So how are you?

vO)))id · Post by **vO)))id** » 19 Dec 2021, 02:08

jorsh: health wise. All good? Still losing weight or did you reach your goal and now getting jacked?
How is your fiancé doing? Hope all is well.

Dusty: still going out running? You're a teacher right? Schools closing or can you still work there?

Luke: hows the cawfee table book going? Planning on returning to the brewery?

Zim: whats up with your songwriting? Still looking for a drummer?
Hope work is going ok.

Stormy: any new clothing attire? How is your job going? I actually have no idea what you do. Or I forgot.

Ninny: still looking for a job? How are you getting by these days? Hope all is well in the north.

Skinner: getting used to Texas a little? Hope you can find some grounding in the new city. I think you mentioned that you aren't fully happy with the current location or general people there.

Nick: still working 80 hours a week or are you finally able to think a little about your own health? Is the family doing well?

If I didn't mention you, feel free to answer. Hope all you fuckers and fuckettes are okay.

Ninny · Post by **Ninny** » 19 Dec 2021, 02:49

I skipped work friday. I have a doctors appointment on monday, curious to hear what he thinks of all this. Hoping to stay away from the workplace for a while. Never called in sick before but I was getting ready to strangle someone. Makes me sad, for the larger part this is the right job for me. Feels like I'm letting down a colleague too

But that is not in my hands
Not sure if all is well but things are more intense. I had some nice late walks

On one I encountered a mouse and I managed to feed it some of my muesli bar. Music is so good now, Cranberries or Deicide

vO)))id · Post by **vO)))id** » 19 Dec 2021, 03:16

What kind of job?

I see a lot of stress at work places. Same with my job while we all work from home.

Methuselah Honeysuckle · Post by **Methuselah Honeysuckle** » 19 Dec 2021, 03:45

Vahmpy wrote: ↑
19 Dec 2021, 02:08

Nick: still working 80 hours a week or are you finally able to think a little about your own health? Is the family doing well?

Thank fuck I've never cranked out 80 hour weeks. I clocked in just over 61 hours this week, which is a little uptick from what I average. I'm usually doing 50-55 hour weeks so in a pay period it's regularly north of 100 hours.

Next week is going to be fucking fruital though. My manager officially put in her notice last week and will be gone before the end of the year most likely. Neither her or the hard-on bearer who is most likely going to take her spot will be there on Monday. So I'll be running the ship down those 2 people and it's going to be absolutely chaotic.

Should know more about my future there on Tuesday though. She has a meeting with the general manager about the department going forward. Going back to September when the assistant manager got promoted I was told the job was mine sometime in the coming months. So if that promotion doesn't happen I'll be looking to go ahead and jump ship right the fuck out of there.

Plus if the other hard-on bearer who was brought in to replace her doesn't get the job I'm not sure how long I'll stick around. He already told me that if that's the case he's going to leave almost immediately. I have zero fucking interest in doing the managers job without the title and pay while they wait to find someone.

So if all goes well Tuesday I should be looking at a promotion will a very healthy pay raise. Me and the other hard-on bearer have had very long talks about the changes that need to be made in the department from top to bottom. Those changes will help bring my hours down to a reasonable amount and eliminate some of the chaos in that place once everything is setup :chetty:

How's things over in the dutchylands besides the new lockdown?

Ninny · Post by **Ninny** » 19 Dec 2021, 04:04

I work in a printer room, pretty sweet I have my own little area to work in. I work with data, not rocket science but at least it requires some thinking. I'm good at this

But because of chaos I got stuck with working with machinery. I'm also good at this but it doesn't have my preference. Gets frustrating after a while. Feels like I was removed from where I'm at my best when it counts, just weird.

User · Post by **User** » 19 Dec 2021, 10:09

good updates in this thread

i got the proofs of the book the other day, some of the photos printed out a bit dark so i passed along the feedback to the publisher. the copies will be delivered mid-january, then there should be a book launch in the second week of february. it will be a sick ass book launch if all goes well, but ya know, covid and everything could ruin it. i am still supporting the brewery in yangon a bit here and there, but we can't go back to yangon and live a good life until things settle down. the risk for my partner and her family is very real. dozens of our friends and colleagues have been killed, arrested, beaten or joined the armed resistance. there are shootings and bombs near the brewery every day. and yet, it does sell beer. really looking forward to getting back there but it's a long term proposition now, like a retirement plan.

what about you vahmpster, how's the house and woman and poochy under another lockdown

Ninny · Post by **Ninny** » 19 Dec 2021, 12:36

I'm getting your book Luke, I don't care what it's about

Yeah friends and colleagues dying makes my problems look trivial

vO)))id · Post by **vO)))id** » 19 Dec 2021, 15:33

I agree with Ninny, that's horrible to read Luke.
Please let us know when your book is released and I will buy it straight away, or if a pre-order is up, let us know.

