swirlspice

Fuckin' A. I bought a new phone on eBay, thinking it would have a display that worked and I could slap my battery on there and hopefully have minimal trouble keeping all my phonebook info.

Well I got the mofo in the mail the other day, and the display doesn't work. I checked the auction listing, and it says on there that the display doesn't work, but I swear it didn't say that before. Not that I can prove it. Or maybe I'm just retarded. That could be.

So I did a little research (which I should have done before) and found out this display thing is a known issue. I guess Sprint/Samsung was doing a replacement thing, but they don't make the phone anymore, so I don't know how that would pan out. The thing with research, though, is that people don't experience problems until a year later, and how often do you buy a year-old phone? Cell phones turnover so fast, by the time you have decent feedback on it, they don't even make them anymore.

I wanted to let my contract run out so I can ditch Sprint. But I'm so sick of this I might just go on and upgrade phones and thus renew my contract. I don't have $200 to drop on a phone so that's the only way I can afford it. I ain't eBaying anymore cell phones.

Interestingly, after I left neutral feedback from the eBay seller, I got a message from another eBay user saying that a number of people have had issues with that seller (BuyEssex.com) and they're trying to get together a class action lawsuit against the seller, and against eBay and PayPal for enabling the seller. This should be interesting.

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Jesus is wrong for America.

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Yesterday was my two-year blogiversary. I think a little meme-age is in order. Wendy's doing this thing.

Think of 3 pictures you'd like to see. Leave whatever you'd like to see in the comments. Things around my house, or whatever... something I can take a picture of easily. Once I have enough requests, I'll start posting them. If I can't, or won't, take a picture of something you've requested, I'll let you know.

So, whaddya wanna see?

UPDATE: This was fun. Here ya go.

Lachlan wanted to see the Jeepy Jeep Jeep [front] [back], the cats [RJ] [Chrissy], and the new shelves. Keep in mind that shelf thing is a work in progress.

Sherri wanted to see the cats (above), inside my cubbards [food] [dishes], and my front door.

Easycure asked for my mailbox, a picture to the outside through a south facing window (the window faces south, but the picture is more west-looking), and my right thumb.

mace asked for the inside of my refrigerator, my underwear drawer, and my booty.

Tiffany asked to see my gas gauge (smartass). I maybe should have turned the car on first. Also, the bathroom [1] [2] and my shirt. That's a boring shirt, but it was on top of the pile and I thought it would be cheating if I picked a different shirt for the day on account of the photograph.

Dave requested my smile (mouth only), my favorite snack food (maybe not my first choice, but the best of what's currently in the house), and my booze of choice.

UPDATE #2: Some mo!

Chasmyn requested my favorite shoes (with feet) (although I have about four variations on that particular shoe), a collection of something (in this case, scrunchies and hair things, she didn't say it had to be something I was purposely collecting), and my desk where my computer lives (which is currently a shelf, but usually it's in my lap, wherever my lap is).

mel asked to see my laptop, my pajamas, and my street corner [the corner] [view of the corner from my yard].

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To Do: Clean up this shit.

I went to IKEA today and picked up the shelves. I had intended to get the dark grey, but discovered when I got home that I accidentally picked up the dark brown instead. Actually, dark brown probably goes best with the existing hardwood floors and other woodwork in the apartment. And the lighting in my room ain't all that bright anyway, so it just looks... dark. It's cool.

You're supposed to assemble the thing lying down. Silly me couldn't be bothered to do it in another room where I had the space and just push it into my room afterward. No, I had to put the damn thing together standing up. Don't do that. Just follow the directions.

As it turns out, I'll still need something for my tv and electronics. The tv's just too deep, and I can't very well have the rest of everything on the shelf with the tv somewhere else. So whenever I get that, it will replace a smaller bookshelf that's in here now.

