I think every workplace has one. The employee who is such a poor fit for the position, you just have to shrug and fix their mistakes, because that's all you really can do. I use to work with a woman like that...her name was Lana. I won't get into all the easy tasks she couldn't perform, but I would like to share with you a particularly embassassing moment.
One day, I was at work when the urge to visit the "little boys room" hit me. So, I grabbed a magazine and headed down to snuggle up for a spell. Back in the office, the phone rang.
Lana answered it. Of course, since she was incapable of doing even the mundane tasks, she needed to seek help for the call. Even though there were others in the room, she felt I needed to answer the question.
"Where's Tony?" she asked? The other workers finally concluded that I was in the restroom, you know, resting. Another worker said, in a joking manner,
"You should just go to the restroom and yell in for him."
And off she went...heading for the restroom. I was finished "resting" and I was at the sink preparing to wash my hands when I heard a voice from the outside.
"Tony? Tony?" I couldn't ignore it, because there were other guys in the restroom who knew me, and knew the call was for me. You have got to be kidding me? I'm in the restroom here!!
At that point, what do you do? I was mid wash, I couldn't walk out and talk to her, I couldn't ignore her, or God only knows what she would have done...so, I yelled back.
"Yeah?"
"Can you come out here for a minute?"
WHAT?!? She has no idea if I'm washing my hands, finishing a number one, or consoling a number 2...and she has the nerve to ask me if I would come out there?
"Could you wait a minute, I'm kinda busy here." I yelled back as the guys around me shot weird looks in my direction. I slowly finished my hand washing...mainly so I could cool off before going out to face this odd situation.
When I finished, I had hoped that she would be gone...but no, she was standing right by the door. She asked me the question as I gave her the "what-the-hell-are-you-doing-standing-outside-the-men's-room-you-moron" look (what, you don't know that look? It's never happened to you? Will wonders ever cease!!)
The question amounted to something that anyone who was there for even a day could have answered, and at that point she had been there over two years...I was super pissed that she couldn't ask anyone else, or at least wait for me to come back to the office.
I fixed the "problem" and had a talk with the boss about keeping Tweedle Dumb out of the Men's room. From that day forward, I never returned to that restroom, choosing instead for the quiet serenity of the second floor facilities, which were free from distractions.
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
The Reunion
On Monday, March 28, 2005, my Grandma will turn a very spry 83 years young. It seems this year, however, her birthday present came a bit early.
This past Saturday, March 19th, I got a call from my grandma. She asked me if I wanted to come over and meet somebody. I couldn't imagine who, until she told me the story.
Grandma explained that she had gotten a phone call from a guy whose voice didn't seem familiar. He asked a few simple questions...was your maiden name Braun, was your husband's name Laurence?
Yes.
Yes.
Then the line was silent. After a few seconds of silence, grandma heard crying over the phone. The man on the other end said he couldn't believe he had finally found her.
The man was grandma's 76 year-old younger brother.
They hadn't been in contact in 50 years.
50 YEARS!!
He asked if he could come and see her. Of course, she quickly said yes. She assumed her brother was deceased since they hadn't been in contact. But now she knew he was alive, and he was coming to see her.
.....................
"So," Grandma asked me "do you think you could stop by and see him?" Grandma doesn't ask for much, and she really didn't have to ask me to come and see him, I wanted to. For her, for him, for myself AND for the whole family. She went on to conclude that he was asleep, and she wasn't going to tell him anyone was coming, so he would be surprised.
"I'll be there." I replied.
Sunday at 1 pm, I finally meet Grandma's long lost brother. Before I met him, I wondered if it was really her brother, or just someone who was scamming her, or was mistaken. Those thoughts quickly faded when I saw him. There was no doubt he and grandma were related, as they looked strikingly similar.
Almost the whole family was there. All of grandma's kids (except my Aunt Mary Ann, whom we missed very much...wish you could have made it!!), a lot of the grand kids, and some great-grand kids all made appearances while Grandma's brother just sat, teary eyed, holding his face and repeating "I can't believe I'm sitting here, I can't believe this!"
All I could do was smile.
It's really hard to believe that in a family that is as close as ours, there would come such a reunion. But, in true Gillespie fashion, we made it a great one. I hope he knows how much we love grandma...and how, even though most of us had never met him until Saturday, how much we love him, too. He's a part of this family...and what a fine family it is.
This past Saturday, March 19th, I got a call from my grandma. She asked me if I wanted to come over and meet somebody. I couldn't imagine who, until she told me the story.
Grandma explained that she had gotten a phone call from a guy whose voice didn't seem familiar. He asked a few simple questions...was your maiden name Braun, was your husband's name Laurence?
