Myrtle Beach

So, we got a phone call a few weeks ago asking us if we wanted to go to the beach with Danielle and Jeremy. How could we turn that down?

We headed out Friday night, and met them at the hotel. We stayed about a block off the beach, pretty much right at the main strand.

Jody had to go work on Saturday, a client was having issues with their cameras. So, Danielle, Jeremy and I headed down to the beach to catch a few waves and some rays.


The weather was beautiful! It really wasn't too hot, the sun was shining, there was a slight breeze. YAY! Nice! Danielle and Jeremy spent a good deal of time in the water before Jody met us at the beach. His client never showed. *sigh* The three of them seemed to have a great time out in the water. I wish I could get over my fear of my face getting in the water and really enjoy myself. I did have a good time reading my book and people watching.

We went and grabbed lunch at Peaches Corner. Jody and I grabbed their famous footlong dogs. YUMMM. Was very good!

After lunch we went to wander around Broadway at the Beach. We usually walk around there when we come down. Lots of shopping, there's some really cool retro shops, and lots of restaurants. We wandered around for a bit, then Jody and I slipped on over to Fat Tuesday for a couple of frozen adult drinks. YUMM.



Jeremy and Danielle got a little bit too much sun and weren't feeling too good, so we headed back to the hotel to clean up and get ready for dinner. Jody and I went to the first restaurant we ever ate at in MB for our dinner that night, Danielle and Jeremy decided to stay in.

The weekend seemed to end WAY too soon. I hated to see Danielle load up in the car and leave. *sigh*

Not much else is going on... ;)
By the way.. Jody IS that tall! ;)

The drama is done... I hope!

So, I've alluded to things for a while now, but am finally getting things off my chest. Things have been pretty crazy at work, and in fact I threatened to quit, with every intention of doing so 2 weeks ago tomorrow.

Let me back up. My boss and her aunt bought the daycare about 18 months ago. MANY employees left within a short time frame, but there were a few that stayed around. There were 3 remaining employees that ended up staying with one of them that seemed to have a knack for stirring up trouble but looking innocent in the process.

H (the boss) moved D (the trouble maker) down to our building in December. Wow, most of the issues they had in the "main building" with insubordination and such disappeared at that point. Imagine that. Anyway, about the time D came to our building, the bad talking about H's management, the discontent started brewing. But it was hard at the time to put your finger on the issue.

Things have been boiling to a head, especially after we got rid of our floater. Firing her meant that we had to band together to clean our building ourselves. We have one employee that decided "on her own" that she should do ALL the cleaning. And that included cleaning part of D's room, too. Oh and who was supposed to watch the cleaning employee's class while she was out cleaning for 4-6 hours? oh.. that would be ME.

NOT happy about that... but mainly mad because A (the cleaning employee) fell for the manipulations of D. Also, since D has been down in our building, the other employees don't go and talk to H as often, or at all for that matter unless it's to complain about something.

So, it's all coming to a head, I was getting snide comments about stuff, and I was getting sick.of.it. By Wednesday, Jody was so sick of it, he told me I needed to quit. I dreaded getting up in the mornings, all I did was complain about my coworkers, and on weekends, I couldn't relax wondering what was going to happen on Monday. In short, I wasn't getting paid enough to be that stressed!

So, Wednesday rolls around and I have had it. I tell H I'm done. I can't do it anymore. H tells me that she would rather fire the 2 instigators than to lose me. BEGS me to stick around until our employee meeting the NEXT Thursday. A week and a day from then. *sigh* I tell her I will.

Coming into work every day was torture. Even knowing that H and A (the owner) were supposed to lay it on the line that Thursday, the verbal crap I put up with was just incredible. But I hang in there. I hold out hope.

