[ARaven0137]

I am so sorry, Have Hope. I can empathize with hitting a wall and shutting down. Blessings to you and keep well.

T'is time for the torrid tale of Tracy the Tremulous. Once upon a time, in the Kingdom of Dysfunction, Prince Kendall the Simple ruled hand in hand with Princess Tracy the Tremulous. They served King/Queen Donutcare the Genderless (nothing against that). Tracy the Tremulous would emerge from her hole occasionally and see if the sky was bright or cloudy. If she saw her shadow, she would scurry back into her hole to wait for a cloudy day. Even the squirrels of the kingdom would laugh at her fearfulness of...just about everything. It was such a good thing that she ruled over an entire province. Nothing got approved, nothing got done so nothing went wrong.

Well one day (I'm not sure how to or if a trigger warning is needed) there was a terrible situation in which people, especially children, were being harmed (I'll leave it vague). A friend of mine was heading up an evacuation plan and I was going to help fly people out of harm's way. Tracy the Tremulous and Kendall the Simple dithered, delayed, obfuscated, confused, obstructed and mangled the effort to help these people. My friend was livid. He told me that he tried to show Tremulous what the people were going through and how horrible it was. Tremulous refused to make a decision and fled out of the room, saying in a panicked, tremulous voice, "I can't, I can't. Don't show me that. I can't look at it." She hid in the basement all day and refused to make a decision to help these people.

King/Queen Donutcare's boss finally came down on them like a ton of bricks, but the damage was already done. The moral of the fractured fairy tale was that both Kendall the Simple and Tracy the Tremulous were promoted, each receiving their own principalities to rule.

And they all lived stupidly ever after. The end.

[seesaw]

Originally Posted by ARaven0137

I am so sorry, Have Hope. I can empathize with hitting a wall and shutting down. Blessings to you and keep well.

T'is time for the torrid tale of Tracy the Tremulous. Once upon a time, in the Kingdom of Dysfunction, Prince Kendall the Simple ruled hand in hand with Princess Tracy the Tremulous. They served King/Queen Donutcare the Genderless (nothing against that). Tracy the Tremulous would emerge from her hole occasionally and see if the sky was bright or cloudy. If she saw her shadow, she would scurry back into her hole to wait for a cloudy day. Even the squirrels of the kingdom would laugh at her fearfulness of...just about everything. It was such a good thing that she ruled over an entire province. Nothing got approved, nothing got done so nothing went wrong.

Well one day (I'm not sure how to or if a trigger warning is needed) there was a terrible situation in which people, especially children, were being harmed (I'll leave it vague). A friend of mine was heading up an evacuation plan and I was going to help fly people out of harm's way. Tracy the Tremulous and Kendall the Simple dithered, delayed, obfuscated, confused, obstructed and mangled the effort to help these people. My friend was livid. He told me that he tried to show Tremulous what the people were going through and how horrible it was. Tremulous refused to make a decision and fled out of the room, saying in a panicked, tremulous voice, "I can't, I can't. Don't show me that. I can't look at it." She hid in the basement all day and refused to make a decision to help these people.

King/Queen Donutcare's boss finally came down on them like a ton of bricks, but the damage was already done. The moral of the fractured fairy tale was that both Kendall the Simple and Tracy the Tremulous were promoted, each receiving their own principalities to rule.

And they all lived stupidly ever after. The end.

Seriously, you need to make this a comic strip. And I love that you used obfuscated, lol.

[Have Hope]

Originally Posted by ARaven0137

I am so sorry, Have Hope. I can empathize with hitting a wall and shutting down. Blessings to you and keep well.

Thank you!

[Mountaindewed]

I got a call today saying they have started opening stores again in Europe. Um, ok.

[ARaven0137]

Bring your bodies fair folk and bare your baldrics for the bombastic ballad of Baby Shogun begins.

