Having a Bad Day? Stop here for a Good Rant!

[Kobold King he/him]

Homesteader here.

 

I've weathered Illinois winters on a five-acre farm.

 

I've trudged through fields of knee-deep snow on my way to and fro the chicken coop and the barn at the other end of the farm.

 

I've slipped and fallen on my butt on ground entirely encrusted with ice--often repeatedly over the course of the same day. It's hard keeping your footing on five acres of hilly terrain that have suddenly decided to veto the law of fiction.

 

At age thirteen I was shoved backwards into the snow by our rambunctious Great Pyrenees dog. Twaddled in my warm weather gear, I lay twitching in the snow for five minutes like a pill bug on its back, completely incapable of crawling to my feet.

 

I chased poultry through the snow in an attempt to put them into a warm coop at night. I chased them through blizzards--honest to goodness blizzards, when the winds sliced me to the bone and blasted tiny daggers of ice into my eyeballs. When I could genuinely not see three feet in front of me because the whirling snow and ice obscured my vision. (And for the record, no, I did not receive hot cocoa upon my return to the house. We were out of cocoa on that day.)

 

I've been trapped behind gates and fences because their latching mechanisms froze in the cold, forced to use lighters to burn my way out. Let me tell you, it's hard to get a functional flame from a lighter when your fingers are too numb to pull the trigger, and when the flammable fuel has wholly ceased to be flammable. And when you finally manage to spark a precious blue flame, and when you've finally pressed it into the gate's latch to sear away the frozen lock, I guarantee you that a sharp wind will kill your flame, your hope, and your love of winter in a single pass.

 

 

Ladies and gentlemen... snow sucks.

[Kaymyth she/her]

Homesteader here.

 

I've weathered Illinois winters on a five-acre farm.

 

I've trudged through fields of knee-deep snow on my way to and fro the chicken coop and the barn at the other end of the farm.

 

I've slipped and fallen on my butt on ground entirely encrusted with ice--often repeatedly over the course of the same day. It's hard keeping your footing on five acres of hilly terrain that have suddenly decided to veto the law of fiction.

 

At age thirteen I was shoved backwards into the snow by our rambunctious Great Pyrenees dog. Twaddled in my warm weather gear, I lay twitching in the snow for five minutes like a pill bug on its back, completely incapable of crawling to my feet.

 

I chased poultry through the snow in an attempt to put them into a warm coop at night. I chased them through blizzards--honest to goodness blizzards, when the winds sliced me to the bone and blasted tiny daggers of ice into my eyeballs. When I could genuinely not see three feet in front of me because the whirling snow and ice obscured my vision. (And for the record, no, I did not receive hot cocoa upon my return to the house. We were out of cocoa on that day.)

 

I've been trapped behind gates and fences because their latching mechanisms froze in the cold, forced to use lighters to burn my way out. Let me tell you, it's hard to get a functional flame from a lighter when your fingers are too numb to pull the trigger, and when the flammable fuel has wholly ceased to be flammable. And when you finally manage to spark a precious blue flame, and when you've finally pressed it into the gate's latch to sear away the frozen lock, I guarantee you that a sharp wind will kill your flame, your hope, and your love of winter in a single pass.

 

 

Ladies and gentlemen... snow sucks.

 

Kobold King, I do not believe that I have taken the opportunity to say this to you before, though I have thought it on more than one occasion prior:  Sir, you have a remarkable and eloquent way with turns of phrase.  If I wore a hat with any regularity, I would tip it to you.

[Delightful]

There's climate-change deniers everywhere; I'm one myself (at least, I don't believe in man-caused global warming, and I find it amusing that in recent years the rhetoric has changed from "global warming" to "climate change". There used to be "major scientific evidence" for global cooling about a decade or two ago.).

And before someone calls me ignorant, trust me, I do my research.

So I wouldn't consider myself a climate change denier, neither do I fully believe in it. Honestly, I've seen arguments but nothing that seriously convinces me either way.

[Quiver he/him]

Yeeahh...I almost didn't say it, but then I figured no one would start a flame war...

 

Typical denier thought pattern. People can't start fires to make global warming happen? Well, I'll show you!

