Bivouac
Complaint department? Yeah, I'd like to report that I've lost my mind?
Picked up Biv today at 9:15. Reason she had to be picked up later? She was going to call in to unemployment because she hadn't gotten her check. They weren't' open then. Did you know you can do unemployment over the phone now? I didn't. When Ryther got unemployment back in '94, you still had a card to fill out and mail in, with the names of 3 places you've check out for employment. Not anymore. So a bit later in the day, she calls in while trying to work. She's on hold for a while, then she gets through and proceeds to LIE about why she deserved her last two weeks of unemployment. She 'claims' she could not work because of the weather, when in fact I called her in to work, but she was sick. And the second week I called her in to work, and she came in one day, but then her toe hurt. So she 'took' about 8 days of sick days via her unemployment. Now, she's part time. She doesn't actually get any paid sick days, although she can take time off whenever she wants as far as I am concerned. (the more the better) But last year, being the chump I am, if she had a day she was sick, I usually paid her for it. But only if it seemed like a 'real' sickness, which coincidentally usually came along with her period, if you know what I mean. But a sick day a month, that seems reasonable to me. So now, I'm figuring she's just used up all my generosity for the season. Because what she doesn't' get is that shes taking MY money. The cemetery puts money into the unemployment fund. No one has collected in at least 20 years, so our fund is pretty good. But that's still our money. And she was called to work. And I hate liars. And I hate slackers and moaners. And to lie right in front of me? Come on! So while I could fight her getting those two checks, I doubt it's worth my trouble. But I will remember it next time she's 'sick'. Which should be in about a week, if my calculations are right.
After work today I stopped by at one of the other local cemeteries to see what their prices are, and ended up staying for an hour talking 'shop'. J. Bear likes to remind me that people don't like to listen to me talking shop, or aren't interested, so it's really nice to be able to talk about the ins and outs of your job with someone who knows exactly what you are talking about. You can sympathize with them about the horrible digs you have, or the crazy customers, or the water filled graves. This guy was telling me a story about a grave he had that was exactly like the one I did two weeks ago. The grave was filled with water, the vault had a hole in the bottom, and they used the rubber dum dum to stopper it up. The only difference was that the funeral director, after the family left, wanted the 'drain hole' unplugged so the vault could drain. Now, I don't know why someone didn't explain the facts of life to this guy. I know him and I think he would listen to reason had someone tried to tell him, or just plain old told him, NO! don't do it. But instead the vault guy did as he was told, and popped the cork on the vault, thus letting it fill with water as the cover was put on. I suppose it will drain eventually, but why did he need to do that? And once it happened, he walked away like he never saw a thing. Come on.
I also happened to show up at this cemetery when a salesman from a supply company was there, so I got a booklet of his products and his card. Always nice to have. Not that I currently need anything he sells.
As I listened to the other Supt, I was just amazed at the chaos he has to work with. I consider myself very lucky to be working in a cemetery where, for the most part, records were kept pretty well. But for a time in the early 1900's, we have very good lot cards, and our former treasurer did a fantastic job of alphabetizing the entire population of the cemetery. I've added to that with maps of previously unmapped areas, and we make sure to write EVERYTHING down, in triplicate. But some cemeteries, even the one I was at, have horror stories of not knowing where people are, or digging in the wrong lot. Who needs that aggravation? Write it down, map it out. No one lives forever, and once you are dead and gone, if it's all in your head... well, they bury it with you. That's rotten to do to the next person.
Picked up Biv today at 9:15. Reason she had to be picked up later? She was going to call in to unemployment because she hadn't gotten her check. They weren't' open then. Did you know you can do unemployment over the phone now? I didn't. When Ryther got unemployment back in '94, you still had a card to fill out and mail in, with the names of 3 places you've check out for employment. Not anymore. So a bit later in the day, she calls in while trying to work. She's on hold for a while, then she gets through and proceeds to LIE about why she deserved her last two weeks of unemployment. She 'claims' she could not work because of the weather, when in fact I called her in to work, but she was sick. And the second week I called her in to work, and she came in one day, but then her toe hurt. So she 'took' about 8 days of sick days via her unemployment. Now, she's part time. She doesn't actually get any paid sick days, although she can take time off whenever she wants as far as I am concerned. (the more the better) But last year, being the chump I am, if she had a day she was sick, I usually paid her for it. But only if it seemed like a 'real' sickness, which coincidentally usually came along with her period, if you know what I mean. But a sick day a month, that seems reasonable to me. So now, I'm figuring she's just used up all my generosity for the season. Because what she doesn't' get is that shes taking MY money. The cemetery puts money into the unemployment fund. No one has collected in at least 20 years, so our fund is pretty good. But that's still our money. And she was called to work. And I hate liars. And I hate slackers and moaners. And to lie right in front of me? Come on! So while I could fight her getting those two checks, I doubt it's worth my trouble. But I will remember it next time she's 'sick'. Which should be in about a week, if my calculations are right.
After work today I stopped by at one of the other local cemeteries to see what their prices are, and ended up staying for an hour talking 'shop'. J. Bear likes to remind me that people don't like to listen to me talking shop, or aren't interested, so it's really nice to be able to talk about the ins and outs of your job with someone who knows exactly what you are talking about. You can sympathize with them about the horrible digs you have, or the crazy customers, or the water filled graves. This guy was telling me a story about a grave he had that was exactly like the one I did two weeks ago. The grave was filled with water, the vault had a hole in the bottom, and they used the rubber dum dum to stopper it up. The only difference was that the funeral director, after the family left, wanted the 'drain hole' unplugged so the vault could drain. Now, I don't know why someone didn't explain the facts of life to this guy. I know him and I think he would listen to reason had someone tried to tell him, or just plain old told him, NO! don't do it. But instead the vault guy did as he was told, and popped the cork on the vault, thus letting it fill with water as the cover was put on. I suppose it will drain eventually, but why did he need to do that? And once it happened, he walked away like he never saw a thing. Come on.
I also happened to show up at this cemetery when a salesman from a supply company was there, so I got a booklet of his products and his card. Always nice to have. Not that I currently need anything he sells.
As I listened to the other Supt, I was just amazed at the chaos he has to work with. I consider myself very lucky to be working in a cemetery where, for the most part, records were kept pretty well. But for a time in the early 1900's, we have very good lot cards, and our former treasurer did a fantastic job of alphabetizing the entire population of the cemetery. I've added to that with maps of previously unmapped areas, and we make sure to write EVERYTHING down, in triplicate. But some cemeteries, even the one I was at, have horror stories of not knowing where people are, or digging in the wrong lot. Who needs that aggravation? Write it down, map it out. No one lives forever, and once you are dead and gone, if it's all in your head... well, they bury it with you. That's rotten to do to the next person.