Wednesday, 21 July 2004 - 2:04 PM PDT

Hej!

I made one mistake in my youth - I went to music school instead of finding myself a "real" vocation/trade. (I blame all my problems on Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, and Mozart.) I went to college to become a pianist/piano teacher, figuring I could teach in the public schools. How many music teachers does a school system need? Where I live, one teacher for the whole District, serving about ten schools. Music was NOT a wise career choice.

I've done every job under the sun for anyone who would hire a piano major. Since I can type, this usually ends up in the arena of data entry, personal assistant, secretary, executive secretary, bookkeeper, etc. ad infinitum, ad nauseam. I worked as a waitress too many times to count when I was younger - and actually, I should have stayed there - waitresses get paid more than executive secretaries in this state. I've even delivered mail. Pathetic, ja?

I did get a job offer from my nephew to be the keyboardist in his rock band (he's a drummer). He said they cannot find a keyboardist anywhere; nobody plays the piano anymore (NO SHIT!). He (innocently) said it would be okay because they could put a hat and sunglasses on me and no one would ever know that I was old. I accepted the position on the spot, but haven't gotten a call from him yet. Maybe the others in his band weren't ready to have someone their Mama's age on Keyboard.

Any openings available at The Nut House?
I.

Wednesday, 21 July 2004 - 3:28 PM PDT

Sorry! I didn't finish above. It got to be quitting time, and if I stayed around, they'd come to check what I was doing (which, by the way, thank you, Chinq and friends, for making my life so much more interesting at work! I'm sure I bitch and complain a lot less. They must wonder what's going on!). If I stayed after 5:00, they would also have no qualms about giving me things to do, and this place does not pay overtime (if I ain't smart enough to get up and leave, it's my own fault).

And I was only kidding about any openings at The Nut House - I don't want you to think that I was soliciting a job; I'm really not (besides, California gridlock would drive me up a wall!).

Anyway, to continue: I, too, have seen commercials and articles about "Back to the Floor" which you were talking about, but I don't think the CEOs work these jobs long enough. They should have to do these jobs for a decent period of time - like a month! That would let them know what life on the job was REALLY like. I also think I have it one heck of a lot easier than those poor stewards/stewardesses on the cruise ships! Can you imagine having to pay $800 month to have someone help you do your job? (especially at that $45 a month rate!). That's really scary! I wonder if any CEOs have actually done anything to improve their employees' situations after doing their jobs on the show or after seeing the show (television - a medium for social change! I knew it all along!).

Chinq, come to think of it, I think YOU are a medium for social change!

It's my own fault that I'm in the predicament I'm in - I picked a lousy major, I got married, I followed my husband in his jobs instead of finding my own way and furthering my own education. It's my fault and the real estate boom's fault (for pricing me out of my own neighborhood). I COULD continue to work my three jobs if I wanted to (Job #1 - secretary/bookkeeper, Job #2 - executive secretary, and Job #3 - personal assistant) in order to pay for my house and expenses (which house is way too big for just me, by the way), but I'm tired. I'm in my 40s, I've been doing these 75-hour weeks for 13 years, and I just don't want to do it anymore. I absolutely should NOT be complaining at all. I have it easy, and I know it. I can sell my house for a profit and move to an area where houses are priced lower. I feel for the people who do not have such an option - people whose pay scale doesn't even allow them the Great American Dream of owning a house. But, I do agree with you, it would be very nice if people who could afford to do so paid their employees a decent wage instead of trying to see how little they can get away with. I know that if I ever made it "big," the first thing I would do would be to find some not-so-fortunate people so I could hand them a nice, big wad of money (kind of like the old "Millionaire" show, remember?). I think that that would be some real fun!

Later!
I.

Wednesday, 21 July 2004 - 6:57 PM PDT

I,

I feel your pain, really, I'm feeling it right now. I'm going to walk down the street and but me a lottery ticket.

It's funny you should mention the old Millionare show. I was wondering the other day why they haven't revamped it into a reality show.

I'll say this, I've only worked 2 jobs at the same time twice in my life. I lose too much weight doing that. Of course at the time, both jobs(all 4 jobs) involved standing most of the time. I don't have the stamina I had in my 20s... who does?

By the way, Mr. Carnival Cruise did implement some helpful changes. Seems he gets that happy employees are productive employees.

Do you think we can get Back To The Floor in the governmental sector?

Chinquapin

Thursday, 22 July 2004 - 12:10 AM PDT

Early to bed tonight. I'll let the crew close up.

I thought for certain there'd be Ocean Cruise ads up tonight.

Chinquapin

Thursday, 22 July 2004 - 12:11 AM PDT

Low...and behold.

Thursday, 22 July 2004 - 6:17 AM PDT

Hej!

Tripod ate my first post to you here. I hope I can re-create.

God, I wish I had your metabolism. Working all these jobs makes me GAIN weight, because I'm grabbing fast food on the run rather than cooking healthy meals.

I'm glad Mr. Carnival Cruise did implement some helpful changes. It only makes sense that happy employees are more productive. It beats me that all employers don't get it.

As for getting "Back to the Floor" in the governmental sector, I think Mr. Clinton tried it. He tried to make one intern happy, and he paid very dearly for it (I apologize - it was a sick joke, but I just couldn't resist).

Later!
I.

Thursday, 22 July 2004 - 10:53 AM PDT

I,
You are wicked.
C.

Thursday, 22 July 2004 - 12:54 PM PDT

Ja, I know, but I just couldn't resist.

I remember when all that stuff with Mr. Clinton was going on. My mother called me up, all whining about "poor little Monica" being abused by the Big, Bad Wolf. She got mad at me, because I said: No. 1 - it takes two to tango. Monica could have said no. When I was her age, I got propositioned by bosses, and I was smart enough to say NO (Just Say No!); and No. 2 - I don't know about you, but how many women do you know that send semen-stained (blue) dresses to their mothers? If I ever sent one to my mother, I don't even want to TALK about what my mother would have done to me! I can hear the wails of distress even now.
I.

Saturday, 24 July 2004 - 1:42 AM PDT

There is a man out here who gets the County to evict poor black people from there homes and then gets the property cheap and turns it in to a rich yuppie area. I deal with very wealthy people daily and they do not know how to treat people. It is so wierd that green pieces of paper make these people feel as if they are entitled to something that others are not.I do not get it.

Saturday, 24 July 2004 - 12:48 PM PDT

Nessa,

That's bad enough, but now cities are using "Eminent Domain" to do the same thing, to increase their property tax base.

It's that F-in' Centycore(see "bread & circuses" topic).

C.