Working

Hello there. I sit alone at my job bored out of my mind. Weekends are very slow except when big events happen. I do not really mind being paid extra to work on crossword puzzles and talk to car rental agents next to me. Despite common belief the agents here from 6 different companies actually get along. We send customers each other customers we can not rent to, order food together, and share stories about weird customers that defy any logic we have.
We are rarely competetive for customers, especially with a jerk yelling what your price is with 4 different counters and yells back if we can beat another's price. Someone like that can get their car someplace else. When the cheap car rentals close for the night or run out of cars, we get their business.
Janitors are fun to talk to also. One comes by at least once a day to listen to my tales of the week. He always asks about my fairytale and eager to read it like everyone else I know.
My mother called me today to inform me of what my Dad's car insurance covers so I may compare fairly between the two and figure out why the one I picked was cheaper. She jabbered so much I could not tell her that the differences were a higher deductible and 2 less drivers. Then she became defensive that I can have whatever insurance I want, she justs wants to make sure I make an informed decision.
Then she continues further about how my uncle had problems with his credit when his alcoholic brother got into a car wreck and gave my uncle's name as his own. My uncle was unable to get a loan because of it. I take it that the police do not properly identify the people they arrest with licenses, fingerprints, or mug shots. Anyway I said that I did not believe my siblings would use my name after an accident or any other reason. She assured me to be careful. I know mother needs to get a grip and figure out that I grew up a long time ago.
I finished a book titled the Nanny Diaries and it made me glad I never was a nanny, rich people are insane. I received more knowledge than I care to know about the Vietnam War last night, which started as a conversation on the upcoming election. My view on the election is simple: Polls mean little. The people who actually vote will determine the next president. I think John Kerry has a fair sportig chance for one reason: During the Iowa Caucuses record numbers of people were registering as a democrat or changing their affiliation to democrat. People vote when they are angry, not when life is happy.
A lady from a car rental recently got a new job at a bank and is a little ticked at her new manager. 6 days ago this woman said the dress code was just nice clothes, suits are unnecessary. Today she has changed her mind and requires everyone to wear suits by November 14. That brought me memories back to a job I used to have where the dress code makers had the audacity to suggest shopping at Macy's and Bloomingdales to shop for our new dress code wardrobe, which they gave us no money or raises to pay for. I asked my store manager if the top people deciding all this are aware how much they pay us. If there were a Macy's or Bloomingdales in Des Moines, we can't afford anything they sell anyway. Then further stated when they said pantsuits were all the rage and encouraged us to buy suits, if we want to keep our jobs, that there was no way in hell I am picking shoes off the floor in a suit or standing on a ladder wearing slide on pumps. She agreed with me. I am glad I now work for a licensee car rental with an owner who is in touch with his employees.
District Managers of the past chain stores learn to avoid me after I productively gave my opinion on something. I often found out from other coworkers of my section or store mangers crying after getting yelled at by a district manager. This often placed me in the position of defending my manager, a very awkward feeling. Only once did I say to tell my coworkers to inform the district manager that if he had a problem with the way I arranged certain shoes in boxes, he is welcomed to speak to me about it. He received the wrong message and came saying that I wanted to talk with him. I stated my position and he understood. The differently arranged shoes were separated from the rest of the collection. Problem fixed. I was glad that never I had to say something like that again.
No more news for tonight. Signing off.