Temporary employment day...(lengthy rant)

WUIVE - I have got to tell you this story (again probably). I am male, from a southern background, though many of my "growing-up" years were spent in Michigan. After that I spent many years traveling the world seeing what I could.

At one point I was working out of a temp office in Florida, and I got a call one day from the lady in charge asking me to come in. When I got there she sat me down, said she had an assignment she could not fill unless by me.

She explained it was "different".

When I got to the job site "boush&laumb" they explained that I would be dissecting pigs eyes. Hey whatever. They put me into a lab coat and for eight hours I dissected pigs eyes so the collagen could be made into patches for human eye repair after trauma.

I stayed one day on the job, did my eight hours, and when leaving and asked by the sup if I was coming back - said "you do not pay enough" - He told me I was the only one that had made it through the first break, I was not impressed.

Oh my gosh! Now that would be a shocking job for sure!

That makes the grump I worked with sound like a sweetheart. LOL

Wuvie,
I see in your picture-your little doggie--He looks just like mine from the back. Is he a Boston?
Also, what kind of tree is that?
I wish I could be off work for the winter and hibernate by a nice warm fire. Sounds wonderful for your husband and son also. Wish you the best.

Hi Soap,

The dog you see, we're not really sure what she is, LOL.

The previous owners were selling her in a grocery store parking lot
when it was freezing cold outside. They were in a milk crate with nothing
but a skimpy towel, and I felt so bad for her, I just had to buy her. Even
sadder, the woman took the money I paid for the dog and headed straight
into the store, emerging with diapers and groceries. I could tell they loved
the dogs, but needed food and pampers more.

She is supposed to be half Mini Pin and half Chihuahua, but in all honesty,
she's quite a mix and we're not sure what on earth she is. She is the fastest
dog we've ever had, lightning speed. She was born solid black with tiny
stripes on her chest and toes, no tail. She's 13 1/2" long from her neck to
her tail. 16" from her toes to her shoulders. A very smart dog!

It's funny, she looks a lot like a little black Lab, but isn't one. She dances
on her back feet like a poodle would, and walks upright pretty well. Bound
for the circus, LOL.

As for the tree, it is actually a castor bean plant. We didn't do anything but
occasionally water it, and it reached 15 feet tall in plain dirt, not even anything
one could call soil.

:-) KM

WUVIE, I worked at a job many years ago where any new person was put through the proverbial wringer and "tested" by a couple of "ladies" (using the term very very loosely)

On my first day they passed by my desk, sniffed the air and wrinkled their noses at least a dozen times. I finally smiled sweetly and asked them if they were suffering from allergies or was I being rude to notice their facial ticks? They did not pass my desk again the rest of the day. Since I knew I had showered, used my antiperspirant, and wore no perfume, I was not going to be made to feel self conscious by their obvious attempts.

The next day, I was sitting with another new hire in the lunch room during break when they came swooping in like two self proclaimed queens of the kingdom and sat at the table behind me. They immediately started giggling like 12 year olds and talking very loudly about how fat people should be locked up in a gym with no food until they were fit to rejoin society and giggle giggle you ask her...no you ask her giggle... ok, I'll ask her... giggle. "excuse me, but we were wondering if you could answer a question for us...more giggles...We saw your husband when he dropped you off this morning and thought you could tell us...How do two fat people make love? Don't the stomachs get in the way and keep them apart?" Giggle giggle tee hee...

I calmly turned toward them and said " Well, since you are obviously wayyy over 21, physically any way, I will simply tell you this ... It can be a challenge and it isn't a pretty sight, so we tend to be extremely inventive and keep the lights out... Now if you will excuse us, we were trying to have an intelligent adult conversation." And with that I turned back to my new coworker and picked up our conversation.

Those two were in their 40's and I was 28. I put up with them for 5 years as I was promoted up the ladder. At the end of 5 years I was made office manager and they were both so angry they quit before I could fire them!

