So my poor little footsies are very tired from jogging around that big store for 10 hours...But we made well over budget today...so that is great and the bosses were happy. But I do get a good discount...40% off all lingerie and sleepwear,so i have lots of good stuff, my DH is amaazed at the amount of satin sleepwear I have. And they did give us all a free bra(managers only) at Road show(once a year national meeting and party afterwards.) I did find out that we have twice the range of Lingerie than Victoria secrets has...mmm interesting. I know what you mean SJ it can be a joy at times working in retail...even under pressure...

I think the store managers we had (and we had 5 store managers since I have bben there for 8 and half years), lok at internet porn in the store manager's office. The third one we had reminded me of Dave Brent of The Office. The 4th one had a huge beer belly (looked like he was pregant with the uniform had had on) and this one we got now seems to tell me what to do, even though I do know what my job is.

What is this dodgy retail chain you work for Meta!!!

Homebase. the American version is called Homedepot. The only perks we get is 20% off everything, except electrical stuff like telly and such at work and 10% off everything at Argos shops (I don't know about the Argos catalogues though), but the Argos staff and get 20 % off everything from both places. I also used to work at Index, which was owned by Littlewoods and did their own catalogues and stores but was closed recently (big surprise) and they were ABSOUTLY SHIT at the distribution centre I worked at. I got the job of filing clerk at Index and was told that someone from another distribution centre would come and show me how to do their filing. So, first day there and I found out that they didn't even had a filing system in place at all and the person who was supposed to show the the imagined filing system just told me to do something completely unrelated and left and never saw her again. 2 weeks of this and I decided to tell someone, so I did and since then for about 4 months I was given all these different filing systems about once a week at my guess to deal with and even 3 changes in one week. I was fired on Friday, 5 days before Christmas, with the part time receptioist who was doing overtime to buy her hair spray with the filing systems. In the first 2 weeks, I was getting a full time salary, even though I was part time because they didn't hire a person to do the wages, so had to get someone else to do it with. I wish I never mentioned it at all now. AND because I worked at the distributation centre, the managers decided that everyone who was below the supervisors had to wear a uniform, even those, like me who worked at the other end of the building, where on visitors would see us. They couldn't even distribute the uniforms probably. In short, Index was the worst place to have worked, the managers couldn't even work out how to open a door to a brewary, never mind organsing a piss up in it and they probably work for Homebase at HQ.

Ahhh...fellow retail workers...I work for the Hudson's Bay Company...I know the hell you speak of! Presently I am waiting for my Worker's Comp to come through as I had to visit the hospital due to inhaling sulphuric acid fumes coming from a faulty battery in one of our fork lifts. Some stupid git thought it was a good idea to recharge it even though the repair guy said not to use it at all!!! And to top it off both my store manager and my shift supervisor thought that the rotten egg/sewer smell that permeated our stockroom was nothing to be alarmed about!! Yes hydrogen sulfide does wonders on your respiratory tract! Suffering from asthma or allergies? No need to worry...a couple of hours exposed to this stuff and you won't need that puffer because you won't be breathing anymore! Not to mention that 3 out of 4 of the people trained in first aid were put out of commission and the 4th (being my idiot supervisor thought that we didn't need to call 911!) Sorry if I could breathe I would have got on the phone myself! So in the end they have a huge bill to pay with ambulances, hospital care, lost wages, labour inspector coming in and burning them for various other code violations..etc...when all they had to do was put a friggin' sign saying "Out of Order" on the damn thing and pull the keys out! It might have helped if they just coughed the money up to get it properly maintained in the first place...but that would have cost money. These are the idiots I work for! Though I love to bitch about work ...but I must admit I have a pretty good benefits package, descent wage and above average vacation and employee discounts. If only there wasn't any idiots working there!

Homebase is split into Regions and ours had a night out last night in Telford (not too sure where that is) and it was a quiz night (madness all around) beer and a disco (not the best but not the worst I been too) and I could tell a few stories that night. Only one store didn't come and I suspect it has to do with one member of their staff who used to work at my store.

Oh, shit! Hydrogen sulphide is one of the true nasties; at the concentrations you can smell it's relatively safe, compared to what it does at the higher concentrations, when it overwhelms your sense of smell, and you can't smell it any more. So glad they've got a huge bill to pay.

Ahhh Kimi - you are obviously a fellow Canadian!! Anywhere near Toronto, dear? I can hook you up in one of our stores (or even this office) ... Gotto get you away from morons like that! Or we could trade our discounts - I get 40% off our stuff, even if there is already a discount on it ... Works greaaaaaaat at T****land ... I gotto be honest with you, girl. Even if there was a sign on the damn thing, noone would read it. That is something that completely amazes me in this city. I can put a giant fucking sign on something that is out of order, and still get some moron wandering up to me scratching their head and asking me to show them what they're doing wrong ... "Yeah, asshole. I can tell you exactly what you're doing wrong. You're not reading the fucking gigantic sign that says OUT OF ORDER!" I'm somewhat mysified that noone could actually smell the sulfur, though. I mean that's a pretty distinctive smell. I'm glad you're okay, though. I mean, shit, that stuff works its horror pretty quickly ... WSIB are pretty kewl, though. They'll get you hooked up soon enough! And look at the really bright side ... You get to hang out with us!! SJ

