Friday of a Holiday weekend
The weekend actually started on Friday morning. My boss and I had a meeting with the Budget Director and the Chief Information Technology Officer. (1) When we first met with the CITO he mentioned that nothing will change except the functions of the duplication center, shipping and close the stockroom. The stockroom would directly involve me, and I inquired into the reasoning (2), he caught my drift and nervously laughed and said “Don’t worry we’ll find plenty for you to do”.(3)
My boss jumped in before I started jumping ugly (4) and asked if he had seen the stockroom and everything in there. He agreed to make a quick visit and give me a chance to make my case. The visit went well he agreed to my recommendations, but said the stockroom would be a full service institution, and he issued a decree stating I would do ALL ordering. The decree was sent to all managers.
Two weeks ago I received a request for 2 dozen retractable pens, and I followed through with the order. I got two bids, took the lowest and sent it to budget. I heard nothing for two days, I asked the Administrative Assistant if she had heard anything, and she told me that the Budget section went ballistic at not having prior information. The requisition is on hold indefinitely, and she didn’t know why I wasn’t informed (5).
I was horse collared by the budget director in the hallway (6) and we had a brief discussion about accounting procedures, why she was not advised, and she was requesting a meeting with CITO, her boss, my boss and me. She wasn’t happy about the way things are done and in Accountant speak she indicated she didn’t like having a stockroom because the budget dollars are tied up in ASD and direct cost accounting should be used which is something I reminded her I had been asking for using the $10 million accounting system.
I spoke to my boss and we both agreed it is a fait accompli, she gets what she wants, and no one either has the balls to challenge her, they are dazzled by her looks (7), or they don’t have any idea what is going on and it is too small a matter to involve the higher ups.
By now you are saying, get to the meeting. Friday comes and we go and the budget director’s boss is not there, but a thin nervous man is there. I don’t know who he is but I notice the CITO did not sit at the head of the table which is curious since it is his meeting, and his meeting room.
The budget director shows up 10 minutes late, and during that time we chatted a bit and it was evident to me that she had already made her case and we were there as a courtesy. She outlined why she didn’t want me doing the supplies any more using the current cost allocations, why the budget dollars shouldn’t be tied up in ASD with a yearly reconciliation, and why her staff is too busy for more timely accounting entries.
I pointed out why from a economy of scales it is better from a fraud and waste standpoint, and I was interrupted repeatedly, she did apologize for it but she said her case is made and if there any other questions make them now because she has to go. I asked “So what happens to my duties (as if I didn’t know), the CITO laughs again and repeats “Don’t worry there is plenty for you to do” about accountability will reside with the managers, but he started stammering and stuttering rather badly. This is a “tell” that he is hiding something, and deviating from his prepared script.
The Budget Gal reassured me that I am a valuable asset and “You have skills”, I kind of lost my cool and said “that is what I was told when I was exiled to the basement”. No one said anything and she left. After she left I asked the CITO “So all this is about saving her staff work” and the nervous guy went into a soliloquy speaking to no one specifically stuttering so much I have no idea what he said.
My boss and I speak afterwards and we make note of recent decisions. We may lose the gal who does shots with the department secretary and the CITO. She isn’t an asset and will not be missed, the term employee hired to help me has had his duties used to cover the gal who does nothing, but they may not retain him. I’m two years from retirement and they won’t replace me in the stockroom.
There will more deliveries for me, waste and abuse from the Admn Assistants, and new opportunities for me. I’m not going to seek competitive bids anymore since they don’t care, and they don’t know that since I saw it coming I ordered enough for 6 months.
Should be interesting.
(1) We used to be under the Administration Services Division (ASD) until last month, a change that raised a lot of questions since our bureau runs the functional part of the building such as cars, maintenance, mail, and property control.
(2) The stockroom has been a target of closure for many years, other agencies have the individual operating units order their own supplies. There are reasons on either side. I’ve thought its better from a economy of scales to order for everyone and deliver as they use them. When each orders their own there is waste, and it is expensive to order in small quantities.
(3) Now isn’t that a fucked up thing to say to someone. That is a “tell”, a lie of omission. There is a plan and they are not ready to reveal.
(4) In a most polite non threatening way that would not emasculate him
(5) Kind of a retaliation, but Budget is queen of the May and they pretty much do what they want, I’m kind of petty with them and enjoy when they fill miffed.
