Weekly Rant 2008-06-07

In one day the overnight low has exceeded the daily high which yesterday reached a record 33º C. Anyone who didn’t have to work outside can be thankful and those of us inside were thankful for Air Conditioning. Things have taken a turn for the hot and humid, a distinct contrast from the cold and chilblains of earlier this week.

The rest of the week was equally frustrating. Despite the looming deadline I’m still waiting for Mothercorp to even acknowledge my request for retirement—the only sign I have that they know is the reduction in my annual leave credits online. Next week I’m going to have to shake the corporate tree and see what falls out—not too hard mind you as it’s a fragile structure. The fire drill I planned came off after a few minor glitches. I was bemused when a superior suggested cancellation due to rain wandering just how he thought his employees deliver mail.

Tuesday I attended the last meeting at which I’ll have to act as secretary. Unfortunately one of the discussion points was the bar across the road from me whose application for an outdoor beer garden I’ve been busy organizing opposition. The sour taste that session left in my mouth blighted the going-away send off gifts and celebration that followed. I might as well use this forum to pass on some tips from our Police Service:

• If you park a high-end car in a movie parking lot be prepared to make alternate arrangements for your trip home. By the time you get out of the theatre your car has the likelihood of either being loaded into a container bound off-shore or in the process of being broken down in a chop shop north of Toronto.

• If you absolutely must leave valuables in your car lock them securely in the trunk. Don’t leave them in sight in the passenger compartment, always lock your vehicle, and never leave the keys in it.

• At home lock your vehicle in the garage and keep the garage door closed and locked. If you insist on using your garage to store goods other than your car keep the garage door closed and locked. Don’t provide thieves with the opportunity to “window shop”.

• The tools in your garage and backyard shed are a popular target for thieves; keep them secured.

• As warmer weather arrives bicycles again are popular targets.

• Graffiti continues to be the bane of our urban environment. Report it when it appears on public property and eradicate it promptly on your own. If we allow vandals to believe we find it acceptable they are likely to move on to ever more destructive activities.

All of these security measures have an element of good old common sense but it is a testament to the lack thereof that 40% of all break and entries are thefts from garages attached to homes most of which were open at the time.

Working late on Tuesday and an evening meeting did not predispose me to evince a cheery aspect the following day. At long last someone showed up with a computer that will allow us to do route updates for letter carrier routes. I’ve completed work on our RSMC Mobile routes. Just as one new computer arrived another crashed. Eight consecutive Blue Screens of Death are not a good sign. More calls ensued.

Thursday arrived early to create a list of delivery blocks that need to be checked. Then the computer tech arrived to re-image the computer that crashed the day before. I ended up babysitting that gentleman to ensure he got the computer set up to work with its printers and configured the E-mails that need to be accessed on it. By 5:00 he still didn’t have Active Sync working so we all went home and left the machine to its online updates. On the way home gave my car a $56.00 drink of gasoline after hearing that fuel would take a 3.5¢ a litre hit at midnight—all too accurate a prediction as it turned out.

If I arrived at work ill-humoured Wednesday I was a lamb that day compared to the grump who hit the office Friday. Did what had to be done and got myself out of there early before I caused any more emotional upset. And that is the week that was. They don’t pay me enough!

I cringe to think of the paperwork, calls and arrangements I need to make in the next 6 weeks but unfortunately most of it has to be done at the last minute. Somehow I need to detach myself from work-related activities to leave myself enough energy to attack them all but it just doesn’t seem to be in my nature. At least I go a good eight hours rest overnight last night.