From Mike’s forum on Discovery
Q: At Work…a man came in with so many maggots embedded in a wound in his arm, it took 3 hours to clean it. You want to smell something Dave and Mike? He has been moved to a downtown hospital, where he can be treated. But since he cannot care for himself for several reasons all that will be for naught when he comes back and once again is ignored by the agencies that we tax payers throw money at. It is the worst case of abuse by our government that I have ever seen. I reached boiling.
Home repair…I have partially paid a highly recommended fellow to replace my fence. The MOST important thing was that it had to be done by 8/9, or not started until later in the month. Well, tomorrow is 8/9. Too bad he cannot find the fencing stipulated in the contract AFTER he has torn down my entire fence. He explained on my voice mail that it is difficult to find, it will be here Monday, and then left for his cabin. Tomorrow I will be stapling up some chicken wire while still trying to get packed and ready for vacation. His voice mail is full. I am expl0ding at this point.
Did I mention that I was very specific on how I wanted the chain link attached to the 4 x 4 posts and then the 1 x 6 placed outside on the top and bottom to finish it? He has already nailed up the 1 x 6’s. Yeah.
More home repairs…the new dryer installed 5/2/08 has now broken for the third time. The first time, a few pieces had not been bolted down at the factory. The second time, natural gas started leaking into the basement. It was found that the coupling from the gas line to the igniter had come loose. It was tightened. Tonight, one week after said repair, having washed a full load of clothes I need to pack, the coupling must have come loose again. I explained in a very level tone that I wanted a supervisor at Sears now. I explained to the supervisor that I wanted a new dryer NOW. I would not accept my body and my home being threatened in such a manner. I will have to wait from the repair man who has been scheduled to come over when I get back. I cannot believe that I didn’t scream at the woman. I am having trouble breathing though…maybe it’s the gas.
The phone rings while I’m trying to hang up everything to dry. It is one of the physicians. The employee did not turn over the phone lines. The hospitals are calling having fits that they can’t reach her. I drive into work at 9:30 PM, call the service, apologize to everyone concerned and write a note to said employee. I stop at Dairy Queen and get a chocolate Oreo blizzard for dinner. Once home, I do a sh0t of Jack.
Does anyone else notice a consistent problem here? Everything above comes down to the fact that people have not bothered to do their job. These are not difficult jobs. Is this a symptom? Why such a pervasive attitude that croppy is good enough?
Mike, this goes way beyond the infrastructure crumbling because we cannot attract workers in the trades. When did this become acceptable? Society went from Catholic guilt to Protestant work ethic, to half done is good enough. Is this a natural progression?
Thank you all for putting up with my vent.
Disgusted.
Did I mention that I got a notice for jury duty the day I get back? Kathy
A: “Mike, this goes way beyond the infrastructure crumbling because we cannot attract workers in the trades. When did this become acceptable? Society went from Catholic guilt to Protestant work ethic, to half done is good enough. Is this a natural progression?”
Hi Kathy
Like the trades and the crumbling infrastructure, the issues you describe are not really problems – they are symptoms. The problem is the fact that we have turned work into the enemy. Today, we portray most work as a form of drudgery, and rarely celebrate any payoff beyond remuneration. As a society, we simply don’t encourage the level of competence you desire. It’s a shame. We could learn a lesson from the maggots.
Mike