Leading the Monkeys

I spent the last three days as CNC Lead Hand, at work. I trained a bit before our shifts changed, and never got a shot at an interview. Then when one stepped back to his original spot, as the "Guy Who Knows All and Can Fix Anything on the Machines", I got an interview. And lost of due to - and I quote - "lack of experience."

As an X-Ray Tech, it's hard to continue learning that spot as I need to always man my machine to make sure there are no malfunctions (radiation is a bitch), view pictures, and make rate. So when we were lacking in parts to x-ray (or as my co-workers say, "[ėx-uh-ré-ē]") and the Lead Hand on the opposite shift was on vacation, I was all over taking that spot when they asked. A $6.50/hr raise plus shift premium. 36 hours never looked so good.

Then... the weekend came. Machine crashes happened. Lack of training became apparent, and stupid people showed up.

I have great issue with stupid people. Like huge. So when people are weird AND stupid, I wanna do great bodily harm to them.

Crooked old man with hair on the bridge of his nose, and stands like the Hunchback of Notre Dame. Yeah. You need a good punch. Repeatedly.

Between running a machine after seeing the hydraulic fluid was low, and then over filling it after hearing an alarm sounding and not looking to see why the alarm is sounding. And not following directions. And acting like a know it all when I have more seniority and training. Yeah, fuck you. After 24 hours, my patience is zero for your shit.

I need more training for that position, but I can only get it if I pick up overtime. And I need the Plant Manager to approve me for overtime to train by shadowing a Lead Hand. So my hands are tied, and it's not fair.

But I'm fighting and trying. And my god I wanna punch stupid people. I thought working as a hockey referee would have me ready for that shit, but after 12 hours of repeating myself... it's draining. But I kept myself in check, and didn't ship the fucker off in an ambulance. So... little wins.

"Are you SHITTING ME?!" (Seeking a Friend for the End of the World)

I'm starting this before the movie has even finished. I'm watching the last bit as I type.

It started off kind of... off. Hard to explain. Sometimes Steve Carell's humour doesn't strike right. And... the timing was good, just... maybe I wasn't in the mood. Some of the stuff was like The Office before he left.

The Office was great when it started. Smart humour. Gotta think about it. But as it aged it left that British humour, and became slap-sticky. Like The Three Stooges.

Nothing wrong with that, just... I can only deal for so long.

But as the movie moved on, though marked as a comedy, it got deep. And emotional, and touched that drama genre too. And the depth reached the comedy side too, which was fantastic.

Before the end you find yourself falling in love with the main characters, and feeling what they do. They acted their parts well. And what got my heart in my throat was Dodge giving Penny the greatest gift he could give as the world came to an end.

Keira Knightley showed that she can play an in depth character, who doesn't need saving, dressed in modern clothes, while still sporting that hotter than the apocalypse accent.

A must see.