Ok, as if Charley wasn't enough, here comes Frances.

To all my fellow floridians in the Southeast, please please be careful.  I know the shelves are probably pretty empty right now, but if you haven't gotten your supplies, please try.  I can't tell you how thankful I was when Charley came through and I had plenty of water, even though when I bought it I felt kindof silly and paranoid.  And, if you are told to evacuate, please be careful driving, I've seen some real idiots on the roads during stuff like this.  

My prayers are with all of you, Be Safe!

Thanks everyone!

We are slowly getting back to normal.  My parents finally got their power back late last night.  Having them stay with us was ok, but I was sure glad to see them go to.  The inside of my house now looks like Charley hit it as well.  I know they will be back to help clean up, but just looking at it is scary.  We finally had news from my B-I-L.  He is fine, just couldn't get through on the phone lines.  

My roof started leaking last night.  I went in the attic and dropped a bucket, so we shouldn't get much damage.  It doesn't look like it will be too bad, just where the shingles got ripped off and on the inside is where (2) roof boards meet, so all should be ok.

We won't have enough damage to meet our hurricane deductable, so it will be very tight for a while, but my mortgage company did agree to give me a 60 day extension on this months payment, so that should help.  I will be calling the truck company and phone company later today to see if they can do anything to help as well.  Here's hoping.

All in all, I am thankful.  I too saw what Andrew had done and considering, we have come through just fine.

Thanks again everyone!

Well, here's the update from Central Florida, Kissimmee to be exact.

My Weekend:

Friday, 1:30pm I finally left the office for home after confirming that the eye of the storm was indeed going to pass over Kissimmee.

Arrive home and shift into high gear hurricane preparations.  I had all ready started all of this earlier because I just had a feeling.  So during the week prior, I caught up on all of my laundry, dishes, cleaning etc.  Now it was get all supplies into the closet, fill water jugs, fill bathtub and secure the outside.  (And keep kids 6 & 9) entertained whilst doing this.

Friday evening.... Sit and wait, sit and wait..... Winds picks up, rain picks up.... Watch wind and rain outside our back door.  

About 7:30 - 7:45pmlights start to flicker off and on, off and on, with the duration in between getting longer and longer. Sometime between 7:45 and 8:00pm power goes off, not to be restored until yesterday evening (Monday approx. 4:00pm).

8:00pmish we move to bedroom location, which houses our "hurricane closet".  Kids proceed to sit in closet and play cards while mom and dad pace bedroom while listening the the back sliding door groan.  If you have not heard this before, there is no way to describe it.  Approx. 8:15, wind really picks up, we can hear roof trying to depart and mom and dad move to closet and close door.  For what seams like hours, but was only actually about 45 minutes kids talk and play cards while mom and dad listen to wind damage being done out side and exchange worried glances in each others direction.  I AM SCARED, VERY SCARED.  9:00pmish wind dies down a little bit and mom and dad decide to investigate a little bit.  We look out our back window to see our fence, wood porch swing and shed in neighbors yard.  We proceed to hustle out back door to retrieve lawn mower, weed eater, edger, and misc.  other outdoor lawn equipment.  Partly to save it and partly to keep it from becoming projectiles.  Throw stuff through (open) sliding door and proceed back to bedroom where we remain for a little while longer.  Wind dies down more and we proceed to go to back yard with flashlights and survay damage.  We are lucky. .... we lost our tree and the aformentioned fence/swing/shed.  We then proceed to drive to my parents house (less than a mile away) to see if tthey are ok.  They are not so lucky.  They have lost their pool enclosure, lots of shingles a tree and have water coming in their roof.  We stay there awhile and then proceed home to try and get some sleep.

4:30am Saturday morning.  I am awake.  I can not go back to sleep. Sit in dark and listen to radio while waiting for daylight.  Luckily, right before the storm hit, I made a pot of coffee and put it in the thermos.  It is black, but it is coffee.

I sit at the back door and wait for the sun to come up.  What normally seems to take no time on a regular morning takes forever this particular morning.  I wait, I pace.

Sun comes up and we asses damage.  Not much more than we had all ready seen the night before.  Some shingles down, but not many.  We are the lucky ones.

Proceed to check on family members, friends.  Most within 1 -2 miles of us.  Here is the run down.

We all have no power, no phone, water thankfully is running.  As of 12:00 noon today, I am the only one with power.

My Parents, as mentioned before - Pool enclosure, fence, tree, lots of shingles but all in all ok.