Yes.
Yes.
Then the line was silent. After a few seconds of silence, grandma heard crying over the phone. The man on the other end said he couldn't believe he had finally found her.
The man was grandma's 76 year-old younger brother.
They hadn't been in contact in 50 years.
50 YEARS!!
He asked if he could come and see her. Of course, she quickly said yes. She assumed her brother was deceased since they hadn't been in contact. But now she knew he was alive, and he was coming to see her.
.....................
"So," Grandma asked me "do you think you could stop by and see him?" Grandma doesn't ask for much, and she really didn't have to ask me to come and see him, I wanted to. For her, for him, for myself AND for the whole family. She went on to conclude that he was asleep, and she wasn't going to tell him anyone was coming, so he would be surprised.
"I'll be there." I replied.
Sunday at 1 pm, I finally meet Grandma's long lost brother. Before I met him, I wondered if it was really her brother, or just someone who was scamming her, or was mistaken. Those thoughts quickly faded when I saw him. There was no doubt he and grandma were related, as they looked strikingly similar.
Almost the whole family was there. All of grandma's kids (except my Aunt Mary Ann, whom we missed very much...wish you could have made it!!), a lot of the grand kids, and some great-grand kids all made appearances while Grandma's brother just sat, teary eyed, holding his face and repeating "I can't believe I'm sitting here, I can't believe this!"
All I could do was smile.
It's really hard to believe that in a family that is as close as ours, there would come such a reunion. But, in true Gillespie fashion, we made it a great one. I hope he knows how much we love grandma...and how, even though most of us had never met him until Saturday, how much we love him, too. He's a part of this family...and what a fine family it is.
Thursday, March 17, 2005
St Patrick's Day
Top of the mornin' to ya! Erin Go Braugh! These Irish Eyes are Smilin'!!
Ok, so it's St Patrick's Day, which is, I confess, my favorite holiday of the year. I know what you are thinking..."It's because you can drink a lot..."
No, I actually have never had a green beer. And I'm not a drinker, so that's not it. The reason is actually two fold.
Fold #1: My ancestors were Irish. Like my great-great or great-great-great grandmother was of Irish decent.
Fold #2: The other holidays are so commerciallized, the meaning is lost.
So, for all you Irish men and women...and all you Irish want-to-bes, tip your green brew, and slam one back. Ireland, this one's for you!!
Monday, March 14, 2005
A Star Is Born
I'm a big music fan. Love The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, etc, etc, etc. however, I'm not a big Country music fan. I really don't know why, because there are some really good country tunes out there, and a lot of the people I like have been linked to some form of Country in the past...like Bob Dylan (Nashville Skyline) or Roy Orbison.
Last Saturday, however, I enjoyed two hours of country music by a wonderfully talented up and comer named Judy Sutton. I bet a lot of you have heard of her...probably because she's my Aunt and a lot of people who read this blog are related to her in some fashion.
She really is an amazing singer in the vein of Patsy Cline, or...ok, coming up with any Country artist was a stretch, but she sang 3 Patsy Cline songs, and totally torn them up, so I will go with that.
Aunt Judy just signed a record contract with True Country Records
www.dmirecords.com
Check out the link so you can read all about her, buy her single "There's Not a Wrong Way (For You to Love Me Right)", sign her message board, and check her progress.
Also, I highly encourage you to hear her song, which has reached #1 on the Country and General Country Independant Charts, at
http://www.soundclick.com/pro/?BandID=301369
Any one who likes country music, or ME should go and support my wonderfully talented Aunt!! I hope to have a link to her up on my sight soon, if Becky can figure out how to do that (she's so smart, I figure she will have no problem!!)
Last Saturday, however, I enjoyed two hours of country music by a wonderfully talented up and comer named Judy Sutton. I bet a lot of you have heard of her...probably because she's my Aunt and a lot of people who read this blog are related to her in some fashion.
She really is an amazing singer in the vein of Patsy Cline, or...ok, coming up with any Country artist was a stretch, but she sang 3 Patsy Cline songs, and totally torn them up, so I will go with that.
Aunt Judy just signed a record contract with True Country Records
www.dmirecords.com
Check out the link so you can read all about her, buy her single "There's Not a Wrong Way (For You to Love Me Right)", sign her message board, and check her progress.
Also, I highly encourage you to hear her song, which has reached #1 on the Country and General Country Independant Charts, at
http://www.soundclick.com/pro/?BandID=301369
Any one who likes country music, or ME should go and support my wonderfully talented Aunt!! I hope to have a link to her up on my sight soon, if Becky can figure out how to do that (she's so smart, I figure she will have no problem!!)
Thursday, March 03, 2005
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