(6) We used to be really tight years ago, I helped train her, we used to eat out lunch together, and it was initiated by her, because of her looks she was kind of shunned when she first started, and we got to know each other really well. She had a bad break up and was fixed up on a date, a guy she married and she changed everything about her appearance. She went from a very attractive lady, to a well bred society looking lady.
(7) It is a strange thing having good looking ladies for a friend, outsiders inquire if anything is going on, haters as why I’m with a phony, and they find an excuse to say howdy when I’m with her and flirt a bit
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Am I that bad a writer?
A very close friend of mine has a very well written and thought out blog, one of his features is “people I know” and he featured my blog with respect of what it is like to live with a drug addict. He stated that he admires my leaving it all on the table and I should publish a book on the matter. He also cited a problem that I am familiar with. My “stream of consciousness” prose isn’t very user friendly. I tend to write in a blaze of glory, and use spell check only to ensure accuracy, not readability. I have very long sentences and have been chastised since I was 6 that while grammatically correct, it gives the reader an ice cream headache and my pov is lost.
Since I have problems with authority I rebelled, took the criticism as an attack on my beliefs and refused to yield.
I always wanted to be a writer, but since I was far too stubborn, I didn’t learn to work at my craft, my brain worked faster than I could hand write, and since this was before word processors, typing proved to be a impossible chore. I was weak, I gave up before I fired a shot.
As I approach retirement I wished I kept a log of my wars with authority, every slight, every block in my path. It also would have been helpful to have written even a paragraph a day during my 19 year journey with the DA.
So I will start writing about several things on my mind and return to my ‘musings’, and post only the abridged version, and work on the chapters of my masterpiece.
Only a few will read, if I reach the journey by faithful and diligent work, I will be the victor, or at least have a few stories to tell my fellow inmates at the asylum
Since I have problems with authority I rebelled, took the criticism as an attack on my beliefs and refused to yield.
I always wanted to be a writer, but since I was far too stubborn, I didn’t learn to work at my craft, my brain worked faster than I could hand write, and since this was before word processors, typing proved to be a impossible chore. I was weak, I gave up before I fired a shot.
As I approach retirement I wished I kept a log of my wars with authority, every slight, every block in my path. It also would have been helpful to have written even a paragraph a day during my 19 year journey with the DA.
So I will start writing about several things on my mind and return to my ‘musings’, and post only the abridged version, and work on the chapters of my masterpiece.
Only a few will read, if I reach the journey by faithful and diligent work, I will be the victor, or at least have a few stories to tell my fellow inmates at the asylum
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Adventures of the DA
Suicide calls from the DA are much like a falling star, much excitement at first, but after many years of them they can be interesting, they lost their luster.
Yesterday when I went to pick up the DA she said she needed a ride to Crumb ____ the dealer who broke her window , she asked for the money I had for her public defender and bus ride and I declined and told her we have to go. She wasn’t dressed nice but I let it go, as we started she said she had to go to the dealer because she needed a hit before we left. I stopped the car and told her to get out, she started yelling and I got out of the car and screamed “get out of the car I am not taking you to buy crack, I am taking you to court” she refused and I pulled out the money and threw it in the yard, when she went to get it I locked the door and drove off .
She called and told me that she pleaded not guilty, and a court date was set and she faced 90 days. After work she called and said the police gave her a traffic ticket for something and she signed the guilty line and her fine was $57 but she had 30 days and would give me the money to write a check, (I’ll worry about that later).
She didn’t call back, so I called her this morning and she told me that she locked herself out of the house, and went in through the broken window she was supposed to have fixed, furthermore she was surprised she woke up. With a heavy sigh I took the bait and she was depressed she had no smokes, treats for the cat, no money, and no Klonopin. I told her I can help with everything but the cash and then she told me it didn’t matter because she wanted to kill herself, and that she took a bunch of Benadryl last night and was going to take more. She wanted me to mail a letter to her dad, and to take care of the cat, told her I wasn’t going to take any smokes or anything to a dead person and she again reiterated it didn’t matter and to take care of the cat.