Yes Swannie I'm from Hamilton, work in Burlington, just down the road from ya. Ahh discount trading sounds great! I get 15% most things in the store, and 10% off grocery items and large appliances & electronics *removing dog-slobbery KONG that her furchild has just placed in her lap* The problem at work is the lack of communication between management. No teamwork amongst this bunch, everyone seems to be out for their own career. What they don't seem to realize is that if they work together it makes everything improve and everyone gets kudos and promotions. After all we're a retail store and sales and service are supposed to be priority- if you don't make money or make your customers happy- nobody has a job! Then again, having rotting corpses lying around might just take priority over anything else! But then again we would make a great sales presentation in the seasonal dept. There just seems to be a very selfish outlook towards everything. When I visited during the day to turn in my paperwork for WSIB (I work overnights) everyone I knew was clamouring all over me! I got a barrage of comments from "Thank God you're alright!", to "What happened?", to rather cryptic "You realize you'll never live this down...". Seems that the office politics were fully in swing! Most of the average Joes had absolutely no clue to what happened (ie didn't realize that they were expose to hazardous stuff), upper management was busy white-washing, and those with issues with upper management were drooling and having a fieldday! The person who said that I'd never live this down, practically kissed me. I've known her since I started working here and she's incharge of our Health & Safety. Seems she was having a heck of a time getting the store manager to ok funds for repairs, and since he was on record for noticing the odour and did nothing but pass the buck to my supervisor who again did nothing about the problem, placing the blame squarely on their shoulders and not on hers. What can I say? She is more than delighted that those of us that went to the hospital are ok, got time off, fully compensated, and is having her concerns dealt with without having herself dragged through it. I know my supervisor is not well respected, I didn't realise that the store manager was that reviled. All I really care about is that there was no permanent health concerns for myself or anyone else. Having my supervisor held accountable for his lack of concern and lack of action...PRICELESS! This is a guy who feels that he doesn't have to follow protocol because as he puts it..."I don't have to do that because I'm like this with the store manager. *crossing fingers*" and that's verbatim!!! So maybe now he'll learn something...then again maybe not... The new rumour is that there is a new store opening up in the area and the store manager had his eye on taking over that store. Imay get rid of this problem...then again whose to say there won't be another idiot even worse to replace him? We'll seee what happens...

I'm glad that people are having to pay the consequences, Kimiko. It sounds like you did the right thing reporting it. Most importantly, I'm glad you're okay! And whoo hoo! Another Southern Ontario gatch fan! It's amazing how many there are. I myself am a transplanted Torontonian. CD and Cricket are also in the area, along with SJ.

Originally posted by SJ_SwanJun I gotto be honest with you, girl. Even if there was a sign on the damn thing, noone would read it. That is something that completely amazes me in this city. I can put a giant fucking sign on something that is out of order, and still get some moron wandering up to me scratching their head and asking me to show them what they're doing wrong ... "Yeah, asshole. I can tell you exactly what you're doing wrong. You're not reading the fucking gigantic sign that says OUT OF ORDER!"

SJ, we have customers like that. Our old uniforms were totally green with the polo shirts with an orange collar. They still come up us and ask if we work here. Our uniforms now have HOMEBASE in big letters on the back and we must have name badges, which even a partially sighted person like myself can read and EVEN then they ask us if we work here. I have couple of times said that I didn't work there. I got one customer who thought that Homebase and it's 2 main competitors B & Q and Focus Do It All were the same shop. Also, some staff can't exactly read properly and put stuff in the wrong place, even though the descrption on the price label is different to the stock in their hands.

Well speaking of retail mentality ...they are taking me out of my store when I am short staffed to work in another store because they are short staffed...and want to know why I am now behind in my work! Oh...Ebony why didn't you make budget in your store last week??? Because I was off making budget in another store...So now they have decided that I am to manage another big store for 2 weeks...I hate to think of what the mice will get up to while I'm away... well of to work I go now...

Originally posted by Metaliant SJ, we have customers like that. Our old uniforms were totally green with the polo shirts with an orange collar. They still come up us and ask if we work here. Our uniforms now have HOMEBASE in big letters on the back and we must have name badges, which even a partially sighted person like myself can read and EVEN then they ask us if we work here. I have couple of times said that I didn't work there.

Oh! The memories!!! I remember working at a Nursery/Greenhouse/garden Centre and being asked that question. We would wear the apron and/or green shirts with the company name on it. Or, the even bigger clue, be holding a watering hose watering the plants. How often I was tempted to say "Uhhhh, NO, I am just holding this hose becasue I like watering." Or "Did you not hear? You have to water a row of plants before they let you walk out of here." I think it is just a way of people opening a dialogue with a store employee. Or habit. How often have you walked into a store, tried finding an employee to ask a question to and when you do find someone you discover they do not work at the store they are a customer too. (Or maybe I am the only one silly enough for that to happen to.)

Wanders into the room resembling something like a wounded animal as she pours herself the strongest coffee available grumping that there is no Tim Horton's within walking distance to the office Gawd food poisoning is a BITCH! Anyone in the Toronto area DO NOT EVER go to JJ Muggs at Woodbine .... The place is a hole, the food sucks and is full of nasty bacteria, and the washrooms are filthy! And their server is too intent on chatting with people to actually do her work. Off that though ... Digression queen strikes again ... I remember back in the day when I did work at store level and the amazing shit customers did. There once was a fantastic forum called "Customers Suck" a little while back that I'm not sure still exists. It was for all us retail jockeys to vent and tell some stories ... quite a fun place to play, although there was wayyy too much spitefulness to really enjoy things ... Especially against us smokers ... gah ... got into many heated debates with the anti-smokers on there. Oh, and their intense dislike of Corporate Office sometimes offended me. I work at Corp, and we aint too bad. Oh sure, you have the piths of the Earth in some departments. Ours is the Planning and Logistics Director ... aka Bitch from the Ninth Circle of Hell. For a woman with an Engineering Masters Degree of whatever it is (Cricket help me out here) she's really quite awful. Since she started she had made lives at Corp and Store level HELL!!! Not to forget hired on "friends" who are as lazy and as useless as she is. She asked me to proof read (and Don't Y'all laugh at me being the correspondence beta-reader here. I may not be able to put together a decent sentence in a fic, but I can sure as heck write a legal/professional letter) Thanks to Cricket's training way back, I actually do have a decent grasp of grammar. Anyhoo, after three months of her sending out store emails that had to be resent several times EACH TIME because of errors. They were Price Adjustment Letters that have errors in style numbers and pricing that I couldn't double-check - I am the only one with access to send to store level - I complained endlessly that we are beginning to look like useless morons. (the final straw was a store sending me a fax with "How about you *DO* your job and get it right!". So she finally brought me an actual memo to proof. God. This thing was awful. In the end it had more red marks on it than actual black text. I politely asked her who wrote the memo, was told that was none of my business, so I tossed it at her and told her that whoever wrote it needs to take English 101. This letter HAS to be rewritten in its entirety if the author doesn't want to look like a 5th grader. I can only make grammar/spelling/typo changes ... I didn't understand it to even suggest changes. Understandably, now I am on her hit list. She didn't like me to begin with, she hates me now. Hell. I warned her when she handed it to me that I am anal retentive over store communications. Well, I am only the Phone jockey, right? What do I know? OH OH OH OH!! I have a new title now (wish I had the money to go with it). I am now Executive Assistant/Receptionist Nice for the resume, but that's about it. I figure I hold onto it for 12 months, and then go find myself a better job. EA's get paid between $45 - $60K ... I'm still in the $30K range ... HAHAHA!! Stick it to em. Well lookie here, I found it ... Customers Suck Look and enjoy! Kimi. I'm glad you're okay. Tell your JHSC rep that I feel her pain. I am on our committee, and damn if noone listens. Ice is our biggie here in Winter. We had one of our girls slip on the ice, slide under her car and dislocate her shoulder. And get this ... Our HR woman is a bitch ... Because walking in the carpark is not classed as working, she wasn't covered. She didn't get WSIB. I was like, WHAT?! Nuts .... Anyhoo ... should go. The Logistics Bitch just called because an email from yesterday (I was off) wasn't sent out and she wants me to tell her why.... Glad you're okay, though, Kimi!! Stick it to them, girl! I wish one of our stores would ... SJ