I might do a little more rearranging, but I really need to put everything away (and sweep the damn floor) first. Basically, I'm trying to figure out whether to flip the bed around, and where to put the laundry hamper. Don't really want my dirty draw's greeting people at the door. And the shoes. What the hell to do with the shoes?

And somehow this baby found its way into my cart. I don't know how that happened. The picture doesn't do the vividness of the colors justice. You can kind of see it in the second picture above, in the laundry basket. It's so warm and vibrant. Yum. I've got some red curtains to hang that should complement that nicely. Uh, as soon as I get curtain rods. I guess I'll have to go to IKEA again. I need some storage boxes, too....

Posted by Erica at 11:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

Slate answers the question, "American Indian" or "Native American"?

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We had some things we had to finish at work today, so I volunteered to stay late. I hated working the twelve-hour days, but it's not so bad when it's voluntary. And when it's not, like, every day. And when you know you're getting overtime pay for it.

It was actually kind of fun. Everyone that stayed were people I like. The people that irritate me the most went home. We got pizza for dinner (and I have pizza for lunch and another dinner).

We even had the radio going. This part was actually only fun because a few folks, including Hey Mon, were dancing and being silly. I was reminded why I don't listen to the radio much anymore and that I don't like hip-hop as a rule. In three hours we heard at least five songs repeated. And did Britney Spears cover My Prerogative? She shouldn't have done that. Bobby Brown must be hard up for some royalties.

So now my Saturday schedule is all off. I must do at least one load of laundry before I go to the game this afternoon because I don't have any clean socks. Actually, that's not true. I just don't have any clean socks that I prefer to wear. Okay, that settles it. I'm not getting up early to do laundry. *yawn*

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My baby sis has a little health quiz for ya.

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What could possibly be cooler than Afterschool Specials on DVD? Afterschool Specials on DVD in Trapper Keeper packaging. If they still sold Trapper Keepers, I would totally buy one.

(via Amanita)

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• WNBA Playoffs 2004 - Not only am I seeing the Lynx host the Storm on Saturday, almost all the first-round games (and likely the subsequent rounds) are on tv. THANK GAWD for cable.
• SpeedTicketBeaters.Com - If my driving record is any indication, I'll be needing this someday.
• Personal Touch Errands - I'm not in a position to need these services, but that seems like a nifty kind of business to run on my own.
• Minneapolis Happy Hour - Speaks for itself, I think.
• Weddings and other life ceremonies for the non-church-goer.

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If you don't already have Louisiana, make sure you pick one up.

It's a scam!

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Ironically, the Shock are playing their opening playoff game at Joe Louis Arena because there's an ice show scheduled at The Palace. (This is ironic because The Palace is chiefly the home of Detroit's basketball teams, and JLA is chiefly the home of the hockey team.)

That's gotta be better than New York playing at Radio City Music Hall because the Republican National Convention booted them out of Madison Square Garden. At least The Joe is a sports venue.

(via the Freep)

Oh, and I'm going to the Lynx-Storm game at the Target Center on Saturday. I even have a friend to go with me. HELL YEAH.

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What's your blood type?

Me: O+

Posted by Erica at 11:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (15) | TrackBacks (0)

You always hear people talk about a "Type A personality." I confess, I only had a vague notion of what a Type A personality actually is. So I looked it up*.

A temperament marked by excessive competitiveness and ambition, an obsession with accomplishing tasks quickly, little time for self-reflection, and a strong need to control situations.

Every description I've read of a Type B personality basically says it's "not Type A."

The opposite of type A personality. The type B personality is relaxed, uncompetitive, and inclined to self-analysis.

So, Type As are uptight go-getters, which is about what I thought that meant. And Type Bs are everybody else. It should be no surprise to anyone that I'm a Type B.

*My mom would be so proud. But not as proud as if I looked it up while putting on a sweater and having a piece of fruit.

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Shawty's honey, Bayou, has joined the blogging ranks. Swing on by and say hello.