As for preferring men to women, nope, I worked with men that were a lot cattier than those two ever dreamed of being and were much more adept with their very sharp claws... But that is a whole different story...So male or female I just ask they show some maturity and respect to everyone around them regardless of their position in the company.

Zany, good grief, you were put through the wringer indeed!
It just floors me the way people behave when new folks are thrown
into the mix.

A recent interview included a woman who, based on her presence
in the meeting, obviously had a say, or should I call it 'privilege' of approving
me. In brief, she would be working with me, so while I do understand the
importance of getting along, it seemed a bit odd to have the obvious
office favorite have a say based on my appearance.

What could I reveal about myself in a twenty minute interview without a
single question from her?

I've been trying to dress down my appearance with regard to the female
perspective. Nothing attractive, nothing revealing, nothing too "Ooh, look
at me!" Strictly I'm here for the job and nothing more.

Conservative dress, hair hidden in a bun, glasses, the whole serious
worker bit. Which I am, but still, you can't look too good when a woman
is present with an opinion. I noticed each time the main guy and I laughed
about something, I would look her way to assure her I was not after 'her
man', but she was looking at him without expression. Uh oh. Not a good
sign.

You know, just once, one time, just for fun, I think I'm going to wear a
nice outfit with a flattering fit, wear my hair down and curled on the ends
and feel good about myself. The downside to that is I'll be judged before
I get to sit down.

Wouldn't it be neat if one could conduct an interview in one of those
disguised booths, where they only get to hear your voice and see your
resume?

Sigh.

Wuvie, wearing a nice flattering outfit with your hair down and you feel about sounds perfect to me! As long as it's not "provocative", I don't understand why you don't dress this way? I don't see feminine as liability or am misguided? When I hired for my X's employment, I sure would not have discounted anyone dressed that way!

Hi Psych,

Oh, no, nothing provocative, I've nothing to offer in that way, ha, ha!

I just mean that looking my best, how shall I say this, leaves me
very uncomfortable, if that makes sense. True, I'll admit to an
alternate persona in public. During interviews, I'm afraid I'll be
judged the wrong way. Hair down means circus sideshow for me.
LOL.

Wearing red or wearing black. Even earrings
can speak volumes. Always one to lean on the conservative
dress side for an interview, I'm afraid I may look too conservative.
Too stuffy. Too stern. But loosen up a bit and one may look like
caution was thrown to the wind. Sigh.

Wearing one's hair down or wearing one's hair pulled back or
in a bun. Big differences in how others form an opinion. I've tried
to soften the look of a bun, but end up looking like I just came out
of a windstorm.

Basically, I'm just rambling on, just getting things off my chest and
out of my head. LOL. It's just silly to me that a big part of one's entire
worth is based on choices we made getting dressed.

A few days ago, Dr. Phil had a great show about how people
wrongly perceive others. Very interesting. One day soon, I'll
post an example of what I'm trying to say.

KM

Ah, here we go. I just found a few sites with what
I'm trying to say:

Women with long hairstyles are perceived as rebellious and often perceived by males as having a lower intelligence than women with shorter hairstyles who are viewed as being responsible, and mature.

This makes my point entirely.

Here is another point of view:

I have learned something over the years.
That while it is a matter of fact that people evaluate others by their appearance, the good ones don't. It is better for me - and a competitive advantage - to associate with the good ones, and not the superficial.

And another:

Whether we like it or not. We make snap decisions based on appearance a million times a day. It's why there is a multi gazillion dollar fashion and design and anything related to aesthetics industry.

Don't we think differently about the people living in the house with the weed infested lawn and the three broken down cars in the driveway, then we do about the people living in the house with the manicured property and the swept driveway?

Wuvie, I agree that people are judged by their appearances and not given a chance. From what I've read from you, & from what I've seen of your talent, I think you can do anything and anyone who hires you would thank their lucky stars for you. Be yourself in all situations. I wish the very best to you.