What year is it?!?

 

I don't know what is in the water but holy crap I have never experienced so much chauvinism in ONE week. 

I am a professional.  I have been in various business roles for many many years.  I am intelligent.  I....am a threat...what?!?  Why is it.  WHY IS IT that if me, a female, shares an idea its $hit on but when a male shares the same or similar, its praised?!?!?  I literally said the same thing.  

Also, the fragility of these older men I work with is eye opening.  I am not being critical just trying to express my ideas.  Why can't I express my ideas without being put down?  Why do older men think they can just talk over me when they don't like what I have to say!?!?  To the point where I was like "can I finish answering your question before you start speaking again...please?"  It was so bad I had people messaging me after the call about how bad it was.  Its great and all that they noticed but why was everyone quiet?!?!  Almost no one came to my defense.  You know why?  Because half of them were also female and they are scared to LOSE THEIR JOB for speaking up.  Do you know how f**ked up that is?!?!  The other men on the call...I will give it to a couple.  They did try to back me up a little but when he went after them they shut up quick.  What sucks is my idea isn't bad.  It would be a win win for everyone if we can get it implemented.  The problem is it gets rid of a bunch of manual processes HE created.  Instead of being open minded he pitched a fit to make sure HIS WAY stayed in place, even if its antiquated.  

Also, come to find out a woman who quit two weeks ago found out she was paid $20,000 LESS than her male counterpart.  Same years of experience, same education, same track record for the most part.  But he was paid more and treated her like his own personal secretary even though they had the same job.  Then he had the nerve...THE NERVE to ask her for a reference because he thinks his time is limited.  Why you ask...well because after she left they realized she was doing everything and he is basically a sentient paperweight.  

Again,....

Then I was at an event with some friends and acquaintances.  Not too many people and not inside (COVID!!!).  Anyways, one of the ladies I don't know as well was leaving, kinda early.  When someone asked her why she was bugging out so soon she said she had to get home.  Okay I know for a fact all of her kids have already left for college so no kiddies but okay.  She said she needed to get home to cook dinner.  Okay......  I mean whatever we all have stuff we do but you never go out with everyone....

She reluctantly said well, her husband requires her to be home every night no later than 6:30 so she can cook him dinner.  If she goes out or works later, she still needs to be home to cook because "he gives her off on the weekends".  WHAT!!??!!?  She is a working woman.  Why does she have to leave an event to cook him dinner?!?!  He works from home.  I...WHAT IS HAPPENING?!!?  One of the guys jokingly said what happens if you don't cook M-F?  She said, it's not worth the fight, plus she does have off those two days.  

He is a grown @$$ man.  He can't cook dinner ONE week night so his wife can have a night out....?

That's bull$hit and you know it!

I waited a week to post anything but I just can't with these politicians anymore. 

'We're a city that floods, so deal with it.’ 

LINK

What?!?!?  You are the new Mayor of N.O.  I get that you probably inherited a $hitstorm but that is NOT how you win over the populous!!!

Backstory, we had 3-5 inches in less than an hour last Friday (1 week ago).  Streets flooded but I mean that's a lot of rain in a very short time.  We've always had MINOR street flooding when rain happens like that.  That is normal.  What isn't normal is MAJOR street flooding and it getting into homes/businesses for a f**king 2 hour rainstorm.

I have lived in this area my whole life.  I moved away for a few years but not far enough to not know what's going on.  WE ARE NOT A CITY THAT FLOODS!  The Vieux Carre DID NOT USED  TO FLOOD.  So what changed? 

Nothing changed...and that is the problem.  You can't neglect the infrastructure for decades and then act surprised when $hit doesn't work. 

When have we flooded (in homes etc) in the past:

1927 - Obvi before my time...Record flooding across 7 states....they blew a levee to save NOLA
1965 (Betsy) - I was not alive but there are rumors that a levee was intentionally broken
1995 - 18" of rain in a 24 hour period
2005 (Katrina) - The levees failed. A perfect storm of crap happened and the Levees which were SUBPAR f**king failed.
2005 (Rita) - They re-broke...
2017 (OMG it f**king rained) - It wasn't that bad of a storm....but people flooded
2011-2018 - Random Rainstorms have streets closed and people's cars/property flood

I'm sure there were other's maybe not as bad but these are the ones I know because I heard stories or lived through them.

