Oh the suspense...

We got this email at work yesterday...

***email sent on behalf of John Wafer***

Tomorrow at 2pm there will be an announcement concerning future operations of our contact centres at each of your locations. Please ensure that you are available to attend. Your Manager will notify you where to meet.

Regards

JOHN WAFER

From the CEO of the company no less. WE think it'll spell the end of the Auckland Contact Center. Not only that...but I just got another email from the careers section of the work website advertising for more CSR positions.

It must be terrible for the people in Auckland not knowing what's happening. Even better - this has been EXTREMELY poorly managed. It's all gonna go crazy this afternoon. It's simply not possible to have all the contact centers off queue at the same time. So half of our call center is taking ALL calls. That includes our normal call volume, online inquiries, school supplies, quality response...the list goes on.

It's just not possible.

What will happen next????

Veronica Mars

The first two seasons of Veronica Mars that I ordered off Amazon arrived today. So exciting!!! It's SO GOOD. I'd forgotten how good it was. We're halfway through the second disc of the first season. The only bad thing is we have like a MILLION places to go tonight and now I can't be bothered because I'd rather sit at home watching episode after episode.

And now rumour on the imdb.com boards tells me it might be cancelled??? Say it ain't so!!!

Ugh.

The results of the pay review at work were marred by one thing. The fact that they are shifting the teams around.

They've broken up the dream team!!! How is that even possible??? WHY would they do that?? What's even worse is that Penny, Tash and Janina all get to stay with Tim while I get shunted off into Amy's team. I don't want to be in Amy's team. I want to remain in the team that I'm in. I don't think Amy even likes me. Gah...

Di tells me that they were probably bickering over who would get me. I'm actually not entirely surprised it was Amy. If any team needed a boost that one did...maybe because they have chronically crap people in that team. (And Ben Wa who would be awesome if only he would try!) Tim tells me he's gutted. I am also gutted.

It mars my 6% pay rise. I don't want to move desks. Heck, I don't want to move teams. I like me team. Why should I have to sit through team meetings with a certain know-it-all CSR? I enjoyed my team meetings the way they were.

ARGH.

I'm venting. I know I'm venting. This is not going to happen till the 13th of March. There is still time to savor being the dream team. There is still time to savor the fact that we won (again!) in Feb. We have no competition. None. There is still one more work dinner left to go to. This is just stupid and I am not impressed.

Ugh. At least I'll be part time and then hopefully I won't care anymore.

Freedom of speech?

What is the point of a democracy if the politicians don't actually listen to what we say?

This is Sue Bradford. She is the MP who has pushed (literally!) the anti-smacking bill through Parliment here.

These people don't like her. And with good reason. The anti-smacking bill is perhaps the highlight of all the stupid bills that parliment has put through. Everyone I've talked to (i.e - the plebs, the people etc) thinks this bill is a stupid idea.

It's supposed to stop child abuse. But all it does is remove "a defence for parents against assault charges if they use reasonable force to discipline their children". Basically, you can't smack your kids. How does that stop child abuse??? All it does is bring up a nation a spoiled, bratty children. I was smacked. I am a functioning, well adjusted human being. I have a university degree, and I managed to make it through life pretty well. I have a job and I am a contributing member of society.

Do I think that my parents abused me? No, I probably deserved it. Children are all different. Sure, there may be some kids who go through life never needing a smack. But there are a heck of a lot of children who do. I know some children who I love dearly who often need a smack just to keep them in line.


Anyway, this woman is probably pushing through the stupidest legislation on the face of the planet. It is ambiguous and completely unenforceable. (No, really. Tell me who is going to enforce this and how?) Not only that, she is completely ignoring public opinion in face of her own personal crusade.

There have been petitions, there have been referendums, there have been death threats - but all it does is make her even more stubborn. Perhaps if she'd been smacked as a child this would be different? She is not a popular woman at the moment.

But it all makes me wonder why we claim to be living in a democratic society when really the politicians don't even bother to listen to what the people say. Meanwhile most of us sit at home outraged about it but don't really bother to do anything to prevent it because we don't know what to do. (I am guilty of this.)

So really, what is the point? This bill isn't going to stop child abuse. People who abuse children are going to abuse them anyway. (And I am in no way saying that this is a good thing!) In the same way, Sue Bradford isn't actually going to listen to the people, she's going to push the damned legislation through parliment anyway. And it's probably going to get through.

And, like the lowering of the drinking age, it is going to cause society to continue to tumble downhill.

Chinese New Year?

This is pretty much a non-event here. And I can't say I really mind. Although the public holiday feel would be nice (again!) Anyway, my parents had people over this year and so Isaac and I went along too. We made dessert (banoffi pie and chocolate mousse) and it was GOOD.

The company was a little strange as - barring the children - we were the youngest there and neither of us really knew anyone. Thankfully (?) they all went home early and we busied ourselves with watching Sky.

My parents watching Sky is funny. Isaac was suitably impressed when Mum said that she was going to wake up at 5.30am to watch the rugby.

First REAL ensemble practice for creative arts school!!! I was so nervous. It's not bad enough Luke is playing but Zac's joined a week late. It was totally scary but we sounded SO good! (All thanks to me...haha yeah right!) But it really was so much terrifying fun. Kinda like a roller coaster ride.

I really have to get faster though. I struggled keeping up with the funky blues. Next week will be even harder - what with tackling Elvis and Marvin Gaye. (No, not both at once!) But it should be that same kind of exhilarating fun.

Anyway, Toddy lowered the strings on my bass, so hopefully I'll manage! Lol. Fun times.

