Follow the Damn Directions

Apparently, there are people in the world who have not experienced the little Follow Directions Worksheet that I received in fifth grade. This lesson taught the importance of reading the documents you are given, in full, and then actually doing what they tell you to do, the way they tell you to do it.

I am amazed at how few people follow directions. Everyone thinks he is a rebel, but I am here to tell you that not paying attention is not rebellious, it’s stupid. And if, by some weird chance, this is your way of being rebellious, then accept the consequences of your behavior.

Case Number One: An employee wanted Direct Deposit. I gave him the form, which is a simple one page affair, and what I got back was hideous. Besides not filling in the required information (he wrote his routing number and account number on a scrap of paper the size of a matchbook and submitted that to me) he had actually scribbled on it. He scribbled where he should have signed. I mean really. And he had also failed to give me a voided check or bank letter. I gave him back a clean, blank form. I high-lighted in many different colors the pertinent instructions (he obviously is a video game baby), I wrote additional instructions and gave him back his previous submissions. I got all of the papers back, the only change being that he signed the new form. He left for vacation to Vegas. I called him on his cell phone to tell him that his Direct Deposit would not be going through. He told me it was absolutely necessary that it go through as he had written checks and mailed them based on his paycheck being automatically deposited this week. I told him it couldn’t be done as he did not follow instructions. He said he didn’t know he had to follow the instructions. I asked him why he would think the instructions were unimportant, as I even highlighted them. He said he didn’t have to do any of this at his old job. Oh, and this person is in college. I am sad for our future brain trust.

Case Number Two: We fired our newest office clerk today. We fired her because every time she was asked to do something, she copped an attitude. I wrote a detailed job description for her position. I gave her the job description and went over it with her. The things she was being asked to do were on the job description. And the person with whom she got the most attitudes with the most often was the person who signed her paycheck. DUH!

Case Number Three: Another employee, long-term, called out the day after the 4th of July holiday. When she came in on Thursday, I reminded her that she would not receive the holiday pay as she did not work her scheduled day after the holiday. She had a fit (with yelling and screaming and slamming things.) This policy has been in force for over ten years. She has received numerous employee manuals where the policy is clearly written. She is still trying to get me to pay her, her excuse: she didn’t read the manual.

Not reading: not an excuse. Thinking something doesn’t apply to you: priceless.

Thursday Thirteen Virgin

Thirteen Things about Vanessa 1. I have one husband, one daughter, one mother, one father, one brother, one great-nephew and one dog. 2. I have two nieces, two sisters-in-law (one’s an ex) and two personalities (I’m not an attention seeker like Sybil.) 3. I believe in the sanctity of three. Three strikes you’re out, things come in threes, three friends are a bad idea, three as a balancing influence and three as a way to create tension. 4. Is boring. 5. I have my first Diet Coke of the day ay 5 am. I only drink diet Coke. I will go thirsty before I would drink a Diet Pepsi. 6. I usually get home from work at 6 pm. 7. Seven makes me think of heaven, which I believe is like being cradled in Mommy and Daddy’s arms and held and hugged for as long as you want. 8. My God is multi-dimensional. Yes, call me a pagan. One day God is a Woman, one day a Man, maybe a Child, or a Tree or a Flower or whatever I need at the time. 9. I have been with my current employer 9.5232876712 years. I need and want a change. 10. My birthday is in October. I am a Libra. 11. I have eleven fingers and toes. No, that’s not true, but it would be cool. I’d have better balance when walking and I could hold onto my wine glass easier. 12. I like reading, writing, drawing, painting, crocheting, quilting, beading, relaxing, the color green, my mother’s spaghetti sauce, Amazing Grace played on bagpipes, The Renaissance Faire. 13. Thirteen is my favorite number. On July 13th, I close on the sale of my old house. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1.

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I Think It's Monday

I got tagged by
Jax to do this meme. I did
one similar a while back.

I am thinking about...lunch...
I said...funny stuff yesterday...
I want to...be at home...
I wish...I had lots of money...
I hear...the fax machine going off...
I wonder...what it would be like to be self employed...
I regret...not going to art school...
I am...in a good mood today...
I dance...when I’m happy...
I sing...off key...
I cry...over phone commercials...
I am not always...honest...
I make with my hands...obscene gestures...
I write...something, no matter how mundane, everyday...
I confuse...myself and others on a reguar basis...
I need...a vacation...
And…It’s already Wednesday, but not yet Friday.

I found this one at Professional Redhead

Instructions:
1. Go to Wikipedia.
2. In the Search box, type your birth month and day (but not year).
3. List three events that happened on your birthday.
4. List two important birthdays and one interesting death.
5. One holiday or observance (if any).On October 2nd ….

Events:
1187 - Siege of Jerusalem: Saladin captures Jerusalem after 88 years of Crusader rule.
1928 - The "Prelature of the Holy Cross and the Work of God", commonly known as Opus Dei, was founded by Saint Josemaría Escrivá.
1950 - The comic strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz is first published in seven US newspapers.

Births:
1452 - King Richard III of England (d. 1485)
1951 - Sting, British musician and actor

Death:
1264 - Pope Urban IV

Holiday:
Roman Catholic Church - Memorial of Guardian Angels

If you want to do these you are tagged. If you don’t want to do them, so be it.

I am reading the children’s books by Emily Rodda. I am starting with the Rowan of Rin series. They are lots of fun. They are easy summer reading and short enough for my tired brain and short attention span.

There’s only two more days until the weekend. I am not going anywhere and I am not having company. I can’t wait: two whole consecutive days at home.

Happy 4th of July Everyone!

Everyone can enjoy Independence Day. Pick a chain and break it.

Madness

The heat dropped from the sky and bubbled up from the ground, creating a vise of misery. Haze shimmered in abstract curtains all around the travelers. In front of them, opulent, vibrant flowers in reds and yellows blinded them after the unrelenting mirror of the desert sand.

Great palms stood sentry around a pool directly in their path. The trees created shade that appeared black and bottomless to their aching eyes. The water called out to the adventurers. It spoke of refreshment. It whispered cool delight. The pond spoke promises of relief from the grinding heat and relief from their troubles. They staggered towards the water, tongues hanging out, imagining the taste of the sweet nectar. They expected it to be a dream, a mirage that would disappear once their hope had revived.

They tumbled into the shade of the trees, hitting the ground. The temperature of their bodies began to drop. Crawling on all fours, they struggled to reach the edge of the dessert spring. Each inch seemed to take an eternity to travel. The sand here near the water was soft and as inviting as down feathers. They were tempted to lie down, pillowing the sand under their heads.

Thirst drove them on. Within a few feet of the water, an odd stench wafted towards them. It began to burn their eyes and choke their throats. It smelled of rotten eggs swimming in a bath of vinegar and rancid milk. They forced themselves to the brink of the water despite the smell that made them want to retch. They reached the water, looked into its depths and saw the empty eyes of drowned animals looking back at them. They added their meager tears to the fetid water.