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Dave Pollard talks about a simple DJing technique/feature called Pitch Lock. It's used to adjust the tempo of a song to match that of the following song.

As usual, he provides a greater context and it morphs into a study of the implications of speeding up a variety of audio messages. Bet you never quite thought about it that way.

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Kids these days. Damn.

(via Ilyka)

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... you know all your friends' ISPs and IP addresses.

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A friend of the family is getting married in November. This girl was in my dance class (yay, Borgo!) for, like, ten years. Our moms are friends and still hang out. The wedding is the weekend before Thanksgiving. I figured regardless of where I'm working or living and what my hours are, I ought to be able to make it home and have that also be Thanksgiving with the fam. I'd come home Saturday morning and return... uh... home... Sunday evening.

So, my mom has been asking me weekly for months if I've bought my plane ticket yet. I have not. Every week I tell her I'm monitoring prices. It's the same story: if the price drops low enough, I can use the credit I have with Northwest and not have to pay additional cash. Otherwise I'll drop frequent flyer miles. I guess I didn't adequately convey that I definitely plan on being there, because my mom was surprised when I told her as much the other day. Now there's a question of where I might actually be flying from, but I'll be there no matter what. Although, if it weren't for the wedding, I wouldn't be going home before Christmas.

Anyway, when my mom heard this news, she went on about how excited the bride-to-be's mom will be to hear I'm coming because she's mentioned a few times that she really hopes I can be there. Our whole fam got one invitation, so I told mom to go ahead and RSVP that I'll be there.

Except she wants it to be a surprise, so she wanted to tell them that she doesn't know if I'm coming, but she hopes they can accommodate me if I do. I say that I think this is a bad idea and kinda rude because they've got to pay for a plate. So she wants to RSVP that Emily will be there, and that she'll be bringing a guest, and I'll just be the guest. I haven't seen the invitation, so I don't know how exactly it's addressed and if etiquette allows for Emily to be bringing a guest in the first place. But, fine, whatever. I think they've got bigger things to worry about than whether or not I'll be there, but I don't see any harm in the situation.

Here's my beef, though. It's a totally moot point, but it still chafes me.

What if I had a guest I wanted to bring? And, to a lesser extent, what if Emily had a guest she wanted to bring? There was no consideration of that on my mom's part whatsoever. Maybe because she knows thinks neither of us is dating anyone. I might bring it up next weekend when she asks me if I've gotten my plane ticket yet.

I'm not trying to create conflict here. Like I said, it's a moot point. Part of why I like living way away from home is that it stays moot until I decide otherwise. But my mother's mindset on the matter is skewed because I'm gay. If I were straight, she'd be asking all kinds of questions about whether or not I have anyone I'd like to bring. She's probably asked Emily if she has anyone she'd like to bring. Or at least she wouldn't hesitate to ask if it crossed her mind.

Fortunately for her, I was not home to attend the bridal shower, because you know these sorts of things compel the hens to start the Inquisition on the single folk (or ask the baby-less about babies at baby showers). In that sort of situation I always fantasize about responding with, "I'm not planning on getting married anytime soon, but it doesn't matter because I can't get legally married in this country anyway." In reality I'd probably just deflect the question since these are mostly complete strangers or people I haven't seen since we first got our varsity jackets.

Posted by Erica at 11:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (10) | TrackBacks (0)

UPDATE #2: I went to Chipotle anyway (on the condition that I walk to go get it instead of driving). I bought those domain names anyway (hey, namecheap is cheap). And I'm gonna get the shelves anyway because I really need them. I'm just deciding between a set from Target and a set from IKEA.

I figure if I wait until I have extra money for this stuff, I'll never get it.

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I would impulsively purchase these if I saw them on the shelf.

(via Adrants)

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In honor of the five WNBA games being played today, four of which have playoff implications, I give you Sue Bird at the deli*. Right- (or ctrl-) click and save as, por favor.

*Link removed 9/26/04.