 

...Actually, I have nothing to contribute. I just found someone denying global warming posting about flame wars not happening funny for some inane reason.

 

Honestly, I have no idea about it. I haven't done any research or anything into it, so I don't feel qualified to comment. I do however, feel qualified to give you an upvote  for making a joke at your expense, so... up vote.

[traceria she/her]

Man, I missed all this talk about snow because I didn't get online at all this weekend...while it was snowing where I live. XD  I'm one of those people who LOVES snow so long as I don't have to drive in it.  If I have to shovel, I want it to be on a day when our office had to shut down because we got too much snow.  Then I can go back inside afterwards and look at the pretty stuff from the warmth of my own home, preferably with a hot beverage in hand.  I do love the look of it more than anything.

 

What I don't like about snow, as mentioned above, is having to travel in it.  We were headed to church yesterday morning after getting about 6 inches followed by freezing rain (we'd gotten 5 inches a few days before that), which just made the roads slick and terrible, and saw a vibrant blue car off the road and sitting in the drainage ditch at a 'happy' 30-40 degree angle.  The police had stopped and it didn't look like anyone had been hurt, but I bet that car and its owner didn't like the outcome of slippery roads one bit.  Then there were all the other idiot drivers out there who decided to slam on their brakes because of the police car when the roads basically are covered with icy slush.  BAD IDEA.

 

Maxal, I thought of you when it went from 1 F (~ -17 C) here up to 30 F (~0 C) and above because of you being in Canada.  I was clearing the cars off after the temps had gone up and was only doing it with a sweatshirt and gloves on instead of being fully bundled up.  It felt like Spring compared to the temps around 0 F (lower with windchill).  I thought of you because you'd probably be laughing that 0 F felt so bitterly cold to us where I am.  I'll be glad when the winter is over.  Then I'll have humid, hot days to complain about in the Summer due to living on the East Coast of the US.

[little wilson she/her]

I do not envy you people on the east coast. At all. We've had a very warm winter. One snowfall in December and since then, it's been pretty nice. I thought spring was coming early, what with the temps being 40-50 F on average, and sometimes hitting 60-65 F. It turned cold again over the weekend and the rest of the week is staying cold, though nothing at all like what you guys have been experiencing. I'm a little worried for this summer though. The last few years have been record-breaking wildfire years and with the lack of moisture thus far, it looks like this is going to be another one.

 

And as for the climate change/global warming thing. Climate change is quite evidently a thing. However, like Snoopy, I do not believe that man has had much of a difference. The earth has always gone through varying weather cycles quite naturally and without man's involvement. This is just another one of those.

[Guest]

Trade me? Please? 

 

With pleasure. Do not forget to bring your Canada Goose and your -40°C rated snow boots. You may want to purchase a warm hat and gloves.

 

 

Ladies and gentlemen... snow sucks.

 

Amen

 

Snow is cute, when it falls in big fluffy flakes and you get to built a snowman... but the sad truth is big fluffy flakes only happens when the temperature average the 0°C. Same for the snowman. Try building a snowman at -20°C. May as well go for an igloo

 

 

Man, I missed all this talk about snow because I didn't get online at all this weekend...while it was snowing where I live. XD  I'm one of those people who LOVES snow so long as I don't have to drive in it.  If I have to shovel, I want it to be on a day when our office had to shut down because we got too much snow.  Then I can go back inside afterwards and look at the pretty stuff from the warmth of my own home, preferably with a hot beverage in hand.  I do love the look of it more than anything.

 

If only.... Office closing because there is too much snow? Excuse me pardon? Not a chance of happening over here. Not matter what crap falls from our sky, suck it up: you are still expected to be there pretty much on time

 

 

 

What I don't like about snow, as mentioned above, is having to travel in it.  We were headed to church yesterday morning after getting about 6 inches followed by freezing rain (we'd gotten 5 inches a few days before that), which just made the roads slick and terrible, and saw a vibrant blue car off the road and sitting in the drainage ditch at a 'happy' 30-40 degree angle.  The police had stopped and it didn't look like anyone had been hurt, but I bet that car and its owner didn't like the outcome of slippery roads one bit.  Then there were all the other idiot drivers out there who decided to slam on their brakes because of the police car when the roads basically are covered with icy slush.  BAD IDEA.

