tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131255677852744346.comments2011-09-09T20:14:41.738-04:00Hamster of Doom, TheJuliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12840640280453062353noreply@blogger.comBlogger221125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131255677852744346.post-32373379573297337182011-09-09T20:14:41.738-04:002011-09-09T20:14:41.738-04:00(Nearly three years later)
This past weekend, bot...(Nearly three years later)<br /><br />This past weekend, both my parents insisted that they voted for McCain in 2008. But that was only after a brief debate over whether they had voted at all.<br /><br />There's no way I would have written a blog post called "My parents voted for Obama" if they hadn't told me they had done so. And I don't think they would have lied to me about it. So this weekend's discussion confirms something I've always suspected: they don't have very reliable memories.Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12840640280453062353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131255677852744346.post-23655170372858115842010-06-08T23:04:16.872-04:002010-06-08T23:04:16.872-04:00Ugh, that's really stressful. I'm sorry t...Ugh, that's really stressful. I'm sorry to hear it and agree with James about stability.AbsolutSarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11319564635208498168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131255677852744346.post-12150412712536375182010-06-08T21:05:25.788-04:002010-06-08T21:05:25.788-04:00Thanks. Stability would be nice.
I'm worried ...Thanks. Stability would be nice.<br /><br />I'm worried about the cost of getting individual health insurance, but on the bright side, I won't have to deal with the extremely shitty Great West Healthcare Open Access Plus plan much longer. (That'll be a whole separate blog post, if I have the stamina to vent that much bile.)<br /><br />Tomorrow - literally tomorrow, I'm not just saying that - I was going to call Comcast and get a DVR and upgrade my cable just to the minimum point where I could get Cartoon and Comedy again. (That's still big bucks because I discontinued cable for a while, and now they'll only let you upgrade if you go digital, which means also renting a cable box and crap like that, my outlets are already maxed out, it totally sucks.)<br /><br />So, no Adult Swim, no Futurama, and no DVR to hold them all.Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12840640280453062353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131255677852744346.post-68838301240312796352010-06-08T20:51:53.144-04:002010-06-08T20:51:53.144-04:00Not so much good news as continued instability. St...Not so much good news as continued instability. Stupid economy! I hope you get some possibility of stability soon. :(JP Burkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16796725364997136448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131255677852744346.post-51454716964423576932010-01-30T14:03:08.125-05:002010-01-30T14:03:08.125-05:00Ahh, those halcyon days of the pool in all its glo...Ahh, those halcyon days of the pool in all its glory.JP Burkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16796725364997136448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131255677852744346.post-57488115733998994802009-10-22T20:24:34.525-04:002009-10-22T20:24:34.525-04:00Well, it's distracting when people play YouTub...Well, it's distracting when people play YouTube videos loudly too, yet that doesn't seem to be an issue.<br /><br />Anyway, the alleged complaint was that they were "uncomfortable," not "distracted."<br /><br />Frankly, if they can see what they say they see, then that means I'm uncomfortable too - uncomfortably cold. So maybe the jerk who keeps turning the thermostat all the way down ought to stop that.Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12840640280453062353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131255677852744346.post-87099696454868776062009-10-22T11:16:07.340-04:002009-10-22T11:16:07.340-04:00While I'm completely on your side on this subj...While I'm completely on your side on this subject, and I should know, I do have to say that as a guy, it can be extremely distracting for us. We can be walking along thinking, "I really need to talk to such-and-such about this account, and ....Oh DAMN...nipples!" Continuation of the species overwhelms everything.<br /><br />BUT, as long as your dress style is office/profession, the problem is ours to deal with. You should not have to dress Muslim/Orthodox Puritan to curtail my prurient interests.<br /><br />PS - You do not have mutant nipples!Dannyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15466261124777179965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131255677852744346.post-28409588218833841112009-10-20T07:59:26.696-04:002009-10-20T07:59:26.696-04:00Oh Jennifer, just find a picture of Angelina Jolie...Oh Jennifer, just find a picture of Angelina Jolie and draw two dots. We're practically twins!Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12840640280453062353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131255677852744346.post-40017607668043391502009-10-19T22:11:51.226-04:002009-10-19T22:11:51.226-04:00This is such asshattery that I wonder exactly what...This is such asshattery that I wonder exactly what psychological malfunction this woman has. I'm only interested for purely clinical reasons, not because I actually care about her well being.<br />Oh, when you follow up this post with an update, could you please include photos so that I can get an accurate visual? Thanks! :Djennifer from pittsburghhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12188641511998447474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131255677852744346.post-90699826195010254452009-10-19T13:41:19.792-04:002009-10-19T13:41:19.792-04:00I would encourage you NOT to go to human resources...I would encourage you NOT to go to human resources. HR departments exist for the best interests of the company, not the best interests of an individual employee. Unless those interests line up they are not your best option.B.O.B.(bob)https://www.blogger.com/profile/17244133105562154126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131255677852744346.post-81781453197133688152009-10-18T20:15:34.118-04:002009-10-18T20:15:34.118-04:00I am documenting everything in the sense that I...I am documenting everything in the sense that I've written down what happened and told a ton of people.<br /><br />The advice, personal and professional, that I have received so far has ranged from "dress more modestly" to "OMG take those $#@%ers to court!!!"<br /><br />I know the smarter approach is somewhere in between, but figuring out exactly where that is has been a challenge.<br /><br />To complicate matters, my boss will be out this week, so I can't ask her to clarify the intent of her statement to me last week or let her know of my concerns. But I am beginning to think that the lawyer - whether he's an ambulance-chaser or not - may be right: I should probably find out what I'm doing before I talk to my boss about this again.Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12840640280453062353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131255677852744346.post-77659866043360192482009-10-18T19:24:58.373-04:002009-10-18T19:24:58.373-04:00I should think it would be illegal.
