The Vent and Rant Thread

[lilac_jive]

Oh man I had a rough 24 hours. Last night when I came home from work my smoke detectors (120v interconnected) kept sporadically going off. I called an electrician friend of mine (who is also a coworker) and he changed all the batteries, and it stopped. I completely forgot to eat dinner while I was freaking out and on top of it I had about 6 malt liquor drink things (we started talking about work til about midnight). So my stomach kept me up until about 2am. THEN at 5am, I get up to go to the bathroom, and yep, the alarms went off again.

Then when I woke up at 7 my cleaning lady came over (as I'm running late and trying to get out the door), and a minute after she walks in the alarms go off AGAIN. I'm talking to her and I hear another weird noise. It's my poor kitten making the saddest noises I've ever heard her make. She was clearly terrified of the noise, so I had my mom pick her up and take her to my house since I was going to work, and had the cleaning lady remove the possibly offending detector (you can't tell which one is the problem unless you look at it while it is going off - they all go off at the same time and they'd shut off so quickly I had to guess). So far no peeps from the alarm since *crosses fingers*

But, my poor kitten did not take very well visiting her grandmother. We put her in my sister's room, who she's very comfortable with, but she just hid under the covers all day. I left work early to pick her up, because sadly this was stressing me out all day. I picked her up and she looked so sad But now she's home and seems to be very happy about it.

Now I need a nap!

[Greg Anos]

I just worked 8AM monday to 3Am this morning, straight. The joys of being a programmer.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by Ralph Sir Edward

I just worked 8AM monday to 3Am this morning, straight. The joys of being a programmer.

Ah yes, the joys of being employed in Amerika!

[nomesque]

Tom - hope the ribs heal up soon *wince* Great story, though!

Lilac - GAH, misfiring smoke alarms!!! We've had that happen during temperature changes - ie, 4am on a winter morning, when it's starting to get a little warmer than absolutely f-f-freezing. Glad to hear your kitty's feeling better.

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by kennyc

I'd offer hugsies, but it would probably make it worse!

Oh, yeah!

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

I too am allergic to the little b*****ds - when doing yard work I always carry a can of that spray that shoots killer foam 25' and guarantees instant knock-down! Had to get rid of 2 nests on my front porch last month - they're quite aggressive about your just walking by.

Tom - hope it's not a rib - do you have an Ace bandage? Sometimes pressure can make it feel better! Ice down the stings first!

I've had this happen a couple of times before. The first time it was when I was lying on my mom's floor in the 70s and my niece (1 year younger than me) wanted to see if she could balance on my stomach. It went well until suddenly I had a sharp pain and instinctively rolled over sending her tumbling to the ground. I don't recall if x-rays were taken, but the doctor said whether it was a cracked rib or a torn ligament, the treatment was the same. A tight ace bandage until it healed.

The second time was when I was playing around at work and jumped a 6' 3" 300 lb. mountain of ex-marine. As soon as I did, I felt that same pain. I didn't tell him, though, because although he wasn't a bad sort, I knew him to have a hint of mean streak, and I didn't want him to press the advantage. That was in the early 80s, and this time the doctor said that they'd found that the ace bandage didn't really help. Time and taking it easy were the only cure.

This time I didn't even bother with a doctor.

Dogs
Here's the difference between the late, great Cain dog and Norton. Cain would have sensed my pain and sympathized, even at three years old. Norton is like a typical three year old boy. His powers of empathy are virtually non-existent. He doesn't seem to realize I'm in pain at all, and could only think of going in the pool. I told him there would be no pool today, but he was so insistent that I finally yielded and went out with him. Kinda' glad I did, because the sense of weightlessness (except for those few seconds when I tried to float on my back) made me feel better than I have all day.

It doesn't hurt to sit, and once up, it doesn't hurt to stand, but lying down is a beach except for one particular position of my left side. I tried sleeping in a chair, but that didn't work at all. I don't want to report it at work, because they'd probably put me on light duty and pull me off the graveyard shift, so I hope things aren't too rough for the next 3-4 weeks.

