It's My Birthday

It's my birthday today. My son sent me a cake, and my daughter has plans to bake me one later today. I have taken the day off and am spending it tooling around on the web. I had other plans, but they are not to be. I'd like to go down to Floriday to see my grandson, Clifton, but Fae is making that not a possibility for today and I don't really have the money to make the trip anyway. So for this birthday, I will spend it quietly here on the web.

Just give an answer, any answer will do.

This is an actual exchange from my week this week:

 

Phone mail message from me to Viviene at 8:45 on Monday:

"Hi Viviene.  I have a cube move of 16 people that I'd like to happen next Tuesday if possible.  I need to find out when you will have capacity to move them.  I also will need to get a general estimate of what a move like this will cost.  It's just a basic cube-to-cube move and there will be no re-configuration needed.  If you could get back to me with something tentative today, it would be greatly appreciated."

 

Phone mail message from me to Viviene at 11:45, Monday:

"Hi Viviene, I never heard from you today and I know you leave at noon.  I really only need a ball park estimate. If you can't get that for me today, can I have it first thing tomorrow morning.  We need to get back to our VP on this."

 

Phone mail message from me to Viviene at 9:45, Tuesday.

"Hi Viviene, still haven't heard from you regarding that move.  I'm being pushed to get it moving, so if you could get back to me I'd appreciate it.  I will be e-mailing you and Barry with the spread sheet detailing what we need.  Please get back to me with a general estimate of what this move will cost and when I will be able to set the move up for.  Thanks."

 

Email message to Viviene and Barry:

______________________________________________

From:    Dancing Emilia (xxx3xxx) 

Sent:   Tuesday, August 19, 2008 10:59 AM

To:     Bils Vivivene (xxx1xxx); Frank Barry. (xxx2xxx)

Cc:    

Subject:        Cubes 08-19-08.xls

 

>>>movespreadsheet.xls<<<

 

Viviene and Barry:

The attached spread sheet details the cube moves that we would like to plan for Tuesday, August 26.  I will be filling out individual detailed FWR's for each move. I will need a ball park estimate as to what this move will cost the department.  Your help with this is appreciated.

 

Thanks,

Emmy

 

Email message to Vivien:

-----Original Message-----

From:    Dancing Emilia (xxx2xxx) 

Sent:   Tuesday, August 19, 2008 11:36 AM

To:     Bils Viviene (xxx1xxx)

Cc:     Foote Sandra (xxx3xxx)

Subject:        FW: Cubes 08-19-08.xls

 

Viviene:

I have not heard from you regarding my voice mail this morning.  I need to get a move date for the request below and an estimated cost for the moves.  Please let me know as soon as possible. 

 

Thanks,

       Emmy

 

Phone mail message to Viviene at 12:35 on Tuesday:

"Hi Viviene, I'm sorry that I haven't heard from you regarding the move our group would like for next Tuesday.  I know that you have left for the day and are out of the office tomorrow, but I really do need to get an estimate.  If there is someone in your department who could help with this that would be great.  Thanks."

 

Then late in the day on Tuesday someone from another department moved into one of the key cubes staked out in our move.  So after working with the manager most affected by the change in plans we updated the plan and I was still waiting to hear from Viviene regarding the move.

 

Email received by me early Wednesday morning:

From: Foote Sandra (xxx5xxx)
Sent: Wednesday, August 20, 2008 9:32 AM
To: Dancing Emilia (xxx3xxx); Kram Janie (xxx4xxx)
Subject: Re: Cubes 08-20-08.xls

Emmy:
When do you think you might get a cost estimate? Also, with these changes, when do we know we can have these cubes? I have not told my supervisors as I don't want to get their hopes up if we can't get the desired locations. But I would like to tell them before they hear from others. Let me know what you understand on how the next steps go. I do need to let Monica know the costs but hoping they're so minor she won't blink an eye. Many thanks!

 

From: Dancing Emilia (xxx3xxx)
To: Kram Janie (xxx4xxx); Foote Sandra (xxx5xxx)
Sent: Wed Aug 20 09:26:14 2008
Subject: Cubes 08-20-08.xls

Janie and Sandra:
Attached is the revised spreadsheet for the moves.

