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So we're driving home from SCA on Friday night. It's a little after midnight because we're both always so hyper after meetings (especially Bobby, having just spent two hours bashing people with wooden swords) that we always go with the other heavy fighters to Pizza Hut. Mind, we have to be up at six the next morning for our shift at the Aquarium.
It is the coldest night we've had in Maryland so far this year. The temperature is hovering around 26F/-3C, we're driving north through Carroll County, in the middle of nowhere, in the pitch blackness ...
... and we get a flat tire.
8^|
Okay, not funny, Murphy!
We were following the marshal who's training Bobby (Graham) and his wife (Dawn!), and luckily, we got a flat right in front of a gas station, but probably for that reason, Graham and Dawn didn't think much of the fact that we were limping into a gas station and didn't stop. We watched their taillights dwindle into the darkness. I think I wubbled a little bit.
Changing a tire in below-freezing temperatures, in the middle of the night, in the middle of nowhere, while exhausted and knowing that the alarm will be ringing mighty early--like in five hours--does not make futzing with a flat tire much fun.
Oddly, we got a flat on the same tire on the exactly a year earlier, minus one day, while driving home from Ocean City with Sharon and Kirsty. Much as we like Bobby's car (well, as much as two eco-radicals can like a car that's not a hybrid), it does terribly on tires. This is the fourth tire we've put on that spot. Luckily, Bobby bought the warranty after last year's flat.
Since I received quite the outpouring of sympathy for my MIA pie plate, then I will tell of the outcome.
It ain't good, folks.
In fact, it's about as bad an outcome as one could have expected in such a situation.
As I think I noted, I posted a note on the communal fridge, asking for information leading to thearrest recovery of my missing pie plate.
Becky, our office secretary, came into my office yesterday to tell me that someone had asked her to tell me that the pie and the plate had both been thrown into the garbage.
Yes. Thrown into the fucking garbage.
Apparently, they--meaning my officemates--decided to clean out the refrigerator, so they had some inmates come up to do it. Only rather than supervising the clean-out or even checking that everything in the fridge/freezer should be thrown out first, they instructed the inmates to throw everything away and left them to it.
So my pie and pie plate got thrown into the garbage.
Poor Becky. I ranted when I heard this and she bore the brunt of it. I cannot believe the lack of respect that these people have shown.
They ask me to bring something to a potluck feast. I do. They don't eat it. I wish to take it home. They ask me to leave it so that they can have it as leftovers.
They still don't fucking eat it.
Less than a week later, without telling me that they've not used my dessert, without asking me what I want done with it, they just let a bunch of inmates throw the whole thing in the garbage.
Yes. Because I spent my money (heavy cream is expensive) and took an evening of my time to make something that I thought people would like and enjoy so that they could throw it--and my dish--into the garbage like it's worth nothing more than a loaf of moldy Wonderbread.
I told Becky that this is the first and last time that I will participate in one of their potlucks. I don't need to be shown the middle finger twice to get the hint.
Becky understood. She's been through worse with these people. She'd bought for our office a bunch of Crockpots and Sternos especially for potlucks, asking for no money, only that if people use them, that they clean and return them. She told me that after one event, nothing was returned and, six months later, was found scattered around the building, still filthy. And half of it missing, never to be seen again, meaning that it had either been stolen or thrown out.
She took it all home and put it in her attic.
That's a complete lack of respect. I get it. I'll gladly eat my own food in my own office and save my efforts for people capable of showing--if not appreciation--at least consideration for the property and efforts of others.
I was so upset by this. Part of me knows that it's just a stupid pie and plate and there's genocide and war and persecution in the world; most of the world would probably love to take my "problems" in exchange for theirs. Still, the lack of respect and basic decency among fat, healthy, professional people who should surely know better--and who work in a field, nonetheless, where the primary mission is rehabilitating people who have shown a lack of respect and consideration for the laws of society--makes me slightly ill.
Then the craven fuckers couldn't even come and tell me themselves--like, maybe apologize?--but had to get Becky to do it.
Asshats.
No good deed goes unpunished.
It is the coldest night we've had in Maryland so far this year. The temperature is hovering around 26F/-3C, we're driving north through Carroll County, in the middle of nowhere, in the pitch blackness ...
... and we get a flat tire.
8^|
Okay, not funny, Murphy!
We were following the marshal who's training Bobby (Graham) and his wife (Dawn!), and luckily, we got a flat right in front of a gas station, but probably for that reason, Graham and Dawn didn't think much of the fact that we were limping into a gas station and didn't stop. We watched their taillights dwindle into the darkness. I think I wubbled a little bit.
Changing a tire in below-freezing temperatures, in the middle of the night, in the middle of nowhere, while exhausted and knowing that the alarm will be ringing mighty early--like in five hours--does not make futzing with a flat tire much fun.
Oddly, we got a flat on the same tire on the exactly a year earlier, minus one day, while driving home from Ocean City with Sharon and Kirsty. Much as we like Bobby's car (well, as much as two eco-radicals can like a car that's not a hybrid), it does terribly on tires. This is the fourth tire we've put on that spot. Luckily, Bobby bought the warranty after last year's flat.
Since I received quite the outpouring of sympathy for my MIA pie plate, then I will tell of the outcome.
It ain't good, folks.
In fact, it's about as bad an outcome as one could have expected in such a situation.
As I think I noted, I posted a note on the communal fridge, asking for information leading to the
Becky, our office secretary, came into my office yesterday to tell me that someone had asked her to tell me that the pie and the plate had both been thrown into the garbage.
