Blog Archives for Overworked and Underpaid

Ya know what I hate?

I mean, do you know what really REALLY gets under my skin?

When I call and leave a message for someone at my doctor’s office to call me back regarding concerns I have about some (possibly serious) side-effects I’m experiencing to some medication I’m on. Now, nobody came near the room all freakin’ day — but the very MINUTE my doctor calls me back, BOTH my boss and the company owner both come in and CAMP OUT!

Granted, I don’t make many personal calls, and I’m very certain that neither man wanted to hear about my symptoms in gory detail, yet it just irks the living shit out of me that I can’t talk to my doctor without someone being up my ass wanting something the moment I get on the phone! Cripes, I haven’t been on the phone all freakin’ day, why do you pick NOW to need something?!!!? And don’t you see I’m on the phone!!?

It’s the little irritations like that that I WON’T MISS … and the total lack of privacy. I don’t give other people shit for taking/making personal calls, and I certainly don’t stand by and listen in (like I’ve caught several doing to me). That’s just RUDE, and quite frankly I don’t WANT to know a whole lot of personal shit about most of the people here.

(Honestly! And some people wonder why I’m leaving.)

Posted by Nicki on December 11th, 2006 at 2:33 pm

The cat’s out of the bag…

I hadn’t said anything because I wasn’t sure how many people knew at work, and didn’t want to blab on the blog, but considering the company owner came to me today to ask about it I might as well share:

I turned in my notice Tuesday evening before leaving work. Monday, I was offered a job with another company, and to be honest there was absolutely no reason NOT to take it. An engineer position — good pay, good benefits, plus I’d be working from home. The only downside I could think of was that I would not be seeing my new projects through … but GOOD PAY, GOOD BENEFITS, … :mrgreen:

When I handed my boss my notice, I knew he wasn’t happy, but he put on a smile and congratulated me anyways. Nobody else has said a word though … not even the “office noseys” … so I don’t know exactly who all knows, but I’m sure it will get around soon.

*breathes a deep sigh of relief*

I GOT A NEW JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hehehe

Time to celebrate!

Posted by Nicki on December 7th, 2006 at 8:06 pm

How was your Thanksgiving?

I guess I can’t complain too much. It went better than I expected, but not as well as I’d hoped — if that says anything.

I had been stressing all week over various things. We had no idea until the day before as to whether or not we were going to have Jessie. I really feel for her during the Holidays because we have to “share” our time with her with her mother. Luckily, Jim’s ex decided to have her Thanksgiving with Jessie on Wednesday. She told me it was so we could have her the next day, but I think it’s because she had to work that night. :???: But hey, I’ll take what I can get.

Mom called me Wednesday morning and asked if Jim’s mother was coming with us again this year. I didn’t know because we hadn’t finalized plans with her — we saw no point until we knew for certain where we were going and with/for whom. She then asked me not to invite her. I think my jaw hit the phone … there was honestly no answer I had for that. When I didn’t say anything, she said “Ok?” I asked if there was a particular reason she didn’t want her there, and she replies that it wasn’t that she wasn’t wanted, but with her (Mother) trying to get things patched up between me and Dad, that it would be “less stressful” with Jim’s mother there. I mumbled something and hung up the phone. Honestly I was burning with anger. I was trying to get ready for work, was in the middle of a shower when she had called, and was trying like mad not to “lose it.” I called her back and asked whose idea it was not to invite her and to make a long conversation short, they (assuming both Mom and Dad, but I feel it was mostly Mom) felt things would go smoother if it was just us (me and Jim) there if there was to be any talking.

(Not that Dad did much talking, but I’ll get to that…)

Work Wednesday was a bit stressed … there’s been some unsettling things come up, but unfortunately I dare not go into them here or now for obvious reasons. I will say this much: there is a meeting next week that will determine how much longer I will be working for this company.

We left work early and came home Wednesday. Thanksgiving morning we got up and got dressed to head to my grandmother’s house. Unfortunately we were later than I would have liked, and were the last ones there … which disappointed me because I had wanted to get to speak to my grandmother before the others arrived.

At least the drive down was nice. My parents had moved from their old house (where I grew up) to a nice place in Morris. (I went out to see Mom a couple of weeks ago at the new place, did I mention that?) The new place is really neat, but the drive isn’t near as nice as the one to Corner. Corner is “God’s Country” — it’s all rural and farmland, lots of trees and wildlife. In the spring and fall it’s absolutely the most gorgeous place on earth. We enjoyed the trip down and back to my grandmother’s … Jessie pointed out just about every cow and horse that we passed. hehehe :lol:

I took pictures of my wedding gown and rings with me, so all the family oooh’d and aaaah’d over them and asked me all about our wedding plans. I finally got to meet my brother’s fiancee — very sweet girl, I like her a lot. What’s she see in him? :)

Jessie pouted a bit because she was expecting there to be kids there to play with — I think she had this place mixed up with my other grandmother, who lives next to a couple of my cousins and their kids are near Jessie’s age. Poor kid, she was looking forward to playmates … but I think overall she had a good time regardless. She “found” all of my grandmother’s cats and transported them across her yard. (much to their chagrin, I’m sure! lol) She also played football with a couple of my older cousins, so she had a blast doing that. I tell ya, that kid has a GOOD ARM!

Dad spoke to me for a short bit, so that was good, but it was mostly little chit chat. I showed him pictures of my dress and wedding rings. He asked how things were going, but that’s about it. No in-dept discussions or anything … but then again, I knew better than to hope for a miracle.