Thanks,
Emmy

<<Cubes 08-20-08.xls>>

 

Phone call from me to the Facilities Number:

"Hello, Facilities: This is Sherry."

"Hi Sherry, this is Emmy.  I sent Viviene an email asking for the price of a move and haven't heard from her.  I'm hoping that you will be able to help me with it."

"Viviene is off today, but maybe Brad would know.  Let me ask him."  Puts me on hold.

"Hello, Emmy?"

"Yes"

"Brad says that he doesn't want to say because he hasn't seen the request and could be wrong.  You'll have to wait until tomorrow to talk to Viviene.  He also wanted to know if you'd gotten this approved by Will Fields, he has to approve all moves."

"Will Fields?  We've been working with Barry Franks for moves on this floor.  Nobody told me that it'd changed."

"No, Will is the liason for building 3."

"I would so much rather work with Will than Barry, any day of the week.  Thanks, I've already e-mailed Barry, but I'll make sure Will gets it too."

"Sorry I couldn't be of more help."

"You've done plenty.  Thanks."

 

Email sent to Barry early Wednesday morning:

From:    Dancing Emilia (xxx3xxx) 

Sent:   Wednesday, August 20, 2008 9:48 AM

To:     Franks Barry. (xxx2xxx)

Cc:     Fields Will (xxx6xxx); Kram Janie (xxx5xxx); Foote Sandra (xxx4xxx); Gil Pam. (xxx7xxx)

Subject:        Cubes 08-20-08.xls

 

Barry:

I have attached a new proposed cube move spreadsheet for Monica Head's  group since we have found out that cube 37355 isn't going to be available. Please let me know if this plan is agreeable as soon as possible as we would like to move next Tueday if that is possible. While I was talking to Sherry Winston regarding another issue she mentioned that Will Fields is the contact to grant approval for the moves, so I have cc'd him on this message.

 

Thanks,

Emmy

 

<<<movespreadsheet082008>>>>

 

Email form Sandra early Wednesday;

______________________________________________

From:    Foote Sandra (xxx4xxx) 

Sent:   Wednesday, August 20, 2008 9:54 AM

To:     Dancing Emilia (xxx3xxx)

Subject:        RE: Cubes 08-20-08.xls

 

Emmy

 

Thanks for all your help on this, by the way…

 

Sandra

 

Email from Barry Wednesday morning

______________________________________________

From:    Franks Barry. (xxx1xxx) 

Sent:   Wednesday, August 20, 2008 10:19 AM

To:     Dancing Emilia (xxx3xxx)

Cc:     Fields Will (xxx8xxx); Kram Janie (xxx5xxx); Foote Sandra (xxx4xxx); Gil Pam. (xxx7xxx)

Subject:        RE: Cubes 08-20-08.xls

 

Emmy:

I will review with you tomorrow when I am back in Corporate. Unless things have changed- I am responsible for cubes moves and approvals for Bldg 3 . Will- is this now your role?

 

My answer to Barry:

______________________________________________

From:    Dancing Emilia (xxx3xxx) 

Sent:   Wednesday, August 20, 2008 10:20 AM

To:     Franks Barry. (xxx2xxx)

Subject:        RE: Cubes 08-20-08.xls

 

Thanks Barry.  I appreciate it.

 

Emmy

 

Email to me from Viviene early this morning:

______________________________________________

From:    Bils Viviene (xxx1xxx) 

Sent:   Thursday, August 21, 2008 6:49 AM

To:     Dancing Emilia (xxx2xxx)

Subject:        RE: Cubes 08-19-08.xls

 

What is the purpose of these moves within the same floor?

 

Email answer to Viviene:

______________________________________________

From:    Dancing Emilia (xxx2xxx) 

Sent:   Thursday, August 21, 2008 9:02 AM

To:     Bils Viviene (xxx1xxx)

Cc:     Foote Sandra (xxx5xxx); Kram Janie (xxx6xxx)

Subject:        RE: Cubes 08-19-08.xls

 

The purpose of these moves is to consolidate Sandra Foote's and Janie Kram's teams into one area and create a more workable communications climate among the groups.  I still need an estimate of what these moves will cost.  Is there some reason that this is being kept secret?

