Didn't Don Knotts leave the force to go manage an apartment building?
So I finish my shift on Friday morning. I bought The Romanian's monitor (the one DiceGimp has been promising to buy for the past couple of months) off of him, and he was astonished/pleased. He thought I was just doing it to tweak DiceGimp, but I figure that if DiceGimp wants it, he can buy it from me since I've got infinite time, and The Romanian is heading home in five weeks, and will be gone for seven weeks.
I head home. First is breakfast with the 'rents, then a bit of sleep before game. I admit I stay up a bit later that I should, but no biggie. It's not like I have to work.
Head falls on the pillow. The better part of an hour passes.
RING RING! RING RING! RING RI.. "Hello?"
"Hi Rimmy, this is [Chief Scheduler and Payroll lady with freaky memory]. The client at your site wants you to being working the 1600-0000 shift starting on Monday, is that okay?"
Rimmy: "Yes, Barney told me that. I can do it."
Work: "Good. And can you do that shift today, for training?"
Note that it's 1230 at this point. I've just fallen asleep after working all night.
Rimmy: "Well I suppose, but I'm actually trained for that shift. I've covered for Barney before, so I've really got it all."
Work: "The client wants you to work this shift."
Sigh.
Rimmy: "Okay no problem, I'll be there."
Now, I don't know who "the client" is that she's talking about, since I know it's not our liason there, nor her right-hand man. I think I was just snowed. Damn it.
I inform the group that I'll miss game. I get a bit of sleep. In fact, an hour too much of it. I should have woken up at 1330, but I manage to doze until 1430. I don't have time to get to work via my normal route, good thing taxis are plentiful.
My Storyteller tells me the result of a paranoia-fogged plan my character had. I'm greatly amused at both the in-game result, and my Storyteller's sense of humour. :)
A quick shower, and I'm back at work seven hours after I left it. Of course I had to field the same question from everybody, one after another:
"What are you doing here?"
"Do you do 24 hour shifts here now?"
"Awwww, did you miss us?"
To which I'm tempted to answer "Your mom," "Yes," and "I did, but I have another clip..." but I don't.
I slip into Reception where Crazy Cougar Receptionist is. She's clearly suprised to see me.
CCR: "Hello again. I take it you're covering for Barney?"
My, who's nosy now?
Rimmy: "No, he'll be along shortly."
CCR: "Oh. Two of you on today?"
Rimmy: "Looks like."
CCR: "Why do they need two guards on today?"
Rimmy: I shrug in an 'you don't need to know' manner and say "He needs me to do all his heavy lifting."
I wander around while I'm waiting for him, and talk to a couple of people. Eventually Barney shows up.
Wow, that guy can smoke. The bulk of his rounds seems to be going out one door to see who's there, lighting up, and gossiping. Then back inside to lock a door, then out another door to see who's out there and lighting up and gossiping.
The only thing I learned from him about the site was where the timer was for the Christmas lights, when they put them up. Good thing we got that settled, me being the Christmas lights guy and all. :P
After a couple of hours (read: when everybody he'd want to make a show for had left) he decided to leave too. I took his keys and access, and off he went.
He dropped a few random hints about what happened too, I don't know if he was cracking under the shame/stress, or he'd just forgotten what story he'd already told me, but it sounds like the client did indeed ask for him to be removed, and specifically requested me. I think I'll have to wait until September to question the proper people about it (vacations), but isn't that weird?
My FM (Field Manager) came by to drop off the new schedule and pick up our reports and payroll, and I asked him "So, nobody's come right out and told me officially - am I the S/S here now or what?"
"Beats the hell out of me - you'll have to ask [a higher manager who I'll probably name Cookie Monster if he becomes a repeat character in my experiences]. Of course for that, I'll have to wait until after the weekend.
Oh, and during this extra shift I was working, I got called again. Would I also do my graveyard shift Sunday night/Monday morning, as they don't have anybody to work it? Sigh again.
Once I figure out what the hell is going on, if I'm really in charge, I've got a few things in mind.
1) I'm going to try (if it's possible) to repair the damage that Barney and company has done to the client. I still work there, after all, and there's no need for all this bullshit. I don't know if I can do it, or if I'll even have the opportunity, but if it can be done, I'll give it a shot.
2) The Sleeper isn't working two sixteen hour shifts on the weekend. He can have two eights instead. A guy that can't stay awake during a graveyard eight and lets himself be found by employees and doesn't actually unlock doors for them when he's the only one with a key does not get to work a double shift on a day with nobody around to see him.
3) Nobody new works on the site without training with me first.
4) If the client is going to stay at the current site (they'll definitely be gone by Christmas 2006, although I also hear rumours of a more imminent move, or else closure) I'm going to see if they'll go for a pipe system, so that guards have to electronically tag various points on their patrols. When I review the results on my shift, I can see if there are missed areas or long pauses between patrols, regardless of what they write on their reports.
Of course, I might be getting ahead of myself. Nobody's told me squat yet.
But of course, when I know, you'll know. ;)
I head home. First is breakfast with the 'rents, then a bit of sleep before game. I admit I stay up a bit later that I should, but no biggie. It's not like I have to work.
Head falls on the pillow. The better part of an hour passes.
RING RING! RING RING! RING RI.. "Hello?"