 

Over here, snow tires are mandatory from December 15th to March 15th. Freezing rain? An annoyance which renders my porch slippery, increases the risk of a power failure (but no chance the power failure would happen at work ) and creates a traffic jam.

 

 

Maxal, I thought of you when it went from 1 F (~ -17 C) here up to 30 F (~0 C) and above because of you being in Canada.  I was clearing the cars off after the temps had gone up and was only doing it with a sweatshirt and gloves on instead of being fully bundled up.  It felt like Spring compared to the temps around 0 F (lower with windchill).  I thought of you because you'd probably be laughing that 0 F felt so bitterly cold to us where I am.  I'll be glad when the winter is over.  Then I'll have humid, hot days to complain about in the Summer due to living on the East Coast of the US.

 

Yeah. I am laughing. 0°C is warm. It is considered spring In fact, if it were 0°C, I would be making the happy dance I will not mention how I need to dress to go outside.... If I am stupid enough to wear a skirt, then I first have to put one me knee woolen socks because if not, me knees will freeze to death in between the short walk from my car to my office. Then, I put on my knee height -40°C rated boot with fur and impermeable footing. After comes the knee length winter coat with its fur cap to protect my head because hat kinda of give you funny hair At -20C, forget about gloves: I need to put on the -40°C rates MITTENS for fear my fingers would freeze and die you holding the steering wheel   Have you ever tried to buckled up kids while wearing mittens? Quite an endeavor, I tell you.

 

Speaking of East Coast, I booked my vacations in New Jersey. Weather better cramp up because I am in dire need for some warmth

[Briar King]

Not a rant from me but since Winter has dominated the past 2 pages im saying this. Old Man Winter has heard my prayers and sent Winter Storm Quantum down to Gulf Coast! Yeah buddy! My kids school is shut down tomorrow so I imagine business will be as well. I love Winter!

[Kobold King he/him]

I love Winter!

 

I'm sure she'll be flattered to hear you say that.

[traceria she/her]

Yeah. I am laughing. 0°C is warm. It is considered spring In fact, if it were 0°C, I would be making the happy dance I will not mention how I need to dress to go outside.... If I am stupid enough to wear a skirt, then I first have to put one me knee woolen socks because if not, me knees will freeze to death in between the short walk from my car to my office. Then, I put on my knee height -40°C rated boot with fur and impermeable footing. After comes the knee length winter coat with its fur cap to protect my head because hat kinda of give you funny hair At -20C, forget about gloves: I need to put on the -40°C rates MITTENS for fear my fingers would freeze and die you holding the steering wheel Have you ever tried to buckled up kids while wearing mittens? Quite an endeavor, I tell you.

Speaking of East Coast, I booked my vacations in New Jersey. Weather better cramp up because I am in dire need for some warmth

New Jersey? Really?! I'll PM you.

Also, I KNEW you'd laugh. Glad you enjoyed that.

Edited February 24, 2015 by traceria

[SmurfAquamarineBodies he/him]

Yep. My nephew has just reminded me of why babies suck. He wakes up at like 6 am, I had only just gone to sleep an hour ago, and because his mum his a useless sack of feces. So I had to get up and grab him otherwise he'd just sit in his cot slamming his head against the sides. So I get up get him another bottle because, you know, my other nephews were awesome. A sniff of a bottle and that was it they were asleep, but nooooo this little prick drinks the bottle then hits me on the head with it, laughing obviously, because it's just the best joke since the first yo mumma joke. So now after trying to get him to go back to sleep for 2 hours I'm now in the lounge with him and I also get the pleasure of going to some cousin's or another, I only got like 200 of the stupid things, funeral. I will have to try and get some sleep at 10 am so that I don't go to sleep half way through the funeral. Somehow I don't think the fams would like that.

[Meg]

Today one of our clients came -- needless to say: without appointment. He's done this at least around 15 or 20 times before, and was always told that it doesn't work this way. Unsuccessfully, as can be seen. When I told him my chief isn't in, he dared say, he came to talk to me. But then, I'm only the secretary and had talked to him about his problems (not for the first time) just a few days ago. I can't go into details, but in short: It's outside of our (my chiefs) influence to achieve the result the client wants in the time frame that he demands. We can only remind the authorities but we can not press.