I'd say ...I should think it would be illegal. <br /><br />I'd say you're doing the right thing at this point trying to get that advice and making self-protection your primary concern. I suspect you're already documenting everything.<br /><br />I always worry there's going to be more crazy around the corner, and you don't want to be the person who gets the brunt of it. I wish I had some useful advice.JP Burkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16796725364997136448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131255677852744346.post-10835668640852988992009-10-18T18:28:15.315-04:002009-10-18T18:28:15.315-04:00I received some free website advice from a lawyer ...I received some free website advice from a lawyer (a real one) to call a lawyer before I do anything else.<br /><br />Of course, that's just what a lawyer would say...<br /><br />But he also said that it was illegal for anyone at work, including my boss, to make any comment of that kind. This suggests that I am NOT at risk of being successfully accused of any wrongdoing, but I'll see if anyone else on that site weighs in during the next few days.Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12840640280453062353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131255677852744346.post-53212403415920553192009-10-18T11:28:23.086-04:002009-10-18T11:28:23.086-04:00Originally, my plan was to laugh at this and blow ...Originally, my plan was to laugh at this and blow it off.<br /><br />However, my sister wondered if my boss is trying to lay some groundwork to establish that I have a "pattern of behavior" or something.<br /><br />Of course, if I involve HR, the EEOC, or a lawyer, my boss can backpedal and say she was simply informing me of some office gossip. <br /><br />However, that might actually make her look even worse, so... so I don't know what, if anything, her agenda might have been. Maybe she had an agenda but didn't think it through, or maybe she really did think she was helping.<br /><br />On the one hand I don't want to play her little game, if that's what it is, and on the other hand I want to make sure I can defend myself if I need to.Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12840640280453062353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131255677852744346.post-72591578735507048602009-10-18T10:34:52.554-04:002009-10-18T10:34:52.554-04:00This is some of the most ridiculous bullshit I'...This is some of the most ridiculous bullshit I've ever heard tell of.<br /><br />What a grade-a pathetic attempt at mind games. <br /><br />I can't imagine how it must make you feel to have to endure this sort of unprofessional and abusive work environment. It amazes me you can get any of your job done while dealing with that.JP Burkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16796725364997136448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131255677852744346.post-25123230813045206472009-09-16T20:50:48.205-04:002009-09-16T20:50:48.205-04:00"Penny Worth" sounds like a brilliant ti..."Penny Worth" sounds like a brilliant title, even if the work is never finished.Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12840640280453062353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131255677852744346.post-55495844569529875462009-09-16T18:16:06.134-04:002009-09-16T18:16:06.134-04:00I once tried to write a piece called 'Penny Wo...I once tried to write a piece called 'Penny Worth', a combination of a penny dreadful novel and a Mary Worth comic ;) I got distracted and never opened the file again. Story of my life ;)jennifer from pittsburghhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12188641511998447474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131255677852744346.post-88008981058540413132009-09-16T18:14:06.972-04:002009-09-16T18:14:06.972-04:00That pool, and your post, are hysterical! I have ...That pool, and your post, are hysterical! I have never been so glad that A) we never had a pool and B) the kids have avoided prison lo these many years.jennifer from pittsburghhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12188641511998447474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131255677852744346.post-34559755734025251832009-08-31T07:34:31.819-04:002009-08-31T07:34:31.819-04:00A flower grenade? Awesome idea.