It's no biggie. There are worse things in life.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

I've had this happen a couple of times before. The first time it was when I was lying on my mom's floor in the 70s and my niece (1 year younger than me) wanted to see if she could balance on my stomach. It went well until suddenly I had a sharp pain and instinctively rolled over sending her tumbling to the ground. I don't recall if x-rays were taken, but the doctor said whether it was a cracked rib or a torn ligament, the treatment was the same. A tight ace bandage until it healed.

The second time was when I was playing around at work and jumped a 6' 3" 300 lb. mountain of ex-marine. As soon as I did, I felt that same pain. I didn't tell him, though, because although he wasn't a bad sort, I knew him to have a hint of mean streak, and I didn't want him to press the advantage. That was in the early 80s, and this time the doctor said that they'd found that the ace bandage didn't really help. Time and taking it easy were the only cure.

This time I didn't even bother with a doctor.
....

See how things get simpler as you get older!

[nomesque]

If one more effing American effing tells me that Smashwords is effing dead because he can effing submit an effing ebook direct to any effing ebook store he effing likes, I may effing explode. Effing America-centric people!!! Whole effing world out here that isn't effing America!!! No, effing really! *grumpy face*

[poohbear_nc]

Originally Posted by nomesque

If one more effing American effing tells me that Smashwords is effing dead because he can effing submit an effing ebook direct to any effing ebook store he effing likes, I may effing explode. Effing America-centric people!!! Whole effing world out here that isn't effing America!!! No, effing really! *grumpy face*

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by kennyc

See how things get simpler as you get older!

[recluse]

Ray Milland.

[phenomshel]

My bosses just got an object lesson in what happens if you insist your people do things without thinking of the consequences. The store was very busy last night. I came in and the girl working service desk was upset because she'd been swamped, there had been no one available to send out to get carts, and it was about to rain (and it was predicted that the rain was going to last the rest of the night). Being the nice person I am, I volunteered. By the time I was able to get free from a register and go, most of the carts were outside, and it was raining steadily. I donned a plastic rain poncho and took off. After getting about 80% of them in, I was soaked through to the knees, and very hot. I came in, got back on a register without getting a drink or anything, because we were swamped again. About half an hour later, they sent me on break. I took two sips of diet Dr Pepper, ate a few chips, and visited the facilities. About the time I got back up front, I started feeling really, really bad. Dizzy, clammy, lightheaded. Told the Service Desk girl I needed to sit down, and the next thing I know, I'm on the floor and they've called an ambulance. Diagnosis? Dehydration and heat exhaustion from getting carts with a plastic poncho on that kept my body from doing what it is designed to do, ie: sweat evaporating to cool you off. Also not being allowed to have water or anything to drink available up front.
After an (expensive) ride the ER, where they tried (and failed, twice) to start an IV to get some liquid in me, the ER nurses agreed with my diagnosis and sent me home with orders to drink water and sports drinks until I felt like I was going to float away.
Today I had to go in to fill out an "accident" report, and go have a drug test. I talked to the assistant manager and pointed out that it might be a good idea to allow us to have drinks (with lids!) at our registers. She agreed, but told me she has to go through about six levels of higher management to get that to happen. Argh.

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by recluse

Ray Milland.

You have a vent about the man with the x-ray eyes, or are saying I should seek someone with the same talent?

[poohbear_nc]

