Oh… The Drama! Kitty-Saga blew into a full-on nosy-neighbor-clash. It turns out that this lil’ kitty was SUPPOSEDLY being taken care of by the crazy-lady’s neighbor and he wanted the cat given back. This guy is a real *winner* of a dude, no job, always scammin’, and when he talks to you (when the “you” is a woman) he won’t look you in the eye; he fixates on boobs. Can’t stand the guy. Instead of simply stopping by to speak to us about the cat, he took the tact of yelling at S and calling her names. NIiiiiiiiiice…
It turns out that our little buddy Q has a microchip. However, the name attached to the microchip doesn’t exist, the phone # is bad, and the address is nowhere near our neighborhood. Q has been on the run for a while, it seems. I took him to the vet to get his shots, check his health, and get him on path to be neutered. I got all of the necessary information for updating his microchip, paid the vet bill, and brought him home.
Then I went to Mr. Lecherous’ house and presented him with the bill. I was calm when explaining everything that was “wrong” with Q and told him that I was concerned for the animal’s health and welfare and have taken possession of the kitty. Of course, when presented with the bill, the guy backed right off, apologized, and started stuttering something about the cat being a “stray” that crazy lady didn’t really want, what with everything going on in her life. Interesting how everyone backs the hell off when it comes down to money. I gave him a piece of my mind about his actions and let him know that he can speak to me anytime, as long as he keeps is civil, and that yelling and calling anyone names is totally inappropriate. He shook my hand and took his 13 year old mentality back into his house. Chicken-shit. Sure, it’s true that S called him a “Nosy Bitch” but that was after he’d slung a slew of obscenities at her while she was getting the kids on the bus. God. What is wrong with people? Anyway…
…That’s that about that.
I’ve been fighting a cold all week. I’d been winning the war until the final straw of stress occurred Thursday night. I got a phone call from someone (S answered, I had no idea who it was) saying, “Hi, Natalie. We’ve just been robbed at gunpoint.”
Okay. Not really what I was expecting and I had to ask who it was a couple of times because the person on the other end of the phone was so freaked out that I didn’t recognize her voice. I spent the next four hours in a very tense situation. They caught the guys, which is great, but it was, to say the least, a scary expenditure of my time. There was one point in which the detectives took my employees to I.D. the “perps” and they were supposed to leave an officer there with me. Well, the officer that was supposed to stay with me was suddenly gone and there I was, by myself, alone in the store. I locked the freakin‘ doors and waited it out; scared to death and busying myself with cleaning up, doing dishes, mopping floors, etc… It was the longest (and probably most productive) 45 minutes of my life. When it was finally over, we all hugged each other and talked about how glad we were that no one was hurt. And then it began to sink in… everything we‘d all just been through… and we acknowledged what a scary process it all was and how my staff had handled themselves so professionally. It was the sinking-in process that caused all of us to have trouble sleeping. It wasn’t until afterwards that tears fell and a nervousness took hold. I didn’t get home until after midnight. And then I had to be back at the store at 5AM the next morning. It was surreal. (And, yes, this was all over the news which only added to my headaches in this process.)
I have to say that everyone in the company was really terrific about the whole ordeal. I’m not going to go into specifics here but let’s just say that shifts had to be covered, stuff had to be fixed, and I worked a close/open that about killed me. I haven’t slept much and this cold has found a weak spot and taken hold. Insult to injury is what I’d call that…
Things will hopefully settle down and get back to normal this upcoming week. I don’t feel any safer and I am definitely weighing my options about this job. This whole thing was handled terrifically but I’m wondering if it’s worth it to work in a situation in which I (and everyone I work with are) am put, so directly, in harm’s way. It’s not the company’s fault but, still, it makes me wonder… ponder… and think… what the hell am I doing? Well, now I have yet another mouth to feed so I’d better get busy thinking about either committing or finding another possible commitment. My boss has been terrific and there has been so much support and truly caring attitudes from everyone. I’m going to mull this over and continue doing my best but all of this does not leave the mind peaceful. A little meditation is in order. I’ll have to pencil that into my schedule which is full to the brim. Eh.
