Trivial Things That Make You Surly

[Superhero 8,695]

My next door neighbors are moving and listed their house about $100K below what Zillow, Redfin and realtor.com said the house is worth.

Not that I’m plannning to move any time soon. But it hurts any potential sellers in the neighborhood.

[High Plains Drifter 10,961]

9 hours ago, Al_4_ISU said:

Dudes who drive diesel pickups and never pull anything with them are definitely a trivial thing that makes me surly.

 

I live in an area where there is considerable ranching, so lots of ranch trucks pulling cattle or horses or loads of hay, which is fine. Just no reason to idle when you are parked three feet from somebody. 

But yeah, it didn't look like it was being used on the ranch much. 

 

[High Plains Drifter 10,961]

9 hours ago, Dnaguy said:

 

Sir you lie.

Because you know, and I know that you secretly DID want them to die in a fire.... just maybe a little more down the road and away from the gas station.

 

 

 

[Scheiss Meister 8,387]

22 hours ago, Superhero said:

I dropped a Performance Improvement Plan on one of my direct reports today.

It should not have come as a surprise to him because we've had quite a few conversations (some heated) about his non-performance. He got pissed and lashed out at me saying I was a terrible manager because I a) didn't understand what he does, and b) never told him before he needed to improve.

He does have a point on a) since he does some technical shit, but on b) we've had conversations that go back to last year about shit he needs to do, meeting deadlines, managing outside subcontractors, etc.

 

In my career, I've only PIPed 3 other people and they all quit shortly after. At this point, I don't really care if this guy quits. I was thinking about working with him to get through the next 30 days, but his personal attacks were out of line. Sometimes being a people manager sucks ass.

I had a guy pull the "you never said anything about this before!" act once when I initiated a PIP for him.  I had my notes ready and asked him if he remembered our conversations on February 4th, 11th, 18th, (dates are for illustration only) etc. for three months, weekly meetings REQUESTED BY HIM, discussing his lack of performance.  He, of course, did not, including the one two days before the PIP meeting.  We then had a further two months of weekly meetings while he failed to progress even a little.  No effort from him at all.  What an unnecessary beating for both of us.

Before him, I thought that having to fire someone signified that I had failed to provide enough training, motivation, leadership, or tools for the folks that I fired.  He made me realize that someone else's failure or refusal to perform was on them, not me.  Sometimes you hire the wrong one, and you have to cut bait to make a place for someone better.

[Dnaguy 11,622]

9 hours ago, Superhero said:

My next door neighbors are moving and listed their house about $100K below what Zillow, Redfin and realtor.com said the house is worth.

Not that I’m plannning to move any time soon. But it hurts any potential sellers in the neighborhood.

If you’re not moving anytime soon and this sells, then they did you a favor.

use it as a comp when protesting your appraisal and save some $ in your property taxes.

[Al_4_ISU 12,382]

9 hours ago, High Plains Drifter said:

 

I live in an area where there is considerable ranching, so lots of ranch trucks pulling cattle or horses or loads of hay, which is fine. Just no reason to idle when you are parked three feet from somebody. 

But yeah, it didn't look like it was being used on the ranch much. 

 

Same, but I also know lots of guys who work at the co-op or a factory and drive big diesels just because they have small dicks.

[Kennythetiger 9,315]

6 minutes ago, Al_4_ISU said:

Same, but I also know lots of guys who work at the co-op or a factory and drive big diesels just because they have small dicks.

Hell of a way to start my Friday. 
I drive a diesel pickup that pulls a lot of cattle and hay trailers, but I am also sexually challenged. I leave my gas pickup running at the pump because I bought it in college and if I shut the fucker off there’s a 75% chance it won’t start again. 

[Braff Zacklin 13,354]

On 3/28/2024 at 12:14 AM, Superhero said:

I dropped a Performance Improvement Plan on one of my direct reports today.

It should not have come as a surprise to him because we've had quite a few conversations (some heated) about his non-performance. He got pissed and lashed out at me saying I was a terrible manager because I a) didn't understand what he does, and b) never told him before he needed to improve.

He does have a point on a) since he does some technical shit, but on b) we've had conversations that go back to last year about shit he needs to do, meeting deadlines, managing outside subcontractors, etc.

 

In my career, I've only PIPed 3 other people and they all quit shortly after. At this point, I don't really care if this guy quits. I was thinking about working with him to get through the next 30 days, but his personal attacks were out of line. Sometimes being a people manager sucks ass.

Are you riding employees about their TPS reports again, Bill?

[Native Horn 3,474]

14 hours ago, Underdog said:

Remote is acting up and Spectrum doesn’t have any replacements and don’t know when they will. 

Ordered one for my mom on Amazon last November for the total price of $17.31.

[gofuckyourself 8,095]

When you pull over for an emergency vehicle, and the cars that were drafting just behind that emergency vehicle speed up and don't let you merge back in as it passes.

