(EDIT: moving to whiny rants)
Aww, now how will I find out the ending to Harry Potter and the Porcelain Goddess?
--Patrick
I almost had a perfect shift at work tonight. I would define a perfect shift as one where problems occurred, but I blazed through them unscathed. An easy shift is where nothing happens and everything is a breeze. In a hotel every day is a gamble because you just never know who or what you're going to have to deal with. Today, due to some poor planning by our reservation department it left us with negative inventory on two-bed rooms. Now negative inventory on single-king rooms I can deal with, because at least two-bed rooms can accommodate them (even if they get pissy about it). But when you're negative on two-beds, you really have to get creative.
I have a lot of passion for my job. I like a good challenge and enjoy coming out on top. Today's issue was not unlike things I've seen before, but this was the first time I'd seen it as a manager. It was my time to take charge and guide the team through it. First I told the ladies to see to it that our two-beds were last sells. I wanted to make sure that every guest with a reservation for a Two-bed was first asked if they would be okay with a single king. Those that didn't agree were offered a King Executive, which is a larger room that could be fitted with a complimentary rollaway bed. Guests who still protested would get the Two-bed. There were a few tough sells. Some guests were ready to start throwing things until I was able to step out and just explain the situation to them honestly and with a sincere desire to try and help them make the best of a bad situation. I don't see any reason to lie to anyone about why we are negative on two-beds. Saying "we're experiencing a shortage on two-beds, but I would like to find out more about your individual situation so I can find a reasonable selection for you.". It's as I've told the ladies, in situations like this we absolutely are to blame. We can't go on the defensive when guests start yelling. It's better to agree with what they have to say and sincerely do your very best to come to an understanding with them. Today I convince a group of people that they didn't necessarily need their three rooms all together on the same floor... or even in the same building. It's about how you say it. And sometimes comping the parking doesn't hurt either.
The night went like that pretty much. By the end of my shift we had completely balanced out our two-bed inventory. I also felt genuinely pleased with the overall satisfaction of every guest we had to inconvenience.
Then some guests arrived that ruined everything. They show up at midnight, demanding rooms that face away from the highway.
Now, we actually sit right next to a large highway. In fact each building has a side directly facing it. A lot of work and money was put into equipping each room with a sealed door to better block the noise, but sometimes we'd have the occasional person complain about it still. These guests were ones who wanted to complain. Sadly we only had rooms on the freeway side of one of our buildings. We did everything we could to make them understand, however it just felt like we were dealing with a brick wall. Eventually the guest left with his room keys and a huff. Based on the interaction I knew we'd be hearing from him again soon. I failed to satisfy him. It made me feel like shit.
I have a lot of passion for my job. I like a good challenge and enjoy coming out on top. Today's issue was not unlike things I've seen before, but this was the first time I'd seen it as a manager. It was my time to take charge and guide the team through it. First I told the ladies to see to it that our two-beds were last sells. I wanted to make sure that every guest with a reservation for a Two-bed was first asked if they would be okay with a single king. Those that didn't agree were offered a King Executive, which is a larger room that could be fitted with a complimentary rollaway bed. Guests who still protested would get the Two-bed. There were a few tough sells. Some guests were ready to start throwing things until I was able to step out and just explain the situation to them honestly and with a sincere desire to try and help them make the best of a bad situation. I don't see any reason to lie to anyone about why we are negative on two-beds. Saying "we're experiencing a shortage on two-beds, but I would like to find out more about your individual situation so I can find a reasonable selection for you.". It's as I've told the ladies, in situations like this we absolutely are to blame. We can't go on the defensive when guests start yelling. It's better to agree with what they have to say and sincerely do your very best to come to an understanding with them. Today I convince a group of people that they didn't necessarily need their three rooms all together on the same floor... or even in the same building. It's about how you say it. And sometimes comping the parking doesn't hurt either.
The night went like that pretty much. By the end of my shift we had completely balanced out our two-bed inventory. I also felt genuinely pleased with the overall satisfaction of every guest we had to inconvenience.
Then some guests arrived that ruined everything. They show up at midnight, demanding rooms that face away from the highway.
Now, we actually sit right next to a large highway. In fact each building has a side directly facing it. A lot of work and money was put into equipping each room with a sealed door to better block the noise, but sometimes we'd have the occasional person complain about it still. These guests were ones who wanted to complain. Sadly we only had rooms on the freeway side of one of our buildings. We did everything we could to make them understand, however it just felt like we were dealing with a brick wall. Eventually the guest left with his room keys and a huff. Based on the interaction I knew we'd be hearing from him again soon. I failed to satisfy him. It made me feel like shit.
Some people would rather go to bed angry. I will never understand the mentality, but if I do everything in my power to work with someone and they still refuse to bend, then I just assume they are part of this group and move on.