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[Michigan wide receiver Steve] Breaston is like novocaine. After a while you can feel him. It takes a while, but you can feel him.

The runner-up was something about a nice reception and pushing the A and X buttons on an XBox controller.

That's why these guys get the big bucks.

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Dean asks his readers, "If you could talk to a 25 year old version of yourself, what would you tell him/her?"

I'm not qualified (that is, old enough) to answer that question m'self, but there are some interesting responses in the comments.

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I had a thought.

I was reading something someone said somewhere (I forget who or where) about how Firefox isn't ready for widespread distribution because the vast majority of web users wouldn't have a clue as to how to use it.

If anybody's ever tried to do something computer-related for their parents, you know what that guy means. They need to be able to do something the exact same way every time, or they get completely lost.

Now, there's an obvious distinction between programmers/web developers, and, like, everybody else. The more I read about blog plugins and applications and all the behind-the-scenes stuff, the more my eyes glaze over. Just tell me what it does, where I need to cut and paste, and maybe what the tags for my template are if it comes to that. But I'm kind of surprised by the number of people that don't even get that.

My point being: There's a difference between people who use the web and people who hang out on the web.

People who use the web basically just use it to gather information. They (might) know how to google and get to a couple of their favorite handful of websites, and that's it. They might even buy stuff or get on eBay. They get online for specific purposes, and once they've run that errand, they get off the computer.

People who hang out on the web use it for communication purposes beyond email, and use the web far more extensively. They can occupy themselves for hours at a time. Probably even for days if they didn't need to sleep or do other things. They know a little more about how the web works, and how their communication tools — email, message boards, listservs and user groups, blogs, etc. — work.

That's my empirical observation. And, perhaps, my biased perspective as a blogger. It's deep, I know.

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Since I got my bonus from work, I actually have a few extra dollars sitting in the bank at the moment. For all intents and purposes, that money has long been spent. I'll be needing that cash for things that are due later this month. But the temptation to treat myself is overwhelming. I don't get treats much.

I could walk down to Chipotle or Jamba Juice. It's a gorgeous day out so it would be a nice walk, and I'd burn off a few calories before I inhale all those carbs. I could go ahead and purchase a couple of domain names. I could go to Target and get myself some shelves for my room. That's my most expensive option, but also my most-needed item.

Except that I already bought Subway once this week. I bought stamps and went to the grocery store. I picked up some thank you notes and envelopes. I need gas. I need an oil change. I know most of those are normal necessities and unavoidable, but seeing the miscellaneous cash outflow doesn't feel real good.

UPDATE: I ended up going to the liquor store instead. Last batch of sangria for the summer. I have no will power.

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...Happy Birthday to my sweepeamofo, David Tepper.

All the lovies! *mwah*

Also, Happy Birthday to the watergirl. One of my OG blogrollees.

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The Lynx — still Brutus-less Katie Smith-less — just beat the Sparks. In L.A. By 12 points. Lisa Leslie fouled out with 8:26 to go in the game and had a flagrant foul. Damn, I wish I could've seen that.

In the grand scheme of the Western Conference standings it doesn't mean a whole lot, but it's a tremendous moral victory for Minnesota.

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Don't forget, Survivor: Vanuatu starts tonight. Woot!

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I'm not even quite sure what a colorcalm is, but Sherri wants one and I want one, too.

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With all this talk about Hurricane Ivan heading towards the Gulf of Mexico, I was fascinated and horrified to learn just what a Category Five Hurricane could do to New Orleans.

"The hurricane is spinning counter-clockwise, it's now got a wall of water in front of it some 30 to 40 feet high, as it approaches the levees that surround the city, it tops those levees," describes [Jefferson Parish public emergency czar Walter] Maestri. "The water comes over the top - and first the communities on the west side of the Mississippi river go under. Now Lake Ponchetrain — which is on the eastern side of the community — now that water from Lake Ponchetrain is now pushed on the population that is fleeing from the western side, and everybody's caught in the middle. The bowl now completely fills and we've got the entire community under water, some 20 to 30 feet under water."