[Superhero 8,695]

18 hours ago, Dnaguy said:

If you’re not moving anytime soon and this sells, then they did you a favor.

use it as a comp when protesting your appraisal and save some $ in your property taxes.

That's true if you live in TX.

I live in CA where the property tax is based on your purchase price, and property values aren't assessed every year.

So this doesn't help me at all.

 

 

17 hours ago, Braff Zacklin said:

Are you riding employees about their TPS reports again, Bill?

If it was as simple as TPS reports.

 

My boss wants me to fire the guy. I'm okay with that.

Edited March 30 by Superhero

[Dnaguy 11,622]

9 hours ago, Superhero said:

That's true if you live in TX.

I live in CA where the property tax is based on your purchase price, and property values aren't assessed every year.

So this doesn't help me at all.

 

Had no idea Cali did things like that.

That west coast is all kinds of wack-a-doo

[nnm 35,846]

Most employees at big box hardware stores have no idea what hardware is. Here’s a guy asking them where left-handed hammers are. 

 

[TheStoicPaisano 9,903]

 

[Dnaguy 11,622]

On 3/30/2024 at 11:22 AM, nnm said:

Most employees at big box hardware stores have no idea what hardware is. Here’s a guy asking them where left-handed hammers are. 

 

This dude is a dick. 

If you want help at any hardware store you ask the old codger or just go to an Ace / True Value. Home Depot is for folks who already know what they want or are looking for the lowest price. You don’t get both real help and the lowest price IMO. 

 

The fact that this man was able to flag down 3 people at a Home Depot is a miracle and what did he do? Fucking took up their time asking a stupid question. I’ll say it again, total dick move.

Edited March 31 by Dnaguy

[nnm 35,846]

2 hours ago, Dnaguy said:

This dude is a dick. 

If you want help at any hardware store you ask the old codger or just go to an Ace / True Value. Home Depot is for folks who already know what they want or are looking for the lowest price. You don’t get both real help and the lowest price IMO. 

 

The fact that this man was able to flag down 3 people at a Home Depot is a miracle and what did he do? Fucking took up their time asking a stupid question. I’ll say it again, total dick move.

I agree that you need to find the old codger. I disagree that the guy is a prick. It’s the same kind of joke you play on the city cousin when they come to the country. Tease them by asking for the left-handed shovel, or hammer, or ratchet. No harm no foul. 

Kind of like this guy teasing his daughters by having them go in and ask for blinker fluid. 

 

Edited March 31 by nnm

[Biff Tannen 45,418]

On 3/30/2024 at 10:29 AM, Dnaguy said:

 

Had no idea Cali did things like that.

That west coast is all kinds of wack-a-doo

Yeah, I definitely prefer the never ending annual increase in property taxes that I have to pay someone to protest every year.

[Dnaguy 11,622]

47 minutes ago, Biff Tannen said:

Yeah, I definitely prefer the never ending annual increase in property taxes that I have to pay someone to protest every year.

It indeed sucks. 
But it’s all I know…

[nnm 35,846]

1 hour ago, Dnaguy said:

It indeed sucks. 
But it’s all I know…

Too soon. RIP. 

[Superhero 8,695]

On 3/30/2024 at 8:29 AM, Dnaguy said:

 

Had no idea Cali did things like that.

That west coast is all kinds of wack-a-doo

Yeah it totally sucks that I don't know what my property tax is gonna be next year.

 

My property tax is 1.1% of the purchase price, which includes some local water, school and other minor taxes. I think by law, it can only go up 2%. So next year it might go up to 1.12%.

What sucks is older folks are reluctant to sell and then buy a new home because their property tax is going to be higher, so there is a shortage of cheaper homes in CA.

 

I don't know how people can afford homes nowadays. I purchased my home 8 years ago, and it has gone up 100%. My next door neighbor listed his house at $1.8M, and he's already gotten a few full asking price offers. There were a lot of people who came to the open house yesterday - all of them driving Land Rovers, Teslas or Mercedes. For context, if you put 20% down, with and interest rate of 6.5%, your monthly mortgage payment is $9,100/month.

[PvilleStang 2,823]

On 3/30/2024 at 10:29 AM, Dnaguy said:

 

Had no idea Cali did things like that.

That west coast is all kinds of wack-a-doo

It's the one thing Cali does right, property taxes.  They make up the difference in income taxes for sure.

[52-80 19,041]

Took kiddos to the zoo today:

1. adults repeatedly tossing food at the animals, despite endless signs prohibiting it. 

2. adults at the childrens playground part, chain smoking cigarettes, despite even more signs prohibiting it. 

and the people doing this…lets just say theyre an extremely stereotyped group of people and these actions dont help that image

[retsevlys 408]

3 hours ago, 52-80 said:

Took kiddos to the zoo today:

1. adults repeatedly tossing food at the animals, despite endless signs prohibiting it. 