To the rest:

Ninny; I hope you can return to your preferred working space. Being happy with what you do is very important and I understand the frustration.
Miscommunication within a company is something I deal with on a daily basis and that I try to resolve.
It's good to see you at least find something.

Skinner: I thought your state is more purple than red? Where it's pretty mixed? Or is that more in cities like Austin?
I really hope I can return to jiu jitsu next year. But since today, everything is closed again.

Nick: I hope you get the position you deserve! And absolutely, don't do the work of someone on a higher position without getting the pay for it. That's fucked up and unfair.
You work a lot of hours man... I hope you enjoy it, and all i can say is that the work you do or the job you have, does not define you. So don't forget to live. (this is also a note to myself)

For what it's worth:

I still have my current job which has been from home anyway, so not much changed on that part. A lot of shit I deal with within the company from managers and team leads. A lot of frustration currently within the team because of how team leads deal with us and other colleagues. Me and my team are also responsible for quality monitoring, providing training and feedback to Level 1 customer support agents. But it's the team leads job to actually provide the feedback in their 1on1 meetings. But we don't see any improvement and it feels like all the effort we do, is in vain and all the feedback we write down, is just thrown into the void while management gives us these tasks to keep us nice and quiet. That's what it feels like and I'm done with that.

Otherwise, I should not complain. Our new house is looking great and slowly coming together. I enjoy the quiet and peace in this small village where not much happens. Friendly people and quite a bit of farmland and farmers.
This village was hit badly during WW2 and that still lives here. Poland liberated this village in 1945. Then, we also still have tangible memories from WWI because of how badly Belgium was hit. So this dark history still lives here. I do like it. It keeps you grounded somehow. One thing that all this covid shit is teaching us, is that for too long things in the Western world have been going too well. Most of us became too comfortable with being comfortable. These good times have made us weak.

"Hard times create hard men. Hard men create easy times. Easy times create weak men. Weak men create hard times." It really is true.

Full lockdown again since today, at least until 14 January. Only supermarkets are open and apothecaries, etc. Which is starting to take its toll on my mental wellbeing, TBH. But, when the world around you loses its shit, the more important it becomes to not lose yours. So that's what I'm trying to uphold.

User · Post by **User** » 19 Dec 2021, 16:27

nice introspection tom and cheers to you and ninny for your kind words

i would like to visit your village! maybe if COVID is not fucking everything up, i will come to europe next june, for a conference in ireland

vO)))id · Post by **vO)))id** » 19 Dec 2021, 17:18

User wrote: ↑
19 Dec 2021, 16:27
nice introspection tom and cheers to you and ninny for your kind words

i would like to visit your village! maybe if COVID is not fucking everything up, i will come to europe next june, for a conference in ireland

Excellent! You're always welcome and we have a spare bedroom for guests.

agony bagony · Post by **agony bagony** » 19 Dec 2021, 20:18

i have not been a teacher other than the parental sort for many years now

had just started running regularly and signing up to run races again but omicron is probably putting a stop to that. i miss running races. they are excellent motivators and camaraderie alike. alas, &c

zim · Post by **zim** » 19 Dec 2021, 21:49

without a doubt the worst year of my life so far. haven't wanted to make a thread about it or mention it because i didn't want a sob fest but why not dig into the misery a little. i lost my dad about 7 month ago suddenly to cancer. it was the most traumatic thing i've ever gone through, i didn't even get to have a last conversation with him or anything. me and my siblings were there with him to pull the plug and say our goodbyes but he was unconscious in the hospital for over a week, covid meant that only one person (my sister) could be with him during the week he was there until the end then the rest of us could come in. and of course the rest of the year was miserable as well, completely lost interest in music, work, everything.