Yep, "Do you work here?" is a conversation starter. We usually use, "Look! It's someone in a red shirt! Hubby, I bet that person can help us!" (At which point they usually consider running.) There is no official branch of engineering for Planning and Logistics, although many engineers end up learning it. Especially in small companies, the Production Engineer is in charge of getting things produced, and that usually includes getting things moved around on time. She might be a Systems Engineer, no one quite knows what they do; they had model trains in one classroom. I suspect, though, that she's a computer person. If you want to make waves, look at her business card. Legally, she needs to be a licensed P.Eng. to have the word Engineer on it (Engineering Manager or her degree is OK). We're taught a degree of arrogance; it's a tough program to get into, let alone through. They know it's impossible to teach you everything you'll need out there, so they teach attitude: I'm an Engineer, therefore I can do it! In theory, they also teach us how to learn what they can't teach us. (A financial advisor once told a bunch of engineers at Nortel (Dad's old job) that the math used to calculate how much they need to retire on was difficult. So they immediately cracked the spreadsheet and improved it.) I've seen a Foundry Engineer do waste water reviews (the accountants were less qualified). One classmate (a sucker) did payroll (Hey, he's on salary! It's cheaper to not pay him overtime than to get a bookkeeper who already knows how to do it) and carpentry (since the rest of the company had actual job descriptions which didn't include it). Yep, this guy missed the two minutes on the difference between being a team player vs being a sucker. Dad had one coworker, absolutely awesome design engineer, something to do with telecommunications, who couldn't spell at all; but she had the brains to ask Dad to proofread. Congrats on the new title SJ! (And, yep, you deserve the salary to go with it.) If someone slips under a car in my driveway, she gets paid from my home owners' insurance. There should be something similar at the company, especially in case a customer slipped. Does she have any coverage from another insurance, like an employee benefit package? Better still, her husband's? She should go directly to them, and they might be able to get something from the plant insurance. Most lawyers give 15-30 minutes free, long enough to see if it's worth suing them.

ITA about the title SJ... keep it and then use it to get a better job in a few months... Hope you can deal with it until then!

Thanks for the clarification, Cricket. My understanding always was that to get an engineering whatever, you needed to have at least a passing grade in English ... Perhaps she just forgot it all with the other stuff she needed to learn? Anyhoo, she's still a trouble-making (I could tell you a story about her latest fuck up which is actually going to cost the company several thousand coins in the next buying season) Beyuch who ... ugh ... I can't stand her. So to the title. Well ... no sooner have I smiled over it ... So, as per company policy, I changed the E-Card on my emails ... About thirty seconds later the ... :grr: from HR (the one who is not exactly a bubbly HR person) comes to my desk to give me a "friendly" warning that my title is not EA, but Admin Asst. I purse my lips and tell her that the President of the company, the one to whom I am assistant, was the one who told me I am EA. She goes on to snarl and say "that's not what my paperwork says" ... Fair call. I say "but" again, and that the President had me type up my job model and it did state EA. I double checked that title with him and he said that I am, indeed, EA. HR lady corrects me again and says that we only have one EA on staff and I am not it. Mhhmmm Okay, so she's arguing with the President. So I fire off a polite email to el-Presidente asking for clarification. He sends me an email back saying that he has to check the paperwork, there's a mistake somewhere. So ... for now, I am demoted back to Admin asst until I get absolute confirmation. Sighhhhhhh.... So much for the nice resume addition, eh? Oh well .... Hey. Anyone in the GTA want to go shopping at Timberland? They're at 30% off right now, and I get a further 40% off ... SJ

Ugh.... sounds like another reason to NEED the resume addition! Sorry, SJ!

Well, Me thinks the shit has hit the fan...anyways the rumour mill is hard at work. See if you folks can make anything out of this: Fact #1: The MOM (Merchandise Operations Manager) has left to work at another store nearby. We'll call her "Nancy". Fact #2: I like this lady and my supervisor absolutely dispizes her. He's always at odds with whatever she wants done and in the past has told us that when he is not in and the Assisstant Supervisor is in charge we: "Are not to listen to either one of them and not to do whatever they have told us to do." Yeah right like I'm supposed to ignore 2 bosses when you're not here! Fact #3: In the past, if management got transfered to said store it was considered a promotion. Fact #4: This is a sudden turnover, not even 2 weeks after our accident. Fact #5: The store manager over there is the Bee-atch that I had the previous misfortune to work under and which "Nancy" did not exactly see eye to eye with before. Fact #6: My supervisor (who was in a pissy mood) announces at the begining of the shift that: "Nancy has left to go to said store. End of story. Get to work." No explanations. No "hooray she's gone!". Nothing. Something is up...I just don't know what...