2. adults at the childrens playground part, chain smoking cigarettes, despite even more signs prohibiting it. 

and the people doing this…lets just say theyre an extremely stereotyped group of people and these actions dont help that image

I'll bite.  What group of people feed zoo animals and chain smoke cigs in a playground?  Women?  

[BehoId, The Underminer! 11,667]

Double you tee

[52-80 19,041]

5 hours ago, retsevlys said:

I'll bite.  What group of people feed zoo animals and chain smoke cigs in a playground?  Women?  

Wikipedia describes them as “traditionally living an itinerant, nomadic lifestyle”. 

[deadshank 24,646]

Over-stuffed, tight as Dick’s hat band paper napkin dispensers where one can’t pull out a napkin without tearing it to shreds. 

[nnm 35,846]

24 minutes ago, deadshank said:

Over-stuffed, tight as Dick’s hat band paper napkin dispensers where one can’t pull out a napkin without tearing it to shreds. 

And they’re usually loaded backwards, where the half-fold isn’t in front and you have to pull out 10 just to get one. 

[baboso 6,043]

5 hours ago, 52-80 said:

Wikipedia describes them as “traditionally living an itinerant, nomadic lifestyle”. 

Bedouins? 

[52-80 19,041]

4 minutes ago, baboso said:

Bedouins? 

bedouins are known to be extremely friendly and hospitable due to their lifestyle.  these people dont have the same reputation

[baboso 6,043]

Ah, Romani.

[NeverMarryAStripper 21,780]

I was going to say retired RVers

[PvilleStang 2,823]

Sooners are coming out of their mobile homes for the spring, I see.

[DigglerontheHoof 20,947]

Gypsies?

[PvilleStang 2,823]

 

Edited April 2 by PvilleStang

[nnm 35,846]

34 minutes ago, PvilleStang said:

 

[tbone_ 14,016]

Looks like meat loaf

[deadshank 24,646]

1 hour ago, PvilleStang said:

 

You have to look closely to see Bert and the copperhead.

[gofuckyourself 8,095]

4 hours ago, PvilleStang said:

 

 

I don't know what y'all are complaining about.

That's the best looking fresh roadkill I've seen in a while.

[Underdog 28,371]

5 hours ago, tbone_ said:

Looks like meat loaf

The singer or food? 

[huge 3,787]

4 hours ago, Underdog said:

The singer or food? 

Little from column A, some from column B

[SHOOTER12 8,775]

Being without electricity since 4:58 this afternoon. WTH what's wrong with you?

At least it's a mild, cool evening. 

[Slacks 6,779]

The MFer in 8D who is loud as fuck. I can hear every word he says... Loudly. 

And enjoys conversing with his new friend Professor Dei.

Edited April 3 by Slacks

[PvilleStang 2,823]

10 hours ago, Slacks said:

The MFer in 8D who is loud as fuck. I can hear every word he says... Loudly. 

And enjoys conversing with his new friend Professor Dei.

Well, give the professor a break.  He's getting laid off soon.

[Slacks 6,779]

12 hours ago, PvilleStang said:

Well, give the professor a break.  He's getting laid off soon.

The professor was ok. The other dude was away too happy to talk loudly.

He was a really nice guy, but damn, bro. Take a nap.

[Superhero 8,695]

It's 3:50AM, and I am writing / re-writing part of a proposal that I was assigned 14 hours ago. I told the marketing manager I'd get it done by midnight, but here I still am. The person who originally wrote it did a decent job, but language was too "flowery" for a construction proposal, and he missed some sections due to inexperience.

The fucked up part is I found out I'm part of the interview team when on Wednesday 5-6PM, I received 5 meeting invites, one of which is a 6 hour interview prep on Sunday. In LA.

Of course I can't say no, since they listed me as the cost lead without telling me... I'll be a fucking zombie, but just needed to vent because this is bullshit.

 

Oh, and one of my project leads is out sick, so I ran a few meetings in his absence. Working on 3 projects concurrently (for probably the nth time) sucks.

[Sandman 3,401]

Sat down at my desk and got a call at straight up 8:00 on the dot. What in the actual fuck, people??? I need to ease into this bullshit.

[Superhero 8,695]

7:00. Finally done. Fuck me and the rest of the day.

[52-80 19,041]

1. Running into a string of red lights. 
2. Cabin buffeting when only 1 window is rolled down. Wife and I can never agree on when. 

[Native Horn 3,474]

32 minutes ago, 52-80 said:

2. Cabin buffeting when only 1 window is rolled down. Wife and I can never agree on when. 

Translation?

[Superhero 8,695]

2 minutes ago, Native Horn said:

Translation?

My uneducated guess is it’s like opening the rear windows in your car, and you get the buffeting discomfort in your ear up in front.