Rings and Things

Ahhh Valentines day. I never put much stock in it. Basically because I've never been attached on Valentines. But I am now! Lol.

MEL AND LOUIS ARE GETTING MARRIED!!!! After four years (or is it 5?) of relationship somewhat bliss they are finally tying the knot. In november nonetheless!!! I'm so excited! They're the first people REALLY close to me to get engaged. They stopped by last night there was much screaming.

No sign of the ring yet because it's being resized. But that's okay. Hopefully they'll have it on the weekend.

Speaking of rings...look what my darling, dearest most wonderful boy got me for Valentines!!!
Isn't it gorgeous!! I also have to take it away to be resized as it's a tad too big. But it's so pretty and sparkly!!
See look at the pretty sparkles!!! (Ignore the horrible dryness of my hands please...) And it came attached to balloons. He basically came over EXTREMELY early in the morning, left it sitting in front of my door and then went home.
Three red balloons! It was actually quite exciting. I've never had treatment like that before! And we went out to tea last night at a HIGHLY expensive place. ($90 even with one of the mains deducted...)

Anyway it was all very nice as we haven't been on a "date" in ages. And I got to eat venison - which I LOVE and the atmosphere is nice and you feel very classy in a place like that with an entre, nice mains, dessert and wine.

Well...have dropped the ring off to be resized now. Will take approx a week (crazy eh!!!) but all good. Also, they couldn't make it small enough for my ring finger so will just have to be satisfied with middle. Damn you small hands!!!

Amused :)

I love work emails. Here are some questions and answers:



Ahh yes, good times :)

Manic Monday

Hmmm...another week begins. Another sleepless night. I don't know what's wrong with me. I obviously have too many things/ideas/whatevers running around my mind.

Result: EXTREMELY tired today.

Oh well, at least I'm working less than half days today. Even better. I only worked about 2 hours today as for the third hour I had a co-eval/catch up with Tim.

Ahhh...wasting time.

Am ripping Janina's Counting Crows CD to my iPod. I am dying for some new music. I haven't bought a new CD in YONKS. I think the last one I bought was my Brooke Fraser CD. Which I love but it was back in November. C'mon!

Will probably watch yet another episode of Heroes today. And it's the first day of the Creative Arts school - which I'm really looking forward to!!! Excepting the fact that I may be the crappest bass player on the face of the planet. (Which is highly likely!)

Anyway, am tired and am now crapping on about nothing because i have nothing to say. Thank you and good night.

Yes, even though it's day time!!!

Oldness

I'm reading High Fidelity and I think it's turning me into a cynic. Life seems full of little inconveniences. Like I can't be bothered cooking tonight. But pay day is still several days away and if I don't cook I don't eat.

That and the fact that I am currently having tinned spaghetti for lunch makes me think I could maybe eat something healthier.

Ugh. But I just can't be bothered. What happened to the good old days when my parents cooked for me????

Awww

Isaac got me flowers and a get well card! Timely as I am currently more off work than on and also because I was mildly annoyed with him this morning.

He told me it was all very timely because then he can kill two birds with one stone and it covers the making me fall down the hill and dropping me thus spraining my tailbone. And also the "I'm annoyed at you because you forgot to tape CSI:NY for me last night"

Apparently this is some sort of boy secret that I'm not supposed to know...

But he is forgiven because they really are very pretty and they smell great. And hence my room smells great!!

Went back to work for 3 hours today and pretty much managed. I'm sore now though so there'll be a little lying down for awhile.

9-12 tomorrow again. Yay!

Hmmm

Well, work sent me to the doctor.

The doctor said that it would take 2 weeks (ish) to come right.

So I'm reclining and sitting on a cushion now hoping that work will be able to give me work to do that is NOT sitting and talking to people on the phones all day. Can't get hold of Tim so not sure what the plan is...

Also...probably shouldn't have played tennis quite so vigorously yesterday. I am SUPER aware of my ass - which surely is NOT normal!!!!

Apart from that Waitangi day was fun. The tennis tournament was great fun and I think the boys had a LOT more fun when the girls stopped playing. Then went to Jeremy and Helen's for lunch - using their new Broil King bbq. Good times and the food was great. Although I suppose what can you expect seeing as how they own a cafe??? Lounged round lots at home after that. Did some work for Daz, had tea and watched House and Boston Legal.

Random holidays in the middle of the week are GOOD.

Sore...

So sore!! I can't sit down!! Which would be a disaster except that I actually like lying down. Lol. But yes, all this soreness isn't good!!!

We've been on leader's retreat this weekend. Hence the injury!! (Note to self: do not piggyback when going downhill and the grass is wet and your boyfriend's shoes are gripless...)

I have bruised my tailbone and it is not fun!!! Work should be interesting to say the least!!!!

It was actually a pretty good weekend. We ate lots and hung out and Warwick talked lots. (Which is not unusual...)

I was admittedly grumpy at the start. Grumpy enough to snap and decide to walk all the way back through the bush when I was pushed too far. Whoops! But Isaac managed to talk some sense into me. (Eventually) I was so angry!!!

Fun times....

But we are home and I am reclining as sitting for an hour while we drove was painful. I'm also copying the third season of Arrested Development from Jem's computer. SO FUNNY!! If there was ever a show that was too smart for the americans this is it. I'm so so sorry it ever got cancelled. It potentially could have been one of THE best comedy's out there. After Friends of course.

But then again it is very different to friends - so maybe we can't compare!

Anyway, it's taking awhile because they're quite large files. But, oh, how it's worth it!!!

On the subject of videos, I have a number of videos from retreat. But I'll post them later. My camera is about to die battery-wise and I'm too lazy to find it - let alone charge it!!!

So sleepy...