Cs make degrees

Barbara was talking to Rachel about her failing grades.  Rachel’s excuse was “I was tired, I didn’t feel like doing it.”  And Barbara accepted that.  I’m not saying she was happy about it, but she didn’t scold her or anything.  Granted, none of this should be happening on the phone while she’s at work, but…

That's why teachers earn the big bucks

Barbara’s talking about a five year old that she knows who “talks big.”  Barbara was surprised to hear her say that school was going to be “exciting.”  Eventually, Barbara said that she doesn’t even think the little girl is in preschool.  “I think her mom teaches her stuff.”  She said it like she was shocked at the concept.   

Concerned for the wrong reason

Barbara is giving Rachel the third degree about why she got a B on her AP Econ test.  She is wondering how she was able to get such a high grade when she is doing so poorly in the class.  I’m glad it was always the opposite with my parents. 

Tidbits

Barbara thinks her fish is smart because he floats to the surface when she gets the food out at the same time every day.  

So Jennifer left her kids alone the other day.  One of the neighbor kids came over and Sebastian ended up with two staples in his head because he "fell off a stool."  Now there is talk at the apartment complex of calling CPS.  

We just taught Barbara how to copy/paste on her computer.  First we had to teach her how to right click.  Forget about keyboard shortcuts.

Barbara is asking Rachel about her grades.  The funny part is, Barbara can’t even pronounce most of the classes she’s asking her about. Microkenomics?  Not sure I’m familiar with that one.  

Terry showed us some family photos he had taken at a department store.  I could have taken more appealing pictures of salted meats. 

La sal de la tierra

The guys who came to clean windows in the office, not the outside windows, but the windows that separate us from our superiors, they have interesting conversation.  They were talking about how strange it would be to see the people they work with in a suit.  Apparently, they think the only places you should wear a suit are funerals.  One of them said, “Like, what if Hector fell off the roof tomorrow and we all had to go to his funeral.  Do you think Dave would wear a suit?  I just can’t picture it.”

The other one chimed in, “No, but Hector wouldn’t have a funeral.”

“That’s true.  He doesn’t exist.  What do they do with illegal Mexicans?”

“I don’t know, man.”

“They prolly just throw ‘em in the river.”

This is a quiet office.

A regular June Cleaver

Over the phone, Barbara is telling Jennifer to be a better mother.  That seems like appropriate work conversation. 

This is what Jennifer said, “How am I supposed to make my kids sleep.  I put them in their rooms so how am I supposed to know if they’re sleeping or not?”  What a mother.  And yes, she talks loudly enough for me to hear her. 

She says CPS “Won’t find nothin’” on her.  She’s a “good” mother and always there for her kids.  She went out to eat (drink was implied) last night and left the kids alone. 

“My friends are the only ones who keep me going?” Jennifer said.  What about her children?

A Vue to be killed

Seconds after sitting down, Barbara started into it.  “Well, I made a big purchase this weekend.”  Then in a hushed voice, “I bought me a another vehicle.”

I’ve been tuning her out more recently.  She also hasn’t been at her desk much.  I’m glad though.  It’s the only way I can get any work done.  With being interrupted, intentionally or unintentionally, by Terry, if I were eavesdropping on her issues, I’d never get anything done.  Lucky for me, he doesn’t seem to be here this morning. 

 I got Barbara’s story, loud and clear.  As did anybody else working on my floor.  “I’m not sure yet if we really shoulda done it.  We just had to take the Malibu to the shop because the check engine light came on after we put some gas in it.  They said, for the light, the transmission pan that was leakin’, the brakes, and we didn’t even ask them to look at the brakes, near thousand dollars to fix all that.  We just asked them to fix the light.  And I’m not really sure, how do they know it wasn’t some freak thing with the light from the gas we put in?”  So we just pay for the light and go walk around the lot.  Then we find this little Saturn SUV thing.  It’s called a Vue.  It’s pretty cute.  There goes Reggie’s Social Security,” she said jokingly, but she wasn’t joking.  “But [Reggie] said, ‘You’ve lived without it before,’ and I was like I know.  But we’re gonna have to stop eatin out so much.  I’m still not convinced it was a good idea.”

“How much did you pay for it?” her desk partner asked, as if the gods themselves willed her to do so for my benefit.  And I’m really not sure what to make of her answer.  She said, “They were askin’ seventeen, but they dropped it to thirteen-somethin’.  But it ended up, with everything being like twenty-four.” What?  Seriously?  How does that work?  Eleven grand in extra fees and stuff?  I bet these two are a negotiator’s dream.  I bet there are dozens layers of undercoating on that car.  She said she got some extra insurance on it, which I think she meant was an extended warrantee.  But still, that’s a lot of money for a couple years of worry free* maintenance.  Regardless, $24,000 for a used SUV made by a company she didn’t even know was defunct.  This will not end well.

You're on the right path

Barbara called the school because they marked Rachel absent in first hour.  She is able to see her daughter’s grades in real time.  Isn’t that terrifying?  Barbara said on this end of a phone call, “I don’t think my daughter has a teacher with that name.  Is it a substitute?” It’s not.  Barbara just didn’t know.  Which is strange because she constantly remarks on Rachel’s grades, she just doesn’t know how to do anything about it.  

For instance, she had been assigned a paper several weeks ago.  Because that’s how they prepare kids for college where papers will be due in a few days.  By dragging them out for weeks.  But Rachel hadn’t done any work on it.  Then, as goes the story, the teacher yelled at her.  Even “bugged out his eyes” at her.   But Barbara was trying to get hold of the teacher because her daughter just didn’t understand how to do the paper.  Rachel reportedly tried to stay during the lunch period one day, but the teacher said she had to go to lunch even though she doesn’t eat.  She’s actually been saving her lunch money but still asking her parents for money all the time.  

It’s hard to focus on one thing when I’m overhearing these phone calls. So much gets thrown at me.    

 

Going down?

This morning on the elevator a couple gentlemen were already talking and joking with each other.  The lone woman out of five people (myself included) on the elevator got off on the second floor.  The rest of us, a maintenance man, two suits and myself, rode to our floor. 

One of the suits, the submissive one in the conversation, said something about some professional therapy class he had to take.  The other suit replies with, “Jeeze, what is it?  Shock therapy?”

His counterpart laughed, “Yeah.  What, you haven’t had it?”

“Haha, I’ve been married for twenty years, I think that’s shock therapy enough.”  They chuckled.  I shook my head and walked down the hall as soon as the elevator doors opened.  They followed at a more leisurely pace. 

Adding to what he thought was hilarious, the dominant suit said, “I feel like I’ve been waterboarded already.  Nothing’s torture anymore.”

They guffawed until they were out of earshot. 

Tell me that guy doesn’t vote republican. 

Stolen Conversations II

 Reggieeeeee.  No you don’t put bleach on colored clothes. 

[pause as he explains something] 

Well maybe it just depends on the material; I bet that’s what it is. 

[pause] 

Well yeah, with lighter colored stuff. 

[pause] 

Well, as long as it wasn’t none of my work clothes.