Hmmmm Kimi. Something sounds up. Let me check with certain contacts (if you like) .... I have an insider in the Bay Corp office that used to work here. I can try to finagle some info if you like. But, hey ... Move in to the TO and come work here at GFI. Looks like there are some moves'a'comin and there might be some place to put you in this: The Ivory Tower ... Now if only they'd remove me from this blasted desk ... Work hard, they say. Work hard and efficient. Work to the best of your ability and let them see how valuable you are so you can get a promoton. Bull-fucking-shit! You prove yourself too damn good and get stuck .... I mean, fuck. I'm a fully acredited Sports Trainer who used to work pro and semi-pro sports back home. I am a Science geek with an IQ of 143 (according to the Mensa IQ test) ... and I am stuck at a reception desk ... Grump. SJ

Thanks Swannie, but I just finished moving out of my apartment and back into a house and man I hate the whole moving thang! While doing I found so many things that I still had boxed up from the last move! I don't think I could afford anything your way though. I was just barely squeeking by in the apartment. We're now in with the hubby's parents. They just bought a house here, small but alot more room for the furchildren and a lot less rent. I don't have to watch every penny now and can actually start saving and investing, while helping them prepare for retirement too. I'd appriciate any info though, the rumour mill just lives for that!

Let me see what I can find out. I don't need any more info than you've provided ... you'd be surprised at how well we know each and every store. We have over 200 stores across Canada, and we know the most intimate details of all of them ... including all moves and shifts and mischief. I'll see if I can get hold of my girl at your H.O. :giggle: Living with the inlaws .... GOOD LUCK with that. Flash and I live with ours (for cultural reasons) and I sometimes go through hell. We're interracial (he's Vietnamese, I'm a white Aussie) and ... damn ... EVERYTHING I do is questioned and analyzed and compared to "Good Vietnamese" girls. sighhh.... I love them ... but ... would probably love them more if I could actually get away and be able to live my life the way I want to ... SJ

Oh, you girls are brave! If I had to live with my ILs I think I'd kill myself. Seriously... Actually, if we lived anywhere close to my ILs I don't think DH and I would be married. it's that bad. They're all the way across the continent from me, and it's still not far enough away...

I'm lucky I love my IL's. We used to live with them, years ago and have never had a problem. Watching them is almost like watching ourselves...our personalities are very similar. I can see where hubby gets it from. When I first met them I was trying to be on my best behaviour, but I ended up getting totally tanked.

Ahh my problem is that I'm a chick. I'm also Australian. Therefore I smoke, I drink, I'm obnioxious, and I have fun. I am not a conformist, I am not a slave, I am not a quiet, shy, and obedient little thang who won't care if my husband gets himself a mistress, or get up at 5am every morning and make sure he has fresh tea and a massive home cooked breakfast of noodles, shrimp, soup, and whatever else they want ... I get along great with the inlaw-men (except dad) because I do like to have a beer and a good chat about anything. I don't get along so well with the women for the same reason. I am also not a size zero, which is a problem, too. Weight (unless you're a wee child) is a big no no. Now that is not to say I'm a big girl, because I'm not. I am 5'11" and weight in at 155 pounds ... I also haven't learned the language (well ... heh ... I certainly know more than I let on), which is a bad thing. My argument is that we live in Canada, and they have for over 20 years so the onus is on them, really, to speak the native language. I did try, but at my age (33) it's difficult ... Vietnamese is a tough bloody language ... Now don't get me wrong. I love these people with everything inside me, I really do. They are wonderful, wonderful people ... I just find myself getting offended by the constant comparisons to the "good girls" in Vietnam. I am not now, have never been, and never will be the "perfect" little wife. Flash gets it and apparently seems to have no issue with it, why can't they? SJ Sorry about the rant - I got hit with something last night regarding this, and I am still seething over it...

15 years ago, the biggest reason for folks failing their P.Eng. license exam (Law and Ethics, 3 hours, taken after two to four years work experience, all this after your degree) was not being able to read and write "clearly enough to do the job". Like, duh! We're not talking PhD in English, we're talking read specs and write instructions the next guy can follow. We're talking public safety here, and codes are constantly changing. You can do the math in any language you like; steel doesn't know the difference. But someone who knows both the math and the code has to take final responsibility.

Sounds kind of familiar, SJ. Not the reasons, but the mentality. There's an old saying that men will marry a woman just like their mothers... or the exact opposite. I'm the opposite, and I know my MIL resents it like crazy. She and her husband complain about everything I do and always want me to change. Goodness only knows what they'd say if they knew I spent all of my free time writing smutty fins on the computer. Probably keel over and die...

Inlaws? Oh, don't get me started...I'm in the doghouse right now b/c I won't drop my teaching career (of 11 years) and pack up and move to St. Louis...b/c my hubby *might* be offered a job there...and it is closer to the ILs... *sigh*...my mother in law is used to ruling the roost...so I became a villain for MAKING her son move away from the "clan"... and she is causing a big rift between me and hubby right now... telling him I am being selfish... I need chocolate...

Uh...sorry about the rant, guys...Springie steps off soapbox... Things in RL have been really crazy lately...but I feel better now...

Originally posted by Springie Inlaws? Oh, don't get me started...I'm in the doghouse right now b/c I won't drop my teaching career (of 11 years) and pack up and move to St. Louis...b/c my hubby *might* be offered a job there...and it is closer to the ILs... *sigh*...my mother in law is used to ruling the roost...so I became a villain for MAKING her son move away from the "clan"... and she is causing a big rift between me and hubby right now... telling him I am being selfish... I need chocolate...

