20050711
This weeked had it's ups and downs, of course.
'Ups' included the parades. Lake Compounce, Connecticut, and Hillsboro, New Hampshire, went well. Playing was good, and we had a lot more people then usual. Also, being away from home for those two days was a great relief.
Sadly, Kristen and I aren't going out anymore. And this time, the break-up hit a LOT harder then I thought it would. Despite my belief for a while it might end soon, nothing could stop the pain I felt last night, when I thought back on the relationship. Nothing. In fact, for the first time in years, I actually cried. I'm not talking about some whimpy cry, I mean I balled my eyes out, and came close to falling into a bout of depression. Did I love Kristen? I truly believe I did, and still do. I feel like I failed in the relationship, and that there is no one to blame but myself for this. She says it wasn't my fault at all, that 'her mind and heart just weren't in the same place on this' and tha 'she didn't want to hurt me mentally'. I have no clue what that means, really. Honestly, the only way she could truly hurt me is emotionally. My friend Adam, after I told him about this, came up with three reasons why she may have said this:
~ She likes another guy and doesn't want me to get into the way.
~ She is having some major problems and doesn't want to burden me with them. In which case, both Adam and I agree that I should be there with her to help her, now more then ever. She said she trusted me deeply, and I always said that no matter what, I would listen if she needed it.
~ She is just coming up with an excuse to break-up with me, and, as Adam put it, 'she's bullshitting me'.
Do I blame her for the break-up? Absolutely not. Hell, she even asked me if I was alright with it. Normally, one would answer in the negative, but I told her: "It's your call, love. I can't control you, and if this is what you want, then so be it. I still love you, and I want you to be happy." I meant it, too. Of course I want her to be happy; I still consider her a friend, and I want all my friends to be happy.
I might be able to go on the Ohio trip in August. A few ideas popped into my head, and I decided to try them. We'll see how that is, though I might decide not to go. The main reason I wanted to go was to be with Kristen; as Brian told me, it was a stupid reason to want to go in the first place. "No plan survives first contact".
Next, I'm working on getting a job at Wal-Mart. Right now, I have a chance. I have asked for an interview, and I believe they are willing to grant it. I spoke to a Co-Manager, Ty, and he said that so long as I wasn't fired for a non-rehirable offense (i.e., stealing), then I should fine.
A little backstory on why I was fired: I called in twice in one week to meet band requirements. I had been told previously that if I missed one of the two (which soon became three) major band engagements left for the marching season, then I would be kicked from the band. To be kicked from the band would mean I could possibly not graduate, which would mean I can't go into the Marines, which means no Marine Corp band. It is important to note I missed EVERY Thursday Night Band Camp, every Friday Night Football game, and every Saturday and Sunday Band Camp. Overall, that is approximately 20 to 30 missed performances and/or practices. That is a lot of stuff to miss for a half-year course! I gave advanced notice about two of the dates a month in advance, and the slips were approved. However, they weren't properly taken care of, and I was scheduled for the two dates. I called them on the first one, and they told me to find someone to work for me. I did, but none could. So, I went to the HR manager, and I explained my situation. She said, and here I quote:
"If you call in, there is nothing we can do."
Okay, I was just a tad confused, so I asked a question to clarify it. She repeated the exact same thing. So, I called in. The managers took the calls, and I told them that I was meeting GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS, and that I could not come into work. I went in that Thursday, picked up my check, and was fired.
Now, there are several problems here:
~ Wal-Mart management was incompetent in the fact that the 'time adjustment slips' I made out were 'lost'. That shows that management may have done this in the past.
~ This was to meet a school-related function. Wal-Mart policy states that I should be given a Warning, a Formal Coaching, and then a Day of Decision before I am actually fired. I recieved only a firing, and was not given anything else. Anything in my file that says otherwise is fraudulent. Wal-Mart company policy is also that school-related events shall not be a fireable offense so long as I can PROVE that I was, indeed, at a school-sponsored event, whic I could. Massachusetts laws also state that a company cannot fire a student employee who must call in in order to meet school responsibilities.
~ My final paycheck was not given to me at the time of termination, but mailed out to me two weeks later. While company policy is that, Massachusetts laws state that a terminated employee shall, at the time of termination, be given full compensation at that time. Antoher failure on the part of Wal-mart management.
Now, this is only with the Plymouth Wal-Mart, not every one. I can't vouch for any others. It has come to the point where I am about to bring a lawyer into this.