Originally Posted by phenomshel

My bosses just got an object lesson in what happens if you insist your people do things without thinking of the consequences. The store was very busy last night. I came in and the girl working service desk was upset because she'd been swamped, there had been no one available to send out to get carts, and it was about to rain (and it was predicted that the rain was going to last the rest of the night). Being the nice person I am, I volunteered. By the time I was able to get free from a register and go, most of the carts were outside, and it was raining steadily. I donned a plastic rain poncho and took off. After getting about 80% of them in, I was soaked through to the knees, and very hot. I came in, got back on a register without getting a drink or anything, because we were swamped again. About half an hour later, they sent me on break. I took two sips of diet Dr Pepper, ate a few chips, and visited the facilities. About the time I got back up front, I started feeling really, really bad. Dizzy, clammy, lightheaded. Told the Service Desk girl I needed to sit down, and the next thing I know, I'm on the floor and they've called an ambulance. Diagnosis? Dehydration and heat exhaustion from getting carts with a plastic poncho on that kept my body from doing what it is designed to do, ie: sweat evaporating to cool you off. Also not being allowed to have water or anything to drink available up front.
After an (expensive) ride the ER, where they tried (and failed, twice) to start an IV to get some liquid in me, the ER nurses agreed with my diagnosis and sent me home with orders to drink water and sports drinks until I felt like I was going to float away.
Today I had to go in to fill out an "accident" report, and go have a drug test. I talked to the assistant manager and pointed out that it might be a good idea to allow us to have drinks (with lids!) at our registers. She agreed, but told me she has to go through about six levels of higher management to get that to happen. Argh.

I feel your pain on the issue of what is allowed/not allowed at a front counter in public view. I worked many years at a reference desk in a library where we were supposed to project a professional image. One day I had a horrible sore dry throat and started chewing Aspergum (discreetly - mouth closed) so I could stay on the desk - other than the throat I was OK. But the head librarian stormed out and ordered me to spit out the chewing gum and berated me for gum chewing on duty. When I showed her the Aspergum package and explained she sent me home and was short-handed rather than let me stay discreetly munching.

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by phenomshel

My bosses just got an object lesson in what happens if you insist your people do things without thinking of the consequences. The store was very busy last night. I came in and the girl working service desk was upset because she'd been swamped, there had been no one available to send out to get carts, and it was about to rain (and it was predicted that the rain was going to last the rest of the night). Being the nice person I am, I volunteered. By the time I was able to get free from a register and go, most of the carts were outside, and it was raining steadily. I donned a plastic rain poncho and took off. After getting about 80% of them in, I was soaked through to the knees, and very hot. I came in, got back on a register without getting a drink or anything, because we were swamped again. About half an hour later, they sent me on break. I took two sips of diet Dr Pepper, ate a few chips, and visited the facilities. About the time I got back up front, I started feeling really, really bad. Dizzy, clammy, lightheaded. Told the Service Desk girl I needed to sit down, and the next thing I know, I'm on the floor and they've called an ambulance. Diagnosis? Dehydration and heat exhaustion from getting carts with a plastic poncho on that kept my body from doing what it is designed to do, ie: sweat evaporating to cool you off. Also not being allowed to have water or anything to drink available up front.
After an (expensive) ride the ER, where they tried (and failed, twice) to start an IV to get some liquid in me, the ER nurses agreed with my diagnosis and sent me home with orders to drink water and sports drinks until I felt like I was going to float away.
Today I had to go in to fill out an "accident" report, and go have a drug test. I talked to the assistant manager and pointed out that it might be a good idea to allow us to have drinks (with lids!) at our registers. She agreed, but told me she has to go through about six levels of higher management to get that to happen. Argh.

Lawsuit! Sometimes it's the only language the higher-ups understand!

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

I feel your pain on the issue of what is allowed/not allowed at a front counter in public view. I worked many years at a reference desk in a library where we were supposed to project a professional image. One day I had a horrible sore dry throat and started chewing Aspergum (discreetly - mouth closed) so I could stay on the desk - other than the throat I was OK. But the head librarian stormed out and ordered me to spit out the chewing gum and berated me for gum chewing on duty. When I showed her the Aspergum package and explained she sent me home and was short-handed rather than let me stay discreetly munching.

Makes you wonder where she got the title "Head" Librarian. She certainly wasn't using hers.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by phenomshel

My bosses just got an object lesson in what happens if you insist your people do things without thinking of the consequences. ... She agreed, but told me she has to go through about six levels of higher management to get that to happen. Argh.

OMG! I hope you are better/okay. Stupid unthinking rules!