So, Thursday night finally rolls around. The meeting is with just the "ladies" in my building. They kinda figured something was up when they walked in and it was just "us". A lays it out, saying that if they had a problem, they needed to tell it like it is. D jumps in and starts talking about how "Gwen breaks the rules...." so we asked her WHAT rules I broke... this is what she came up with:

1) about a month ago, D left for lunch with out making sure that her class was covered. (she says that someone was watching her class from across the hall over some half doors and a gate... and she says that makes it "ok".. NOT according to DSS or our "rules") So, I told H that I *thought* that this had happened, and she may want to check with the 2 other employees that were in there too.... It turns out that she did indeed leave the class unattended and so she got written up. D thought that she shouldn't have been given a written warning. (ok, so how did _I_ break the rules here?)

2) On the 4th of July, D and I were the last 2 people in our building (as usual, both of us are supposed to close at 6) when I was informed that I would have to go down to the main office at 5 because they needed me to cover down there. About 4:45, D informed me that she needed to leave early because she needed to get across town by 6. I told her I would send a message to H and see if she could help out. While waiting for an answer, I walked down to the other building and talked to AC. There was one child left there, and I got a message from H that she couldn't come back, and D would have to stick around until I could get back down there.

D wont answer the phones to save a life, so since AC had to take trash out, I asked her if she could PLEASE tell D that I was sorry, but H couldn't make it back, so she is gonna have to wait until all the kids clear out of the office building and I could go down there.

D takes this as I was implying that she would leave the children unattended.... so therefor I was breaking the rules.. again??? I don't think she's very rational.

After this A jumps in and starts in on me. *sigh* I was a literal punching bag. But, afterwards, the bosses pull me aside and tell me they are going to give me a raise if I would PLEASE STAY. If I feel like I have to quit, all I have to do is tell them, and they would get rid of the person that was causing the issue. I decide to give them the benefit of the doubt. Why? I dunno.. I love the babies in my room? That has to be it. Really.

So, Friday rolls around, and the atmosphere was horrible, but I still had hope that it would be ok. I avoid talking to D most of the day, trying to give her her space. 6pm rolls around, and she still has a child in her class. I am in charge of closing up the two buildings, and cannot leave until EVERYONE is gone. I have no choice in whether or not I go. I MUST STAY. D had the choice to leave. The parents are supposed to pay the employee that stays with their child after 6 (when we close!) $1 a minute. This parent is habitually late. I tell D she is more than welcome to go home. She states that she needs to talk with Mom. Ok..... No big deal. 6:10 rolls around, still no Mom. I call her, and she tells me that she was having car issues, but would be there in 5 minutes.

I relay this to D, and she still insists on hanging out waiting for mom. I will not invade her room and take over the care of the child, she has made it obvious that I was not welcome in her room. Ok.. that's fine. Mom finally shows up at... 6:40pm. yup. FORTY minutes late. She has wallett in hand and looks at D and I to see who she should pay. D immediatly jumps in saying that she was the one taking care of the child. I don't dispute that, but do mention that she chose to stay, I HAD to stay until every one left. I offered to split the money. Mom hands me $20, and I take it, saying thank you. She offers the other $20 to D, and D declines the money, saying.. get this... I chose to be here. then looks over at me and smirks. GRRRR.

I get everyone herded out, lock up and finally go to clock out. I'm waiting and waiting for D to come clock out... (ok, so it was only a few minutes!) when D walks down to the office and asks what I was waiting for as she tapes a note to her timesheet. Then informs me that she had already clocked out.... GRRRR. She couldn't have told me that she clocked out before I left the baby building? She knows I wait for everyone to clock out before I clock out. *sigh*

That was pretty much my final straw. She 1) tried to make me look bad in front of a family and 2) messed with my money.

Monday morning, I walked into the office asked H if we could talk.. and told her I CANNOT and WILLNOT work with D any more. I told her Friday was the final straw. I was done. I was calm, cool, non-emotional. She knew I was serious. H asked if I could hold out until she talked to A to see what she wanted to do. I didn't want to, but ended up having to work the WHOLE day with D. GAAAAA.

Long story longer... well, They fired D last night. After she went off on them for over an hour and a half, she handed them her resignation letter... HUH???? they fire her, she hands them her letter, screwing herself out of the right to sue for unemployment. BRILLIANT!

