"If dynamite was brains, you still wouldn't have enough to blow your ears off your own 'ead!"
Classes have been in full swing for... what is it now, five weeks? Round and abouts five weeks, yes. The most vexing part was finding a daycare program to do observations, an assessment and a screening with a preschooler. After much fussing and trouble, I set it all up with Atrebla Early Learning Center. I've already done the three observations, this week I should be able to complete the assessment, and next week I do the screening. My Tuesday night class ended up being LIT 371: English Literature from the Beginning to 1800s. That was my "Elective" this semester, and I know you're looking at me like I'm nuts. I can sense your bemused, judging eyes. It is with Professor Durant (the professor what I had "The Novel" with), and she is quite a character. Our readings haven't been half bad either; even Chaucer was enjoyable after I figured out what was going on. My Dinosaur class has been interesting, though on our first test I mixed up Hadrosaurinae and Lambeosaurinae, so that'll cost me some pointses. Damn Ornithopoda...
I did a bit of looksy-seeing back in this journal, and was surprised to remember that Reid had only started saying my name back in March. Cor, he's growing fast; he'll be three in about a month already. I've seen him thrice since the last mention of him, each time rather enjoyable. The last time was rather brief; two weeks ago they were in town for the wake of my cousin's father's mother (not really related to me), so I skipped class to go see him. He excitedly shrieked and ran over when he saw me, then spent the next hour with me, so in a way it was worth missing that night's material and not being informed of the quiz this past Tuesday. Alas, since I haven't got a free day now, I'll take what I can get. My babyhead comes before all else.
And because I want to, have a long winded ramble about my combat fleet that I will probably be slowly developing over the next few millenia. It's half sort-of-canonical material, half mad hobbyist raving about what I want to find time to work on.
USS Monarch (NCC-8XXXX)
The dreadnought, and the pride of my combat fleet. It's still just a conceptual project at the moment, but it's happening whether you like it or not; I have tons of components for it and it would be stupid to back out now. Not that I'd want to back out, this thing has been a blast to plan. A third nacelle is the most striking cosmetic difference, albeit the most nebulous. Why does the ship need a third nacelle when they can't go faster than Warp 10 without turning everyone into horrible lizard beasts? Seriously. What the hell, Warp 10? Scratch-built ablative generators, extra quantum AND photon torpedo launchers, new banks of impulse thrusters and the crowning piece: Mega Phasers with Phase Pulse cannon assemblies. This ship has been designed (by me) to fuck up the Borg. Damn pasty bastards... My first worry with this one is fixing the extra nacelle; it's a tiny bit bent around the middle. It would hardly be noticeable amidst everything else the ship will have going for it, but it will drive me bonkers if I don't fix it.
Prometheus class; tentatively: USS Cronus (NCC Something or other)
I figured this should be listed after the Dreadnought. Still retains multi-vector assault mode along with an astonishing array of phaser emitters and an impressive complement of torpedoes. Prometheus class vessels have ablative armor, but not ablative generators. The armor is more integrated with the hull, while the generators form a protective "shell"around the hull. I may have to add generators if installing the Monarch's generators doesn't drive me blithering batshit crazy. What's more likely to do me in is deciding whether I want to display it in Multi-Vector assault mode, or as the whole ship. The model's supposed to be built so you can switch between the two, but the fit between the three main pieces tells me that it's going to be either one or the other. More or less permanently at that.
USS Majestic (NCC 74287)
My "standard" Sovereign isn't quite standard anymore. It's getting more phasers on the nacelle pylons and Photon Torpedo launchers that I will scratch build myself, see if I don't. I almost, almost ALMOST want to add Ablative Generators (also scratchbuilt) but it's 95% done with painting and I am NOT assing about with it anymore. I still have touch up with the paint and the filled seams to do, but each time I touch it up, it gets more close to done. Adding tons of gribbly panels like ablative generators would make my brain explode. I've been working on this one since 1998, it's time it was done.
USS Gallant (NX 78201)
USS Defender (NCC 78202)
USS Valorous (NCC 78204)
USS Don Quixote (NCC 78247)
My squad of Gallant class "interceptors". The Gallant is essentially a smaller Defiant; same firepower in a smaller package. I like the Gallant design slightly better than the Defiant. It didn't help that I can't get a proper scale Defiant, and the fact that EVERYONE has Defiant class escorts. Therefore, we'll do something different. I've got two of them at the moment, and I've ordered another two. And I'm just demented enough to think that naming one "Don Quixote" wouldn't be completely inappropriate. Except then that one would probably fly around attacking stationary asteroids and accusing the Borg of being enchanters and Sorcerers when the "dragon" they defeat turns into a shower of pebbles. And it would be awesome. I think I'm getting off the point here.
