98 FedUPS with Mixups

As I am already tired, our little discussion of service people and delivery people may be fraught with a little more anger and a little less understanding. I would like to say that I am sure that most of the people we will be talking about are, in general good, hardworking people. The ones we're complaining about are incompetent asses.

Should we start with the classic cable guy cliches? You call the office when you move into a new place, they give you an approximate time and even though you know the score, you will arrange to be there, full of hope and excitement at getting your idiot box hooked up. You were told that the service person would be there anywhere from 9 am to 5 pm. Yeah, right. If they say 2 you better figure 5, if they say 10 am you better figure 1 or 2 because, heaven forbid, they dont get to take their lunch. You know? It couldnt be because their paltry ...what? 15, 16, 17 dollars an hour or more...wont be enough for them to soothe the ache in their guts for the half hour they would have to stop at your house? So, you sit and wait, stare at the clock or watch a dvd you've seen a hundred times and when Billy finally decides to show up with his "up yours" smile on his face(because he knows he has you at HIS leisure) you're mad, frustrated and half depressed because you know he has you at his leisure and if you want your cable/satellite, you'll keep your trap shut and put up with it. Fair? NO. Should be considered a criminal enterprise, much like mob dealings? Yes. Phone companies, power and water arent any different, so feel free to interchange them in the above paragraph.

Package delivery guys? Here we go. A couple years ago, my niece ordered a game system and the package never came. After a while, they called the Ups-chuckers that were supposed to deliver it. They said it WAS delivered. They took it to the wrong house. Down the road. Not even close to the same address. A couple weeks ago, Roz's sister ordered a laptop for Nathan for graduation. It was supposed to be delivered(sic)Saturday of last week. They never showed, she checked the website to find out why and the reason? Road conditions. You know, the week when the temps were in the 50's and the roads were bare? Somebody probably only had one or two packages to come to lowly old Kingwood and didnt want to drive all that way just for THAT, so, use the snow still on the ground(not the roads mind you) as the excuse to put it off til Monday. Jack...ass. How many times have you waited on something that took ffoooorrrreeevvvveeerrr to get there? Wanna bet somewhere along the way, barring the origin not actually putting it in the mail/ups/fedex, somebody just didnt feel like messing with your package because it was the end of the day or Friday or some other piece of laziness? Mind you, it doesnt happen all the time, but it usually seems that it happens when its something you REALLY want. NOW!

I supposed human laziness and apathy toward their job boils up in every job, but you only notice it when it inconveniences YOU. I ordered a chicken biscuit at Hardees one day last week, got it home and discovered that it had turned into a porkchop biscuit. Minor, yes, but I dont care for the pork and I wanted and paid for chicken, damnit. Yes, you make around minimum wage, yes its hot, cruddy, thankless work, but for crying out loud, try to take a little pride in it. There really is some satisfaction in a job well done.

That, I suppose, it what it all boils down to. That and people ona power trip. The self-same ones who make us want to beat them about the head and neck with a brick. People, in general, dont teach their kids the same work ethics and morals and how to find that satisfaction that used to be taught. Yes, I'm sure you did, but for the most part, no. If they did and people would take a little responsibility for themselves and a little pride in what they do, we wouldnt have near the problems with the various services and service industries.

Facebook friends Peggy and Melanie, I can vouch for you guys. I have witnessed first hand the great service you give, but lets face it, you are both mature and were raised in at least a bit of a better age. I know you've all(those of you in service occupations)had punk kids hired that you wouldnt let clean your toilets if you had a choice. They werent taught what hard work and pride were. Money is not everything, either. Yes, the utility people and many of the delivery people are paid well, but as I've ranted before- you dont have to make a fortune to be happy. You have to be able to live, but you should appreciate what you DO have, whether it's a lot or a little. There are always avenues for you to enjoy yourself and your loved ones, and again, it boils down to partially how you were taught and partially your own desires, your own standards.

I rarely had complaints about the money I made. I may have WANTED more, but if I liked what I was doing, so be it. I tried to teach our boys that they should do what they liked, what they loved and the money will always follow. It may not make you a millionaire, but I think being happy at what you do usually leads to a decent level in the occupation and a passable (at the least) living. What you do to make yourself happy with what you have, is up to you, not the people you're working for.

So, Mr. Cable Guy, Mr. FedEx man, countless lost souls working at McD's or wherever: take a little pride, put your paycheck to good use and if you dont like what you're doing, for crying out loud, center yourself, decide what you want and go for it. I've said it many times before: Change is sometimes painful. It often involves some kind of sacrifice. It works for the the bottom and the top. The choice is yours. Do the right thing, your heart and your head need to make an agreement. Dont do the job for the paycheck and then half-ass it. Dont half-ass it because of the paycheck. So, now that you know your choices, go get my frickin chicken biscuit and God help you if it isnt right this time. I'll call the electric company and tell them to shut your water off...;)