I called an hour ago and she didn’t answer, but when she is at wits end and has Benadryl she often takes 5-6 and sleeps it off, and I will try every hour before I go home get the meds she wants (we have the same prescription, but mine is for restless leg syndrome) I suppose you may be wondering why I don’t rush over there but after 20 years, I know it is a ploy for cash, and tonight I dread going over there. My situation eats up every moment. If they had not changed the cat policy I would still be at my old place and when I was there I pretty much ignored her as she didn’t need me then. Her dad would take her 50.00 a day and buy her food with her food stamp card. I was out of the loop except for a request for a hamburger from McDonalds and the change from a Ten.
She answers and sounds morose but would like some cokes along with the other stuff. So I get the cokes, smokes, meds and……
A brief interlude
One banana, two banana, three banana, four
Four bananas make a bunch and so do many more.
Over hill and highway the banana buggies go
Coming on to bring you the Banana Splits show
Making up a mess of fun, Making up a mess of fun
Lots of fun for everyone
Tra la la, la la la la, tra la la, la la la la
Tra la la, la la la la, tra la la, la la la la
Four banana, three banana, two bananas, one
All bananas playing in the bright warm sun,
Flipping like a pancake, popping like a cork,
Fleagle, Bingo, Drooper and, Snork
Making up a mess of fun, Making up a mess of fun
Lots of fun for everyone
Tra la la, la la la la, tra la la, la la la la
Tra la la, la la la la, tra la la, la la la la
(background singer - La-----aaah!)
Two Banana, four banana, one banana, three
Swinging like a bunch of monkeys hanging from a tree
Hey there everybody won't you come along and see
How much like Banana Splits everyone can be
Making up a mess of fun, Making up a mess of fun
Lots of fun for everyone
Tra la la, la la la la, tra la la, la la la la
Tra la la, la la la la, tra la la, la la la la
Tra la la, la la la la, tra la la, la la la la
The DA got jumped, and the gal then jumped her accused her of disrespecting her house, ans she had a ring that left 3 stitches. But she got some Percocet, and that is always a plus.
Later the DA calls and says she almost got arrested because she was on he sidewalk in front of a hotel she has been banned from, she was cuffed and placed in the back of the squad car. They could not find the paperwork, so they let her go.
She praises God for watching over her, and I reminder her that I warned her that even if she stays on the sidewalk, the owner will call the police and she will be arrested. She kept saying “ I was on the sidewalk” and I kept saying “don’t matter” she screamed at me “you don’t care” and reminded she needs $2 and 5 packs of smokes by Tuesday.
Almost funny
Yesterday when I went to pick up the DA she said she needed a ride to Crumb ____ the dealer who broke her window , she asked for the money I had for her public defender and bus ride and I declined and told her we have to go. She wasn’t dressed nice but I let it go, as we started she said she had to go to the dealer because she needed a hit before we left. I stopped the car and told her to get out, she started yelling and I got out of the car and screamed “get out of the car I am not taking you to buy crack, I am taking you to court” she refused and I pulled out the money and threw it in the yard, when she went to get it I locked the door and drove off .
She called and told me that she pleaded not guilty, and a court date was set and she faced 90 days. After work she called and said the police gave her a traffic ticket for something and she signed the guilty line and her fine was $57 but she had 30 days and would give me the money to write a check, (I’ll worry about that later).
She didn’t call back, so I called her this morning and she told me that she locked herself out of the house, and went in through the broken window she was supposed to have fixed, furthermore she was surprised she woke up. With a heavy sigh I took the bait and she was depressed she had no smokes, treats for the cat, no money, and no Klonopin. I told her I can help with everything but the cash and then she told me it didn’t matter because she wanted to kill herself, and that she took a bunch of Benadryl last night and was going to take more. She wanted me to mail a letter to her dad, and to take care of the cat, told her I wasn’t going to take any smokes or anything to a dead person and she again reiterated it didn’t matter and to take care of the cat.
I called an hour ago and she didn’t answer, but when she is at wits end and has Benadryl she often takes 5-6 and sleeps it off, and I will try every hour before I go home get the meds she wants (we have the same prescription, but mine is for restless leg syndrome) I suppose you may be wondering why I don’t rush over there but after 20 years, I know it is a ploy for cash, and tonight I dread going over there. My situation eats up every moment. If they had not changed the cat policy I would still be at my old place and when I was there I pretty much ignored her as she didn’t need me then. Her dad would take her 50.00 a day and buy her food with her food stamp card. I was out of the loop except for a request for a hamburger from McDonalds and the change from a Ten.
