April 4, 2008
Good News: Friend looked at my car yesterday, as did his dad, and both agreed that the damage has not compromised the structure of the undercarriage. Lots of scrapes, more in some places than others, and half the bumper’s gone, but it’s just the cosmetic bits. She’s safe to drive without repairs for now. At some point I’ll replace the bumper but I’ll do that myself (er, by that I mean, Friend will teach me now), as well as repairing or replacing the scraped up frame rail.
Bad News: Drama, drama, drama-rama at work. Little Boss has been very sensitive, and feels like the staff doesn’t defer to him enough.
Unfortunately, this is a sticky situation because he started off trying to be everyone’s friend when they were hired and didn’t establish a rapport of authority like I did (I’m boss first, friend second), he has a double standard when it comes to the females (get away with everything) and males (don’t get credit for anything), and hasn’t been doing his job as a manager because he’s stuck catering to Big Boss.
The list goes on, but he also shares many of the traits that it appears SingleMa’s former boss possesses. He’s instigated a “quarterly discussion and review” in which he spent most of one person’s review commenting on other employees. Surprise!
And it’s my turn today! Can’t wait to hear what he’s interpreted as my failure to support him, when in fact, I’m doing the managing that he doesn’t have time for.
Good News: I’ve been getting random free stuff 🙂
Bad News: Bosses offered us a free, floater vacation day because we had to work a holiday two months ago without extra compensation, and then tried to take it away from C1, the only one who’s had opportunity to take it, yesterday. “Forgot”? HMPH! Don’t even go there!
Good News: I’m meeting a lot of new visitors here lately, and it’s great to have my loyal readers contributing to the conversation regularly.
Bad News: My personal life is still a major jumble. I’m definitely taking some time to let things settle out, but it’s taking way too long for my taste. It’s probably not good that I keep thinking I want to quit my job and home, and take off at the end of the year to who-knows-what-‘n’-where, though.
Good News: I have great couple friends who are easy and fun to third-wheel with. That’s usually a weird position to be in, but they’re great, and are perfectly willing to rescue me from my house randomly.
Bad News: My parents still need a LOT of training. They keep doing things I specifically ask them not to do.
Good News: It’s Friday!!
April 2, 2008
More and more, I’m seeing the misuse or misspelling of reign versus rein. It’s even appearing at work! I realize it’s nitpicky of me, but it’s the kind of thing that gets to me after a while. So, I present a quick explanation of the correct usage of each word.
reign
1. the period during which a sovereign occupies the throne.
2. royal rule or authority; sovereignty.
3. dominating power or influence: the reign of law.
Appropriate blog usage: Over this blog, and my budget, I reign supreme.
rein
1. Often, reins. a leather strap, fastened to each end of the bit of a bridle, by which the rider or driver controls a horse or other animal by pulling so as to exert pressure on the bit.
2. any of certain other straps or thongs forming part of a harness, as a checkrein.
3. any means of curbing, controlling, or directing; check; restraint.
4. reins, the controlling or directing power: the reins of government.
—Idioms
10. give rein to, to give complete freedom to; indulge freely: to give rein to one’s imagination. Also, give free rein to, give full rein to.
Appropriate blog usage: You’ve been given $10,000, and free rein to spend it. What do you do?
September 26, 2007
So frequently I’m advised to buy high-quality classic clothing because “it’s an investment, and you’ll be able to wear it for years.” Well sure, if you’re not ME.
It’s 12:30 and already I’ve gotten egg gook on my shirt, dirty from moving boxes, and two minutes ago, I suffered a tomato catastrophe. While trying to fork a cherry tomato, it exploded from its back end and spattered me from arm to midsection with gooey tomato guts.
Now you can just imagine how horrified anyone should be to sell me anything nice, much less how eager I’m not to spend real money on clothes that I’m going to wear. *shaking head* Honestly.
April 6, 2007
I received my first Roth IRA transaction statement today, and I must admit: I’m baffled. It lists income dividends at the end of each month, which I understand: as your fund makes money, you get dividends paid out which are just reinvested in the same stock or bond if you choose not to take the money out. Yes? So, what’s this other thing, the long term capital gains thing?
This statement has a lot more information than my usual Vanguard statements. It lists the Year-to-Date Income Dividends, the ST/LT cap gains, the contributions/distributions, and the total income year-to-date separately and neatly. It’s even got my 30-day yield, share prices, trade dates, and total shares owned. Yet, I understand so little!!
I’m really writing this post to serve as a big fat reminder that I need to look all this up and figure it out. But I’m not going to do it right this second because it’s ten til midnight and I’m old and tired. Better luck tomorrow.