USS Trafalgar (NCC 52291)
USS Appalachia? (NCC 52136)
My two Steamrunners. I'm not sure how Steamrunners are classified, though I know they're fairly light compared to the rest. Supposedly they function as heavy frigates in battle. They can help take some pressure off the rest of the fleet, and in their spare time they fulfill diplomatic roles in outlying Federation star systems. I have a 1/2500 scale model and a 1/1400 scale model of this ship; the larger ship has better details and all of its phasers, though I still wish to incorporate the smaller one. Now the question is... which one is which? The little one has the Trafalgar details, but I want to reserve that name for the nice bugger. We'll see how it plays out, it entirely depends on if I have the finesse and patience to work with the decals as extensively as I need to.
USS Ahwahnee (NCC 73620-A)
The "Ahwahnee" is an odd one. A Cheyenne class starship, she was at Wolf 359 and left adrift by the Borg. Among the ship graveyard from Best of Both Worlds, her "wreckage" can be seen off in the distance, though she appears to be almost completely intact... at least compared to the rest of the fleet, whose ruined and charred bits float around still blazing. Since I like the Cheyenne class, I decided she would be salvaged and recommissioned (Hence the "-A" on her NCC registry) with extensive refits and upgrades to allow her to join this combat fleet. I would like to give it some kind of Navigational Deflector, though I'm not sure how I'd reconcile it with the hull shape. Putting it on the lower "neck" seems logical, though it would draw attention to the fact that the lower hull stuff was molded maybe 2 millimeters off center. I'm not sure yet what role the Ahwahnee-A would have in my fleet; the Cheyenne was a flawed scout, apparently, so perhaps she could still do that. Only without the flaws; Starfleet will have made improvements to her space frame and capabilities.
Nova Class, USS Eris (NCC 7XXXX)
A Nova class ship is hardly suited for combat with the Borg; it's a small vessel with limited offensive abilities. But considering that the Gallants are smaller still, it's not the size I'm worried about. It's a cute little ship, if a bit stout. My Nova is the science and Tactical Vessel of the squad. It shall have advanced sensor pallets, and during combat actions its purpose is to hang back from said action and provide more detailed tactical information to the rest of the fleet. Essentially, they are responsible for keeping up as the Borg adapt and change strategies. They're not the only ones who can adapt themselves in a heartbeat.
If you or any of your loved ones understood anything I talked about within that cut or any of the links, you have my deepest sympathies. On to something I'm sure we can all relate to. (That's called a "transition"!)
What is it about the Express Lanes that make people lose their goddamn minds? The latest species to introduce itself is the sort who simply flings themselves at your counter with 15-25 items and doesn't even ask if this lot is do-able. In most instances, I simply have to suppress my urge to backhand them with the scan gun and do it, but I will be short with them. That's the least they deserve (and some bitch on Saturday dared to give me attitude because of it. It's really not my fault when they have their head so far up their arse they can see daylight through the other end). An amusing occurrence occurred about two weeks ago, however. Some bastard approached with a bloomin' cartload of stuff, slouching over the handlebar like all lazy shitheads do (20-something and you have the posture of a 90 year old with severe osteoporosis. And even 90 year olds rarely slouch over the handle bars, because they used to use their hands for work and purposes other than fapping and texting. At least they still know how to steer the cart properly, not with their elbows. And they know how to shop without looking like lazy criminals. Sorry, I appear to be forming a tangent within a parentheses. Where was I?) and said to me "I have more than 10, can I come here anyways?" Not wanting to deal with that given the rush we were in the middle of, I took an idea a co-worker gave me and said "Sorry, my register only goes to 15." His reply: "Oh wait... this isn't even my cart." and he slouched off. Someone certainly wasn't running the batteries down in his brain that day...
What was especially naughty about me turning him away was that one of our Über Führer ETLs was behind me, helping with the horrible rush we happened to be in the middle of. Christ. We're already ass deep in it, you're only making it much worse.
I also demand that whoever is responsible to stop putting me on the Express Lanes. Normally, I'm all for dealing with tiny orders, but this doesn't always work in practice. Plus, the counter and everything else is far too short for me.
