Life with the Three Crazy Dogs

Something really unexpected happened yesterday at work.

Yesterday at work was just another day where Ms E and I went along with our day. Ms E had to leave middle of the day to the cities to get some things done. When she came back I didn’t get to speak to her coz I was in a middle of working on some jobcodes.

When I got back I was exchanging emails with my other counterpart, the big boss walked back to his office requested my boss to his office and then me. I walked over to his office and was going to ask should we wait for Ms. E, he told me to shut the door and take a seat. I was wondering what secret stuff he has to tell us. He started off saying how the company is saving money, the efficiency use of employees, and lay offs. “Sad to say, our department needs to lay off Ms. E.”   Dang, I was so surprised by that sudden announcement. No indications at all, no notice, na-da. I was shocked, that’s all. He then told me and my boss Ms. E’s last day would be and what will happen between now and her last day. I find that the way he handled it was horse-pucky! Totally unprofessional at all.

Our department will drop back to just the three of us like before Ms. E joined the company. Honestly, I’m sadden, very, very sad. I actually cried….after I left the office. Ms. E and I got to be very close…my sidekick, buddy, mentor and most of all, the person God sent to me to hear His words. A very smart lady and so well educated than my…….you know who. I have mentioned it before, I so look up to her for guidance – personally and professionally.

Ms. E’s responsibilities are mainly on project driven and since all these projects have been outsourced, I guess it’s a good time to get rid of her.  No wonder during my review with my boss last month she told me I’m a “valued employee, our department need me and they appreciate” what I do for them.  Now it makes sense why Ms. E has not had her review. 

My boss was quiet the entire time the big boss was talking to us yesterday. As if she didn’t already know about this big drop of a bomb. These two always have closed door conversations. Both these folks cannot be trusted anymore.  They are afraid I might leave now since Ms. E will be leaving. 

I now have to change my frame of mind when it comes to work.  Keep telling myself I have to count my blessings. It’s hard but I will try no doubt.

My coworker, Ms E and I thought HR’s lay offs are done with, but it’s still happening. Scary for us we thought, our group. Some of the few folks who received the unfortunate news are fine since they were ready for retirement anyways. What’s more, they will receive two checks at the same time – severance and pension checks. The others, not so lucky. I hope they will find something within the company or outside soon. One of the ladies who orders our office supplies told me jobs within the company is meant for folks with “paper” – a 4-year degree the minimum. No kidding, I would have to agree with her. She and I will have to slave over our desks since we are both on the same boat. Funny how years of experiences do not help out much in seeking a job nowadays.

The HR area I’m in is located in an “enclosed” area.  There is a private room with a phone, which is for HR use only, for us folks who sit in open cubes who wants to make private and personal calls.

Since this private room is right at the entrance to the HR area, there are folks who would come in to have a private call on their cellphone or just make a quick phone call.

My cube is about 5 cubes away from the main door to the HR area.  This morning, I was working away and, out of the blue, I heard an Inidan lady’s voice, a very irritated sounding voice.  Initially I thought it was some Indian folks having a conversation outside the HR area.  I stood up, saw no one outside the area but the door to the private room was closed.  Then it struck me that the whole Indian commotion was from that room.  So I kay poh chee a little, walked over to see what was going on.  Obviously, an Indian lady on the phone, sounded like she is yelling at the other party, angry at some thing.  I shook my head, walked back to desk and still able to hear her loud and clear, crystal clear.

The loud commotion from the room went on for another 10 minutes.  I had enough of it – could hardly concentrate on what I’m doing.  I am a minority in this company, too.  I try not to speak my mother tougue when I’m in an English speaking, public environment.  There are a  lot of employees the company hired from India and China.  When these folks from their same country meet up, boy, all you hear is just St. Peter’s language, and they don’t talk softly either.  No offense, but I find it very rude them yakking in their own mother tougue.