It's been slightly icy in the building, but my two coworkers have been nicer all things concidered. *whew*

So, that's been my drama. I think, I HOPE, things will be better now.

Next week, I'll let y'all know how my weekend at Myrtle Beach with Jody, Danielle & Jeremey goes. =) I get to see my girl!!!

Epic Float Trip

So... My friend Amy invited Jody and I to go floating down the Saluda River with her, her boyfriend and some of their (i.e. HIS) friends. The plan was to meet around 1:00 this afternoon, rent tubes and head down the river. We were both looking forward to the trip, and were ready to go.

As Jody and I were eating brunch, Jody let me know that his throat was hurting and he also started wondering about other peoples swimming skills, etc. He started acting leery to go. So, we gracefully (I hope) backed out, and Amy seemed understanding. We were a bit concerned about Jody spending a good deal of time in the water if he was fighting off something. (good thinking right?)

But, I was still a little disappointed that we weren't going to go. So, Jody went and picked up a 4person inflatable boat, borrowed 2 life jackets from friends, loaded up on Gatorade and away we (at least tried) went! We were going to be in a boat.. out of the water.. what could go wrong?

First off.. We tried to inflate the raft at home. Our friends were kind enough to loan up a pump, but it really didn't have enough juice to inflate the whole thing. So, it's nice and full, and Jody tries to put it in the back of the station wagon (don't ask me why...).. It doesn't fit, so he pulls it out.. and snags it. *sigh* So, we find the repair kit that came with the boat, glue NOT included. So, a quick trip to the store for glue, back home, and we fix the boat.

Drop off the station wagon over by the zoo for when we get out and drive on over to where we were going to put in. The boat was leaking a little bit, but we put some more glue on it and into the river we went.

It was so beautiful and peaceful. We saw an odd conglomeration of floats/boats/rafts up ahead of us, a few kayak's passed us, but we were pretty much alone on the river. The river was a little low, so we hit a few rocks.. no big deal. Right?

We ended up hitting a few more rocks, and actually getting "anchored" as Jody called it. We thought we heard a noise at that point, but we were only about halfway down the river, and there wasn't much we could do. At that point, we didn't seem to be losing air.

We keep going, seeing LOTS of turtles, a blue heron, some fish jumping. We'd been in the river for about 2.5 hours when we realize we were losing air, kinda quickly. We found a shallow spot, and we both hopped out, leaving the cooler, drinks and oars in the boat. We walk for a bit in the water, until we get to a point where we can't find the bottom. Oh yeah.. did I mention I can't really swim???? Yeah.. I can't. Fortunately, I have the life jacket on and I'm holding onto the side of the boat. We find ANOTHER shallow spot and Jody insists that I get back into the boat and he will tow it, with me in it.

I reluctantly get in, knowing that's way too much to ask of him, but not knowing what else to do. By this point, the main part of the boat sides are still holding out, but every time I move, I take on more water. Finally, I have to just lie still in the boat as Jody has the rope looped around his shoulder and swims. Jody swims and walks for about a mile or more, when we see a lady standing on the shore asking if she could help by this time.. well, the only thing that still had air in it was one channel in the floor of the raft, and the small side wall. It was crazy! OF COURSE we take her up on it. Who wouldn't by that point? I tried to climb out of the boat, but my legs didn't want to work. *sigh* I felt like such a doofus! We get to her truck, and ride in the back because we are both soaking wet at this point. Remember part of the reason we didn't go tubing was so that Jody could stay out of the water and {mostly} dry. That plan worked, right?

Let me say, Jody was a trooper! I cannot believe that he pulled me so far. I kept worrying about how the boat would drift over his legs and torso as he was pulling me.. I kept apologizing to him for it, and instead of getting upset about it, all he would say was "it's not like you can control the boat" *sigh* We certainly had an adventure!

All in all, it was a fun day. We would like to do it again.. in a sturdier boat that is!

Stay tuned for drama at the daycare.. I'll try and fill y'all in on Monday or Tuesday night....