Yes. Thrown into the fucking garbage.
Apparently, they--meaning my officemates--decided to clean out the refrigerator, so they had some inmates come up to do it. Only rather than supervising the clean-out or even checking that everything in the fridge/freezer should be thrown out first, they instructed the inmates to throw everything away and left them to it.
So my pie and pie plate got thrown into the garbage.
Poor Becky. I ranted when I heard this and she bore the brunt of it. I cannot believe the lack of respect that these people have shown.
They ask me to bring something to a potluck feast. I do. They don't eat it. I wish to take it home. They ask me to leave it so that they can have it as leftovers.
They still don't fucking eat it.
Less than a week later, without telling me that they've not used my dessert, without asking me what I want done with it, they just let a bunch of inmates throw the whole thing in the garbage.
Yes. Because I spent my money (heavy cream is expensive) and took an evening of my time to make something that I thought people would like and enjoy so that they could throw it--and my dish--into the garbage like it's worth nothing more than a loaf of moldy Wonderbread.
I told Becky that this is the first and last time that I will participate in one of their potlucks. I don't need to be shown the middle finger twice to get the hint.
Becky understood. She's been through worse with these people. She'd bought for our office a bunch of Crockpots and Sternos especially for potlucks, asking for no money, only that if people use them, that they clean and return them. She told me that after one event, nothing was returned and, six months later, was found scattered around the building, still filthy. And half of it missing, never to be seen again, meaning that it had either been stolen or thrown out.
She took it all home and put it in her attic.
That's a complete lack of respect. I get it. I'll gladly eat my own food in my own office and save my efforts for people capable of showing--if not appreciation--at least consideration for the property and efforts of others.
I was so upset by this. Part of me knows that it's just a stupid pie and plate and there's genocide and war and persecution in the world; most of the world would probably love to take my "problems" in exchange for theirs. Still, the lack of respect and basic decency among fat, healthy, professional people who should surely know better--and who work in a field, nonetheless, where the primary mission is rehabilitating people who have shown a lack of respect and consideration for the laws of society--makes me slightly ill.
Then the craven fuckers couldn't even come and tell me themselves--like, maybe apologize?--but had to get Becky to do it.
Asshats.
No good deed goes unpunished.
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(no subject)
Date: 2007-11-28 05:04 pm (UTC)sucky about the tire too, glad the warranty will cover it! was it a nail or something weird that cause it?
(no subject)
Date: 2007-12-04 11:36 pm (UTC)I empathize with you on all of the above. I have a mini-fridge in my office now that my boss gave me from our old office (unfortunately, the freezer compartment doesn't work, else I'd never have had this problem in the first place), so I've never had my lunch stolen ... but
Communal meals are nice in principle but rarely work out, I've learned. I remember that for my first skating group we used to have a traditional dinner between the two Saturday shows we would perform; we'd all go out together to a restaurant. One year, all the "nice" places were crowded and booked, so we ended up at Pizza Hut. Being vegetarian, I had only a soda and about two slices of cheese pizza, but when it came time to settle the bill, ended up putting in about twenty dollars to cover a shortage. Now, I was the oldest in the group and kind of a big sister to the other skaters; I made more money than they did at my job, so it was easier than nitpicking over who had come up short, so I just did it, to be nice. We recalculated the bill with my $20 added in, and it was still short. And know what they did? They all turned and looked at me!
Pardon the bluntness, but fuck that.
Or we would go out to dinner every Saturday after getting off from work at The Piece, and one person would always leave early and drop a ten to cover his meal ... only $10 didn't cover his meal, much less tax and tip.
It amazes me the scummy things people will do to their colleagues or friends just to save $3. I'm sorry, there were plenty of people who couldn't afford to go out to dinner but used to come and order a soda and nothing else, just to enjoy the company, so there's no excuse to order a fancy platter if you can't pay for it.
Nrgh.
And the tire ... who knows. Bobby's car wears tires down like no one's business. It's only three years old and now had four tires in that one place. It's a wonderful car otherwise, but that tends to be a pain in the neck.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-12-05 12:09 am (UTC)Pardon the bluntness, but fuck that.
ugh yea that's the worst and I always stand my ground when I get to that point. grrr rude folks. agreed though about some folks not affording going out... we had a few get togethers for the political forum I frequent for those in the area here. I had suggested Islands (dunno if you guys have that place) but its a basic burger joint but better than wendy's or mcdonalds. someone then said i was being a cheapwad and lowclass and to go somewhere like this huge brewery steakhouse thing where there was nothing under $15. :p I said fuck that, don't expect me to plan anymore of these things if you're going to be that ungrateful.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-12-05 12:16 am (UTC)Umm ... no, imho, you were being very polite in suggesting a place that almost anyone could afford. To me, it is rude to assume that everyone that frequents the same online forum makes the same gross quantities of cash that Brewery Dude clearly makes--or wants to lend the impression that s/he makes.
Bobby and I make decent money and can afford a $50 dinner every now and then, but when we meet up with a group, we'll always suggest a less-expensive place unless we know that everyone can--and is willing--to go to a more expensive restaurant. And it's hardly something that you can ask, even to people you know well: "Can you afford this place?" And beyond that, hardly something that people are going to answer honestly.
So yep, I say again: fuck that. :^P
(And I love your Patrick-Stewart-for-every-occasion icon line! Never fails to amuse me! :^D)
(no subject)
Date: 2007-12-05 12:19 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-12-05 12:22 am (UTC)