But I guess it must be harder with a family to uproot just on a possibility of a job for him, and suddenly your career is not considered ... I love my in-laws Springie, but for a long time they couldn't understand why we didn't want to live on a block next door to them like his brother and sister do...They would not understand that we actually liked living in Sydney. They drove me nuts with it for years! SJ ....I didn't realize how much we Aussies like to rant at times! (we do at work...hehehe) I like a drink of red wine but I don't smoke... Well I was told we all had to become more glamorous at work now. Not just straight business dress like we have now...So I guess it's back with the make up again, and trendy clothes. I no issues with looking good at work because I'm in the fashion industry, I just thought the using the word Glam up and half the younger girls didn't know what that meant...no you can't wear jeans to work...

Oh Springie! I had no idea they were pressuring you that hard! You just tell them to mind their own business! Oh, and BTW, it's a GOOD thing if you're in the doghouse... who wants them to talk to you, right?

Springie it's good to see you having a rant! Well in-laws can be funny sometimes...especially mother-laws...I know I could not live that close to mine, and she's alright, just has funny ideas at times... I hope you can sort it out with your DH, I don't blame you for not wanting to give up your career like that...

Originally posted by Transmute Jun Oh Springie! I had no idea they were pressuring you that hard! You just tell them to mind their own business! Oh, and BTW, it's a GOOD thing if you're in the doghouse... who wants them to talk to you, right?

You've got that right, TJ! And my parents are pressuring us to stay...I think I'd like to live in Timbuktu right now... Yeah, my life is chock full of angst and drama right now, and I hate it...funny how I love drama and angst in Gatch...but I wish it would just stay in Gatch...it's not as much fun in RL... Hahaha...Ebony, I could have stayed on the soap box longer...it actually felt good to rant like that...

Originally posted by Ebonyswanne Springie it's good to see you having a rant! Well in-laws can be funny sometimes...especially mother-laws...I know I could not live that close to mine, and she's alright, just has funny ideas at times... I hope you can sort it out with your DH, I don't blame you for not wanting to give up your career like that...

Yeah, funny that he expects me to drop it, during the school year...just like that...and I am the breadwinner of the family...and have been for a long, long time...(yeah, scary isn't it...we're living on a teacher's salary) because his business is so up and down (mortgages)...and it has been down lately...that's why he's looking for another job...and of course, the IL's are taking advantage of this to pull at us to move...

I know your pain! my in-laws could not understand that we would want to live in the city, when we could have lived close to them in the country. My parents live in the same town and they respected us in where we wanted to live and visit us at least... But when it's you DH and kids it's hard, especially if he is very close to his family like mine is...I hope your DH sees the light!

Springie can understand not wanting to be near either of them. FOrtunately for me my ILs are in Australia though when we met got along really well. Just my mum I want to escape from.

Originally posted by Springie You've got that right, TJ! And my parents are pressuring us to stay...I think I'd like to live in Timbuktu right now...

No you don't! You want to live in California! I'll see if I can find you a place down the block from me....

Originally posted by Springie Yeah, funny that he expects me to drop it, during the school year...just like that...and I am the breadwinner of the family...and have been for a long, long time...(yeah, scary isn't it...we're living on a teacher's salary) because his business is so up and down (mortgages)...and it has been down lately...that's why he's looking for another job...and of course, the IL's are taking advantage of this to pull at us to move...

Springie, they need to respect you and your job more. Just stand up to them and tell them that your job is JUST as important as your DHs, and if they get offended, well that's just too bad.

Originally posted by Ebonyswanne Well speaking of retail mentality ...they are taking me out of my store when I am short staffed to work in another store because they are short staffed...and want to know why I am now behind in my work!

Strangely enough, it's the same thing at my store. We give other store our staff if they are under staffed but they won't give us any of their staff if we are under staffed.

Originally posted by clouddancer

Originally posted by Metaliant SJ, we have customers like that. Our old uniforms were totally green with the polo shirts with an orange collar. They still come up us and ask if we work here. Our uniforms now have HOMEBASE in big letters on the back and we must have name badges, which even a partially sighted person like myself can read and EVEN then they ask us if we work here. I have couple of times said that I didn't work there.

Oh! The memories!!! I remember working at a Nursery/Greenhouse/garden Centre and being asked that question. We would wear the apron and/or green shirts with the company name on it. Or, the even bigger clue, be holding a watering hose watering the plants. How often I was tempted to say "Uhhhh, NO, I am just holding this hose becasue I like watering." Or "Did you not hear? You have to water a row of plants before they let you walk out of here." I think it is just a way of people opening a dialogue with a store employee. Or habit. How often have you walked into a store, tried finding an employee to ask a question to and when you do find someone you discover they do not work at the store they are a customer too. (Or maybe I am the only one silly enough for that to happen to.)

This is true but if people are wearing aprons or green uniforms and there are more than one person wearing aprons and green unfiroms and wearing name badges, then SURELY are staff. It's true that some people will start of the conversation with "Do you work here?" But I would stick with "Ca you help me?" I did have a customer who wasn't happy that I simply look at my name badge with HOMEBASE on. I do have the feeling that I am really partially sighted and everybody else is. Also we have 2 trolley parks right outside of the double doors we have. They can't see where they are and as for the double doors, which ae automatic.....One is for entrance and one is for exit. If you go in through one of doors and try to go through them again, surely thay means that they are for going into the store and you should go through the other set of doors?

One funny situation I saw at the Garden Centre, we had young boys to do the carry out of heavy items/loading of cars. These boys all wore red shirts and red baseball caps. When one of them was needed, a call was made over the radio "Red Cap to ....." Well the customers knew to look for the "Red Caps" for assistance. One customer went up to a gentleman who was wearing a red cap and accosted him about some problem. The poor man had to explain he did not work at the centre. This was funny to me, but the poor gentleman was not laughing. What I am trying to point out is, you may be wearing a green shirt but so may a customer, so to ensure you are talking to an employee you get the "Do you work here?" instead of "can you help me." That statement could even lead to: "I do not work here but I might be able to help you, it depends on what help you need." if you thought about it. OTOH, if people really stopped to think about what they were saying, a lot of miss-communications would be solved.