Once upon a time in the Broken Bakufu (Kingdom of Dysfunction) there dwelt the Baby Shogun. He was vassal to the Red Queen and King Weasel and scratched and clawed, betrayed and backstabbed his path all the way to middle management. He was a man as tiny in stature as he was great in ego and insecurity. With lips firmly attached to the posterior of the Red Queen, he was dragged and carried into nobility where he began his reign of error. When asked to make a decision he would chase his tail for at least half an hour, running round and round, coming to yes then no then yes then no again. The peasants who plead for his decisions became dizzy and fled before his chest pounding and fist pounding and pontificating his greatness as he would become infuriated by the pleas of the lowborn, who would dare to bother him to do his job. He was also known as Sybil of the Multiple Personalities as he could be three or four people in rapid succession. I once watched in horror as he spoke to one of his peasants, saying, "you're working too hard go home and see your family where is that report I want it NOW!" I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see it myself. It's a good thing that such a stable person was in charge of so many people.

Baby Shogun was so very prickly about such silly things. He got his name when he approached my boss and I and butted in rudely. My boss said, "look everyone, it's Baby Shogun" and the name stuck. Watching him bristle helplessly was priceless. Baby Shogun was also a graduate of a public school, which is just fine, but he was so insecure about it he would shake when anyone mentioned that they came from a private school so I made sure to mention that I was a parochial private school girl all the time to him. It was fun to watch him shake and turn red.

Baby Shogun imagined his vassals rebelling at every turn and would lop off heads at the earliest opportunity. The vast majority of these "rebellions" were in his tiny head. But in crushing imaginary rebellions he created real ones. His entire section, save one, gathered in darkness to orchestrate a coup and give him a vote of no confidence to upper management. However, the plot was uncovered because of the one, Wormtongue, who ratted the rebels out to Baby Shogun the weekend before the group would send their plight up the chain. Baby Shogun spent the entire weekend in the office trying to come up with the smallest thing to hang the rebels with. It was Shakespearean. Baby Shogun also had the protection of The Red Queen and the rebellion was crushed in its infancy.

The moral of the story is that Baby Shogun was promoted, but was so stressed over his paranoia that he suffered greatly from shingles and put on a ton of weight. His new name is The Penguin.

And they lived stupidly ever after. The end.

[puzzclar]

Why do I have to go in today?????

[ARaven0137]

Boy, I'm determined to let all of my work madness go. It's rather cathartic to just put it in writing.

Sooooo gentle folk, listen to the long lost lambastic lay of Linus the Minus. In our troubled land of the Kingdom of Dysfunction, Minus was a patron of the proven Peter Principle. He was adequate in his previous job doing admin and pushing paper, making sure that funds and food flowed into the kingdom and that it did so according to banal byzantine bylaws of The Red Queen. He could have been the twin of the Littlefinger of Game of Thrones, a grasping climber, seeking ever higher patents of nobility. Minus and his wife began an exclusive social club in the land, which quickly turned into a soap opera of drama and career ending rumor. However, the debacle allowed him to meet Baby Shogun and Credithog the Younger.

He became fast friends and allies with Baby Shogun and Credithog the Younger, who granted him an audience with The Red Queen. As he bent the knee before the queen he lost his heart...and his soul. He kissed her robes and professed his desire to lead peasants who went out and saved people. He was granted a barony and given a promise of greater power in the kingdom so long as he destroyed that fief so that it could be absorbed into another fief so that another Credithog the Younger might prosper. As luck would have it gentle reader, our Lady Alice here just happened to work in that barony.