 

Emmy

 

Email answer from Viviene:

_____________________________________________

From:    Bils Viviene (xxx1xxx) 

Sent:   Thursday, August 21, 2008 10:12 AM

To:     Dancing Emilia (xxx2xxx)

Subject:        RE: Cubes 08-19-08.xls

 

Anytime I have a request for this number of people to move I need to get my manager's approval. We also cannot handle this number of moves on a weeknight and would need to be scheduled on a weekend. I'll keep you posted.

 

Email to Viviene:

______________________________________________

From:    Dancing Emilia (xxx1xxx) 

Sent:   Thursday, August 21, 2008 10:17 AM

To:     Bils Viviene (xxx2xxx)

Cc:     Foote Sandra (xxx5xxx); Kram Janie (xxx6xxx)

Subject:        RE: Cubes 08-19-08.xls

 

A weekend is fine, but it doesn't answer the question I asked and we still do not have a cost estimate.  I have been asking for this information all week.  Can you please give me at least a ball park figure or a general per move figure?  Sandra needs to give this information to her VP. 

 

Thanks,

Emmy

 

Finally a straight forward answer:

______________________________________________

From:    Bils Viviene (xxx1xxx) 

Sent:   Thursday, August 21, 2008 10:18 AM

To:     Dancing Emilia (xxx2xxx)

Subject:        RE: Cubes 08-19-08.xls

 

An average is $50.00 per person to move an employee.

 

If you have read this far, thanks.  I will tell you why this exchange is bothering me besides the fact that the whole move process is being convoluted and a move that should take up my entire week is likely to eat away two weeks instead.  The bothersome thing is that I was asking a very straightforward question and wasn't getting any answer to it.  In the end, Viviene resorted to a diversionary tactic that I've noticed politicians getting away with, instead of answering the question I asked, she answered a question she assumed I accept as the answer hoping I'd give up.  It works like this (and keep in mind this is a made up conversation to make a point)…

 

Reporter: "Mr. Obama, can you comment on John McCain's sudden rise in the polls this week?"

 

Obama: "Yes, I can.  But first I'd like to say congratulations to America's Gold Medal winners here in Beijing this week.  They are an exemplary group of young people."

 

Reporter: We noticed that you were at the match between May, Walsh and the Columbians, would you like to elaborate on that?"

 

And the outcome would be that Obama would have avoided answering a question that he may not have had a good answer to.    The tatic makes me insane.  It makes me wonder is the person using it thinks that I'm too stupid to understand that they haven't answered my question at all.  And why is it that I'm the only one rude enough to point out that the question hasn't been answered?  But mainly, what was so freaking upsetting about a $50 per move price tag that I couldn't get an answer for the question?

 

This should be a straight forward move, but I have a feeling it's going to be a move for the record books of hell.

 

 

 

3-Day!!!

This year I can't afford to walk, but I will be there. I have signed up to work in the Gear Shop. I'm really looking forward to being there. If you'd like to support a 3-day walker, please visit my friend Karen's 3-day page. link to Karen's page.

If I Ruled the Universe and Other Fantasies

I'm sitting in my cube today being amused by the hubbub of people around me being moved to another building.  I have worked with the moving group in the past and can't say as I'm sad to see them on their way across the campus.  But that really is beside the point.  When I first heard the rumors about this group being absorbed by another part of the Communications department, and especially when I found out that it was more than just a rumor, I went to the powers that be in the remaining groups and told them quite bluntly to decide what they wanted the landscape here to look like so the moves could be arranged at the time of the departing members.  No one, and I mean no one came to me with a move schedule.  When I got a move date, I went again to the  powers that be and they all kind of shrugged. No plans were made to move.  Well the move will take place on Friday.  I have been told by the cube Czar not to make plans to fill the upcoming cubes…he's had requests from another department and we may all be displaced…I do not rule the universe, but I'm sure that come Monday, the rulers of the 7th floor are going to wish that they did.