These facts were told to the client a few times before and in the phone call a few days ago and personally today. But he didn't give in and pestered me long enough that I raised my voice. Apparently until I shouted. This in front of other clients.

Then, in addition, the technician -- long awaited -- came for some problems with our phone lines. As for I couldn't help the client, and because we had the same discussion a few days ago on the phone, I said he should go now and backed away to help the technician. But I saw that the client didn't leave.

I've been on the brink of getting a crying fit and asked another chief to rid me (is this right?) of this person.

Talking about the problem with the phone lines with the technician made me calm down a bit, though I still was on edge.

And then: My chief managed to make the client go but came at me, why I was shouting, and shouting -- especially in front of other clients -- is an absolute no-no ... This happened in the corridor, where all others could hear it. And ran away in my office, slammed the door shut and shouted "Thanks for your help." (that was meant sarcastic). And now I couldn't choke back the crying fit anymore.

I've been that disappointed? Why didn't someone come when they noticed I had a problem with this client? Come for help or to take my away for a "calm down"? Why wait until I'm shouting?

It's not that I don't know or don't see that it's a no-go to shout at clients. I know this! But in such moments I feel helpless and then such things happen.

Why? Why not help but come at me? She could at least have waited until I calmed down a bit, not there on the corridor and while other clients and the technician where around?

 

I, as for I'm an idiot, I would have tried to help. I should at least stop this!

 

 

[Blaze1616 he/him]

...

 

I'm sorry to hear that. Sometimes people would rather allow someone else to be in an uncomfortable situation than to put themselves there instead. Here's a hug. *hug*

[traceria she/her]

Oh, Meg, so sorry you had to go through that.  Sometimes things get out of your control (this can include reactions and feelings), and it never is helpful for someone to make the experience worse, which is what your chief/boss did.  Again, so sorry you had to deal with this today.  Have another hug. *HUG *

[Briar King]

Argh it's snowing in NW Louisiana and raining here in SW. Once again Gulf of Mexico spits in our face.

[Meg]

Thanks Blaze and Traceria for your words and the hugs. It helps to see that others, too, can see the "wrongness" in this event.

[TwiLyghtSansSparkles she/her]

Sometimes I feel like I should make more mistakes, because some people seem to like nothing better than pointing them out.

When I make a mistake at work, the other receptionist doesn't say "Hey, you made a mistake, don't do it again" and move on. No, she takes pains to tell me what mistake I made, why I shouldn't have made it, what trouble it caused, and how I have to be EXTRA CAREFUL not to make it again. Sometimes, I'll even get a diagram of exactly what I did wrong.

And I get it. My mistakes cause problems. I understand that, and once you point it out to me, I won't do it again. But I make very few mistakes. I have never made a mistake like the one I made last night before, and I've also been here a while. Wouldn't it be more productive to just assume it was an accident and leave it at that? But no, apparently I need the full lecture treatment.

I'm actually starting to regret turning my schedule upside down so she can get three days of vacation next week.

[Delightful]

But not a Diagram, correct?

I'm sorry y'all. *hugs* *hugs* *more hugs*.

[Blaze1616 he/him]

At least you get a diagram! Sometimes it is the best way to visualize just what it was you did wrong!*

 

 

*Heavy sarcasm may have been used.

 

Sorry that you have a jerk of a coworker.

Edited February 25, 2015 by Blaze1616

[Briar King]

Ugh watching the news and seeing all that pretty snow that fell in Shreveport today. So rant worthy. I'm jealous.

[traceria she/her]

Sometimes I feel like I should make more mistakes, because some people seem to like nothing better than pointing them out.

When I make a mistake at work, the other receptionist doesn't say "Hey, you made a mistake, don't do it again" and move on. No, she takes pains to tell me what mistake I made, why I shouldn't have made it, what trouble it caused, and how I have to be EXTRA CAREFUL not to make it again. Sometimes, I'll even get a diagram of exactly what I did wrong.