Originally posted by Transmute Jun

Originally posted by Springie You've got that right, TJ! And my parents are pressuring us to stay...I think I'd like to live in Timbuktu right now...

No you don't! You want to live in California! I'll see if I can find you a place down the block from me....

Well TJ I see your now a babbling looney! Hehehee CEP has a great sense of humour! Mmm so TJ has another motive.... for Springie come to live next door! mmm should we have desperate housewives in your street next...or just Gatch widowers because the wives are always off doing Gatch stuff together....

No they just want to be together so they can bounce fic ideas and pics off each other. Psssst, Ebony it would be to our benifit if they lived on the same street. Or.....maybe not they might spend so much time talking and laughing they would never post anything.

I am not sure it is safe to have Springie and TJ living next to one another. It would be great for us becuase of all the fics but for the rest of their neighbours?

When I was working days it didn't matter if I was wearing the uniform or just in civies doing my own shopping. I would always get asked where stuff was by other customers. Since I have been there since the store opened (came with the foundations) I guess they would recognise me as someone who worked there. I always have mum with me and we are generally argueing the pro & cons of whatever..prices etc... I guess we look like we know what we're talking about. But I suspect that it's just the fact that there never seems to be saleshelp around when you really need them!

Originally posted by clouddancer No they just want to be together so they can bounce fic ideas and pics off each other. Psssst, Ebony it would be to our benifit if they lived on the same street. Or.....maybe not they might spend so much time talking and laughing they would never post anything.

What so we can catch up...you may see another 35 posts yet form me tonight...

Originally posted by kimiko When I was working days it didn't matter if I was wearing the uniform or just in civies doing my own shopping. I would always get asked where stuff was by other customers. Since I have been there since the store opened (came with the foundations) I guess they would recognise me as someone who worked there. I always have mum with me and we are generally argueing the pro & cons of whatever..prices etc... I guess we look like we know what we're talking about. But I suspect that it's just the fact that there never seems to be saleshelp around when you really need them!

I just have everyone wanting my exclusive attention when I am running the shop on my own, they love to cut staff in shops...I had my store productivity hours cut by H/O by 5 hours a week, (we are still open the same hours!)that is a lot of hours in a store...

Originally posted by Ebonyswanne Mmm so TJ has another motive.... for Springie come to live next door! mmm should we have desperate housewives in your street next...or just Gatch widowers because the wives are always off doing Gatch stuff together....

Ah yes, we are desperate housewives! Eagles and Condors, are you listening? We have two desperate Swannies here!!!!!!!!

Originally posted by clouddancer No they just want to be together so they can bounce fic ideas and pics off each other. Psssst, Ebony it would be to our benifit if they lived on the same street. Or.....maybe not they might spend so much time talking and laughing they would never post anything.

Well..... we already bounce ideas off of each other... but it's harder when we're working and htings are busy. But yes, when Springie and I talk it's just a laugh fest. My Dh saw my lying on the floor laughing with her and called me 'Tickle Me Elmo'.

Originally posted by Firebird I am not sure it is safe to have Springie and TJ living next to one another. It would be great for us becuase of all the fics but for the rest of their neighbours?

The neighbours wouldn't care. We'd just be bothering the rest of our families. I think the DHs would care the most!!!!

Hahaha...ITA! Bring on the Eagles and Condors!!

Originally posted by Transmute Jun

Originally posted by clouddancer No they just want to be together so they can bounce fic ideas and pics off each other. Psssst, Ebony it would be to our benifit if they lived on the same street. Or.....maybe not they might spend so much time talking and laughing they would never post anything.

Well..... we already bounce ideas off of each other... but it's harder when we're working and htings are busy. But yes, when Springie and I talk it's just a laugh fest. My Dh saw my lying on the floor laughing with her and called me 'Tickle Me Elmo'.

Yes, it takes me days to recover from our talks! And yes, I think both of our DHs think we're crazy!

Originally posted by Transmute Jun

Originally posted by clouddancer No they just want to be together so they can bounce fic ideas and pics off each other. Psssst, Ebony it would be to our benifit if they lived on the same street. Or.....maybe not they might spend so much time talking and laughing they would never post anything.

Well..... we already bounce ideas off of each other... but it's harder when we're working and htings are busy. But yes, when Springie and I talk it's just a laugh fest. My Dh saw my lying on the floor laughing with her and called me 'Tickle Me Elmo'.

Hey we have a sleep wear range in my shop called that...would you like to me to get you a set for when you come here in January...just tell me your size! But then I can take you into the city store and get you a discount! wink wink

Originally posted by Springie Hahaha...ITA! Bring on the Eagles and Condors!!

Bring them on! We want Eagles and Condors! Come out to Utoland! We need you!!!!!!

Originally posted by Springie And yes, I think both of our DHs think we're crazy!

Well, they're not wrong, are they?

Originally posted by Ebonyswanne Hey we have a sleep wear range in my shop called that...would you like to me to get you a set for when you come here in January...just tell me your size! But then I can take you into the city store and get you a discount! wink wink

Well... then I might have to give up my Number 1 shirts for sleepwear... but I suppose for YOU I could make an exception Ebony...

Originally posted by Transmute Jun

Originally posted by Firebird I am not sure it is safe to have Springie and TJ living next to one another. It would be great for us becuase of all the fics but for the rest of their neighbours?

The neighbours wouldn't care. We'd just be bothering the rest of our families. I think the DHs would care the most!!!!

I should think both of your DH's would just find something to occupy themselves as they are probably both used to you two by now

Originally posted by Firebird I should think both of your DH's would just find something to occupy themselves as they are probably both used to you two by now

You know, that's exactly what happened on the vaca! And I think, once or twice, they made fun of us....