Out of blue I got my 90 day review last Thursday (only a month late!) I apparently did very well, though I got a "Below Expectations" on "Fast, Fun, Friendly Service". This is because it ties into our Conversion Score, or how many Red Cards we get. Our store's goal is 0.2% while corporate expects 0.7%. And apparently, most people get this; I've had three red cards since I started, so my conversion rate was only counted for one week, and it was 0%. Just about everyone else has the same problem. Corporate seriously needs to rethink how they rate us based on those fucking visas... greedy assholes. Any rate, they's not giving me the chop, they didn't put in the Boo Box, and yeah. I also got me first "Guest Compliment" (or rather, the first one that a customer told to a manager rather than me): A lady had come through earlier in the day with her boss, who was blind, and called back appreciating how helpful and patient I was. I helped him get his card through our reader, guided him signing the box, and actually made sure he knew I was handing him his receipt. I'd do it with anyone in such a position, and still, it feels nice to finally get some recognition.
And then Tuesday was "Chew My Ass Off" day. I showed up at 8:15 and didn't think I was supposed to be there until 8:45. 8:15 was my listed time, so it was an honest mistake on my part. And I still got my ass chewed off because "none of the cashiers were on their lanes when the store opened and we can't do this anymore". The way she did it made it sound like it was my fault. Christ, it's not my fault that no one else knows how to do their job. Then later I was taken into the office and bitched at again because corporate had sent a notice that I hadn't been following my Red Card prompts. They must track it with the camera and either not see my mouth move at any point, or whatever. I just said "I can't deny that..." because it really wouldn't have made a difference. And not 15 minutes later I was informed the notice came up again. Our GSTL was right there hearing someone tell me "No thanks" to an offer. And it had been the only one since I was reprimanded. I just about broke down and left. Fuck it, I busted my ass five years getting a goddamn degree, I don't have to take this shit. I don't have to be subjected to this kind of pressure and stress for every little goddamn thing Target wants to screech at me about. This GSTL has her days where she just gets right up your arse, and I was the recipient of most of her ire that day. If it comes up again, I will make a note of it. The only reason I work there is to earn money so I can keep going to school and get my teaching license. I do not have to take this bullshit from some overstuffed, fat bastard corporate criminals in suits. Only they never address you, they just get the managers on your case. Assholes. You're getting way out of line with me.
I was going to turn in an Availability Change form so I could work at Target more and maybe have enough for tuition, though Tuesday and the fact that I have finally been called back to Como Planetarium helped me make up my mind. Fuck them, whenever I do try to change availability they just reject it on account of I can't close on Thursdays. I told them I can't close during the week, and they've scheduled me for one closing shift since the new hours started. You dumb shits... fine, deal with the rest of that incompetent lot, I'll be earning a half decent wage with St Paul Schools. What's nice about that on top of it is that I can work more this fall. In the Spring, once the schedules done things will calm down.
All this whining, and yesterday's shift went much more smoothly. Today and tomorrow must be spent getting my sodding Beowulf paper done. Exciting. But beds times now plz.
I did a bit of looksy-seeing back in this journal, and was surprised to remember that Reid had only started saying my name back in March. Cor, he's growing fast; he'll be three in about a month already. I've seen him thrice since the last mention of him, each time rather enjoyable. The last time was rather brief; two weeks ago they were in town for the wake of my cousin's father's mother (not really related to me), so I skipped class to go see him. He excitedly shrieked and ran over when he saw me, then spent the next hour with me, so in a way it was worth missing that night's material and not being informed of the quiz this past Tuesday. Alas, since I haven't got a free day now, I'll take what I can get. My babyhead comes before all else.
And because I want to, have a long winded ramble about my combat fleet that I will probably be slowly developing over the next few millenia. It's half sort-of-canonical material, half mad hobbyist raving about what I want to find time to work on.
USS Monarch (NCC-8XXXX)
The dreadnought, and the pride of my combat fleet. It's still just a conceptual project at the moment, but it's happening whether you like it or not; I have tons of components for it and it would be stupid to back out now. Not that I'd want to back out, this thing has been a blast to plan. A third nacelle is the most striking cosmetic difference, albeit the most nebulous. Why does the ship need a third nacelle when they can't go faster than Warp 10 without turning everyone into horrible lizard beasts? Seriously. What the hell, Warp 10? Scratch-built ablative generators, extra quantum AND photon torpedo launchers, new banks of impulse thrusters and the crowning piece: Mega Phasers with Phase Pulse cannon assemblies. This ship has been designed (by me) to fuck up the Borg. Damn pasty bastards... My first worry with this one is fixing the extra nacelle; it's a tiny bit bent around the middle. It would hardly be noticeable amidst everything else the ship will have going for it, but it will drive me bonkers if I don't fix it.