Today we are having our “Holiday Meeting” and I have to be all-upbeat-and-Holiday-cheery. My ears are ringing and I could sleep for two more days. I’m going to have to fake it. That’s okay ‘cause us Pisceans are good at acting (and acting-out) and I’m thinkin’ today is going to be an Academy Award Winning Performance.
My next day off is Halloween. Oldest had, once again, been in trouble at school and we’d taken away his ability to trick or treat. Then we got their report cards and the kid has been trying so hard that we told him that he just earned the ability to trick or treat with us. Up and down and all around; that’s what this is and we hope he stays the course until Wednesday. We took them out for pizza to celebrate their grades and a good time was had by all. We discussed our conferences with each of their teachers and it was all very encouraging. Now we can move on, put on our costumes, and eat a bunch of candy. Whew!
There’s the silver lining…
Have a frightfully terrific (and safe) week!
Filed under: Harmonic Wealth, Jerks, Pets, Who am I better yet What am I?, balls, career, evil-ghetto, insanity, neighbors, overwhelmed, work
When I worked for a pizza place back in college one of our competitor’s got robbed one night. After that I kept a gun at the store since I was there alone at the end of the night after I sent the drivers home. The owner showed up one night and saw the gun and almost fired me on the spot. He insisted that I not keep it down there.
From that night on I considered myself a sitting duck at that store, so when the chance to move to another store in a location in a busy area where there would always be crowds around I jumped at the chance.
Apparently I’ve been under a rock all weekend because I hadn’t heard about this! I’m so glad everyone is OK and that things turned out for the positive (caught the guys, everyone safe, etc.).
Take care of yourself–it’s taken me almost three weeks to shake the allergies-turned-cold that I’ve had (and last week was fabulous because while I felt great, I completely lost my voice on Weds., much to my students’ delight). Have fun trick-or-treating!
I was robbed at gunpoint about 2 am right before Christmas Eve when I was 22. My friend and I were working 3rd shift, and only ducking behind the steel door and locking it saved us. He’d even cut the phone line/emergency alarm. Took the truck stop an hour to realize we weren’t getting any business and the phone didn’t work, to send someone over. It was a few days before I slept the night through too, Natalie, but I had to spend that evening smiling and playing Santa Claus for me two year old and holidaying it with all the family. And go back into work the next day. Whew. I think at 22 you just don’t see your mortality as such a real thing, even when it’s right there, within rifle range.
I hope you find peace soon with your job, Natalie. Just remember….I worked retail for 15 more years and was fine….it was a stupid aneurysm on the way to Mike’s job that knocked my ass down. Just be watchful, Good Lady.
Much love to you and your Tricksters!
Wow, talk about nightmare on Bean street….
What about switching locales – I remember you blogging that this one was about 45 minutes away – would that help? They clearly value you – and I know you are so awesome as a manager….but you’re right – you do have to weigh the matter and decide.
And your Nosy Bitch story – that’s pretty funny that S called him that – well deserved….what a piece of work….jeesh. Very impressive the way you put him in his place.
So I take it you guys still have Q, then? You may have to start that cat a blog – give Manny a run for his money….teeheheee.
I think deep down inside you know if working there is putting you in harm’s way. If it is move on.
I told him to get a job. Then I called him.. well..
Yeah, I know.. I’m not so mature myself sometimes, but you know, I work from home, so I “deal” with the neighbors all of the time (those that don’t seem to realize that I have a job, and that I need to work, and I can’t be bothered with the affairs of everyone that lives on the street).. and I just get tired of it.
Sometimes you have to just say what you think.
So I did.
So there. =P
you okay?
much love
I wondered if that was your store. Glad everyone was okay. Luckily that kind of stuff isn’t run of the mill down here.