Okay, time to go.
'Ups' included the parades. Lake Compounce, Connecticut, and Hillsboro, New Hampshire, went well. Playing was good, and we had a lot more people then usual. Also, being away from home for those two days was a great relief.
Sadly, Kristen and I aren't going out anymore. And this time, the break-up hit a LOT harder then I thought it would. Despite my belief for a while it might end soon, nothing could stop the pain I felt last night, when I thought back on the relationship. Nothing. In fact, for the first time in years, I actually cried. I'm not talking about some whimpy cry, I mean I balled my eyes out, and came close to falling into a bout of depression. Did I love Kristen? I truly believe I did, and still do. I feel like I failed in the relationship, and that there is no one to blame but myself for this. She says it wasn't my fault at all, that 'her mind and heart just weren't in the same place on this' and tha 'she didn't want to hurt me mentally'. I have no clue what that means, really. Honestly, the only way she could truly hurt me is emotionally. My friend Adam, after I told him about this, came up with three reasons why she may have said this:
~ She likes another guy and doesn't want me to get into the way.
~ She is having some major problems and doesn't want to burden me with them. In which case, both Adam and I agree that I should be there with her to help her, now more then ever. She said she trusted me deeply, and I always said that no matter what, I would listen if she needed it.
~ She is just coming up with an excuse to break-up with me, and, as Adam put it, 'she's bullshitting me'.
Do I blame her for the break-up? Absolutely not. Hell, she even asked me if I was alright with it. Normally, one would answer in the negative, but I told her: "It's your call, love. I can't control you, and if this is what you want, then so be it. I still love you, and I want you to be happy." I meant it, too. Of course I want her to be happy; I still consider her a friend, and I want all my friends to be happy.
I might be able to go on the Ohio trip in August. A few ideas popped into my head, and I decided to try them. We'll see how that is, though I might decide not to go. The main reason I wanted to go was to be with Kristen; as Brian told me, it was a stupid reason to want to go in the first place. "No plan survives first contact".
Next, I'm working on getting a job at Wal-Mart. Right now, I have a chance. I have asked for an interview, and I believe they are willing to grant it. I spoke to a Co-Manager, Ty, and he said that so long as I wasn't fired for a non-rehirable offense (i.e., stealing), then I should fine.
A little backstory on why I was fired: I called in twice in one week to meet band requirements. I had been told previously that if I missed one of the two (which soon became three) major band engagements left for the marching season, then I would be kicked from the band. To be kicked from the band would mean I could possibly not graduate, which would mean I can't go into the Marines, which means no Marine Corp band. It is important to note I missed EVERY Thursday Night Band Camp, every Friday Night Football game, and every Saturday and Sunday Band Camp. Overall, that is approximately 20 to 30 missed performances and/or practices. That is a lot of stuff to miss for a half-year course! I gave advanced notice about two of the dates a month in advance, and the slips were approved. However, they weren't properly taken care of, and I was scheduled for the two dates. I called them on the first one, and they told me to find someone to work for me. I did, but none could. So, I went to the HR manager, and I explained my situation. She said, and here I quote:
"If you call in, there is nothing we can do."
Okay, I was just a tad confused, so I asked a question to clarify it. She repeated the exact same thing. So, I called in. The managers took the calls, and I told them that I was meeting GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS, and that I could not come into work. I went in that Thursday, picked up my check, and was fired.
Now, there are several problems here:
~ Wal-Mart management was incompetent in the fact that the 'time adjustment slips' I made out were 'lost'. That shows that management may have done this in the past.
~ This was to meet a school-related function. Wal-Mart policy states that I should be given a Warning, a Formal Coaching, and then a Day of Decision before I am actually fired. I recieved only a firing, and was not given anything else. Anything in my file that says otherwise is fraudulent. Wal-Mart company policy is also that school-related events shall not be a fireable offense so long as I can PROVE that I was, indeed, at a school-sponsored event, whic I could. Massachusetts laws also state that a company cannot fire a student employee who must call in in order to meet school responsibilities.
~ My final paycheck was not given to me at the time of termination, but mailed out to me two weeks later. While company policy is that, Massachusetts laws state that a terminated employee shall, at the time of termination, be given full compensation at that time. Antoher failure on the part of Wal-mart management.
Now, this is only with the Plymouth Wal-Mart, not every one. I can't vouch for any others. It has come to the point where I am about to bring a lawyer into this.
Okay, time to go.