Blonde Moments

So, the other managers here all assure me that my company will take care of me with a job when I get back.  The companies usually take care of all the managers that sacrifice so much out here - because we do.  We work really long days without expecting extra pay for it and we take a lot of crap from all directions.

But.  I'm one of those anxious types.  I get twitchy about not knowing whether I have something waiting for me back home.  After spending seven months unemployed when I got home from Iraq, I'm not eager to repeat that experience.

And not knowing for SURE whether I've got something has me anxious.  So I've been reaching out to buddies of mine and getting my resume dusted off. 

I can NOT afford to be unemployed like that again.  It wasn't just hard on my pocketbook, it was hard on my self-esteem, too.

There are some times that, as a contractor, I wish we were more like the military.

Most of us have military backgrounds, so we understand chain of command and handling things at the lowest level.

The military has a pretty cut and dried approach to folks skipping the chain that I sometimes wish we could use.

There are a couple of people who challenge me at every turn.  It's as if they delight in ticking me off.  Sigh.  I have to admit, though, that these people do it to the other managers, too, so I know it's not personal.

Bah.  There's not much I can do but document stuff, but, in the meantime, these folks get away with ruckuses because they can.

I have a lot of meetings with folks back stateside.  Generally, they have their meetings in the morning so I don't have to go too far out of my work schedule.

They scheduled a meeting for 2pm eastern time today.

To translate, that's 10:30pm my time. 

Riiiight. I didn't attend.  I'll be darned if I attend meetings that far outside my working hours.  If I start, then they'll expect me to do it all the time. 

And that's just not happening.

I've mentioned before that I'm not a fan of primadonnas. 

I can't afford to spend all my time catering to a single person when, fully staffed, I have 65 people who work for me.

That's why I get so mad when I get one person who refuses to play with others.  What makes YOU so special that, what's good enough for everyone else (including me) isn't good enough for you?

Grr. 

As my Aussie friend says, "build a bridge and get over it".  I used to get irritated when he'd say that but I understood why he did.  Nobody wants a person around who whines constantly.  Save it up for the big stuff.

Tonight was one of those rare mom-son bonding moments.

What were we bonding over?

Airsoft rifles.  At first, I was insistent on the clear ones so the police would KNOW they weren't real, but they know to look for the orange tips.  I worry, of course, but he helped me to see his side.  So, I think this is the one we decided on:  http://www.airsoftstation.com/black-eagle-m6-airsoft-sniper-scope-combo-by-cybergun.html

He's already got a CO2 pistol, so, this'll complete the set for now.

*Shrug*  I'm happy that he's getting out and doing something social.  Even if it's picking off his friends in the woods.  Wait, that didn't sound right.  He's having good harmless fun.  THAT's what I meant.