Things that frustrate us all

[Avro Arrow]

Earlier in the week, I heard something hit my windshield quite loudly. I inspected for damage when I got home, but didn't see anything.

Today, was stopping quickly for a traffic light... and a metre-long crack suddenly forms!

Now I need to replace the windshield, which will take both time and money... both of which are already in shorter supply than usual at this time of year.

 

[Gary Mitchell]

Earlier in the week, I heard something hit my windshield quite loudly. I inspected for damage when I got home, but didn't see anything.

Today, was stopping quickly for a traffic light... and a metre-long crack suddenly forms!

Now I need to replace the windshield, which will take both time and money... both of which are already in shorter supply than usual at this time of year.

Your car insurance won't take care of it?
i don't know if Safelite auto glass is in Canada but in the U.S. they can come to where you are to replace the windshield

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Another car related frustration.

So, you see a person walking to their car. Bet that means you can stop in the middle of the busy parking lot aisle for three minutes blocking all traffic while that person prepares to leave, right?

There are other open spots, and you are in a main entry aisle. -5.853 Good Place points for you! Hope you like butt spiders!

 

[Avro Arrow]

Your car insurance won't take care of it?

I don't think I have glass replacement coverage. But even if I did, I'd probably be better off in the long run to keep my claims-free status and just pay for the replacement myself.

i don't know if Safelite auto glass is in Canada but in the U.S. they can come to where you are to replace the windshield

Hmm, apparently not, although according to Wikipedia, Safelite is owned by Belron, which also owns Speedy Glass in Canada. Speedy's site doesn't mention anything about coming to you.

Although, is this something they can even do outside with the weather we get around now? I don't really know anything about the procedure, but I would have assumed that they'd need an environment that was a little more climate-controlled.

 

[Gary Mitchell]

I don't think I have glass replacement coverage. But even if I did, I'd probably be better off in the long run to keep my claims-free status and just pay for the replacement myself.



Hmm, apparently not, although according to Wikipedia, Safelite is owned by Belron, which also owns Speedy Glass in Canada. Speedy's site doesn't mention anything about coming to you.

Although, is this something they can even do outside with the weather we get around now? I don't really know anything about the procedure, but I would have assumed that they'd need an environment that was a little more climate-controlled.

I looked at Speedy's website. I guess they don't come to you but supposedly they get you in and out in an hour.

 

[Sibyl]

The timing of my depressed moods. When they happen, everyone is busy and events get canceled so I have next to no support to talk me down--er--up.

 

[Sibyl]

Sorry, one more thing:

There's an amp simulator on sale for around 60% off. Normally somewhere around $600 down to $200 and I wouldn't be able to afford even that if my life depended on it.

I'm looking for something to replace the IK Multimedia software I sold (I don't think I want anything more to do with IK again).

 

[auntiehill]

Frustrated...or depressed as hell. Either one.

Apparently, I suck at my job. Had a terrible day.

 

[Mrs. Silvercrest]

It is now Monday after the Thanksgiving holiday. And it seems everyone we know has their trees and houses all decorated some even have a lot of their shopping done. Are we the only ones that don't? I feel so behind!!

 

[Aragorn]

My email address was listed on one of those mass data breach lists a while back. Nothing really happened for a while, and fortunately I wasn't compromised, but as a side effect now the junk mail is coming in like there's no tomorrow.

 

[Avro Arrow]

Are we the only ones that don't?

As long as there is absolutely no follow-up, and no proof required, then... yes. Yes you are.

 

[Gary Mitchell]

I was decorating the yard for Christmas today. I must have gotten up and down the ladder at least 150 times. Unfortunately I will have to put in a second day because it's not finished.

 

[Avro Arrow]

So I saw a Cyber Monday deal, for something I wanted, mentioned in one of those "deal roundup" articles on a Canadian news site.... so I foolishly assumed the company was Canadian.

I have to watch my money, but it was a good deal, so I went to the site to buy the item... and didn't find out until the last page of the checkout process that the site was actually American, and the prices were in USD. Plus, since I wasn't American, I didn't get the free shipping offer, and since they didn't mention how they shipped, I had no idea if I was doing to get hit with one of those absolutely ludicrous "brokerage fees" the courier companies charge.

So unfortunately, there was no way to make it work financially. Order cancelled. At least I saved all the money I was originally going to spend.

Oh, and the company helpfully sent me an email to remind me that I had put an item in my cart that I didn't buy, but that I could link right back to it to complete the purchase. Thanks for that.

 

[RandyS]

Allergies that make your whole head feel like it's under water. I have taken two drinks of Dayquil (I can't use Nightquil) in the last two hours but neither has helped. I just know that if I could sneeze once, it would fix it. Or at least clear it enough so I could breathe again. I hate allergies.

 

[Doom Shepherd]

Your boss should have broached the subject if it was really that much of an issue, otherwise it's just being sideswiped, and that is not fair to you at all. I hope things improve for you.

The hardest thing for me right now is NOT thinking about this, and continuing to work next door to my boss, who is STILL not saying anything beyond "good morning" to me.

My union is advising that I say NOTHING until they (my boss and HR) lay out specific things about my performance that are a problem, and give me time and work with me on a strategy to improve. This hasn't happened yet.

But when I'm only told that I've messed up, I try to figure out what and how any why on my own - which I have been trying to do, and I'm tying it in with my anxiety and depression. And I want to tell them "listen, I'm in a really bad headspace right now, and if I've fucked up, this is why."