"Hi Rimmy, this is [Chief Scheduler and Payroll lady with freaky memory]. The client at your site wants you to being working the 1600-0000 shift starting on Monday, is that okay?"
Rimmy: "Yes, Barney told me that. I can do it."
Work: "Good. And can you do that shift today, for training?"
Note that it's 1230 at this point. I've just fallen asleep after working all night.
Rimmy: "Well I suppose, but I'm actually trained for that shift. I've covered for Barney before, so I've really got it all."
Work: "The client wants you to work this shift."
Sigh.
Rimmy: "Okay no problem, I'll be there."
Now, I don't know who "the client" is that she's talking about, since I know it's not our liason there, nor her right-hand man. I think I was just snowed. Damn it.
I inform the group that I'll miss game. I get a bit of sleep. In fact, an hour too much of it. I should have woken up at 1330, but I manage to doze until 1430. I don't have time to get to work via my normal route, good thing taxis are plentiful.
My Storyteller tells me the result of a paranoia-fogged plan my character had. I'm greatly amused at both the in-game result, and my Storyteller's sense of humour. :)
A quick shower, and I'm back at work seven hours after I left it. Of course I had to field the same question from everybody, one after another:
"What are you doing here?"
"Do you do 24 hour shifts here now?"
"Awwww, did you miss us?"
To which I'm tempted to answer "Your mom," "Yes," and "I did, but I have another clip..." but I don't.
I slip into Reception where Crazy Cougar Receptionist is. She's clearly suprised to see me.
CCR: "Hello again. I take it you're covering for Barney?"
My, who's nosy now?
Rimmy: "No, he'll be along shortly."
CCR: "Oh. Two of you on today?"
Rimmy: "Looks like."
CCR: "Why do they need two guards on today?"
Rimmy: I shrug in an 'you don't need to know' manner and say "He needs me to do all his heavy lifting."
I wander around while I'm waiting for him, and talk to a couple of people. Eventually Barney shows up.
Wow, that guy can smoke. The bulk of his rounds seems to be going out one door to see who's there, lighting up, and gossiping. Then back inside to lock a door, then out another door to see who's out there and lighting up and gossiping.
The only thing I learned from him about the site was where the timer was for the Christmas lights, when they put them up. Good thing we got that settled, me being the Christmas lights guy and all. :P
After a couple of hours (read: when everybody he'd want to make a show for had left) he decided to leave too. I took his keys and access, and off he went.
He dropped a few random hints about what happened too, I don't know if he was cracking under the shame/stress, or he'd just forgotten what story he'd already told me, but it sounds like the client did indeed ask for him to be removed, and specifically requested me. I think I'll have to wait until September to question the proper people about it (vacations), but isn't that weird?
My FM (Field Manager) came by to drop off the new schedule and pick up our reports and payroll, and I asked him "So, nobody's come right out and told me officially - am I the S/S here now or what?"
"Beats the hell out of me - you'll have to ask [a higher manager who I'll probably name Cookie Monster if he becomes a repeat character in my experiences]. Of course for that, I'll have to wait until after the weekend.
Oh, and during this extra shift I was working, I got called again. Would I also do my graveyard shift Sunday night/Monday morning, as they don't have anybody to work it? Sigh again.
Once I figure out what the hell is going on, if I'm really in charge, I've got a few things in mind.
1) I'm going to try (if it's possible) to repair the damage that Barney and company has done to the client. I still work there, after all, and there's no need for all this bullshit. I don't know if I can do it, or if I'll even have the opportunity, but if it can be done, I'll give it a shot.
2) The Sleeper isn't working two sixteen hour shifts on the weekend. He can have two eights instead. A guy that can't stay awake during a graveyard eight and lets himself be found by employees and doesn't actually unlock doors for them when he's the only one with a key does not get to work a double shift on a day with nobody around to see him.
3) Nobody new works on the site without training with me first.
4) If the client is going to stay at the current site (they'll definitely be gone by Christmas 2006, although I also hear rumours of a more imminent move, or else closure) I'm going to see if they'll go for a pipe system, so that guards have to electronically tag various points on their patrols. When I review the results on my shift, I can see if there are missed areas or long pauses between patrols, regardless of what they write on their reports.
Of course, I might be getting ahead of myself. Nobody's told me squat yet.
But of course, when I know, you'll know. ;)
posted by Rimmy at 17:38
3 Comments:
I'm somewhat curious about your career goals? Are you hoping to work your way up the security ladder? Enter positions of high influence? Or is this just a passing thing on the way to something better? Ever considered a career in the police force? Seems you have a capability in security perhaps becoming "The Man" himself might be a career move given that you seem to posses a certain degree integrity and modivation that your co-workers lack. Just a thought....
Damn on second thought the cops are unionized, might want to pass on that one......
They would have to de-unionize for me. And they would... if I willed it. ;)
I'm not heading towards a goal here. If the client turned out to like me despite the rest of the security guys showing absolutely shameful behavior, then yay me. They're paying, so they get to call the shots (mostly).
I'm not sure that I have a capability for security, but it's sure easy to see when something isn't working and attempt to plug the holes.
As for being a cop, no thanks. There's a certain conflict of interest in being police, as if you actually manage to deal with all of the criminals, there's no need for you anymore. An inherent contradiction that I wouldn't be keen to explore.
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