Sister in Law/Mother in Law (same house),  Big tree in front yard, now on garage roof.  Shingles gone, fence pieces missing.

Sister in Law 2 - 2 trees in front yard down, wishing well father in law made, gone, tree from neighbors back yard in her back yard missing house by a hair, literally, fence destroyed, shingles gone.

Still have not heard from brother in law who is (2) towns over.

Saturday, proceed to fix fence so we can let dog out.  She is in distress by now having to do her business.  We take her on leash, but she is not comfortable doing this, who knew?  After this we go to dads and clean up, patch up clear as much as possible.  No phone service, not even cell service anywhere.  proceed to sister in laws houses to help pre-clean up there.  It is hot and miserable.  We are still the lucky ones.

Sunday.  we try to sleep. It is hot and we need supplies. We search and search they are hard to come by.  But we eventually find ice.  This is good.

Monday.  Spend 6 hours clearing tree out of sister in laws backyard.  Hubby and I are the only ones who know how to use a chainsaw.  So... we take turns cutting until we can cut no more.  Today I can feel every muscle in my body.  Some I never knew I had.  I am bruised and battered and I am still the lucky one.  Our power returns and we all proceed to my house to cool down and get a meal.  Spagetti for 12 is easiest.  

As of noon today (Tuesday)  I am still the only one with power.  My dad does have his house phone back so communicating is easier, but I think he would rather have power.  I know the power companies are doing all they can and he does too, it is just frustrating.  I am back to work now and have for the first time started to absorb what has happened.  I have spent the past days on auto pilot and am just now thinking.  It is a scary thing.

This is not all of the story, just what I can manage to remember and write down at this moment.  

If people read this and it helps, great. If no one reads this, it has, I think been very theraputic for me.

I hope to hear from others and see how they made out.  I think it has helped to finally talk about it a little bit.

I would say it depends on where exactly you are.  I work in Orlando, and can honestly say I have not worn stockings (even in winter) in about 5 years.  I do on occasion wear knee highs, but only with slacks or long skirts.  I think as long as you keep your legs and feet neat (i.e. shaved and toenails polished) there is not a big deal anymore.  I don't know what I would do if I had to put on stockings again.

just my .02 cents

I don't know how many Harry Potter fans we have here, but it is days like these that my bosses remind me of the "Death Eaters"

I e-mail invoices, contracts, proposals all of the time.  For my bossies, that is their preferrred method of delivery.  Most everything we do is done by e-mail.  That said, we have never, not once in the six years I've been here had a problem with the "paperwork".  They only time we ran into a problem is when our service provider up and left and we had no e-mail for a full day.  Talk about coming to a stand still!

I think it depends on the nature of the business and the clients you are working with.  Most of our clients work the same way we do, so it's almost common practice for us.

Just the way we do things!

ok, here goes.  When I started working with my current company (almost 7 years ago), they used your starting date as the start and end of your 'year' in regards to counting vacation.  For example, I started on August 26.  After my 90 days, I "earned" 2 weeks (10 days) vacation/sick/personal time.  So for this past year I have from Aug. 26, 2003 until Aug 25, 2004 to use my time.  Once the time is up, you lose it.  

Now they are wanting to change to a simpler format.  i.e.  Everyones year starts on January 1, regardless of when you started.  They (at least one of them) want to be fair and make sure no one loses time, but they don't want to give away any time either.  

This has been going on for about the last year, with no results, because they can't figure out how to do it.  Some other issues to be considered are:  It is not done by the hour a day is a day.  Vacation time does not accrue - After 90 days you get 10 days, after 5 years you get 15 days (period, although they can "add" days at their discretion).

Does anyone have any ideas on how to go about doing this.  I have to say it would also make my life a little easier to keep track of days, but I have a pretty good system going now as well.  I just want the bickering to stop.

(Can you tell I work for a small / family owned business?)

Any help is greatly appreciated.  Thanks in advance

Jade,

Where are you located.  The first thing I would do is to contact your state government office.  Look for the divison that handles wages and compensation.  From there they should be able to anwser your questions.  The other option would be to contact a lawyer who handles workers compenstation cases.  

I hope everything works out for your dad.

Today, mine happens to be walking around the office wispering to my knowing collegues:

Die, die die, die, die, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, die, die, die, die, die, etc.

Not only do I get to vent, they completely understand, and it makes them laugh, which in turn, makes me feel a little bit better.