7 months later i don't feel as miserable but there is a hole in my life now. i just bought an exercise bike and i'm starting to clean a little more but the weight of the loss hangs on my back 24/7. i really miss my dad but i'm glad he isn't just sitting around suffering anymore, wish he didn't have to go through it at all though. i guess it's that horrible milestone everyone reaches at some point or another but i hit it about 20 years too early.

trying to move towards positive things now but its been tough breaking out of the autopilot i've been living on

rhino · Post by **rhino** » 19 Dec 2021, 22:45

Sorry to hear zim

vO)))id · Post by **vO)))id** » 19 Dec 2021, 23:09

Oh man, so sorry for your loss.

This will take a very long time so take it easy. And take care.

Ninny · Post by **Ninny** » 19 Dec 2021, 23:15

Tough that you couldn't be there with him

That sounds like torture

Noyka · Post by **Noyka** » 20 Dec 2021, 00:42

Thats horrible zim Im sorry to hear that. Loss never truly goes away, we just learn to adapt.

It sounds like the rest in this thread have a lot if positives going on which is great to hear.

Luke better post when his book is ready Im sure we will all purchase it.

zim · Post by **zim** » 20 Dec 2021, 00:59

yeah i didn't want to bring things down haha but i appreciate the thoughts. i'm looking forward to the new year and trying to not wallow in things quite as much as i have recently

on the flip side things are actually alright lately. work is fine, family is doing fine, etc. bought a ridiculous amount of presents for all my nieces and nephews.

vO)))id · Post by **vO)))id** » 20 Dec 2021, 18:23

No worries man, glad you shared.

vO)))id · Post by **vO)))id** » 20 Dec 2021, 18:23

And our Lumberjack Lummo! What's up with you in the new state?

zim · Post by **zim** » 20 Dec 2021, 18:34

also vahmp, i miss the instagram pics of the doggo walks/land, throw some up on the bard or discord sometime

vO)))id · Post by **vO)))id** » 20 Dec 2021, 18:56

Maybe I will.

I've been going more into seclusion when it comes to my personal life. I rather share as little as possible.

zim · Post by **zim** » 20 Dec 2021, 19:34

i gotcha, i can dig the seclusion move, basically how i live

agony bagony · Post by **agony bagony** » 21 Dec 2021, 01:06

zim wrote: ↑
19 Dec 2021, 21:49
without a doubt the worst year of my life so far. haven't wanted to make a thread about it or mention it because i didn't want a sob fest but why not dig into the misery a little. i lost my dad about 7 month ago suddenly to cancer. it was the most traumatic thing i've ever gone through, i didn't even get to have a last conversation with him or anything. me and my siblings were there with him to pull the plug and say our goodbyes but he was unconscious in the hospital for over a week, covid meant that only one person (my sister) could be with him during the week he was there until the end then the rest of us could come in. and of course the rest of the year was miserable as well, completely lost interest in music, work, everything.

7 months later i don't feel as miserable but there is a hole in my life now. i just bought an exercise bike and i'm starting to clean a little more but the weight of the loss hangs on my back 24/7. i really miss my dad but i'm glad he isn't just sitting around suffering anymore, wish he didn't have to go through it at all though. i guess it's that horrible milestone everyone reaches at some point or another but i hit it about 20 years too early.

trying to move towards positive things now but its been tough breaking out of the autopilot i've been living on

typical zim making the thread all about himself

in mostly all seriousness though, sorry to hear this zim. that's never easy to deal with & keeping it all bottled up is not a healthy choice, you've got to let that shit out on the mabb at least

and just as seriously way to turn this thread into a zim party, i hope your father would have been proud of such a successful passive flex

Verbal · Post by **Verbal** » 21 Dec 2021, 05:46

zim wrote: ↑
19 Dec 2021, 21:49
without a doubt the worst year of my life so far. haven't wanted to make a thread about it or mention it because i didn't want a sob fest but why not dig into the misery a little. i lost my dad about 7 month ago suddenly to cancer. it was the most traumatic thing i've ever gone through, i didn't even get to have a last conversation with him or anything. me and my siblings were there with him to pull the plug and say our goodbyes but he was unconscious in the hospital for over a week, covid meant that only one person (my sister) could be with him during the week he was there until the end then the rest of us could come in. and of course the rest of the year was miserable as well, completely lost interest in music, work, everything.

7 months later i don't feel as miserable but there is a hole in my life now. i just bought an exercise bike and i'm starting to clean a little more but the weight of the loss hangs on my back 24/7. i really miss my dad but i'm glad he isn't just sitting around suffering anymore, wish he didn't have to go through it at all though. i guess it's that horrible milestone everyone reaches at some point or another but i hit it about 20 years too early.

trying to move towards positive things now but its been tough breaking out of the autopilot i've been living on

fucking hell, zim

droidspawn · Post by **droidspawn** » 21 Dec 2021, 16:47

Vahmpy wrote: ↑
19 Dec 2021, 02:08
jorsh: health wise. All good? Still losing weight or did you reach your goal and now getting jacked?
How is your fiancé doing? Hope all is well.