Minus rode into his new castle determined to do the will of the queen. He dictated bizarre and counterproductive paperwork and procedures, choking any forward motion in the barony. We would joke that, why do something well once when you can do it five times poorly. He quickly turned the knights of the barony against each other, promising his newfound allies rich rewards that would be pilfered from the defeated. Those of us who stood against The Red Queen knew we were in trouble when Minus began praising the queen with slavish devotion, laughing loudly at her sad jokes and tossing roses in her path. Insurrection and rebellion consumed the land and no one could be trusted. Minus' allies could do no wrong and his detractors could do no right. Skanky Lyn, previously a reject from another section, came to the forefront of Minus' allies and her dagger could be found in the backs of many, including myself. I had mistakenly taken Skank under my wing and mentored her for a year. I could see her turning to the dark side, but there was nothing I could do and so I dove harder into my work. One fine summer day, Minus assigned Skanky Lyn and me the same task. I proceeded with confidence whereupon Skank accused me of stealing her work. I tried to explain, but she would have non of that reality and fled into the chamber of Minus to play kissy face and whisper my name into his ear.

For the next two weeks I would watch Skank scurry into Minus' chambers and close the door. After an hour, she would emerge with an evil smile. Minutes after she left, Minus would berate me for something minor. At the end of the two weeks all of my allies were removed and I was exiled to the Island of Misfit Toys and Skank was awarded my program and all of my projects. With my exile and the exile of the true knights of the barony, the fief collapsed and was absorbed into the holds of Credithog the Younger.

The moral of the story is that when Minus went to collect his debt, The Red Queen told him, "if I do that for you, I'll have to do that for everyone" and Minus was, in turn, exiled into oblivion, never to become an earl. Skanky Lyn burned through a number of the kingdom's husbands and was also exiled when it all blew up in her face. I would be horrified if we were a modern organization, devoted to saving lives, but since we are a dysfunctional kingdom where might makes right, I can accept it.

[bpforever1]

I got a complaint lodged against me but it will work out. Unfortunately, I have to work with this individual student. I did not even had a chance to teach her and she said my introduction was too fast. What? She went straight to the management about me. Whatever!! They were saying,yeah, we are happy to have you on the team but we have to accommodate our customers. Well, that is fine and dandy but why don't you give me a heads up about the personality of the student before you hand them over to me!?? This student is mean as heck. But, so is my mother. Sometimes, you want to escape from your family members and you see them everywhere in life in other people. I will deal with her but she gives me grief. Hopefully, it will work out in the end. But, she did not even give me chance to teach her yet!!! So, I have to be careful about even my introduction. Speak slowly and in rudimentary words for the imbeciles. Sorry, she strikes me as a dummy. But, she probably thinks I am mean although I was trying to be friendly. What a mix up! This East Asian culture is sometimes not my bag of tea. I admit, may be, I drank too much caffeine and was wired but she should give me a chance before she just lodges a complaint to the management. All my other evaluations have been positive. So, this has been an exception. Such is life!!

[Turtle_Rider]

Ugh. We still haven't been paid. It's almost a week late... I really need the money, as this isolation makes some things scarce and inflation.

[downandlonely]

I hope you get paid soon @Turtle_Rider

No word yet on when we will be expected back to the office, but my state is opening up.

[Mountaindewed]

I hope work really does listen to the whole social distance 6 feet apart thing when they do open. We were working in very close quarters before. I wonder if anyone will have the balls to say anything. There’s always the anonymous hotline I could leave a message for.

[bpforever1]

I taught the same student who wrote a long letter about me to management. She seemed more receptive. I believe, I did my best to teach her today. I will wait to see if she fired off another letter complaining about me. What a life!! I am dependent on the reviews of students now!!???? But, such is life. Most of my students are happy. So, I was taken for a surprise from her. But, all is well now and am crossing my fingers that it is.

[Fury]

I haven't been at my job in so long I realized I don't want to go back at all 🤷 I don't hate the job, I love my boss, but I hate working lol

[puzzclar]

Another change in my schedule... Why can't I keep people? Is it me? Or am I taking things personally? I felt helpless. I am sad that it happened and I don't understand the reason. I think it was sure laziness!!

Do I find a different job? Am I happy where I am?

[ARaven0137]

I am almost out of moronic managers.