But they got used to our insanity! Esp. when they'd join us on the balcony and we couldn't stop laughing!

I think they secretly like our craziness!

Originally posted by Springie I think they secretly like our craziness!

You need to introduce them to a larger group and see the affect that has.

Originally posted by Springie I think they secretly like our craziness!

Maybe it makes them think they are not as childish.

Originally posted by Springie But they got used to our insanity! Esp. when they'd join us on the balcony and we couldn't stop laughing!

That's kind of the same look my husband had on his face last night when we were IMing about gay Transformers!

Originally posted by Springie I think they secretly like our craziness!

That's why they married us, isn't it?

Originally posted by clouddancer

Originally posted by Springie I think they secretly like our craziness!

Maybe it makes them think they are not as childish.

My DH already knows that I am childish. I think he secretly loves it.

Originally posted by Transmute Jun

Originally posted by Springie But they got used to our insanity! Esp. when they'd join us on the balcony and we couldn't stop laughing!

That's kind of the same look my husband had on his face last night when we were IMing about gay Transformers!

That's Zark and the gay transformers..."Oh, baby...oil that rusty joint!" Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha....

Originally posted by Springie

Originally posted by Transmute Jun That's kind of the same look my husband had on his face last night when we were IMing about gay Transformers!

That's Zark and the gay transformers..."Oh, baby...oil that rusty joint!" Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha....

Gives new meaning to the ten second oil break....

Originally posted by Transmute Jun

Originally posted by Springie That's Zark and the gay transformers..."Oh, baby...oil that rusty joint!" Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha....

Gives new meaning to the ten second oil break....

Splutter, cough, choke!!!!! Wait, while I catch my breath. Oh, god you guys are too much.

Originally posted by clouddancer Splutter, cough, choke!!!!! Wait, while I catch my breath. Oh, god you guys are too much.

Now you see why our DHs think we are crazy!

That's Zark and the gay transformers..."Oh, baby...oil that rusty joint!" Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.... [/quote] Gives new meaning to the ten second oil break.... [/quote] *sprays computer screen with coffee* I think that might be the nastiest thing thing I've read on here! LMAO!!! Hubby came by took one look and went..

Originally posted by kimiko

That's Zark and the gay transformers..."Oh, baby...oil that rusty joint!" Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha....

Gives new meaning to the ten second oil break....

*sprays computer screen with coffee* I think that might be the nastiest thing thing I've read on here! LMAO!!! Hubby came by took one look and went..

You think those are bad, you should actually SEE the pictures of the gay Transformers that set off the whole discussion! Springie will point them out to you....

See now you and springie have to share those pics!

Originally posted by Firebird See now you and springie have to share those pics!

Please do.

Originally posted by Transmute Jun

Originally posted by Ebonyswanne Hey we have a sleep wear range in my shop called that...would you like to me to get you a set for when you come here in January...just tell me your size! But then I can take you into the city store and get you a discount! wink wink

Well... then I might have to give up my Number 1 shirts for sleepwear... but I suppose for YOU I could make an exception Ebony...

I had thought the "little miss naughty" PJ's would suit you better... We have character PJ's at work... My DH calls me strange sometimes but I tell him it's one of the reasons he loves me so much...I'm not boring, andI like some spice in life...

Okay, I get the hint! Springie has links to all of the good tones, though... http://scream01.deviantart.com/art/Three-Seekers-and-a-Medic-51411621 http://scream01.deviantart.com/art/To-close-for-comfort-51037886

Originally posted by Ebonyswanne I had thought the "little miss naughty" PJ's would suit you better... We have character PJ's at work...

But not as good as THIS character.... I have THIS Number 1 shirt as my sleepwear...

Originally posted by Transmute Jun Okay, I get the hint! Springie has links to all of the good tones, though... http://scream01.deviantart.com/art/Three-Seekers-and-a-Medic-51411621 http://scream01.deviantart.com/art/To-close-for-comfort-51037886

Ohh, Shoot it appears I need an account to see these. I get a Mature Content Filter is On message. Oh, well will try it out some other time.

Trust me... they are mature content....

Cd hit download on the left hand side that gets you a look and wow that second picture was quite something, i dont think i will ever look at them the same way again

Originally posted by Transmute Jun

Originally posted by Ebonyswanne I had thought the "little miss naughty" PJ's would suit you better... We have character PJ's at work...

But not as good as THIS character.... I have THIS Number 1 shirt as my sleepwear...

How does you DH feel that you sleep with the Eagle every night TJ...but then again...mmm he is an Eagle right...

[quote]Originally posted by Transmute Jun Okay, I get the hint! Springie has links to all of the good tones, though... http://scream01.deviantart.com/art/Three-Seekers-and-a-Medic-51411621 http://scream01.deviantart.com/art/To-close-for-comfort-51037886[/quo te] That was just strange to me...mmm

Originally posted by Transmute Jun Okay, I get the hint! Springie has links to all of the good tones, though...

Oh Yeah, because I'm the gay robot expert???

Originally posted by Ebonyswanne How does you DH feel that you sleep with the Eagle every night TJ...but then again...mmm he is an Eagle right...

The first time he saw the shirt he rolled his eyes and said 'Oh my God..." but he hasn't said anything since...

Originally posted by Springie

Originally posted by Transmute Jun Okay, I get the hint! Springie has links to all of the good tones, though...

Oh Yeah, because I'm the gay robot expert???

Well, actually, now that you mention it.... Honestly I just meant that you were more familiar with Deviant Art than I was! Honest!!!!

