I Need Some Relief - Now

Seems the older I get the more noise, especially the useless variety grinds away at me until I feel like I will self destruct if I don't get away from it I will explode.

I had one of those situations in my shop today. Ordinarily all the technicians are in the field on call and I can find some peace in my day. Just happened that 3 of them showed up here at the same time and their mouths didn't stop flapping until they left. If it was intellegent sounding conversation I might not mind so much but they like to joke around about taking shortcuts and give the impression from what they are saying that they are green and on their first day of repairing copiers when they had been doing it for 10 years or more.

On days like today I think about that shell of a school bus I used as a get-a-way place in the woods. Sitting in there all I could hear was the birds chirping and the leaves moving in the trees. I could think or just soak in the moment and enjoy the peace. Now all I can do is remember back wishing and hoping.

How my friday turned out

Happy Sunday folks. The picture pretty much sums up how my technicians repaired copiers on friday. Yes, it was one of those, Mr. Customer, it sure sucks to be you days. I don't think anyone could have been happier to see 5 PM happen than I was.

If they had been "green" technicians with little or no experience my expectations would have been lower but these guys, and I was down to 3 since one only works through wednesday part time and one was on a day of vacation, all have many years of experience but I think they were all afflicted with the same disorder. I'm not happy with my job and can't fix shit syndrome.

Of course when I see this happening and recognize it for what it is I feel powerless to make anything positive happen and that is an awful feeling to put it mildly. You might ask me are these guys worked too hard or not give enough benefits during the day? Well, let's see.

To start with each of them are supplied with a company vehicle to drive to and from home at no cost to them. They have a gas card to keep the vehicle full of gas that is approaching $4.00 a gal. Their day starts at 8 AM but they have been conditioned to slowly exit the shop towards 9 AM but not to their first service call but to "Griffin's Grill" next door to have breakfast and fellowship until maybe 9:30 or later putting them at their first call if I am lucky around 10 AM. Don't forget that lunch time is coming and they know how to squeeze every minute out of 60. As a disclaimer I will add that this behaviour is practiced by 4 of the 5. I do have one that actually acts responsible so there is a glimer of hope at times.

So, you might say to yourself after reading all this, how in the hell can they not be happy with their job? You see, they have all been told 1,000 times that the day starts at 8 AM and 8:01 is not acceptable to come walking through the door. Also we try to be a profit based company and when they throw a $100 assembly at a machine when a $1.25 part would have fixed the problem, or they forget to take an important part to a call and have to go back burning more expensive gas, they get upset when management barks at them. That is when the syndrome kicks in and I have to wonder how long it will last.

I don't really know if any of them actually look at my blog and I don't really care but I hope they see this and realize how they need to park their attitudes in the parking lot and get on with business like professionals.

On a lighter note we did get spaghetti plates the company bought from the local Boy Scouts that was quite tasty.

Monday is coming, with numerous emergencies facing my day but at least I will have 5 technicians instead of 3 unless one or more calls in sick. Time will tell.