In recent years nothing rainstorms cause concerns throughout the metropolitan area...last August everything came to a head.  That was the proverbial straw.  People are outraged.  After Katrina we got money from the federal government to help fix $hit.  There are ridiculous taxes in place to "keep up" with $hit.  We were told "'all pumps are operational,' and pumps were overwhelmed and couldn't keep up with the pace of the rain." Yet we find out last August that 14 of the city's 121 pumps at the city's 24 stations were not operational, including eight broken pumps and pumps down for scheduled maintenance. Six smaller "constant duty" pumps that regularly pump out groundwater also were down. And some turbines that power the stations were not functional. 

We have the equipment in place but its not been maintained properly.  They just did a HUGE drainage project on Bourbon and Bourbon still flooded last Friday.  Soooooo what exactly did they do?  Yea yea lots of rain, short time, but Bourbon didn't flood for Katrina.  The Quarter was basically DRY for Katrina.  So please explain to me WTF is happening?!?!?

I honestly don't know, I am not an engineer but I can assume the money was squandered and/or $hit was half-@$$ed.  Louisiana is known for corruption.  There is a reason we don't get the businesses here that other states get.  Its because its still good ol' boy politics down here.  "sure you can build your BILLION dollar business here but I want a piece for my pocket".  That isn't how it works...or it isn't how it should work. 

I know it costs a lot to fix but it needs to be done.  Had it been MAINTAINED over the years instead of neglected things would be easier to fix.  Like my friend said "Its like a house.  If you don't maintain your house over the years, eventually it will fall apart.  Same thing goes for the city.  You can't neglect mechanical parts and pipes for decades and act surprised when they don't work."

Rant Over!  F**k Off if you think the residents are that dumb.

Santa...Baby........???

Right, so its that time of year...Holiday parties!!! We have work parties and friend parties and of course family parties.  What's the common denominator at all these parties...?  It is Santa!  Okay its usually alcohol BUT 9 times out of 10 its Santa also! 

So I was at one of these parties and sure enough Santa walked up in there.  He was a good Santa too.  He had the real hair, real beard, and real belly!  Very realistic.  It was so cute.  The second he walked in all the kids were like Buddy, ready to tell him what they wanted for Christmas.  He was great!  He was ho ho ho-ing and handing out candy canes and just having a wonderful time. 

After a while he popped up behind myself and my friend.  We were talking and didn't know who was behind us. 

Santa: *putting his arms around us* ho ho hooooooooooo!!!!
Us: *giggling* hi Santa!
Santa: Have you been good this year?!?
Us: *dying laughing* yes
Santa: *very loudly* I know you've been good!  *whisper* but you're even better when you're bad *wink* ho ho hoooooo!
Us: *blank stare*
Santa:  *whisper* Oh don't look so shocked *walking away* ho ho ho
Us: Holy $hit Santa is a dirty old man!

"Maybe he been drink de win from de blackberry...On secon' t'ought maybe he lap up de sherry."  

In all seriousness it was f**king hilarious and he was totally harmless but it was still a bit, uh, shocking...and highly inappropriate.  Clearly he was trying to be funny...I hope.

In other news if you've never read/listened to "Cajun Night Before Christmas", do yourself a favor and read/listen to it!  (that's what that quote is from) It is our holiday tradition that my dad read this to us.  I LOVE it!

I don't care where you are from, you will not speak to me or anyone else like that

I know people come from different cultures, different backgrounds, different countries.  Our country is a hodgepodge of so many different kinds of people.  I myself have friends who are originally from the Middle East, United Kingdom, Central America, South America, Greece, Japan, and a few other places.  My point is when you are brought up in other places and move to a new place sometimes there is a culture shock...a time where you have to adjust and that's fine. 

My problem stems from people who have no respect for other human beings...especially women.  I know there are countries...cultures out there where women are thought to be below men.  They have no rights, they have no say, they are objects to be owned.  I don't like it but I know it exists.  BUT if you move yourself to a country where women have rights, you CANNOT treat them like you did back home.  You can't own them, you can't control them, you can't treat them however you feel.  You are in a new place, respect our culture.  And I am not being an @$$hat about immigrants (legal or illegal), I know very well there are full bred American men who treat women like dirt but it is frowned upon...usually. 

Where is this coming from.  Weeeeeeeeeeeelll I may have been on the phone with a vendor, calling on behalf of my client.  My client was billed incorrectly and I was calling to get it fixed for them.  The following conversation occurred.  It was 100% awful.  I almost can't even believe it happened.  And no it is not exaggerated, I wrote down most of what was said because I have to report it....... 

