Sometimes silence is the only safe answer

Our contractor orientation video at work is overseen by three departments (yes, a camel is a horse designed by a committee). One department wanted some changes made, so they were supposed to head up the project. Over six months went by. When someone finally asked about the status, the manager said she was "too busy" to do it. In my company that's code for "I don't want to to do it". Somehow it then became my department's project for reasons I still do not understand. Well,of course, the project is now nearly complete with only a little time invested. Today was our final meeting to review the content before it went live. I scheduled the meeting for 2 PM, invited the 2 other involved departments plus our IT person. The consultant arrived at 1:45, and she and I discussed life in general for a bit (she's a former employee). At 2 o'clock I said to start. My meetings start on time, even if no one else is there. My department was present as was IT. The 2nd involved department showed up 10 minutes late or so (and no, we didn't start over). The 3rd department, the one who wanted all the changes, never showed.  As we left the meeting at 2:40, the 3rd department was walking toward the conference room. I told them "we're done". She got indignant and said "I thought the meeting was at 2:30. No one called me." Here's some of what I was thinking:

1. Can you not read an Outlook Calendar appointment like everyone else?
2. No, no one called you. You're a manager. We expect you to show up when the meeting started.
3. If you thought the meeting started at 2:30, why are you just now strolling in at 2:40?

And what did I say to her? NOTHING. I just kept walking to my desk. Everything I was thinking was true, but there was no win in it for me if I said it. I did tell my boss about it, and she said "no, we aren't calling her". Hehe. Silence is sometimes the best answer.

That's one way to keep your job- UPDATE

It seems there is a limit to even how much being the boss's drug dealer can protect your job. I was informed this week that Associate X is no longer employed by the company.

This is not how it's supposed to work

Recently I needed a for new battery one of my vehicles. Normally this involves a ten minute visit to the auto parts store, and then you are on your way as good as new. My experience did not go like that. Below is the e-mail I sent to the auto parts store expressing my displeasure:

I am writing to tell you of my recent disappointing and frustrating interactions with your (store in my town). On June 8th I visited this store to have a battery replaced in my (SUV). When I arrived, the employee (his name began with a “Q”) was unsure if they even had a battery that would fit it. I left without a battery.

I then called my brother, who works at (another store in the chain). He assured me the battery the person in (my town) had mentioned would fit. I returned to the (my town) store the next day. The same employee was working. I told him what battery I needed. He came out to my car with a wrench and one socket. He said this was not the right socket. He went back into the store for another socket and returned a long time later with one more socket. It wasn't right either. After another long trip into the store he announced that they didn't have the correct size socket to remove the battery. I asked what my options were. He said they could use vise grips to get it out. I immediately vetoed this idea and asked what it was going to take to get this battery changed. He suggested I got to a mechanic shop. I then left again, still with no battery.

I was incensed that I had not been able to accomplish the simple task of getting a new battery. I again contacted my brother at (his) store. He said each store has a cart used to change batteries that has everything you need, including a wide variety of sockets. He also informed me that if by chance they don't have the right socket, they can pull one off the shelf. After all, it's an auto parts store.

I was very angry that I had wasted all this time at the (my town). I had my brother purchase the battery at his store, and he was able to install it at my sister's house in under five minutes using his own basic tools that he keeps in his truck.

I am very displeased by the lack of service received from the (my town) store. I had a very routine need, and they were unable to take care of it. This is simply unacceptable. I hope you will look into this matter and implement appropriate corrective action so that other customers do not have the nightmare of an experience that I did.

Here is the company's response:

Please accept our sincere apology for the poor service and rude treatment you received at our store located in (your town).The actions of our employee, as described in your e-mail, are unacceptable and we will move to correct this immediately. A copy of your e-mail and this response has been forwarded to the store's District and Regional Managers for review and corrective action at the store. We truly appreciate your business and it is our sincere hope you will continue to choose  (our company) for your future automotive needs. If we may be of any further assistance please do not hesitate to contact us. Your comments and suggestions are always welcome.

Hopefully they do improve because as my niece would say it was "a disaster".

Cooking & Baking; Art versus Science

It recently dawned on me that the difference between cooking and baking is really art versus science. I found it interesting to see Jen Lancaster essentially make the same point in her new book "The Tao of Martha: My Year of LIVING; Or, Why I'm Never Getting All The Glitter Off of the Dog". With baking, as long as you combine the right ingredients in the right amounts and bake for the right amount of time, the odds are good that you'll have success. Cooking is much more about finesse and feel. The instructions are more like general guidelines, and you have to be more aware and willing to makes changes as the situation dictates. Given my personality, baking tends to be more my preference. A & B + C =D. I've heard Rachael Ray is not a fan of baking as she dislikes the regimentedness of it, preferring the creative approach to cooking instead. Each undertaking has its upsides, by which of course I mean yummy outputs. The journey to each is just a bit different.

Note for book lovers: The premise of "The Tao of Martha" is that the author spends her year trying to organize her life like Martha Stewart would. Hilarity ensues. I was literally laughing out loud as I read about the trip to the craft store to procure glitter. I'd highly recommend getting a copy from your local library to enjoy.

Too much of a good thing

My Introduction to Psychology professor used to say "In psychology, the extremes are seldom healthy". This is very true. I think you can replace "psychology" with "life" and have another important lesson. I was reminded of this recently by something I did.

I purchased a daybed for my guest room. My neighbor helped me get it home. I then put it together by myself. Now, if I was an octopus this wouldn't have been so bad, but I'm not. As I sat there sweating on the floor (because I was too cheap to turn on the air conditioning for the hour I was home), I thought how much easier this would have been if I'd have asked for help. I knew my neighbor would have gladly assisted me, a fact he confirmed when I told him my story later. I am very independent, sometimes to a fault as this scenario illustrates. Being indepedent is good, but being too independent can just make things harder than they have to be.

A real nightmare

Saturday night I had a nightmare. In it I bought a new car. You may be thinking "Now why is that so scary?". It was TERRIBLE. I had bought a brand new model of my sports car, so I now had three cars. Even worse was that I had financed the whole thing, and the price had doubled since I bought the one I had. I was so stressed out in the dream trying to figure out why I had purchased this, how could I get out of it, etc. Freaked out does not even begin to describe it. I was so happy when I woke up and realized that I still only have my two paid for cars. Phew.

When I have crazy dreams like this, I try to figure out what may have caused them. In this case, I think it's the fact that I have spent quite a bit of money lately going on multiple vacations, buying some new clothes, etc. I can afford all these things, but sometimes our subconscious doesn't process things as our rational mind does. Hopefully my subconsious mind is now at ease after I've written about it. I don't want another nightmare!

A beautiful display on a special day

Saturday was a big day in my family. My grandma turned 78 and my nephew had his first birthday. I thought it was especially appropriate that I saw this double rainbow on their double birthday.

 As I told my family, this is just further proof that God shows us his love in ways both big and small.