She answers and sounds morose but would like some cokes along with the other stuff. So I get the cokes, smokes, meds and……
A brief interlude
One banana, two banana, three banana, four
Four bananas make a bunch and so do many more.
Over hill and highway the banana buggies go
Coming on to bring you the Banana Splits show
Making up a mess of fun, Making up a mess of fun
Lots of fun for everyone
Tra la la, la la la la, tra la la, la la la la
Tra la la, la la la la, tra la la, la la la la
Four banana, three banana, two bananas, one
All bananas playing in the bright warm sun,
Flipping like a pancake, popping like a cork,
Fleagle, Bingo, Drooper and, Snork
Making up a mess of fun, Making up a mess of fun
Lots of fun for everyone
Tra la la, la la la la, tra la la, la la la la
Tra la la, la la la la, tra la la, la la la la
(background singer - La-----aaah!)
Two Banana, four banana, one banana, three
Swinging like a bunch of monkeys hanging from a tree
Hey there everybody won't you come along and see
How much like Banana Splits everyone can be
Making up a mess of fun, Making up a mess of fun
Lots of fun for everyone
Tra la la, la la la la, tra la la, la la la la
Tra la la, la la la la, tra la la, la la la la
Tra la la, la la la la, tra la la, la la la la
The DA got jumped, and the gal then jumped her accused her of disrespecting her house, ans she had a ring that left 3 stitches. But she got some Percocet, and that is always a plus.
Later the DA calls and says she almost got arrested because she was on he sidewalk in front of a hotel she has been banned from, she was cuffed and placed in the back of the squad car. They could not find the paperwork, so they let her go.
She praises God for watching over her, and I reminder her that I warned her that even if she stays on the sidewalk, the owner will call the police and she will be arrested. She kept saying “ I was on the sidewalk” and I kept saying “don’t matter” she screamed at me “you don’t care” and reminded she needs $2 and 5 packs of smokes by Tuesday.
Almost funny
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
letter to the DA
A letter to the DA
The DA may be near the end of the run, she has a court date for panhandling where she was told not to and picked up two more citations for going to the same place, what is unusual, is that none of the tickets were given by a cop, but were mailed. This tells me they are serious on getting her and she has to get a public defender. Her luck will probably get her off completely with probation involving drug testing, or she will get the 18 mos in the pokey
May 11, 2011
Dear DA
It appears that every week I get more concerned over your safety and freedom. Thursday May 5th I bought 92.00 worth of food. 10 Pizzas, 8 yogurts 3 hungry man TV dinners, 2 cases of cokes, crackers, candy, two loaves of bread, some lunchmeat and I can’t remember what else. Monday you said that you were almost out of Pizza and smokes, and while I understand the smokes, I do not understand the lack of food. Last night you called and said you have NO FOOD.
I simply cannot believe that you ate all that food and soda, I don’t know if you trade it directly for crack, or if you take it to a store and get credit you later sell for said crack. I cannot force you to eat and since it was your food stamp card, I suppose I should have no complaint, but I have to cover you for the next 3 ½ weeks, and I cannot afford to provide food and smokes while you piss your life away.
Every time I think you hit a new low you manage to surprise even me. Your call today first asking for 5 bucks and then getting mad at me because I didn’t leave 5 bucks this morning is unacceptable. Your demeaning behavior hurts me a great deal, and it is sucking the life out of me, I have been eating lots of fat and sugar and I am back to 245. I am not blaming you; It is my problem that I choose destructive behavior in response to your behavior.
