Saturday, July 25, 2015

Fatigue


Slacking in the blog writing department caused by a combination of fatigue and no inspiration explains the lack of recent posts.

Readers may remember I started working part time to deal with medical bills from the heart problem and pacemaker implant last August. Overall, the total now runs well over $150,000. After insurance, etc., the balance is around $7,000 which I will dispute after having a billing expert review my case. It appears AARP/United Health Care is trying to avoid paying around $4,000. In any case, all the “piddling” bills are paid and a payment schedule arranged with the hospital. That bill I won’t live long enough to pay but the monthly payment is about the same as a bar bill. Life goes on.

I’ve been putting in long hours on the “part time” job. In my prime 60+ hour work weeks were no problem. In my dotage they are a bitch. Part of the increase is training to take over a different route. The other is a major shakeup with my employer.

My employer was a lean, mean working machine. They used Toyota Corollas and Subarus that they kept running with engine and transmission replacements. One Toyota had over 600,000 miles on the body.  They out hustled the hated competition. Their competitor was bought by a big multinational firm who then purchased my employer. The resulting turmoil of the mergers is causing an exodus of long term employees. Many are quitting over butt hurt feelings because changes are being made. Stupid. The only constant is change and you best have an ownership position if you think you can dictate what changes can and cannot be made.

My supervisor is a woman in her forties with eleven years on the job. In addition to the turmoil she has learned she needs a double mastectomy.  Somehow she keeps her focus on the job. She has asked me for help covering gaps as she hires and trains new people and I don’t have the heart to refuse.
Next week I was scheduled to take a new route and have been training on that route along with covering my existing route which is the cause of the 60 hour weeks. That has now been postponed for a week. The person I’m replacing has agreed to stay another week as a new person is trained for the route I’ve been covering and another silly employee comes back after taking time off to get married.

I’m looking forward to the new route, three days a week Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. It starts at 0330, goes to Wheatland WY, Torrington WY, Scottsbluff NE and then Denver International Airport. Makes for about a nine hour day. Yes I know, come winter I may regret my decision. Here are some pictures of the daily “grind” I will face.








What is hardest to do is stay “retired”. I’m determined to be just a worker drone and stay the hell out of management. As an example, we have an employee who makes terrible decisions with her personal life. Worse, she wants everyone to know about her personal dramas. Certainly, she will be sharing all of this with our customers as she makes her rounds; she won’t keep her mouth shut. There are two obvious solutions. One, put her on routes that pick up specimens from lock boxes only with no people contact. Two, terminate her.

I clearly see a train wreck coming. Hard as it is for me, I am keeping my mouth shut and focusing on being that worker drone. I’m done with herding cats.


For now I’m enjoying reading your posts. Assuredly, rants are building up inside and will gush into the internet in the future.

10 comments:

Coffeypot said...

I wish I had a route job like yours. For a while I was doing some transport diving for the local Ford dealership, driving a car to another Ford place, some in GA, others out of state, and returning with another vehicle. I love driving, so it was a good fit for me. But we moved and there is no dealership close by. You drive has some nice scenery that makes it a pleasurable drive. But, as you said, I wouldn't want to be caught between stops when the snow hits. Pack a lunch, water, blankets, booze, books, and a shortwave portable radio... and a honey, if you can.

Well Seasoned Fool said...

Not being wrapped too tight, I enjoy the challenge of blizzards. Have an extensive winter go bag but now realize it is deficient. Looking now for the honey.

CenTexTim said...

Just curious - how do you pass the time while driving? Fiddling with the dial searching for radio stations...? Satellite radio? Audio books?

Well Seasoned Fool said...

Part of my weirdness is to drive with the sound system off. Part is being easily bored with what is playing. Another part is staying focused on my driving and surroundings. Do a lot of "what ifs?" in my head. That comes from being a light airplane pilot. When I must stay awake, play hardcore bluegrass and bagpipe CDs at full volume. Hard to fall asleep with that racket.

Old NFO said...

I haven't tried the bagpipes... But I can believe they work! Good idea to stay hands and feet clear of management these days!

Well Seasoned Fool said...

RE Management. The job isn't critical; just keeps savings and investments intact so if I lose it, oh well. Knowing my tendency to operate one needle width below red line, I'm determined to stay a worker drone. It will take a whole lot more money than they are paying me to change that.

Ami said...

Bagpipes. You know why bagpipers always walk when they're playing, right? To get away from the noise.

Regarding the job and just doing your part until you can GTFO.. you've heard 'not my circus, not my monkeys' right?

Here, have a banana.

Well Seasoned Fool said...

Is that why the drums are in the back, to block the noise?

Wise words. Must start carrying bananas.

Old NFO said...

Understood. I truly miss the days of just being an operator and not worrying about the management... sigh...

Well Seasoned Fool said...

When you retire you may find all your motivation stays behind. Let someone else pull that plow that wants the challenge.