LMAO!!! Hubby walked up behind me at the wrong time! He says you've scarred him for lifeafter seeing those pics! Transformers is one of his favorite childhood memories (that and he's a Boba Fett freak!) Now he's wandering away muttering.."Gay robots....and... I suppose I'll have to find you a shirt with a big 2 on it now!" *snerk*

Kimiko, the Number 2 shirts do exist... they're just sold out. You'd have to troll Japanese EBay or something to find one. But they are out there. I had to get the Number 1 shirt in a large because it was all that was left. And no number 3s either! As for the gay transformers... that same artist has hetero transformers as well... I'm sure you could find some if it would help your DH feel better. :smooch1:

Kimi you should get him to buy you the shirt for christmas or just say it could be worse it could be a lifesize condor doll

Well, there is that Condor Joe Kiss doll... anatomically correct and everything! I've never seen it though...

Originally posted by Springie

Originally posted by Transmute Jun Okay, I get the hint! Springie has links to all of the good tones, though...

Oh Yeah, because I'm the gay robot expert???

Fill us Springie! is a side of you we didn't know about???

Well, remember, Springie changes genders (see the other thread where I had my 'slip' of the tongue) and she knows where to find all of the yaoi....

Originally posted by Firebird Kimi you should get him to buy you the shirt for christmas or just say it could be worse it could be a lifesize condor doll

Don't worry FB! I already put my order in to Santa Condor! I've been very naughty this year, but I'm so good at it!

Ooh.... and did you get to sit on his lap? Psst.... where can I find this Santa Condor? Or a Santa Eagle?

Originally posted by Ebonyswanne

Originally posted by Springie

Originally posted by Transmute Jun Okay, I get the hint! Springie has links to all of the good tones, though...

Oh Yeah, because I'm the gay robot expert???

Fill us Springie! is a side of you we didn't know about???

Ancient Japanese secret...

Originally posted by Transmute Jun Ooh.... and did you get to sit on his lap? Psst.... where can I find this Santa Condor? Or a Santa Eagle?

You can ask Springie for one..... I'm editing a Santa Ego for christmas... Hehe, blue Boy has a lot of gifts to offer you.....

Originally posted by Transmute Jun Well, remember, Springie changes genders (see the other thread where I had my 'slip' of the tongue) and she knows where to find all of the yaoi....

Well, now that the secret is out...you must know that the red hair is a wig...and I really have long blond hair...like TJ... rubs chin...hmmmm...so TJ must my long lost trans-gender twin???

Originally posted by amyltrer

Originally posted by Transmute Jun Ooh.... and did you get to sit on his lap? Psst.... where can I find this Santa Condor? Or a Santa Eagle?

You can ask Springie for one..... I'm editing a Santa Ego for christmas... Hehe, blue Boy has a lot of gifts to offer you.....

And I can think of plenty to offer right back!

Originally posted by Springie

Originally posted by Transmute Jun Well, remember, Springie changes genders (see the other thread where I had my 'slip' of the tongue) and she knows where to find all of the yaoi....

Well, now that the secret is out...you must know that the red hair is a wig...and I really have long blond hair...like TJ... rubs chin...hmmmm...so TJ must my long lost trans-gender twin???

That's not too far off... we seem to have each other's brains, anyhow...

Originally posted by Transmute Jun

Originally posted by amyltrer

Originally posted by Transmute Jun Ooh.... and did you get to sit on his lap? Psst.... where can I find this Santa Condor? Or a Santa Eagle?

You can ask Springie for one..... I'm editing a Santa Ego for christmas... Hehe, blue Boy has a lot of gifts to offer you.....

And I can think of plenty to offer right back!

At the hands of the Eagle or of the Condor?

Originally posted by Springie

Originally posted by Transmute Jun Well, remember, Springie changes genders (see the other thread where I had my 'slip' of the tongue) and she knows where to find all of the yaoi....

Well, now that the secret is out...you must know that the red hair is a wig...and I really have long blond hair...like TJ... rubs chin...hmmmm...so TJ must my long lost trans-gender twin???

OMG, if Sosai would merge you two right now, it would result Katze!

Originally posted by amyltrer

Originally posted by Transmute Jun And I can think of plenty to offer right back!

At the hands of the Eagle or of the Condor?

I think they all want to give him a little something...

Well finally got me cheque from Worker's Comp...and basically handed it over to Ma Bell. More BS happening at work..apparently one HR person hired someone for a position without posting it and didn't bother telling the HR Manager about it or my supervisor. So now this person thinks they got the job and he's not going to get it. Shit is gonna hit the fan tonight!

Sorry Kimi. Hope you are not in the middle of it

I'm staying as far away as I can FB! Though they felt free enough to talk about other employees around me. Makes me wonder what they say about me when I'm not around... Anyway we are having an Xmas party on the 17th so I'll get to hear a whole bunch of gossip from everyone I used to work with on the dayshift.

Sounds like it will be juicy! ITA, Kimi, stay out of it as long as you can...

I will never understand my supervisor...He can't seem to understand why nobody wants to come into work that night??? Everybody has booked the night off and upper managment seems to want to have a truck delivered. Hmm let's see...work..or party? That's such a hard decision!

So which one did you end up doing, Kimi?

Originally posted by kimiko Hmm let's see...work..or party? That's such a hard decision!

Hmm, what kind of work Kimi?

Retail...restocking merchandise.

Originally posted by kimiko I will never understand my supervisor...He can't seem to understand why nobody wants to come into work that night??? Everybody has booked the night off and upper managment seems to want to have a truck delivered. Hmm let's see...work..or party? That's such a hard decision!

I did night fill years ago, it seemed to be like that here as well. The more people you work with the more likely there is to be politics in a store. Bare with it Kimo! If they are say things about you then it will come out and smack them in the face because others will see you are not like the stirrers!

ITA Ebony! At least with this job, it doesn't follow me home! I had a job where I worked with some of my indirect in-laws and it got really nasty! My sister-in-law's sister..what a backstabbing BEEE-ATCH! If she's talking behind her sister's back, then you know it was really open season on me!

I so know what you mean about the "open season" deal.... another thing is when the pot calls the kettle black and tries to get them wrote up, or worse fired... seen that happen too. Thats why I try to stay one step ahead or a long way back IYKWIM