 

Weird Night

I got home from work just in time to take Lizzie to youth group.  Ususally I stay and work on Sunday's line up for the video group, but the computer that I use is being used by the  consignment sale ladies.  I was leaving and a couple of old friends were dropping kids off for youth group.  Neither have attended our church for years.  I would have liked to stay and talk to them, but neither got out of their cars.  I went home and made a vegetable quiche, but by the time it was done I was no longer hungry and just wrapped it up and put it in the refridgerator.  When it was time I returned to the church to pick Lizzie up and the friends were there and standing around chatting, so I joined them.  Our pastors wife was there too.  Apparently there was an issue with one of the friends daughters and one of the pastors kids.  The pastors wife and the friends were upset about it, but it's not like the handwriting wasn't on that wall…for a long time.  After Lizzie and I left we went to Kroger to pick up some more eggs and soda.  Apparently the town's police department has new cars and they were all out having fun in them.  It didn't take much to get the message to mind my manners, so I was taking it easy on the road.  While we were checking out, a couple of the officer's that I'd passed a few minutes earlier were in the store and looking for someone.  So with this kind of feeling of being observed Lizzie and I headed home.  I was stopping at the red light at the interstate and the car beside me started to come into my lane and then realized there wasn't room and swerved back into the other lane.  I knew that the lane they were in would be a turn only lane in a few hundred yards, so when the light turned green I held back and let them have the lane.  I was trying to be nice.  Then right were the lane disappears the car seemed to just explode.  There wasn't another car there, so I didn't think they could have hit someone.  And damn it if they didn't just keep going.  I was slowed to a crawl at that point, because I didn't understand what had just happened when Lizzie said "There's a deer, they hit a deer", and sure enough, trying to pathetically drag itself off the road was an injured buck.  I pulled off the road, but I'm not sure why.  There really wasn't anything I could do for the deer.  Lizzie called the cops and when they came it was the cops from Kroger.  They said they were going to have to kill the deer, and I guess it's right, but Lizzie was already crying and I didn't want to stick around for that so I said that I had to go.  They didn't object.  The only thing I can think was that the person in the other car must have been drinking or something, because why else would they not stop?  And what do you tell your insurance company?  Then farther down the road a large dog ran out in front of my car.  I went off the road to miss hitting it.  Then farther down the road there was a car that sped up right behind me and started blaring their horn.  I was being careful, but not going so slow it should have been a problem to anyone.  Still, there was a car flashing brights and blowing their horn at me.  I guess the thought that whatever their emergency was, I was supposed to respond to it.   By the time I got home my nerves were jangled.  I took some benedryl and went to bed.  I don't like to take things to sleep, but last night I needed it.   I was on my way to work this morning and no where near where the accident happened;  I was about 20 miles away, and I saw the messed up car from last night.  Only there was someone totally different driving it.  How weird is that?

 

Pay by the Minutes

Lizzie got a phone for her birthday; one of those that you pre-pay by the minute things.  It's good, she likes it.  But looking at their plans I decided that for half the cost of my monthly service for one phone I could buy minutes for 3 phones.  The plan would probably work if everyone used the phone like I do, which is to say not at all.  She's had the phone for just over a month and I have had to purchase minutes for her every week.  I buy them on Friday and usually at least by Wednesday she's complaining that she's out of minutes.  I sat at my computer this morning contemplating purchasing a bigger package of minutes for her and then realized how counter-productive that would be.  If I buy her more, she's just going to be inclined to be less careful with the one's she has and she's not going to feel the need to work toward purchasing minutes on her own.  Still, I hate being like those exaggerated characters on cell phone commercials who are obsessed with how many minutes are being "wasted".  But I do, every time I walk by and she's casually chatting with her friends on her phone…  The answer would be to get an inexpensive land line that she can casually chat on while she's at home…but that too is being a bit co-dependant.  I think that I'm going to have to be clear with her about exactly how many minutes I'm willing to purchase in a month and if she wants more she can get a job or start babysitting or something to purchase them.  On the other side of that, I still haven't used up my minutes for the month…which is to say that I don't talk on the phone if I don't need to.