Call me Ishmael.... (With apologies to Herman Melville) Now me hearties, listen ye to a tale of the sea led by our Captain Ahab. Ahab t'was a young lad who had connections and thus was given ship to lead, our brave ship, the Pequod. Arrrrr, his youth, inexperience, bullheadedness, lack of social skills, inability to listen and misogyny led to his own downfall. Alas, Ahab knew that he was always right and so there was no need to heed anyone beneath him, nay. Ahab had learned it all in eight years of sitting on a desk and so he could lead anyone in any occupation doing any type of mission. Arrrrrr.

To prove his worth, intelligence, knowledge and experience and shove it in the crews' faces he had to destroy his own ship. He immediately went about attacking, persecuting and crushing the most experienced and productive members of the crew. To bolster his strategy he then went about rewarding the laziest and most incompetent members. Oh thou workest 18 hours and makest all of this happen? BAM, seize her! Floggings will commence. Oh, thou sattest and watched TV for 6 hours and then thou wentest home? Award for thee! Promotions all around!

My best friend and matey was the most competent member of the crew, outperforming the entire rest of the scurvey dogs by seven orders of magnitude. I watched her bang out several reports while another friend, who sat next to us, complained that he was tired of surfing the Internet all day and that he was so bored. Another read comics for hours. Another talked to friends all day. Another planned baby showers. After my friend pointed out his unethical behavior for altering reports, every Monday, Ahab would attackest my friend for doing too much and would spend hours inventing accusations. No false accusation was too outrageous. In half a year, the Pequod began to sink and no one was catching any whales. Walk the plank and keelhaul her! "And he piled upon the whale's white hump, the sum of all the rage and hate felt by his whole race. If his chest had been a cannon, he would have shot his heart upon it." Arrrrrrr. Senior people began to retire at an unprecedented rate and transfers out were like rats abandoning a sinking ship. Well, not like, the Pequod was sinking. Still, Ahab persisted in his vendetta, his obsession conquering any chance of success or survival.

As he closed in on my friend amid EEO complaints and the impending destruction of his own ship, he cried out, "...to the last I grapple with thee; from hell's heart I stab at thee; for hate's sake I spit my last breath at thee."

And then, I wentest to the very top to report Ahab's sinking ship along with numerous surviving crew and alas, the Pequod sank along with Foolish Captain Ahab.

Blub blup blup

[bpforever1]

The manager said I would be getting more students and said I need to meet with the head teacher to prepare for getting more students. Well, I was wondering, don't they have more teachers besides me? I like the money but have to consider my mental sanity. I wanted just to work 20 hours a week and am not there yet but am almost there. I can't refuse students though so am in a dilemma of maintaining my sanity and taking on more students. I am flattered that they like me as a teacher. However, I don't feel the need to jam pack my schedule with students to earn more money. I am happy as is, some what. I like money, don't get me wrong, but not at the expense of my mental health. I feel tired these days already. I don't even have that many classes. I feel really exhausted. I am trying to survive but am hoping they hire more teachers, instead of piling the students on me. I try to be professional and nice about everything, no matter what. I just hope they find more decent teachers. I think because I am nice and prompt about everything that they prefer to work with me. I find this touching but want to remain sane. But, such is life!! I just hope I don't sink my boat by having too many students. When I initially started, I did not think my schedule would be too busy. But, they gave me quite a number of classes to teach. Now, they are expecting more out of me. Well, I hope I can survive.

[ARaven0137]

We have come at last to the final fractured fairy tale of the Kingdom of Dysfuntion. Here ye the tale of the masticated mosaic of Micky the Monster, also known as Attila the None, the abuser of women and minorities, also known as Brainless the Bully. Never before have I encountered such a racist and misogynistic leader...wait, I can't say leader with a straight face...manager..nope, can't even use that term without a bitter laugh...idiot in charge of so many.