Yeah everything is basically good. Work is shit especially with the holidays.The Cargo/shipping container backlog and getting them to the US are still a goddamn nightmare logistics wise with Covid and all the stupid bureaucracy involved. Not to mention my boss is the biggest asshole. He’s always had it out for me for whatever reason. Just a forever shitshow there. At least I am fortunate and able to still work from home. If I had to drive the 30 miles round trip to the office outside of the city of every day there’s no way I’d still be there.

The fiancée and the stupid fucking asshole cat are good too. She started a new job about 6 weeks ago that she enjoys so that’s a plus. This will be my first Christmas spent with anyone since my mom passed in 2018 so that aspect is nice. But on the other hand I hate gift buying. I am lame when it comes to picking out gifts for people. It just all seems pointless to me. I’d rather just do the gift card thing for everyone every year but there’s “no imagination” in that and it’s “lazy”. Meh. Don’t get me wrong it’s nice the whole gift exchange part but it’s the lead up that I loathe. And I’m broke now afterwards.

How are you and your woman and the doggo?

User · Post by **User** » 21 Dec 2021, 19:35

your cat seems like a real fucking asshole

agony bagony · Post by **agony bagony** » 21 Dec 2021, 23:05

slugbait wrote: ↑
21 Dec 2021, 21:14

Vahmpy wrote: ↑
19 Dec 2021, 15:33
Skinner: I thought your state is more purple than red? Where it's pretty mixed? Or is that more in cities like Austin?
I really hope I can return to jiu jitsu next year. But since today, everything is closed again.
The major cities (Dallas, Houston, Austin) are purple, but the majority of this state is still very red. We have some important elections next year (governor, Lt governor being the biggest) so we'll see how that shakes up. Tejas hasn't had a Democratic governor in 30 years, but people on both sides don't like our current Republican governor. It'll be interesting to see how it plays out.

poor san antonio

agony bagony · Post by **agony bagony** » 21 Dec 2021, 23:18

second-biggest city in the state; seventh-biggest city in the country

never remembered

Noyka · Post by **Noyka** » 22 Dec 2021, 00:08

Comparing it to San Diego is unfair, people actually like San Diego.

Noyka · Post by **Noyka** » 22 Dec 2021, 00:10

User wrote: ↑
21 Dec 2021, 19:35
your cat seems like a real fucking asshole

Isn’t it every cat’s job to be an asshole?

Methuselah Honeysuckle · Post by **Methuselah Honeysuckle** » 22 Dec 2021, 08:01

slugbait wrote: ↑
21 Dec 2021, 21:14

Vahmpy wrote: ↑
19 Dec 2021, 15:33
Skinner: I thought your state is more purple than red? Where it's pretty mixed? Or is that more in cities like Austin?
I really hope I can return to jiu jitsu next year. But since today, everything is closed again.
The major cities (Dallas, Houston, Austin) are purple, but the majority of this state is still very red. We have some important elections next year (governor, Lt governor being the biggest) so we'll see how that shakes up. Tejas hasn't had a Democratic governor in 30 years, but people on both sides don't like our current Republican governor. It'll be interesting to see how it plays out.

Is anyone on the right gonna run against him?

Methuselah Honeysuckle · Post by **Methuselah Honeysuckle** » 26 Dec 2021, 07:17

Promotion secured and will be official 01/01/2022

Things didn't pan out exactly as planned. I'm still waiting to see what the pay bump is and I'll plan from there. I've heard word of some very big doings within our dealership group.

Verbal · Post by **Verbal** » 26 Dec 2021, 08:21

Vahmpy wrote: ↑
19 Dec 2021, 02:08
jorsh: health wise. All good? Still losing weight or did you reach your goal and now getting jacked?
How is your fiancé doing? Hope all is well.

Dusty: still going out running? You're a teacher right? Schools closing or can you still work there?

Luke: hows the abzu's beverage table book going? Planning on returning to the brewery?

Zim: whats up with your songwriting? Still looking for a drummer?
Hope work is going ok.

Stormy: any new clothing attire? How is your job going? I actually have no idea what you do. Or I forgot.

