h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hey there, y'all.

I've been reading all of the things that you've all been writing about this week- Kaz's grandfather passing, Mikey's potential good news, Meg's seasonal blues (for lack of a better term, not meaning to downplay it at all), etc. Not to mention that I've spoken with some of you offline, and there's lots of stuff, both good and bad, going on behind the scenes, as well. I've also made a new acquaintance here who knows a thing or two about fiance visas and the whole load of crap that goes along with it, so at least I can get some advice on how not to mess *that* up. Not to mention I'll have someone to talk ice hockey with.

I'm happy for those of you who are having a good time right now, praying for those of you who aren't, and I'm here for you all regardless of which.

When you get down to it, I'm not doing so badly, certainly not in comparison to some of the shit some of you are having to contend with.

Work's been a bitch this week. I can't seem to do *anything* right. I've been reduced to tears on at least three occasions, and morale is rapidly declining on all fronts. We've been reprimanded collectively for "talking too much", "not being focused", and "eating all day long". People are getting on my case about every little thing, which upsets me, and then I get flak about being "paranoid", "defensive", and "over-sensitive". Though I did get a hug from my boss today, and assurance that if I was screwing up as badly as I think, she'd talk with me about it. But it still hurts. And then came the big clincher... they've taken away our overtime. I can't get by on straight time, and there's no ands, ifs or buts about that. Ugh. Keep your fingers crossed, if you will, and pray that changes soon. Please.

Other than that, nothing much else to report. I came home today to find my computer was ed, and have wasted my evening reinstalling Windows, reinstalling and reconfiguring all of my hardware, including my modem, router, and god knows what else... call me a dork, but I couldn't get by without my connection to all of you. The thought of not being able to get online and be in contact with you guys, on h2 and/or via email, has made me appreciate even more how lucky I am to have you.

On the bright side, I'll have an extra hour a day to check in with you all and I'll have my Saturdays free, for a while anyway. On the down side, I'll be totally f*cked for a while. C'est la vie.

Lots of love and all the healing thoughts I have to those of you who are ill, who have suffered loss this week, and who are having all kinds of other problems. You know who you are. Good luck to Mikey and anyone else who's got good things going at the moment. And thanks to you all for being such wonderful, dependable friends and for always being here for me, in spite of everything else.

Well, it's time I hit the sheets. Good night for now.

Sorry the meanies made you cry this week!

So Mikey has good news!
Can you tell what it is?
My computer is putzing along and so am I
*putt putt*

Good you are getting a hand with the visa process from someone with experience An earth angel maybe!

Have you heard from Terri or spim recently?

Hang in there! I know that sounds trite but everything seems to work out one way or another. I can relate to the work situation. My boss is such an $&^#%$^@^%$%$ right now that three people have quit this week. Me included! I know it's stressful, especially when $$$ is a concern, but you have people who care and of course your special friend overseas. I hope things look up soon!


PS...Wings beat Colubmus 5-1. I know it's not much but it helps me!

Good morning!

Thanks for all of your moral support. I'm sure things aren't as bad as they seem, and hopefully things will at least pick up so that we can have overtime again. Under ordinary circumstances, I'd be updating my resume and picking through the classifieds, but I'm worried about how that could affect the visa application process.

Hey, thanks for the good news about the Wings, Haikeeba! Woohoo! That gives me something more to smile about this morning.

Abbi, I'm not sure whether or not Mikey has good news just yet. She'd said she *might* have some later this week, and I thought I'd share that so that we can all be pulling for her! She's long overdue for some really good news. Personally, I'm hoping it'll be that she's found a new job, and a really great one.

I haven't heard from Terri or Spim in ages. Last I heard they were looking for a new apartment, then they disappeared. I was thinking of them myself yesterday, wondering exactly where on earth this apartment could be? I'll have to try to send her another email. I've got her phone number, at least her old one, I could try it and see if it's still in service, or if their calls are being forwarded at least. I really miss Terri, I hope they're doing okay.

Time to drag myself off to work. Take care and have a good day, you guys.

When people niggle you over things they have no right to niggle you over, and then complain that it upset you, I thik they have big issues going on for themselves. Its a sign of selfish behaviour and needing to blame others for their cock-ups. Thats my opinion anyway.

Sorry to hear you will be worse off on money, we couldn't survive with all our credit cards and it just means we are spiralling worse into debt. Its a universal problem, trying to get by, good luck with that.

As for your computer braking down, thats a normal side-effect of windows, one we also get from time-to-time. It still happens even when your hubby is a computer systems support manager!!