And I get it. My mistakes cause problems. I understand that, and once you point it out to me, I won't do it again. But I make very few mistakes. I have never made a mistake like the one I made last night before, and I've also been here a while. Wouldn't it be more productive to just assume it was an accident and leave it at that? But no, apparently I need the full lecture treatment.

I'm actually starting to regret turning my schedule upside down so she can get three days of vacation next week.

Twylight, do you secretly work in my office? (I know you don't, but I feel ya, girl.)  Because when this happens, it's like armageddon around here.  And I'm like you. I very rarely make mistakes (at least the conscious kind), so when I do and that coworker that likes to rub salt in open wounds for fun decides to give me that speech or, worse, it's the boss I call "His Majesty" and he decides to call a whole meeting between the paralegals, of which I am one, to tell us to do something we do already save for this one instance in the past three years, it REALLY grates on me. The one time I'm thinking of, it was about these case management forms we are all supposed to update.  First, it's not even a real software system for tracking legal actions, it's a Word document.  Second, he was all in a tizzy because current address information for defendants and dates they received a particular legal pleading were not entered into it.  Turns out, we were still waiting on ALL that information from the vendor we use, so there was no information to put in yet.  Despite this, he freaks out and has his passive-aggressive secretary first inform me he's not happy by asking repeated where the stuff is, then calls a meeting that afternoon all about updating these forms in a timely fashion.  Unless I'm supposed to be a time-traveler who can go into the future, there was no way to make this guy happy.  Man, I so greatly dislike this guy.  (Trying really hard to not say hate.  Hate the actions, not the person.)  Anyhow, the times when someone makes even a simple mistake around here are even worse.  No one actually did any wrong in that example I just gave.  Anyhow, all that to say I 100% understand your predicament and feelings regarding the situation and this coworker of yours.  Not cool, lady, not cool.

[TwiLyghtSansSparkles she/her]

Twylight, do you secretly work in my office? (I know you don't, but I feel ya, girl.)  Because when this happens, it's like armageddon around here.  And I'm like you. I very rarely make mistakes (at least the conscious kind), so when I do and that coworker that likes to rub salt in open wounds for fun decides to give me that speech or, worse, it's the boss I call "His Majesty" and he decides to call a whole meeting between the paralegals, of which I am one, to tell us to do something we do already save for this one instance in the past three years, it REALLY grates on me. The one time I'm thinking of, it was about these case management forms we are all supposed to update.  First, it's not even a real software system for tracking legal actions, it's a Word document.  Second, he was all in a tizzy because current address information for defendants and dates they received a particular legal pleading were not entered into it.  Turns out, we were still waiting on ALL that information from the vendor we use, so there was no information to put in yet.  Despite this, he freaks out and has his passive-aggressive secretary first inform me he's not happy by asking repeated where the stuff is, then calls a meeting that afternoon all about updating these forms in a timely fashion.  Unless I'm supposed to be a time-traveler who can go into the future, there was no way to make this guy happy.  Man, I so greatly dislike this guy.  (Trying really hard to not say hate.  Hate the actions, not the person.)  Anyhow, the times when someone makes even a simple mistake around here are even worse.  No one actually did any wrong in that example I just gave.  Anyhow, all that to say I 100% understand your predicament and feelings regarding the situation and this coworker of yours.  Not cool, lady, not cool.

 

I'm sorry. And I don't get it. Lecturing me about my mistake took time that she could have spent finishing up before she clocked out, and it almost kept me from answering the phone. Calling together those meetings clearly takes time that your boss could spend in other, more productive pursuits….so why not just alert others to their mistakes and leave it be? 

 

Oh well. I've been listening to this song, which seems especially apt. 

[Quiver he/him]

It's not a bad day- particularly given what you guys have been saying- but it is a little frustrating. Still, hopefully it will be absurd enough that one of you guys will get a laugh out of this:

 

A dog ate my fan fiction.

 

To explain- I've been having truoble with home computer stuff, so I've been making use of other computers from time to time. So, lately I've been kind-of working on some writing. I'm not going to try claim I had thousands of elegant prose written or anything- it was just rough concepts and random note-taking/research stuff. 

 

Anyway. I had all this saved on a flash drive. I had that flash drive in my coat pocket.