--Patrick
It makes them feel their existence is justified if they believe everyone's out to get them.
Dealing with people who have been abused is so complicated.
When you're someone who isn't in that situation, looking in from outside, it's easy to say "you should hate that person, you should want nothing to do with him, if he did that to me I'd never forgive him, I'd wish him dead," but for abuse victims there are so many levels of anger, sadness, and self-abuse that occurs because the victim feels their abuser wouldn't act that way if the victim wasn't there to "bring out the worst", and on another level, wishing things were better when the abuser is family. So my perspective is cut out the rot, get rid of the awful person, don't waste what little time we have in this world on people who make you unhappy, but even when an abused person agrees with that sentiment, it's hard because on some level they desperately wish things were different.
I think I'm lucky I can just kind of go numb on things; it makes it easy to forget how I've been treated in the past. On the one hand I wish I could teach that skill to others, on the other hand I don't know if they'd want to be as out of synch with their emotions as I am. Best I can do is be there, but that never feels like it's enough.
When you're someone who isn't in that situation, looking in from outside, it's easy to say "you should hate that person, you should want nothing to do with him, if he did that to me I'd never forgive him, I'd wish him dead," but for abuse victims there are so many levels of anger, sadness, and self-abuse that occurs because the victim feels their abuser wouldn't act that way if the victim wasn't there to "bring out the worst", and on another level, wishing things were better when the abuser is family. So my perspective is cut out the rot, get rid of the awful person, don't waste what little time we have in this world on people who make you unhappy, but even when an abused person agrees with that sentiment, it's hard because on some level they desperately wish things were different.
I think I'm lucky I can just kind of go numb on things; it makes it easy to forget how I've been treated in the past. On the one hand I wish I could teach that skill to others, on the other hand I don't know if they'd want to be as out of synch with their emotions as I am. Best I can do is be there, but that never feels like it's enough.
This reminded me of this article:
And a little later she continues,
This one also raises some related ideas:
I don't have time at the moment to talk about my own experiences, but I liked reading your reflections, and just wanted to share these.
And I appreciate them; thanks.
I learned not to give leaving as a recommendation in any relationship long ago, abusive or not. Not for the reasons you quoted, which are good reasons, but flatly because people don't listen to that recommendation (for the reasons you quoted). But that quote gives good insight into why I wouldn't understand. Abandonment isn't a big fear of mine, while it is for people I've known. Which sucks. Their sense of value is lowered by the abuse, which makes them think no one would want them, so they stick around and continue getting abused, and so on, round and round we go.
For the last two days I've had headaches and the sensation of something caught in my throat/sinuses. Today I reached back and there's this hard lump at the back of my throat. It doesn't hurt. I can eat and drink and breathe just fine. It's just...annoying.
The rant is that I don't really want to pay for another doctor's visit where nothing is wrong. I'm sick of shelling out money to find out that I just have to wait something out. So I don't want to go to the doctor, but I kind of want to go to the doctor.
The rant is that I don't really want to pay for another doctor's visit where nothing is wrong. I'm sick of shelling out money to find out that I just have to wait something out. So I don't want to go to the doctor, but I kind of want to go to the doctor.
Tonsillolith?
(Take care while Googling, the videos of removal tend to be ... unsettling for some)
--Patrick
I have basically no squeamishness... That was awesome to watch. It's so weird looking, and then there's like this clean, reopened pocket afterward... neat
GasBandit
Staff member
You're one of those guys who watches zit pop videos, aren't you.
But the sebaceous cyst videos are awesome.
Haha, oh... No, I certainly don't seek out videos like that, and besides, I've seen a zit or two pop in my lifetime, so I don't feel like I need a video.
It's more a fascination with anatomy and disease/treatments. I just have a really objective way of looking at it, so blood, viscera and gruesome injuries and various other unpleasant things don't really bug me. I see it as "Oh, okay, this is what this is, what it does, and here's what we do to fix it when a problem goes on." I didn't know tonsilliths were a thing, so it was just really cool to see how bad they can get and what has to be done. I dunno. Anatomy is cool, and seeing a problem just triggers my "bring chaos into order" complex, I guess, rather than a disgust response. I once saw an avulsed eyeball (do not Google image that if you are a squeamish person), and people near me were vomiting just from the sight of it.
I own a copy of Grey's Anatomy of the Human Body that read for my own edification. I just think its neat. No desire to watch zits pop, outside of the vanity of getting rid of them on my own face.
I don't really want to debate the ACA with @stienman. I'd rather talk plans for next year's vacation. Another visit to the Motor Muster and hitting up those record stores in Ann Arbor now that I know they're there.