You expressed surprise when you got another ticket and you are some illusion if you think you will not suffer some punishment, you have been on probation many times and if the judge looks at your record, they may tack on a UA. You have gotten two more criminal trespass tickets and I am really afraid the judge will make an example out of you, you can’t do a year in Jail, and your family might take matters into their own hands. You dad isn’t well enough to go to his Grandson’s graduation should mean something to you (unless he is coming but not telling you so he can relax and not have to deal with you, which should also mean something to you)
I still care for you deeply, and I feel your sense of hopelessness, I see the sadness in your eye when I drop off food or smoke, and you beg for money starting at $5 and going up to $20. I sense the desperation when you demand I drive the 4 miles to drop off $2 for a bus trip we both know is BS. You get really mad like 5 bucks isn’t much but it adds up, last month when you gave me 100 when it was 300 you really put me in a hole. I should have my new glasses now, and my debt to health care paid off. I’m entitled to have a little fun now and then, but I can’t, I can’t really afford it and I’m not in the mood. Fighting with you over money is really stressing me out, it must stress you out, but I promised to help with food and smokes. I’m not responsible for getting you started on Crack, and currently you don’t want to get better, you just want your next fix and you sell the drugs that are supposed to help you for more Crack. I dread tomorrow giving you a ride to court so you can fix the first item, I know you will want money, and I know you will insist I have a fortune and that 20 bucks isn’t that big a deal. IT IS
In the Laundromat Sunday you started crying and holding my hand, I wished I could make the world better, but I can’t take care of myself, and you are spinning out of control. I don’t want you in Jail, but I can’t let you ruin what little dignity I have left. I still care
Love
The fatman
The DA may be near the end of the run, she has a court date for panhandling where she was told not to and picked up two more citations for going to the same place, what is unusual, is that none of the tickets were given by a cop, but were mailed. This tells me they are serious on getting her and she has to get a public defender. Her luck will probably get her off completely with probation involving drug testing, or she will get the 18 mos in the pokey
May 11, 2011
Dear DA
It appears that every week I get more concerned over your safety and freedom. Thursday May 5th I bought 92.00 worth of food. 10 Pizzas, 8 yogurts 3 hungry man TV dinners, 2 cases of cokes, crackers, candy, two loaves of bread, some lunchmeat and I can’t remember what else. Monday you said that you were almost out of Pizza and smokes, and while I understand the smokes, I do not understand the lack of food. Last night you called and said you have NO FOOD.
I simply cannot believe that you ate all that food and soda, I don’t know if you trade it directly for crack, or if you take it to a store and get credit you later sell for said crack. I cannot force you to eat and since it was your food stamp card, I suppose I should have no complaint, but I have to cover you for the next 3 ½ weeks, and I cannot afford to provide food and smokes while you piss your life away.
Every time I think you hit a new low you manage to surprise even me. Your call today first asking for 5 bucks and then getting mad at me because I didn’t leave 5 bucks this morning is unacceptable. Your demeaning behavior hurts me a great deal, and it is sucking the life out of me, I have been eating lots of fat and sugar and I am back to 245. I am not blaming you; It is my problem that I choose destructive behavior in response to your behavior.
You expressed surprise when you got another ticket and you are some illusion if you think you will not suffer some punishment, you have been on probation many times and if the judge looks at your record, they may tack on a UA. You have gotten two more criminal trespass tickets and I am really afraid the judge will make an example out of you, you can’t do a year in Jail, and your family might take matters into their own hands. You dad isn’t well enough to go to his Grandson’s graduation should mean something to you (unless he is coming but not telling you so he can relax and not have to deal with you, which should also mean something to you)
I still care for you deeply, and I feel your sense of hopelessness, I see the sadness in your eye when I drop off food or smoke, and you beg for money starting at $5 and going up to $20. I sense the desperation when you demand I drive the 4 miles to drop off $2 for a bus trip we both know is BS. You get really mad like 5 bucks isn’t much but it adds up, last month when you gave me 100 when it was 300 you really put me in a hole. I should have my new glasses now, and my debt to health care paid off. I’m entitled to have a little fun now and then, but I can’t, I can’t really afford it and I’m not in the mood. Fighting with you over money is really stressing me out, it must stress you out, but I promised to help with food and smokes. I’m not responsible for getting you started on Crack, and currently you don’t want to get better, you just want your next fix and you sell the drugs that are supposed to help you for more Crack. I dread tomorrow giving you a ride to court so you can fix the first item, I know you will want money, and I know you will insist I have a fortune and that 20 bucks isn’t that big a deal. IT IS
In the Laundromat Sunday you started crying and holding my hand, I wished I could make the world better, but I can’t take care of myself, and you are spinning out of control. I don’t want you in Jail, but I can’t let you ruin what little dignity I have left. I still care
Love
The fatman
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