 

I was visiting my cousin, while wearing that coat. I forgot I had said flash drive in my pocket. I was playing with the dog and... at some point it tumbled out of my pocket. I managed to see it, and had enough time to yell for the dog not to touch it.. which, in hindsight, might have just drawn the dog's attention to it. Things sort of proceeded from there.

 

So, there's either two options. Either the dog stole my flash drive and took it somewhere else- which is possible, he's a pack rat... or he swallowed it.

Honestly, I'm more grateful that the drive in question was tiny. It's possible that he did swallow it, and if that's the case, it's unlikely he would choke on it (he definitely didn't choke all the time I was there) but... yes. 

 

A dog ate my fan fiction.

[traceria she/her]

A dog ate my fan fiction.

Okay, I totally agree with the other three people who upvoted you before I did.  You deserved it even before I read the longer explanation.  

 

Edit to add: This reminds me of a time when a neighborhood friend was over and lost a tooth while eating popcorn.  The tooth fell on the floor, which was where our dog was stationed in case any stray popcorn pieces fell nearby.  He promptly ate her tooth.  We were of that age where someone (my mom?  her parents?) wrote her a note to put under her pillow to the tooth fairy so that she could still get credit for the lost tooth. 

 

Edit to further add:  Different boss, similar problem.  This lady only works part time and left at 2:00 on a Thursday for the weekend.  So, I have a matter that was assigned to me at a very late stage in the legal action because the prior paralegal left due to health reasons.  Basically, all I've been doing is postponing the same thing over and over in the case since it was passed to me the beginning of the year.  I know nada about the sordid history.  Today, our client, who is allowed to do things like this what with them being our client and all, asks me to request the status of taxes on a property related to the matter.  So, I send over a fax to the tax collector and provide a courtesy copy of said fax to the client and copy the boss lady/attorney because that's what we do here.  You copy everyone on emails like this.  From her phone, she writes me an accusatory email:  "[My name], not sure what you mean.  It sounds like this is new information.  Were you not previously aware of [tax issues]? We knew [blah blah blah]."  Um, yes, it is new information TO ME.  No, I was NOT previously aware.  See previous answer.  By "we" you mean you and the poor woman who left for medical reasons, right?  Because you can't possibly mean me.  I'm having to piece the entire history of the file together based on what I find in our computer system in five minutes' time.  So, back off, lady.  This just means I need to do another sweep of openings in my ongoing job hunt.  Had one interview two weeks ago (interview went well, commute was terrible, they are considering me for a position they don't have hiring authority for yet anyway) and need to see if anything new is out there. *le sigh *

Edited February 26, 2015 by traceria

[Meg]

Edit to further add:  ...

*hugs* I hope you can find another job soon. I've always been to cowardly to make this step and leave. Now I'm over 25 years at this work and I love it and I hate it, same goes for myself.

I'm doing the German equivalent of a paralegal though I don't have any ideas about what a paralegal exactly does. I mean, here in Germany it is mostly about doing secretarial work including making invoices and foreclosure -- at least that's how it works in my office. Dict.cc tells me that the translation for "Rechtsanwaltsfachangestellte" (I'd translate it as lawyer's qualified employee ) is paralegal or legal assistant. As for I only know my office I can't tell if there's a lot of us doing more than mentioned above, but some sure do, as I found out by reading through forums.

I totally understand your frustration when receiving that email. As if it wouldn't be embarrassing enough to not get needed information, it's really like getting hit when such reactions follow.

Anyways I don't understand why some people think that one has to know all, without getting informed themselves. My colleagues (or coworkers? I don't really understand the difference) come and ask me things that really make me wonder if they believe I can read minds (those of my bosses or other colleagues).

As a side note: Last year when I was in holidays (I've only been at home and told them, they could call me if they need help), the colleague called me and asked me if I knew how to send an express letter to the USA. So -- am I a post office? For each and every bagatelle they ask google, but not how to send (and frank) an express letter to the USA.

I couldn't help but laugh and tell them, they should look in the Internet or ask the post office. I haven't been angry with them but this example shows how they sometimes rely on me as an roundabout information office. And my bosses aren't much better (though they give less information ...).

Yeah, it's all weird.