Who wants to read my journal? You people scare me.

And no, I didn't quit my job!!!

So regardless of what happens at work, in the next 3 weeks I have to go out for 2.5-3 months(but next week will probably be my last). So Three weeks ago co-worker #1 decided to retire, and his last day will be Friday (as in tomorrow). He has known for months that I will be going out in October, so what better time to leave us short handed (especially during a hiring freeze, so we won't be replacing him). But ok, I can cut him some slack. His mother died last month, and I think something triggered in his brain, where he came to the shocking realization that life is short. So I guess I can forgive him.

But co-worker #2 has no so such excuse. He has been playing dumb and I have no patience for that. He has been covering another inspector's route since she was out on maternity leave for the last 2 months. She returned Monday, so Tuesday #2 came to work with me until I go out on Maternity Leave. First he is a country boy, which I can in general can handle, he has lived in Bowie Az for 20 years, but had only been to Tucson 4 times. This guy considers traffic signs and lights to be mere suggestions, not really something that must be obeyed. I scolded him, and said he had to look and pay attention to all the signs including speed limits and that if he would plan his route prior to starting the truck, he wouldn't feel so lost (something he frequently complained about). He wouldn't do it. It was as if he preferred to be lost. Or at least feel lost (because every time he said he was lost he was exactly where he thought he should be). His driving and attitude drove up my blood pressure, which my Dr was not so in love with. I had to lay down and relax for 20 minutes and be re-checked (just try to relax with DH scolding you to relax). I passed the re-check, but I know my BP is work related.

So skip to this morning. We are driving through a construction zone at Ina and Silverbell and he know that we need to turn at the construction, so as we approach the red light, I fully expect him to stop. He didn't. I yelled at him, and told he his driving was scaring me. At that instant, he attitude changed. Later that morning he told me that he just couldn't do my job, he just wasn't able to. He wouldn't be able to cover for me. great. A gerbil could do my job, if they could drive, but this guy can't. To much pressure. fine. I drove him to the office since we were having a retirement lunch for #1, and warned my boss. After lunch he quit.

He planned it out so well, his wife (also a co-worker) had to come get him, since he cannot drive a state truck, but more than that he cannot ride in a state truck either. So his wife had to go home, get their personal car, then drive to Tucson to gt him, and she lost 3 hours of work too. Now I give her a week, before she quits too. In this economy I find it astonishing that anyone would quit over nothing. He tole me and my boss that I was great, but that he was feeling anxious. He said it was because he didn't like not knowing what was going to happen in the future, but somehow being unemployed was more security. OK. Whatever.

On a side note, and why Andy was scolding me to relax... Andy is not emotionally prepared for the baby. He keeps saying we have a month. (at best we have 3 weeks, he knows this since we have scheduled the C-section). On Saturday night we went to L&D for regular contractions, they were not strong, but regular for several hours. As it turns out we are in the phase when it could happen in a couple of hours or a few weeks. Now he keeps is phone on him at all times and freaks out when it rings, even if I'm with him. He commands me to take warm baths, not to clean, and to rest in bed. He will be a good daddy, and if he loves the (as yet still unnamed) baby half as much as he loves the cat, everything will be good.

So yesterday I had to deliver a phytosanitary certificate to my old employer at the U of A. I had the pleasure of telling a former supervisor (who allowed another supervisor bully me until I quit/walked out, (very professional of me)) that I was happily employed at a job that I really like.

Then I had the pleasure of watching a melt down over the $50 fee associated with the certificate. The melt down wasn't focused at me, because otherwise I wouldn't give him the little piece of paper. Oh no, the melt down was over who was responsible for the 50 bucks. This is a lab that 5 years ago was granted a $17 million grant, and was promoting everyone, giving people $3-5/hour pay raises, and would send the entire staff to conferences to go whale watching.

It cracked me up to watch them melt down over who would cover a $50 fee. There were rumors that the funding would get cut if they didn't use it as described in the original grant, and since they weren't I guess the NIS revoked it, at least in part.

I wished I had left there long before I did. I'm so much happier now and nobody bullies me. (Except business owners sometime, but they seldom succeed since I have the POWER). I love dispensing Agricultural Justice.

Go Aggie!!!

if I ever see another catipillar or moth again my tiny brain will explode. unfortunately I will have to look at them again next week. *POUT**

GO AGGIES!!!!