There actually ar...A flower grenade? Awesome idea.<br /><br />There actually are some wildflowers in the pool, at least sometimes. I don't think you can really see them in the picture, though.Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12840640280453062353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131255677852744346.post-38334393882839519042009-08-31T01:59:10.571-04:002009-08-31T01:59:10.571-04:00It is fascinating. It would be great as a real gar...It is fascinating. It would be great as a real garden.<br /><br />Makes me think of this discussion...<br /><br />http://www.halfbakery.com/idea/Flower_20grenadeJP Burkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16796725364997136448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131255677852744346.post-15501666501171728842009-08-30T12:41:15.586-04:002009-08-30T12:41:15.586-04:00Sadly no, a digital converter box works strictly f...Sadly no, a digital converter box works strictly for over-the-air signals. QAM tuners are strictly for non-scrambled digital cable signals.<br /><br />You can get a VCR or other recording device with a QAM tuner, but the few choices are very expensive. Expensive enough to drive you back to cable.<br /><br />It's hard to find information (lots of people asking the same questions, not so many giving answers) about standalone QAM tuners. There must be some kind of, er, tension between the media companies and electronics manufacturers/vendors.<br /><br />The USB QAM tuners are coming from lesser-known names in the electronics industry. They are easy to find and inexpensive, but you need a damn good PC to get any use out of them. (I tried, and I DO have a damn good PC IMO, but it's still not good enough. Lots of memory and disk space issues.)<br /><br />To complicate matters, Comcast claims that in order to get Univision in a cable package, Digital Economy (which they don't talk about much) wouldn't be enough, I'd have to pay even more. It's ridiculous. It's a regular TV broadcast network, for crying out loud. Comcast makes it readily available in most neighboring communities. I think its unavailability here has something to do with a one-sided ethnic rivalry in New Bedford.Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12840640280453062353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131255677852744346.post-68126303270088314192009-08-30T11:06:40.446-04:002009-08-30T11:06:40.446-04:00Sadly, I think we'll soon be joining you on th...Sadly, I think we'll soon be joining you on the minimal cable front. After making it to 42 without ever having paid a dime to watch TV the govt. and television industry have managed to make it next to impossible to enjoy "free' TV. Digital TV is wonderfull as long as it's not windy, or raining or an airplane isn't flying near the house. So next month we'll break down and spend $13 a month to get the same service I get now for free but hopefully without having to constantly play with an antenna rotor.<br /><br />I had hoped I could watch what I couldn't catch on TV on the intern et by now but at least some shows are moving away from free internet reruns.<br /><br />On the QAM tuner front would a digital convertor box work? We've got an extra if it would.B.O.B.(bob)https://www.blogger.com/profile/17244133105562154126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131255677852744346.post-40467719024285268982009-08-26T20:26:21.297-04:002009-08-26T20:26:21.297-04:00Here's a news story that sums up what some of ...Here's a news story that sums up what some of my coworkers and I are worried about:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.enterprisenews.com/business/x1670283377/HARD-LANDING-Jet-company-s-problems-leave-many-South-Shore-workers-stranded" rel="nofollow">http://www.enterprisenews.com/business/x1670283377/HARD-LANDING-Jet-company-s-problems-leave-many-South-Shore-workers-stranded</a><br /><br />The article is about the previous company, but the "new" company I'm working for is owned by some of the same people. And my flex spending account hasn't been set up yet, the website for the retirement account still isn't set up, and I'm still waiting for my dental insurance ID card. Most companies get this stuff handled within a week...<br /><br />We've also had two rounds of layoffs in the last month.<br /><br />My medical insurance seems to be working, though, and my paychecks haven't bounced yet. Woohoo!!Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12840640280453062353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131255677852744346.post-3910166989937041502009-08-22T20:17:04.051-04:002009-08-22T20:17:04.051-04:00Yikes! Well, I hope eventually the excrement gets ...Yikes! Well, I hope eventually the excrement gets together one way or another. And you can come up for a breather.<br /><br />I'm worried about what's going to happen to my schedule in a short couple of weeks. Blech.JP Burkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16796725364997136448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131255677852744346.post-8389893406668092502009-04-04T10:42:00.000-04:002009-04-04T10:42:00.000-04:00Thanks, everybody.I really do like my not-job, may...Thanks, everybody.<BR/><BR/>I really do like my not-job, maybe because they ask so little of me and don't care when I show up. :-) (I usually show up after 10, but at the end of the day they often have to kick me out.) The new skills I'm learning are actually pretty easy, but I probably would never have learned them through an employer.<BR/><BR/>Oh, and I've got another editing gig. I've discovered that I HATE freelance editing, but hey, it's money, so, yay!Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12840640280453062353noreply@blogger.com