Prometheus class; tentatively: USS Cronus (NCC Something or other)
I figured this should be listed after the Dreadnought. Still retains multi-vector assault mode along with an astonishing array of phaser emitters and an impressive complement of torpedoes. Prometheus class vessels have ablative armor, but not ablative generators. The armor is more integrated with the hull, while the generators form a protective "shell"around the hull. I may have to add generators if installing the Monarch's generators doesn't drive me blithering batshit crazy. What's more likely to do me in is deciding whether I want to display it in Multi-Vector assault mode, or as the whole ship. The model's supposed to be built so you can switch between the two, but the fit between the three main pieces tells me that it's going to be either one or the other. More or less permanently at that.
USS Majestic (NCC 74287)
My "standard" Sovereign isn't quite standard anymore. It's getting more phasers on the nacelle pylons and Photon Torpedo launchers that I will scratch build myself, see if I don't. I almost, almost ALMOST want to add Ablative Generators (also scratchbuilt) but it's 95% done with painting and I am NOT assing about with it anymore. I still have touch up with the paint and the filled seams to do, but each time I touch it up, it gets more close to done. Adding tons of gribbly panels like ablative generators would make my brain explode. I've been working on this one since 1998, it's time it was done.
USS Gallant (NX 78201)
USS Defender (NCC 78202)
USS Valorous (NCC 78204)
USS Don Quixote (NCC 78247)
My squad of Gallant class "interceptors". The Gallant is essentially a smaller Defiant; same firepower in a smaller package. I like the Gallant design slightly better than the Defiant. It didn't help that I can't get a proper scale Defiant, and the fact that EVERYONE has Defiant class escorts. Therefore, we'll do something different. I've got two of them at the moment, and I've ordered another two. And I'm just demented enough to think that naming one "Don Quixote" wouldn't be completely inappropriate. Except then that one would probably fly around attacking stationary asteroids and accusing the Borg of being enchanters and Sorcerers when the "dragon" they defeat turns into a shower of pebbles. And it would be awesome. I think I'm getting off the point here.
USS Trafalgar (NCC 52291)
USS Appalachia? (NCC 52136)
My two Steamrunners. I'm not sure how Steamrunners are classified, though I know they're fairly light compared to the rest. Supposedly they function as heavy frigates in battle. They can help take some pressure off the rest of the fleet, and in their spare time they fulfill diplomatic roles in outlying Federation star systems. I have a 1/2500 scale model and a 1/1400 scale model of this ship; the larger ship has better details and all of its phasers, though I still wish to incorporate the smaller one. Now the question is... which one is which? The little one has the Trafalgar details, but I want to reserve that name for the nice bugger. We'll see how it plays out, it entirely depends on if I have the finesse and patience to work with the decals as extensively as I need to.
USS Ahwahnee (NCC 73620-A)
The "Ahwahnee" is an odd one. A Cheyenne class starship, she was at Wolf 359 and left adrift by the Borg. Among the ship graveyard from Best of Both Worlds, her "wreckage" can be seen off in the distance, though she appears to be almost completely intact... at least compared to the rest of the fleet, whose ruined and charred bits float around still blazing. Since I like the Cheyenne class, I decided she would be salvaged and recommissioned (Hence the "-A" on her NCC registry) with extensive refits and upgrades to allow her to join this combat fleet. I would like to give it some kind of Navigational Deflector, though I'm not sure how I'd reconcile it with the hull shape. Putting it on the lower "neck" seems logical, though it would draw attention to the fact that the lower hull stuff was molded maybe 2 millimeters off center. I'm not sure yet what role the Ahwahnee-A would have in my fleet; the Cheyenne was a flawed scout, apparently, so perhaps she could still do that. Only without the flaws; Starfleet will have made improvements to her space frame and capabilities.
Nova Class, USS Eris (NCC 7XXXX)
A Nova class ship is hardly suited for combat with the Borg; it's a small vessel with limited offensive abilities. But considering that the Gallants are smaller still, it's not the size I'm worried about. It's a cute little ship, if a bit stout. My Nova is the science and Tactical Vessel of the squad. It shall have advanced sensor pallets, and during combat actions its purpose is to hang back from said action and provide more detailed tactical information to the rest of the fleet. Essentially, they are responsible for keeping up as the Borg adapt and change strategies. They're not the only ones who can adapt themselves in a heartbeat.
If you or any of your loved ones understood anything I talked about within that cut or any of the links, you have my deepest sympathies. On to something I'm sure we can all relate to. (That's called a "transition"!)