Ninny: still looking for a job? How are you getting by these days? Hope all is well in the north.

Skinner: getting used to Texas a little? Hope you can find some grounding in the new city. I think you mentioned that you aren't fully happy with the current location or general people there.

Nick: still working 80 hours a week or are you finally able to think a little about your own health? Is the family doing well?

If I didn't mention you, feel free to answer. Hope all you fuckers and fuckettes are okay.

fuck the rest of them

how are YOU

vO)))id · Post by **vO)))id** » 26 Dec 2021, 11:52

Methuselah Honeysuckle wrote: ↑
26 Dec 2021, 07:17
Promotion secured and will be official 01/01/2022

Things didn't pan out exactly as planned. I'm still waiting to see what the pay bump is and I'll plan from there. I've heard word of some very big doings within our dealership group.

Good news!

Svartmetall · Post by **Svartmetall** » 26 Dec 2021, 19:59

Just got through my first Christmas without my mother. I'm an atheist but she was super into Christmas so this has really felt weird; I suspect the next few days will involve a lot of liquid distraction.

User · Post by **User** » 26 Dec 2021, 20:09

Vahmpy wrote: ↑
26 Dec 2021, 11:52

Methuselah Honeysuckle wrote: ↑
26 Dec 2021, 07:17
Promotion secured and will be official 01/01/2022

Things didn't pan out exactly as planned. I'm still waiting to see what the pay bump is and I'll plan from there. I've heard word of some very big doings within our dealership group.
Good news!

but mysterious news

Methuselah Honeysuckle · Post by **Methuselah Honeysuckle** » 26 Dec 2021, 21:29

Aye

Many goings on behind the scenes

User · Post by **User** » 26 Dec 2021, 21:44

i hope you are pulling the strings

Methuselah Honeysuckle · Post by **Methuselah Honeysuckle** » 26 Dec 2021, 22:20

I am not. This is way the fuck above my pay grade.

Just waiting to see how the potential bombs shake things up. I will be gladly waiting to pick up pieces and make more money

deckard · Post by **deckard** » 27 Dec 2021, 07:17

honestly not great

User · Post by **User** » 27 Dec 2021, 13:44

2z what's up

deckard · Post by **deckard** » 01 Jan 2022, 06:05

User wrote: ↑
27 Dec 2021, 13:44
2z what's up

life is shit

Methuselah Honeysuckle · Post by **Methuselah Honeysuckle** » 02 Jan 2022, 20:04

Vahmpy wrote: ↑
26 Dec 2021, 11:52

Methuselah Honeysuckle wrote: ↑
26 Dec 2021, 07:17
Promotion secured and will be official 01/01/2022

Things didn't pan out exactly as planned. I'm still waiting to see what the pay bump is and I'll plan from there. I've heard word of some very big doings within our dealership group.
Good news!

The challenger shuttle launch is off to a better start currently.
Half of the department got sent home on the 30th because unvaxxed and the old manager tested positive.

New years eve was a clusterfuck with only 3 of us there. I had to jump in and do end of month/year paperwork for accounting and was flying completely blind on that. The service manager and director were trying to strong arm us into staying open till 5pm all while offering absolutely no help. So I'm sure I'll hear all about that Monday but I followed the info I had. No one wanted to give me any kind of proof in writing or otherwise that it was 5pm instead of 3.

Turned around and spent almost 5 hours there yesterday finishing up all the end of month shit. Tomorrow us going to be the absolute worst of it though, it'll be at least a 13 hour day. It's just me and the one kid who doesn't know his ass from a hole in the ground.

vO)))id · Post by **vO)))id** » 02 Jan 2022, 20:16

Shitfuck..... good luck!

Verbal · Post by **Verbal** » 02 Jan 2022, 20:56

nick you can blast some mabb after

Noyka · Post by **Noyka** » 02 Jan 2022, 21:19

RIP Nick’s sanity

User · Post by **User** » 02 Jan 2022, 21:38

nick that sounds lame

2z cheer up, it's summer, yay

Methuselah Honeysuckle · Post by **Methuselah Honeysuckle** » 04 Jan 2022, 03:59

Thank fuck for all the snow we got earlier today. It was slow all damn day

Verbal · Post by **Verbal** » 04 Jan 2022, 04:00

you should make it snow every day

Noyka · Post by **Noyka** » 04 Jan 2022, 05:45

Smow is pretty until you live in it