My aunt and grandmother kept telling me how happy they were for me and how proud they were. I kept thinking of my grandfather and how I wished that he could’ve been there. He and Jim would’ve gotten along great, and Jessie would have absolutely adored him … I know I did.

We ate a lot of good food (fried turkey, YUM!) and sat around and talked and had a good time. Friday morning Jim left for Best Buy (at 5 am!!) for some “Santa” shopping. Jessie and I got up around 6:15 and left with Mom and my brother to head to the Galleria. Gawd, that place was a mad house! It took about an hour to get parked, but once we were inside the mall, it wasn’t so bad. Jessie had a good time, and her behavior was MUCH better than last year’s trip! (much to my relief I assure you!)

She gave me several hints as to what she wanted for Christmas that weren’t on her Santa list, so I’ll be making a few calls this week to try to find a few things that she had wanted. Jim was a trooper and picked up most of her Christmas while he was out, and I’ll handle the little things and her stocking stuffers.

One of the things she wanted is a kitty from the Build-a-Bear Workshop, so I need to check into those and see about getting her a certificate. If they’re not too much (and I don’t think they are), that will be her gift from me, and she can get it made on one of my/Jim’s many trips to the mall. :)

I was pretty lazy this weekend (other than a cleaning spree yesterday). I spent most of Saturday watching football and cleaning up my website. Last night I sat down and finally finished the holiday theme for my site — I’ll turn it on Friday. I couldn’t bring myself to do it last night … after all, this theme is still new! :mrgreen:

Posted by Nicki on November 27th, 2006 at 5:05 pm

It’s an overcast kind of day…

It’s rainy. It’s cold. It’s “blah” weather.

My day started out ok … Jessie was a bit argumentative this morning. Actually, she has been a lot lately, and I know it will only get worse the closer she gets to her teens.

We were nearly 30 minutes late to work this morning due to the traffic. I swear, the people here totally forget how to drive when it rains. *rolls eyes* Even worse, I’d say a good quarter of the numbnuts I passed on the road didn’t have their lights on, and as dark/foggy as it was this morning, you can’t see SHIT until you’re right up on it!

Got to work and I had already had 3 calls, people wanting me to fix their screwups.

Oh joy. :???:

Jim has a doctor’s appointment first thing in the morning, plus we have new clients in town this week and training is tomorrow — so that means that we don’t be able to go to the mc chris show tonight.

ARGH! *pout* *sobs* *throws a tantrum*

I should have stayed in bed today. :(

And I knew it too, as soon as I saw that my extension was denied again. I posted a complaint to the umo-reviewer mailing list after posting a note and resubmitting my updated extension.

I know I sound like I’m being a whiny little bitch but that really pisses me off and has been one of the burrs in my fur this morning/today.

PLUS I’ve called several times and left messages for the lady who handles the booking for the Gardens. I’ve been trying to get the date and time finalized for the wedding. I finally heard back from the reception place today, but the downside is that if we LAN like Jim wants to do, we more than likely won’t be able to have any alcohol.

Work is putting more pressure on us to get the new system going, but I can’t do that unless I have all of my other webshit done, so it’s been an endless vicious cycle, and I swear to God they don’t pay me enough to endure this shit!

AND I’M OUT OF CHOCOLATE!

*pout*

Can I go home now?

Posted by Nicki on November 15th, 2006 at 1:22 pm

Getting to know you …

I totally blame Teresa for this. *grins*

1. What is your occupation? Web Developer.

2. What color are your socks right now? White.

3. What are you listening to right now? talk radio (via internet).

4. What was the last thing that you ate? Popeye’s creamed potatoes & gravy.

5. Can you drive a stick shift? Nope.

6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Chartreuse.

7. Last person you spoke to on the phone? A client.

8. Do you like the person who sent this to you? Yes, she’s cool. :)

9. How old are you today? Didn’t your mamma ever teach you that it’s rude to ask a lady’s age?

10. Favorite drink? Sour Apple Martini.

11. What is your favorite sport to watch? College football (Roll Tide!!!)

12. Have you ever dyed your hair? Every chance I get. :mrgreen:

13. Pets? cat (Psycho Kitty!)

14. Favorite food? biscuits and gravy, macaroni and cheese, tom kha (thai coconut soup), potatoes (cooked in ANY way!)

15. What was the last movie you watched? Aeon Flux.

16. Favorite holiday? Halloween.

17. What do you do to vent anger? I crank up a mix of some Lordi, Obliviaxe, Pantera, and Killswitch Engage, and play UT.

18. What were your favorite toys as a kid? Barbie, Playdough.

19. What is your favorite season? Spring/Summer.

20. Hugs or kisses? Depends on who’s giving. (Actually, I’m not trying to be funny, I’m just really ‘weird’ about being touched, so it’s usually only by who I trust and/or what I can tolerate at that moment.)

21. Cherry or Blueberry? Blueberry.

22. Do you want your friends to email you back? No, I’d prefer telepathic communications. ;)

23. Who is most likely to respond? Mara, Jeff, or Ben.

24. Who is least likely to respond? You. ;)

25. Where do you live? Birmingham, AL

*pokes Google Earth in the eye — Get out of my backyard, you fruitcake!*

26. When was the last time you cried? Last night … wedding and personal bullshit (don’t ask).

27. What is on the floor of your closet? Probably my cat — she likes to hide/sleep in there.

28. Who is the friend you have had the longest that you are sending this? My wonderful website visitors. :D

29. What did you do last night? Bitched and moaned to a friend. :) Then fell asleep watching the movie.

30. What’s your favorite smell? Lavender.

Posted by Nicki on October 26th, 2006 at 4:12 pm