What is it about the Express Lanes that make people lose their goddamn minds? The latest species to introduce itself is the sort who simply flings themselves at your counter with 15-25 items and doesn't even ask if this lot is do-able. In most instances, I simply have to suppress my urge to backhand them with the scan gun and do it, but I will be short with them. That's the least they deserve (and some bitch on Saturday dared to give me attitude because of it. It's really not my fault when they have their head so far up their arse they can see daylight through the other end). An amusing occurrence occurred about two weeks ago, however. Some bastard approached with a bloomin' cartload of stuff, slouching over the handlebar like all lazy shitheads do (20-something and you have the posture of a 90 year old with severe osteoporosis. And even 90 year olds rarely slouch over the handle bars, because they used to use their hands for work and purposes other than fapping and texting. At least they still know how to steer the cart properly, not with their elbows. And they know how to shop without looking like lazy criminals. Sorry, I appear to be forming a tangent within a parentheses. Where was I?) and said to me "I have more than 10, can I come here anyways?" Not wanting to deal with that given the rush we were in the middle of, I took an idea a co-worker gave me and said "Sorry, my register only goes to 15." His reply: "Oh wait... this isn't even my cart." and he slouched off. Someone certainly wasn't running the batteries down in his brain that day...
What was especially naughty about me turning him away was that one of our Über Führer ETLs was behind me, helping with the horrible rush we happened to be in the middle of. Christ. We're already ass deep in it, you're only making it much worse.
I also demand that whoever is responsible to stop putting me on the Express Lanes. Normally, I'm all for dealing with tiny orders, but this doesn't always work in practice. Plus, the counter and everything else is far too short for me.
Out of blue I got my 90 day review last Thursday (only a month late!) I apparently did very well, though I got a "Below Expectations" on "Fast, Fun, Friendly Service". This is because it ties into our Conversion Score, or how many Red Cards we get. Our store's goal is 0.2% while corporate expects 0.7%. And apparently, most people get this; I've had three red cards since I started, so my conversion rate was only counted for one week, and it was 0%. Just about everyone else has the same problem. Corporate seriously needs to rethink how they rate us based on those fucking visas... greedy assholes. Any rate, they's not giving me the chop, they didn't put in the Boo Box, and yeah. I also got me first "Guest Compliment" (or rather, the first one that a customer told to a manager rather than me): A lady had come through earlier in the day with her boss, who was blind, and called back appreciating how helpful and patient I was. I helped him get his card through our reader, guided him signing the box, and actually made sure he knew I was handing him his receipt. I'd do it with anyone in such a position, and still, it feels nice to finally get some recognition.
And then Tuesday was "Chew My Ass Off" day. I showed up at 8:15 and didn't think I was supposed to be there until 8:45. 8:15 was my listed time, so it was an honest mistake on my part. And I still got my ass chewed off because "none of the cashiers were on their lanes when the store opened and we can't do this anymore". The way she did it made it sound like it was my fault. Christ, it's not my fault that no one else knows how to do their job. Then later I was taken into the office and bitched at again because corporate had sent a notice that I hadn't been following my Red Card prompts. They must track it with the camera and either not see my mouth move at any point, or whatever. I just said "I can't deny that..." because it really wouldn't have made a difference. And not 15 minutes later I was informed the notice came up again. Our GSTL was right there hearing someone tell me "No thanks" to an offer. And it had been the only one since I was reprimanded. I just about broke down and left. Fuck it, I busted my ass five years getting a goddamn degree, I don't have to take this shit. I don't have to be subjected to this kind of pressure and stress for every little goddamn thing Target wants to screech at me about. This GSTL has her days where she just gets right up your arse, and I was the recipient of most of her ire that day. If it comes up again, I will make a note of it. The only reason I work there is to earn money so I can keep going to school and get my teaching license. I do not have to take this bullshit from some overstuffed, fat bastard corporate criminals in suits. Only they never address you, they just get the managers on your case. Assholes. You're getting way out of line with me.
I was going to turn in an Availability Change form so I could work at Target more and maybe have enough for tuition, though Tuesday and the fact that I have finally been called back to Como Planetarium helped me make up my mind. Fuck them, whenever I do try to change availability they just reject it on account of I can't close on Thursdays. I told them I can't close during the week, and they've scheduled me for one closing shift since the new hours started. You dumb shits... fine, deal with the rest of that incompetent lot, I'll be earning a half decent wage with St Paul Schools. What's nice about that on top of it is that I can work more this fall. In the Spring, once the schedules done things will calm down.
All this whining, and yesterday's shift went much more smoothly. Today and tomorrow must be spent getting my sodding Beowulf paper done. Exciting. But beds times now plz.