Man:  *in a thick accent* Hello, thank you for calling _______.
Me: Hi, I'm NOLAGurl with ______, calling on behalf of Department of _______, may I speak to a manager?
*silence*
Woman: Hello?
Me:  *I explain who I am and why I am calling*
Woman: Oh sugar, this isn't my business, I just work here.  You need to talk to the owner.  Hold on.
Me: K...
Man: WHAT!?!
Me: *slight pause* Hi again...who am I speaking to?
Man: F**K you, why you call me and no know my name?!?!?  You no know me why you call me.
Me: *taken aback* Sir, I am just trying to verify who I am speaking with
Man: You shut your stupid face
Me: *thinking* what the f**k is happening *said* Sir, I am with _____ I am calling on behalf of my client, Depart.....
Man: *cutting me off* You have no right to call me!  I have my papers, you have no right!  You...f**k you and your mother.  Don't call me again!!!!!!!!!
Me: *getting mad* *staying calm* Sir, I am just calling to fix...
Man: Shut up, just shut your f**king face. 
Me: Sir, you are not going to speak to me like that
Man: You have no right!  I lost my wife.  It is your fault!  She did the insurance it is right!  What you do now?  I lost her!!!  She isn't here why you call me!??!
Me: *as calm as possible* Sir, I think you have me confused with...
Man: Don't f**king tell me anything!  You shut your stupid face!
*silence* *heavy breathing*
Me: Sir, I am sorry about your wife but that is not why I am calling.  I am not trying to sell you anything or get anything from you.  
*he starts yelling again in another language*
Me: *talking over him* My customer went to your store, you billed them incorrectly and I need to fix it.
Man: F**k you and your lies.  It isn't about the insurance, I have my papers, I did it all right.
Me:  I am not calling from the State, I am calling from _____________ to fix an error...
Man:  You fix nothing!  I did everything right!  I have my papers!  You never call me again! Not like this!  She is gone and you have the *word I don't know* to call me.  Call me now?!?!  When I lost her!  Do you understand you *another incoherent word* b**ch.
*woman in background saying I don't think that's why she is calling*
Man: *to his employee* You shut your stupid face!
Me: *still shocked a bit* I will say this one more time.  You will not speak to me that way.  
Man: I will speak to you and your c**t in way I want!!!!!!!
Me:  *final straw, deep breath* Okay, if that is how you feel.  If you do not want to help me help you I will direct my customer...all my customers to no longer use you business for their needs. 
*yelling again*
Me: *Talking over him* If you insist on not fixing this error I cannot in good faith send my clients back to your business.  Have a nice day.
*yelling things I wont type*
Me: *click*

Now you tell me what I could have possibly done different besides hanging up sooner.  I was nice, I was calm, I was professional.  He was mean, hateful, threatening.  I do not allow people to speak to me in that manner but I was trying to be a good little worker and get him understand who I was.  To me it sounds like he is in trouble with the government and thought I was calling to...I have no idea.  I was literally calling about billing error that was under $2.00.  It may seem like nothing but I have to get it fixed...

He's running for President?!?!? I thought he was "dead".....

I try to not be too political...too religious/anti-religious...too anything really.  I believe what I believe and if you believe differently, that's fine.  But somethings...I see them and I just want to Gibbs Slap people.

What the actual f**k?!?!!  I'll tell you what I'm gonna shout...go chomp on some arsenic...and for the love of whomever please don't vote...or reproduce...

Look I get it, our choices for the next president are pretty meh but REALLY?!?!?  Do you know how our electoral system works???  That's not how it works!!! You CANNOT VOTE FOR A DEAD GUY!  Even if said dead guy rose from the dead and went home only to be born again.  He might be our "only hope" (wait...I thought Obi-wan was our only hope...?) but he can't be President. 

Unless the second coming is happening this is STUPID!  Even if the 'second coming' is happening, he can't run...he's not a natural born citizen.  Well he is if he happens to be reborn here but I doubt any deity would want to come back as an American...especially not now.  Actually why would any deity want to come back period...our world is a f**ked up place.  Just keep your spot in the bleachers and watch this insanity unfold.

I get what they are trying to elude to but the "he has my vote" makes me want to run around screaming and throwing skittles at people.  No...just no...JUST NO!


Yes yes yes...a deity could just take over because powerful and whatnot but I am being literal...because its funny.