M&M has physically, mentally and emotionally abused so many women and minorities that he is a one man EEO circus. At least a dozen women and minorities have left the organization due to him. Neither verbal nor written complaints have slowed him down one iota. Why, you ask? Well, gentle reader, when you are best buds with those above you, you can get away with anything. The good ole boy network is strong here. You can be dumb as a bag of rocks. He is. You can be lazy as a sloth. He is. You can be abusive, hostile and harassing and you still get a pat on the back while talent flees the organization. You can make up false allegations against people at will. You can call people liars and tell them to shut up when they try to show you your allegation is false. You can start internal investigations against people and have them blow up in your face when you are proven wrong, but you can keep right on ticking. You can physically assault women and minorities and have it swept under the rug. You can fail repeatedly at your primary job and still get good ratings.

What a great country we live in where someone that awful can be a success. It's like living the dream.

And with that, gentle reader, do I conclude the caustic curiosity of the Kingdom of Dysfunction.

fini

[Have Hope]

I am getting to the point where I care less and less about my work. I have both feet out the door now. I have an interview today and am really praying this works out for me.

[puzzclar]

Call me, help me resolve this. I can't do it on my own!!!

[seesaw]

Originally Posted by puzzclar

Call me, help me resolve this. I can't do it on my own!!!

What's going on?

[puzzclar]

Originally Posted by seesaw

What's going on?

Burnout. And other issues that I can't discuss here. That's why I need my boss to call me.

I'm frustrated with work and there are other issues at work i.e. not doing as told sort of thing, selective listening. And then there is the boot, sui thoughts, increased stress,and the possibility of a death in the family.

Basically sh** hitting the fan

Was I right?

Last week, I did a regular old part of my job. I

(1) reviewed my information (on my own)
(2) realized that something was in need of action
(3) took action
(4) once all was ready I asked my boss if I could do x,
(5) he said, yes,
(6) I executed the plan and completed what was necessary, on my own.

This week, my boss (I don't know why) proceeds to send around an e-mail to my work group -- congratulating us on completing this transaction.

Um, what "us"?

This transaction was 99.9% me. The two other people he was congratulating as "we" failed to even respond to my e-mails and had zero to do with it. I was shocked that he seemed to be spreading credit (honestly for something that wasn't even a big deal) to people that were not in anyway involved. His e-mail started with, "not sure if you noticed but this got completed last week" as if it magically happened. As if the transaction elves made it happen?

I could NOT take that. I sent an e-mail to him that was pretty nice but I had to stick up for myself. I told him that he had previously mentioned he had a hard time keeping track of things from home but from where I sat what was done was 100% done by me.

He responded that he understood that and would be telling another boss. That wasn't my point but to avoid making a larger deal out of it I just kept my mouth shut.

Obviously the tone was that I was raining on his parade.

Got to say I am on my last legs at this point... I have lost all faith in this guy. He does NOT appreciate me in anyway. I don't understand why this keeps happening. Since we have been working from home we have had a few run ins - mostly because he cannot remember who did what, and just hauls off and says something that isn't accurate. (of course, seeming to slight me).

[TerryL]

i work 2 days in the office. others come in as needed. today, besides me, six staff members came to work in the office, five of them did not wear a mask. i have only been working there for six months so i couldn't say anything but it really bothered me. wearing a mask is to protect the people around you. we all feel good but what if there is an asymptomatic carrier? ugh.

[ARaven0137]

Blaaaah, I am going to have to take a work trip next week. Part of it is a good cause. I'll fly some medication somewhere, but then I'll have to stay for a few days. The second phase, bad part of the trip is that it's for Mickey the Monster (previously cited by me here). I swore that I would never put my life on the line for that rancid bag of...goodies. I about hate myself for doing this, but I'm going to be the bigger person and do the job and fly the....stuff he needs flown. Oh, that creep is ten pounds of...sh....sugar stuffed into a five pound bag. I just had to say that.

[Mountaindewed]

With my job not having a date when they are going to open and, this possible second wave, plus personal issues, I’m honestly quitting work until I move next spring. I doubt any employer would really wonder why there’s a gap my employment.