Don't know if this will help, but it's one I like.

There are many trails up the mountain, but in time they ALL reach the top.
by Anya Seton

Edited by camki499 on 08/01/04 02:38 PM.

DETAILS FOR HOLIDAY PARTY


December 1st To: ALL EMPLOYEES

I am happy to inform you that the company Christmas Party will be held on December 23rd at Luigi's Open Pit Barbecue.  There will be lots of spiked eggnog and a small band playing traditional carols...feel free to sing along.  And don't be surprised if our CEO shows up dressed up as Santa Claus to light the Christmas tree!

Exchanging gifts among employees can be done at this time; please remember to keep gifts to the agreed $10.00 limit.

Merry Christmas to you and yours.

Patty Lewis Administrative Assistant
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December 2nd TO: ALL EMPLOYEES

In no way was yesterday's memo intended to exclude our Jewish employees. We recognize that Hanukkah is an important holiday that often coincides with Christmas (though not this year unfortunately). However, from now on we're calling this party our "Holiday Party."

The same policy also applies to employees who are celebrating Kwanza at this time.  There will be no tree, or Christmas carols sung.

Happy holidays to you and yours.

Patty Lewis Administrative Assistant
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December 3rd TO: ALL EMPLOYEES

Regarding the anonymous note I received from a member of Alcoholics Anonymous requesting a non-drinking table, I'm happy to accommodate this request, but please remember that if I put up a sign on the table that reads "AA ONLY," you won't be anonymous any more.  In addition, we will no longer be having a gift exchange since the Union members feel that $10.00 is too much money.

Patty Lewis Administrative Assistant
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December 7th TO: ALL EMPLOYEES

I have arranged for members of Overeaters Anonymous to sit farthest away from the dessert buffet, and for pregnant employees to sit closest to the restrooms. Gays are allowed to sit with each other.  Lesbians do not have to sit with the gay men; each group will have their own table. And, yes, there will be a flower arrangement for the gay men's table! Happy now?

Patty Lewis Administrative Assistant

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December 9th TO: ALL EMPLOYEES

People, people!!  Nothing sinister was intended by wanting our CEO to play Santa Claus!  Even if the anagram for "Santa" does happen to be "Satan", there is no evil connotation to our own "little man in a red suit".

Patty Lewis Administrative Assistant
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December 10th TO: ALL EMPLOYEES

Vegetarians-I've had it with you people!!  We're holding this party at Luigi's Open Pit Barbecue whether you like it or not!!  You can just sit at the table farthest from the "grill of death," as you put it, and you'll get salad bar only, including hydroponic tomatoes.  But, you know, tomatoes have feelings, too!  They scream when you slice them. I've heard them scream. I'm hearing them right now.  Ha!I hope you have a rotten holiday!  Drive drunk and die, you hear me?"

The Administrative Assistant from Hell !

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December 14th TO: ALL EMPLOYEES

I'm sure I speak for all of us in wishing Patty Lewis a speedy recovery from her stress-related illness.  I'll continue to forward your cards to her at the sanitarium.  In the meantime, management has decided to cancel the Holiday Party and give everyone the afternoon off with full pay on the 23rd.

sorry, that's PETA. ORG

PETA to distribute (outrageous) flyers to children at Nutcracker performances.

OK, so I don't personally believe in wearing fur  coats, at this point, I am so completely disgusted I could throw up.  Does anyone have any ideas on how we can stop this absurd, cruel, outrageous "promotions" they plan to do at performances of the Nutcracker.  I read an article in the Boston Herald (although I live in Florida now).  After reading the article, I logged on to PETA.com, and they have a picture of the flyer.  I have never been so mad, I just don't know what to do.  I thought maybe we could all get together and send them a message about how wrong it is to distribute this to children.  How dare they traumatize children just because they don't "believe" in fur.  That doesn't give them the right to hurt children.  Wait til you see it.

If anyone has any good ideas on how to stop this, please post so anyone who wants to can get it together.

Thanks

Bridget,

I would say something along the lines of

thank the person for thinking of you, and although you appreciate the offer, at this time you would have to decline due to insurance issues.  Normally, I wouldn't mention why, but this just might open up the lines of communication, and they may be able to offer the insurance to you, depending on how badly they need/want someone right now.  

My company, on occasion has done this for some employees all though, there was some type of trade off to it.  (I'm not sure what though).

In any case, if you don't want to mention why, just say that your not in a position to change jobs right now.