And the union lady I talked to is like "NO. Don't admit to anything, don't excuse anything, son't say anything, don't CHANGE anything until they meet with you - AND a union rep. And don't talk to the rep about your bad headspace, either."

It's difficult. Especially since I already had gone to HR to get the brochure about getting help with my headspace. I need to keep the two things separate, but... I really feel that they're intertwined.

 

[Doom Shepherd]

Oh. I have an appointment with a psychiatrist to start dealing with the headspace, but not until Thursday night. So I have to hold it together another 2 1/2 days. Unless the meeting happens first, then who knows? If it goes well, maybe I’ll be able to relax slightly. If it goes poorly...

Yesterday was trash day. I’ve gotten rid of everything I own more dangerous than a paring knife.

 

[Gary Mitchell]

Oh. I have an appointment with a psychiatrist to start dealing with the headspace, but not until Thursday night. So I have to hold it together another 2 1/2 days. Unless the meeting happens first, then who knows? If it goes well, maybe I’ll be able to relax slightly. If it goes poorly...

Yesterday was trash day. I’ve gotten rid of everything I own more dangerous than a paring knife.

Good luck with everything.

 

[rhubarbodendron]

Frustrated...or depressed as hell. Either one.
Apparently, I suck at my job. Had a terrible day.

Don't take one person's opinion too much to heart. Nobody can offer perfect solutions for everybody, so naturally some people will always find something to criticise. You have to live with it but they have, too. If they can't, it's their own fault.
And as long as they don't make good suggestions as to what you could improove, they have no right to criticise you anyway.

Yesterday was trash day. I’ve gotten rid of everything I own more dangerous than a paring knife.

Excellent idea! I should have a trash day, too. So many things accumulate and it's a relief to get rid of them.
The same appears to go for problems, particularly the accumulation thing.
I agree with your union. Wait till the interview with HR and don't mention your headspace problems - they are irrelevant when it comes to your work. Give HR the facts that you gave us a week ago: that you performed well, and never received any thanks but no negative critics either so that one must assume he was fully content with your work. Tell them that your boss, in spite of having the office next door, didn't contact you before he accused you with HR.
The main strategy is to show that your boss never showed any miscontent with your work and that his late attack came out of the blue. It might be good to hint that his unexpected attack might possibly be connected with him leaving in April (the stress of moving, finding a new job, having big changes in his life etc).
I'd recommend that you discuss the strategy in detail with your union so that both you and the union representative will say the same to your HR. A point usually gets far more weight with the listener if 2 people agree in every detail.

 

[Doom Shepherd]

Don't take one person's opinion too much to heart. Nobody can offer perfect solutions for everybody, so naturally some people will always find something to criticise. You have to live with it but they have, too. If they can't, it's their own fault.
And as long as they don't make good suggestions as to what you could improove, they have no right to criticise you anyway.

Excellent idea! I should have a trash day, too. So many things accumulate and it's a relief to get rid of them.
The same appears to go for problems, particularly the accumulation thing.
I agree with your union. Wait till the interview with HR and don't mention your headspace problems - they are irrelevant when it comes to your work. Give HR the facts that you gave us a week ago: that you performed well, and never received any thanks but no negative critics either so that one must assume he was fully content with your work. Tell them that your boss, in spite of having the office next door, didn't contact you before he accused you with HR.
The main strategy is to show that your boss never showed any miscontent with your work and that his late attack came out of the blue. It might be good to hint that his unexpected attack might possibly be connected with him leaving in April (the stress of moving, finding a new job, having big changes in his life etc).
I'd recommend that you discuss the strategy in detail with your union so that both you and the union representative will say the same to your HR. A point usually gets far more weight with the listener if 2 people agree in every detail.

Thanks. The thing is, I am legit concerned that my headspace HAS affected my job performance. It may be part of my imposter syndrome, but... you know that dream where you skipped a class all semester but didn’t drop it and now your GPA is fucked? I feel like that IRL. I fear I MAY have had a serious lapse caused by my depression fucking up my motivation. My brain keeps going “what did you forget??!?!” To me.

I have as of yesterday had a conversation with my union rep. She told me that so far, actions by HR seem like conflict resolution, not discipline, strategies, and to write to HR requesting an update on this potential meeting, and cc her so they know I’ve talked to her. For a discipline hearing, they’d be required to invite her, and use a specific format to respond, but for less serious, they wouldn’t. The HR guy is out of town till Thursday (same day I have my first meeting with therapist).

As for my boss, I want to clarify: he’s actually on loan to our college from a university in Florida, so I don’t suppose he’s too stressed by the idea of going home back to his usual job, plus warm weather.

 

[Doom Shepherd]

Sorry my life has hijacked this thread.

Today HR emailed me back, saying that he’s referred the matter - with my comments - back to my boss, who he expects to reach out to me soon. I was also instructed to reach out myself in a week if this doesn’t happen.

So Upside, this is not yet a disciplinary matter, as I’d feared.

Downside... I just finished the last survey of the semester, and literally have nothing to do. To sit there for a week just staring at a screen and worrying about how to resolve a conflict I still don’t quite understand is not my idea of a good time.

Added stressor, my wife has paid another visit to the hospital, with a severe migraine. Hoping it’s not caused by the +blood pressure medicine they put her on.