I haven't posted a good rant for a long time. And I think that it is time. Its time for a couple of rants that I have been saving actually. Caution people - I am not talking about anyone in particular and they are rants therefore they are extreme views what I feel at this point in time. They are the result of someone pissing me off or someone doing something stupid that resulted in these extreme views. After all ... its a blog!

Rant One - Min Wage Workers
I have worked at a variety of jobs. Actually this year I have works at more places that I likely ever had before. Its because I realized something. I am not going to work at a job that isn't specific to me. I am sick of hearing people bitch about their job when they work at Walmart, McD's, Tim's etc., etc. Lets face it. These jobs don't give a shit who you are, what your degree is, or what your working type is. At the end of the day they want someone to work for cheap wages. Is that you? Most people would say no but yet everyone ends up doing it at one point in time. We all work for cheap wages and at that time that's all we are worth. Perhaps you have a PhD and perhaps you could run the place, but yet you stand at the counter and pour a coffee for $7.00 an hour therefore your only worth that $7.00 an hour. Now before those of you who work in this type of a position, enjoy it, and have made it a full-time career jump at me I want to make it known I am not downplaying these occupations. I actually really loved my position at Tim Horton's I disliked some of the people that I worked with especially those who got caught up in titles and positions but over all Tim Horton's was a job I enjoyed. It was face paced, time passed quickly, interactive, customer service orientated, involved team work but at the same time individual flexibility So at first when I was offered an Assistant Manager Position at Tim's I was excited. I figured that I could take the opportunity to apply my skills to a specific store and make the changes that I always felt needed to be made while working at the entry level. But then I realized something. The job was alright, the people at the job were 50% good and 50% horrible, but everything else was crap. The pay was crap ... and although I will keep the salary they offered me confidential it would have likely been less than I was making as a supervisor when you factor in the longer hours that were expected. The hours were crap. I am a morning person, and as an assistant manager I would have been likely working more mornings than evenings but it was still crap because there was not set schedule. Basically I would have worked when I was told and I was to like it. The work environment was crap. Every weekend I came in for my shift there was a new policy or a change that we needed to put into effect. No one knew who authorized this change and most of the time it made things worse rather than better at the store level, but again we would do it and have to like it. I realized that although I felt important to be offered an Assistant Manager position, that my qualifications fit their expectations it was all a plan. Their qualifications was a monkey. Anyone can be an assistant manager at Tim Horton's. Not everyone can be a good assistant manger at Tim Horton's but anyone can be an assistant manager and do the duties that are expected. For the record I was a good supervisor and I would have made a damned fine assistant manager. Why? Mainly because the title didn't go to me head. As I watch people around me get promoted to supervisor (the position which I held) they took this to mean tell people what to do and not do anything yourself. For me a supervisor does control the flow with respect to who does what but you need to work along side your employees to ensure how things are going and to keep that active relationship open. But that's off topic a bit. Tim Horton's didn't give a shit that I was going to be an assistant manager just that they were going to have one. So when I resigned from the position it went to the next "monkey" in line. Again I do not mean any disrespect for people who are happy in this type of an occupation but it is not for me. I cannot be satisfied as an disposable employee. Min wage jobs = disposable employee.

This is also why I loved my position at Accenture, because I was needed not only to fill a stop, but because of what I bought to the position. The position that I was in was created because of me essentially Yeah again titles, Team Lead, Central Desk, whatever... but the few of us that held these titles were not easily replaced. Perhaps I am kidding myself a bit, as I am sure after training and job shadowing someone could have done what I was doing but I created the position in a sense. We all created our roles within the team and that in it self is a sign of a good position. At least in my position. At Tim Horton's the only thing you can create is how you like your station, but don't move it too much because they the person covering your break will be pissed! At Accenture there wasn't anyone to cover my break but me. If I didn't do the work I had to do it the next day. I also want to give a HELL YEAH to my "boss" while I was in that role because it was by his example that we all excelled. He ran Source Gas and they knew it, and those that didn't know it were not involved with the company. He worked with you to ensure that the work was done and I literally mean he came to sit beside you and work with you not only to keep you company, ensure that work was being completed but to demonstrate that he was one of us and not above us (even though he really was).

To conclude this section I will recap by saying I am sick of hearing people bitch about their min wage job when that's all they are willing to take on for themselves. You are only worth min wage if you work min wage. I am also sick of people bragging about the stupid titles that companies assign them to make the employees feel special. I challenge these people to take the time to sit down and reflect on what they do. You will realize no one gives a fuck that "you" do this job just as long as it gets done and that's why they give you a snazzy title so you feel specially and want to do a good job. Finally I am sick of people who do not take pride in your work. (yeah its kind of contradictory but hear me out) I don't look down at people for where they work, I think that everyone has different levels of satisfaction, security, and tolerance. I do however look down at people who screw around at their job because "they are better than their position" or "they are not getting paid enough to do it". For those of you who do this. Not only are you not better than that position, you are below it. You shouldn't have that job, as there are many Canadians who would gladly take your position and by far more worthy.

The Holidays are always a complicated season. Although I wouldnt call it a stress it seems that one would almost need time off after holidays to rest up from thier time off already taken. This season seems like its going to be busy already. Christmas is always a fun time figuring out what dinners are where. My family is easy, my place, christmas eve. However, my mother has been switching it up lately. And I know that my family wants us to go to Fred-town which I doubt will happen but you never know. Since Brandon's parents are divorced there is a bit more juggling but that normally works out. I always hope that Brandon and I can spend time together as in our dinner times dont clash as its nice having him with the family (that is if my brother and sister dont send him over the deep edge as they have attempted to do with my and my parents thier entire lives) Ah siblings ... cant pick them ... cant live with them ... and get get rid of them.

New Years Eve is going to be complicated this year too I just realized. The first complication is that Brandon and I wont be spending it together. :(  Although it makes me sad becaues I enjoy bringing in the new year with my boyfriend in my arms I am excited that he can spend this time with his family who will be coming together to join in the celebrations of Josh and Sarah's wedding. It will be the first time that some of his family members have been to the hometown in a while and Brandon as always will enjoy the socialization. The second commplication of the holiday season is figuring out how to get there, how to get back, how to get Brandon back and what to do with the cats but this will all come in time. The invitation was a bit short notice so plans will have to change. Brandon obviously wont be going to New York City and I really dont have anyone else that is in the country with a passport to come with me. I am trying to get my sister to get her passport together but as a first year university student I am not sure she will have the money. Perhaps I will not go to New York City but spend New Years Eve in Canada for the first time in a few years. The third complicaton is money. I think Brandons a bit freaked out becaues it means we will have to be home from the Dec 23- Jan 2 and thats a big chunk of change that is cut out of the pay chq. Not to mention the fact he will just be back to work after school. I would like to say - YAY for salary! I get paid either way. mwuahaha. The fourth complication is the cats. If I do stay in Canada then I think we will just head up home together and drag out cats along with it. Although I have mentioned this to Rascal and Copper they do not seem thrilled with the idea. Rascal did enjoy the extra company that my family gives but was a fan of the 6 hours drive or the dogs. Copper .... well I doubt she will enjoy the drive either and many be a bit more welcoming towards the dogs but still wont be excited about the process. At least this time I will have Brandon to drive home with me. The holidays are always busy so we will just add it all to the mix and figure it out!