Remember all those levees that the U.S. Army built around New Orleans, to hold smaller floods out of the bowl? Maestri says now those levees would doom the city, because they'll trap the water in.

"It's going to look like a massive shipwreck," says Maestri. "Everything that the water has carried in is going to be there. It's going to have to be cleaned out— alligators, moccasins and god knows what that lives in the surrounding swamps, has now been flushed — literally — into the metropolitan area. And they can't get out, because they're inside the bowl now. No water to drink, no water to use for sanitation purposes. All of the sanitation plants are under water and of course, the material is floating free in the community. The petrochemicals that are produced up and down the Mississippi river—much of that has floated into this bowl... The biggest toxic waste dump in the world now is the city of New Orleans because of what has happened."

Holy shit.

Posted by Erica at 12:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

On my break at work today, I was sitting in the office checking my email when a fly buzzed by my face.

I swatted at it and blurted out, "WHAZZAT?"

Posted by Erica at 11:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBacks (0)

MetroBlogging is looking for bloggers to start up the Minneapolis MetBlog. I kind of want to apply. Except that I never go out anymore or pay all that much attention to what's going on around me. That'd probably be kind of useless.

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If the word cupboard is pronounced "cubbard," why isn't clipboard pronounced "clibbard"?

Posted by Erica at 11:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (10) | TrackBacks (0)

Job Option #2 is a no go. Got the blow off email today.

I couldn't muster much more than, "Enh. Fuck it." Oh well.

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100 Photographs that Changed the World

(via Marginal Revolution)

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Rowboat Veterans for Truth

(via TCB)

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So, my roommates found their way here. Someone had mentioned it once, and then one of them left a comment here, and I was all, "How'd they know?"

I didn't remember bringing it up. That's ordinarily an awkward conversation. "Yeah, so I have this website and *mumble*mumble*...." I wondered if maybe I had sent an email from the wrong address. That happens from time to time because all my accounts are pulled in together in my mail program.

It finally came out that they Googled me. My last name was posted once on a blog a long time ago and the Google cache of a Blogrunner cache has enshrined it. There was some difference of opinion on whether or not I should know about that, but now I know and it's totally okay. If I were looking for a new roommate, I'd Google everyone I met, too. If we lived in Wisconsin, I'd be checking their public court records.

Also, apparently, one of their friends has heard of me or something (and did not vote for me in the Bloggies). Now that is trippy.

Posted by Erica at 2:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (9) | TrackBacks (2)

• I finally got my bonus check from work. It's a little bigger than I thought it would be.
• It's warm and rainy out right now.
• I'm enjoying a nice tasty adult beverage.
• Digital cable should be hooked up on Wednesday.
• Someone else at work asked if my license plate was a whiskey plate. This isn't inherently good or bad, but it tickled me.

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But I would so buy this shirt.

(via Captain Normal)

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First there's this from Chaz:

God forbid her cherry should be popped, but you can fool around with the chocolate all you want.

It's funnier because it's Chaz. He's a, uh, mature fellow with the dryest of wit. Bonus: I can hear that phrase in his voice.

Then, daniel is 12:

"You said chocolate starfish! Eeew!"

And then I saw this:

It's everywhere. Did I miss a memo?

*

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Catch Kelley in all her glory in an Atlanta Journal-Constitution article on local bloggers. Go Kelley! It's your birfday!

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I almost — almost — took a picture of one of the cats. She was lying there being kind of cute.

Don't tell anybody I said that.

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The Lions are actually winning. It's kind of ugly, but they're winning. UPDATE: First road win in 25 games.

Finally there's a WNBA game on network tv (since I'm still in my cable-less state), and there just has to be beach volleyball on at the same time. Gotdammit. UPDATE: Misty and Kerri win! L.A. kicks Sacramento's ass.