Hiya Psychocandy and everyone else! I'm at least happy to hear that you have a boss at least partly sympathetic to you ... that is a good sign. There's hope that things will look up! All the best!

Hi, Kaz and Willem. I'm doing all right, it is nice in a way having the whole weekend off, though I really could have used the extra hours. I don't see how this "no overtime" thing can last very long, we're buried in work and we can't get caught up.

How are you guys holding up?

I think you might be right, Kaz, about this other person at work who is constantly on my ass about stuff. She's one of those people who thinks she's near perfect, she bosses me around a lot, and whenever the new guy asks me a question, she butts in and either contradicts or undermines my answers. I'm doing my best to ignore it, but it's hard, because that kind of behavior from people sets off all kinds of "mother" triggers. It's true what you say about her blaming other people for things, you're not the first person to suggest that perhaps she's a bit paranoid and passive-aggressive herself. I've just got to quit blaming *me*, and doing the best I can. That ought to be good enough.

I can relate to having to use credit cards to get by. It's not a good feeling. It's also not good working yourself to exhaustion and still not being able to afford anything. I know quite a few of you are in this same situation and I feel for you all. We'll all make it, somehow, though, we always do. I think we're all due for a break here and there. It never seems to come, but one can hope, eh?

Hi psycho, use your weekend well then, you may not get many ones to yourself if you are swamped in work, and the overtime comes back.

Moonglum has found a site looking for moderators so I will follow this up and it will help our situation, at least its working from home!

As for the aanoying woman you work with

Be happy

Oh, good luck with the moderator position, I hope you'll get it! I sometimes still long for a work-from-home position, and I don't have anywhere near the fear of people you do. I really hope you'll get it, and can help improve the money situation!

I've used my weekend well thus far, I've done a bit of tidying up and have some more to do, but have found plenty of time for fun and laziness, which I certainly needed! I do hope I'll get some extra hours back soon, though. And I do have my vacation to look forward to!

Thanks for the for the woman at work. Whenever she gets on my nerves, I'll think of that and give her raspberries in my mind.

You be happy, too.

Hiya psychocandy
I am very cheerful today, if I get 10 hours sleep, I am naturally cheerful! Sleep or snooze both do the same thing. Means I don't have so much time to do stuff, but I am at least cheerful!

It's great to hear you've had enough rest and you're feeling cheerful! I'm cheerful, too, though still a bit sleepy. I think I got about 10 hours of sleep myself, I never do that.

I've got the time to do some stuff today, but whether or not I will is another thing entirely.

*hopes to get 10 hours of sleep in soon*

Hi PCandy, I am sorry you are not getting the overtime you need to make ends meet! Hope that changes soon for you. And that your bosses stop stressing you out.

I've been having computer problems - my computer is making noises, and I think it will croak soon. I may have to bite the bullet soon and get a new one. (I think my brother and dad will help me out with that financially, so that is good news. They know how important it is to me to stay in touch with all my hootoo pals.)

I had a good thanksgiving with my family. Today I am going to the zoo to see the pandas.

JEllen

How was your visit to the zoo? I LOVE pandas! We haven't got any at the zoo here, I've never actually seen one except on TV. You're so lucky to be able to see them there!

I don't anticipate seeing any overtime again until March or April, but could sure use it before then, so do keep your fingers crossed. It's not my bosses stressing me out, it's bossy people who have no business being that have been getting on my last nerve. I'm trying hard not to let it get to me, though.

I'm sorry to hear of your computer problems, I hope it doesn't croak until you're prepared to get a replacement. My own computer had a bit of trouble last week, I had to re-install everything and start from scratch. The good news is, it's running a bit better than it was before. I still need to replace either my video card or my monitor, not sure which just yet. I understand just how important it is to stay in touch with everyone here on hootoo, I wouldn't be very happy at all if I couldn't, and I'd sure miss you if you couldn't.

Glad your computers are doing better PC & Jellen

Sounds awful to be surrounded by bossy people PCandy You say some of them do not belong there, does that mean there is a chance they will be leaving anytime soon?

Hi there Abbi!

It's not that the bossy people (I'll 'fess up- it's one person in particular, isn't it always?) don't belong there, it's that they've no business bossing anyone else around. I've spoken to my boss about it, she spoke to her boss about it, and the issue has been addressed. Meanwhile my boss has told me if and when I require direction, she will let me know.

There's always someone who likes to be bossy and meddling in any workplace, isn't there! I wonder, sometimes, how people find the time to worry about what anyone else is doing, when I barely have time for what *I'm* doing.

Exactly!
Too many people work harder at getting out of their work than doing it.
Too many nosy and bossy people that are not getting as much done as they could be.

Good LucK