Step one: acquire an SL-1200 turntable. Doesn't matter if I don't have any other stereo components yet. Once that one item is in my possession, I'm set.
Step one: acquire an SL-1200 turntable. Doesn't matter if I don't have any other stereo components yet. Once that one item is in my possession, I'm set.
There's plenty of them in SE MI, but whether anyone will want to part with one is another story...Step one: acquire an SL-1200 turntable. Doesn't matter if I don't have any other stereo components yet. Once that one item is in my possession, I'm set.
--Patrick
Stupid doctor. Sinus infection that we don't want to treat. No idea about the lump in my throat.
So I Googled. I'm now 100% sure that I'm suffering from Silent Reflux that can be treated by over the counter medication, which I will begin treating today. I don't know why I go in there at all. The bump I felt was a standard part of my throat, and I just never had a reason to reach back there and poke about.
So I Googled. I'm now 100% sure that I'm suffering from Silent Reflux that can be treated by over the counter medication, which I will begin treating today. I don't know why I go in there at all. The bump I felt was a standard part of my throat, and I just never had a reason to reach back there and poke about.
GasBandit
Staff member
I don't need a doctor for a head cold. But it does make it harder to work.Sooooooo want to make a healthcare joke here.
But I won't.
--Patrick
In Communist Belgium, you could stay home at full pay with that head cold. (note: not for what a doctor would officially call a head cold...But it depends on the doctor. A colleague's been away for 3 weeks with a cervical hernia - but he's still on facebook and posting pictures of himself sitting in a lawnchair. I know I couldn't do that when I had a hernia, heh.)
GasBandit
Staff member
I could stay home in capitalist Texas, too, if not for the fact that without a Traffic Director, the entire radio operation ceases to function. The TD is the one who builds each day's schedule of commercials from the advertising orders sold by the salespeople. Without the TD, there's no commercials on the air. Without commercials, we're off the air. Our TD went into the hospital on monday, with fluid buildup around the heart. And I'm the only other person in the building who knows how to use the traffic software. But when the TD comes back, I intend to make the time to train someone else, so that I can have the luxury of getting sick without putting the company out of business when the TD is also gone. (Her health is deteriorating rapidly, she's an obese 60 year old who, while she's quit now, used to be a pack-a-day smoker until about a year ago).
Again: in Communist Belgium, you'd still have the perfectly OK right to go home, and it's their problem, not yours.
Whaddaya mean, personal responsibility?
He has a cervical hernia? Interesting.
Necronic
Staff member
/r/popping. Spent one terrible night there. It is the definition of ambilvalence.
So, my rant for today. Huge presentation about a program I have built. Kind of a big deal, been working on this off and on for the better part of a year, and this is the sales pitch. If it goes well I will get more time and money allocated as we expand the project. I have to get these guys hooked. I come into the meeting sit down, set my stuff up, and realize its going to be a call in meeting, and GoToMeeting is now a blocked sight with a 5 day waiting period. So I have half the people sitting with me live in the meeting while the other half are on the phone as I describe the software. Everyone that was physically in the meeting was pretty excited. Everyone outside was (rightfully) incredibly bored.
So happy to have a ridiculous failure of simple IT destroy so much serious work. This is not new tech, there is no reason this doesn't work flawlessly. FYI. THIS is why people don't respect IT departments. THIS RIGHT HERE.
Also printers.
If it was terrible, you don't seem ambivalent?
Minor rant: slept 8 hours, still exhausted.
That's the neck, not the uterus, by the way
Yeah yeah, I know. I still got a laugh out of itThat's the neck, not the uterus, by the way
The vet tech got my dog bit yesterday. A lady with a black lab was checking in at the same time as myself. The other lab was quite sick. I don't know what was wrong with her but her head was shaved after her surgery. Ralph was trying to pull over to the other lab, and she would growl at him. Ralph is just a dog that is happy to be where ever he is, and he has NO manners.
So just as I get to the more legal part of the check in papers the tech offers to hold Ralph. So I agree. Then he proceeds to introduce Ralph to the frightened dog, and she snaps and bites Ralph on the nose.
And yet I was the one that apologized to the owner with the frightened dog...
This is the second Vet I've used that has vet techs that don't know how to handle dogs.
And for random crap...
an empty Yambag on an adult dog is a sad thing to see.
So just as I get to the more legal part of the check in papers the tech offers to hold Ralph. So I agree. Then he proceeds to introduce Ralph to the frightened dog, and she snaps and bites Ralph on the nose.
And yet I was the one that apologized to the owner with the frightened dog...
This is the second Vet I've used that has vet techs that don't know how to handle dogs.
And for random crap...
an empty Yambag on an adult dog is a sad thing to see.
nevermind.... stupid computer didn't load everything...