My mom was in Vegas last week. She said she went down to the Hard Rock to try and see the medals on display, but the place was so insanely jampacked she didn't catch anything.

Good thing I don't care about the U.S. Open men's final. It's on at the same time as basketball and volleyball. UPDATE: Roger Federer killed Lleyton Hewitt. Which is good because Hewitt's a total prick. The U.S. Open winner gets a million dollars? Damn. Isn't it a little tacky to announce the purse at the trophy presentation? I guess they do that in golf all the time.

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When I left my previous job, I had it in my head that I wanted to get out of the food industry and into pharma/biotech. That's where I had planned to be when I was in school but I had a good internship experience with the food company and went with that because I had an offer in hand before graduation.

In the two years since I left the food job, I've been straddling the two industries. On the one hand, looking for food jobs because that's what I have the most experience doing. On the other hand, looking at pharma/biotech because that's what (I think) I'd rather be doing.

Now, looking at the opportunities that have come my way recently, I feel confident that I have just enough experience that I can target my efforts in pharma/biotech industry and completely leave the food thang behind.

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I'm totally not a fan of public prayer (or prayer in general), but I had a big ol' "Amen!" in my heart when the opening prayer and 9/11 memorial remarks were made at Notre Dame before today's game.

Danielle Green, a star ND basketball player who lost her left arm while serving in Iraq, presented the flag. I'm verklempt.

Okay, on with the game. Go Blue!

UPDATE: Shut it.

Posted by Erica at 2:38 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

I never really talked about what happened a month or so back. Big Worm got fired. It was partly because of some sneaky shit Lazy Overachiever pulled (again), and partly because my supervisor (IMO) took BW's criticism of the "system" personally. He's a pretty outspoken guy, she was on the defensive with him from the get-go, and finally she went to HR with a trumped up list of crap without even bothering to address it with him first. I'm still mad at her for that. I was so mad at the time, I couldn't talk about it without giving myself a coronary. I barely even talked to anyone at work (except for Sunshine Sinatra) for a week.

So, LO's angling for BW's line lead job. I mean, she was before, but now she's going at it hardcore. She has openly stated that she thinks she's a shoo-in because she's essentially been doing it since BW left. I fucking hate her. Fortunately, right after that whole mess with the firing, I got moved over to a different line, so I haven't worked directly with LO for the last month. That goes a long way towards making my workdays more peaceful.

However, SS is still stuck with her. He said things were okay for a while, but this last week they've taken a turn for the worse. She's attitudinal. She's bossy. She's downright rude. She's cussed at him. She takes hour-long breaks (you only get 20 minutes for breaks and 30 minutes for lunch) and then criticizes what's happened in her absence. Everything she says is "I did this" and "I did that" like SS isn't right there with her and there aren't two or three other operators on the line.

Up until now, SS hasn't said a whole lot to Hey Mon or our supervisor. Mainly because he doesn't want to be That Guy who complains all the time. That wouldn't have been my course of action, but that's just me. He was a supervisor for 5 years at his previous job, so he's got some perspective that I don't. Mostly I'm just frustrated on his behalf (the injustice!), but I trust him to handle it in whatever way works best for him. Anyway, he finally had enough yesterday and he went to Hey Mon about it. Two trips to our supervisor (remember, she's above Hey Mon) have turned up nothing. Hey Mon was unaware of the things SS had reported to our supervisor. I have no doubt that Hey Mon will actually do something about it, but he's sometimes a bit hamstrung by the bureacracy.

Technically, this is not my problem at the moment, but there's always the possibility that I could be moved back to the same line as LO. Hey Mon has repeatedly said that LO is not the boss, so there's no reason to do what she says or treat her as such. Problem is, she's the only one who doesn't know that, and she acts accordingly. I'm curious to see what comes of this.

In the mean time, now that our company's acquisition is official, some higher-ups and a number of other people got canne