Anyways, back to this “irritated” Indian lady.  I walked over and saw two of my other coworkers were standing there trying to figure out what they should do.  These two coworkers sit farther in than i do, yet they were still able to hear this Indian lady.  I told them we should knock on the door and tell her to tone it down as she is disrupting others in the area.  One of the coworker said it’s really annoying to know that any Tom, Dick or Harry walks in to the room where it has a sign that says “HR Use Only”, and jabber on the phone so loudly.  I concur with her.  So, the other coworker said give another 5 minutes, and if it continues, one of us will intervene.

5 minutes past, my coworker walked over, knocked on the door at least 8 times and finally heard the Indian lady acknowledge the knock.  See, she was yelling so loud she could not even hear the knock.  J.C., sister!!  My coworker told her to turn the volume down as she is disturbing a lot of other employees in the area.  Of course she didn’t tell her that there are also many others who are walking by the area stopped and had a WTF look.  The Indian lady said “sorry, sorry” a few times to my coworker.  My coworker went back to her desk, the conversation in the room went on but this time a little softer and yet I could still hear it, not as clear.  Probably she continued with her call for another couple of minutes and then SILENCE.  Phew….peace and quiet.

So there it is, the highlight of the day for me!

Yesterday was one of the days I have worked the longest hours  at Corrine’s; from 10:30 a.m. through 9:45 p.m.  She had no one to work the evening shift.  So I picked it up.  Earn extra pocket money.

Good thing I slept in on Saturday morning and didn’t walk the boys.  If I did, I would have konked out earlier than 9 p.m.  The day at Corrine’s was a busy day, from 11:00 a.m. through 8:10 p.m. we were on our feet.  It was good but tiring.  We started cleaning up the restaurant and closing every thing up after the last customer left at 8:35 p.m.  Last night was the second night I worked the evening shift.  There were more to do than I thought – all the cleaning.  And by the way, David, Corrine and Leong’s little boy, was sure happy to see me worked the whole day.  He asked me a few times if I was going to join them for dinner after work. Yeah, that kid and I play a lot together, read, play cards, jigsaw puzzles andpiggy back.

While we were cleaning up, we got a call from one of the customer Leong had delivered his order.  That guy called to asked for his change back.  When Leong hand the order to the customer, the customer handed Leong $40 (the total of the order was $34.11).  So Leong thought the balance was tips.  Leong left and came back to the restaurant.  The customer called saying the tip is only $1.80, he wants the balance back.  How stingy can you get and $1.80 for tips?  OMG!

By the time we got every thing cleaned up, put away stuff, we left the restaurant to Applebee’s for our dinner at 9:45 p.m.  Corrine said she could cook dinner but she was too tired, worn out.  It has been a very long time since I went out for dinner or drinks that late.  The wait for a table was 20 minutes.  After 10 minutes, we asked for a booth for 5 people.  We plopped down and ordered our appetizers and entrees right away and ate them up pretty quickly.

If I were to eat like what I did at Applebee’s I will be big fat slob in no time.   I would probably need diet pills to help me keep the shape I have now.  I might not need them unless I deligently take the boys out for their walks.

By the time I got home it was 11:15 p.m.  Wow, I just had “siew yeh” since I don’t remember when.  Took a shower right away.  My head was still pounding.  It was way passed my bed time.  I didn’t go to bed after midnight.  Dang, I’m old.  I can’t stay up late anymore.

This morning DBs let me sleep in till 8:30 a.m.  The boys didn’t bug me either.  SWEETHEARTS!

This is not the best picture.  The person sitting in the cube is Ms E.  That cube is my cube and I took this picture from the big boss’ office.  Yes, he is the big brother, staring out of his office right into my cube.  And the big boss even asked me to get privacy screens since there are quite a few wanderers to our area since our area is located next to the windows.

The privacy screens do not work at all.  They are suppose to block whatever is on our monitor which kinda look blackish.  As you can see, the big boss can just see what I have on my monitor.   I usually have Gmail and Yahoo Messenger on throughout the day, so it’s really sucks to have him see what I am doing the whole day.  Can’t goof off much at all.