The Swamp

P.D.X. wrote:He's worn plaid dress shirts for 3 days in a row. Should I say something?

"So I was reading this thing about plaid collared sweaters, Jim. They say it's the next big thing. Wanna hit up Macy's with me this weekend?"

It now occurs to me that in ~2003 when I went from a suits job to a business casual job I went to JCrew and bought about 10 of the same polo shirt in a rainbow of colors. #wearecollaredsweaterguy

mister d wrote:It now occurs to me that in ~2003 when I went from a suits job to a business casual job I went to JCrew and bought about 10 of the same polo shirt in a rainbow of colors. #wearecollaredsweaterguy

Someone on this board freaked out about some deal where there were 30 different colored, yet otherwise identical, shirts for sale from I believe Brooks Brothers.

I think it was this:

http://www.joshuakennon.com/brooks-brot ... o-box-set/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It was me. I love uniformity, although I try to stick with less trendy items.

I should post a picture of my closet. Everything has a match except for the Rangers jersey (sweater).

I have about 6 of the same type of t-shirt in an array of colors. Which makes me remember the swamp discussion about how t-shirts without logos were a thing.

Brontoburglar wrote:I have about 6 of the same type of t-shirt in an array of colors. Which makes me remember the swamp discussion about how t-shirts without logos were a thing.

I have way too many t-shirts. And, every one of them has a logo on it.

sancarlos wrote:

Brontoburglar wrote:I have about 6 of the same type of t-shirt in an array of colors. Which makes me remember the swamp discussion about how t-shirts without logos were a thing.

I have way too many t-shirts. And, every one of them has a logo on it.

Oh, I have 90% logo'd t-shirts. But the non-logo shirt works well under a zip up hoodie, jacket, etc. I find that I wear them for traveling a lot and then I can also double them to wear to practices, non-big events, etc, when it's warm.

Everything has a match, including the not pictured dress shoes and boots. Lets see who can find something gross or creepy in the background that I didn't know existed or just mock my clothes.

Are we taking pictures of our closets now?

More or less housebound with a one week old; my threshold for being entertained is as low as its ever going to get sooo ... yes, please post pictures of your closet or your fridge or anything. Bonus points if you post it at 3:00 AM.

mister d wrote:More or less housebound with a one week old; my threshold for being entertained is as low as its ever going to get sooo ... yes, please post pictures of your closet or your fridge or anything. Bonus points if you post it at 3:00 AM.

That happened? Congrats, man.

BTW, some of the sweaters on the upper left seem to have been folded over the hanger from the left, while others were folded over from the right? Does that look right to you?

Yes, congrats indeed! Now tell me this one's name so I can name my next dog after her. Except Q would be a pretty cool moniker.

Definitely not. Top is always on the right, facing out.

Delaney.

Identical hangers? I think there's a DSM-IV category for that disorder.

But -- uh-oh -- what's that down in the lower left?

Nice name mister d. We actually liked that, but I think that was both due to and ruled out by a good friend whose maiden name is Delaney. I still call her that, so it would have just been confusing. Good luck to you guys.

You sure do like your plaid/box patterned button downs. And do they still make vans?

That picture makes me realize I need to cull out my closet and my drawers. Way too much shit, and a lot of stuff I haven't worn in years. I still refuse to throw away a bunch of college era t-shirts. Too many memories. My UB 1994 roller hockey intramural champions shirt is starting to get some holes just below the neck. How the fuck was that 20 years ago?

I need to flip that picture over or else a really interesting post is ruined, huh?

(They're Purcells, not Vans. So a 23 year old's shoes versus an 18 year old's.)

((And I actually have a box of tshirts I don't wear but done want to get rid of in the basement. I hate clutter.))

Congrats, Mr. ocD!

I don't know. Looks like some hanger deviance in the left-hand side of the lower level. How do you sleep at night with that going on?

Either the shoe rack or my suits with (matching) suit covers on them.

The suits kind of disrupt the order of things. Separate closet?

Glad to see Purcells are back. I rocked them in the 70s, and I'd recognize the toe anywhere.

DC47 wrote:
Glad to see Purcells are back. I rocked them in the 70s, and I'd recognize the toe anywhere.

They're not. [says the guy who hasn't kept up with style for 10 years]

Yeah, they totally might not be, probably need one of the plain T kids to weigh in. I graduated from "what's cool" to "what I like" a long time ago. Next step is "whatever's comfortable", I assume.

So this shit happened to a coworker of mine about a week ago:

I work with Intel folks. We share a common workspace (the classified vault). Well, one teaches a class for Security Forces personnel on Intel and all of its importances. So during the class, he makes a comment: "An intelligence gap is kind of like a thigh gap: there's just nothing there." Goofy joke. Nothing too crazy. Everyone laughs.

Except this one lieutenant who came up to him after the class to remark that a phrase like "thigh gap" could be misconstrued as something sexual and thus he shouldn't say it. My coworker, a Senior Airman, takes note, apologizes, and vows to make sure it doesn't happen again. You'd figure with that exchange it would be the end of it.

Nope. That lieutenant decides to babble to his chain of command back at the squadron. There's a Senior Master Sergeant who doesn't like my co-worker. His comment morphs from an honest, innocent statement (albeit questionable because of its connotation) into sexual harassment. The commander and first sergeant make a cameo out at the site where he was teaching and vows to make sure he never teaches there again. By the time my coworker hears about this at the end of the day, he's dumbfounded and taken aback completely. He thought it was handled at the lowest level, and now this other chain of command is pushing for serious paperwork and stripping him of his duties.

After supervisors get involved and all questions are asked, it was determined that he didn't do anything wrong. Both parties (he and the lieutenant) said the same thing. When this was brought to the attention of the shoot-from-the-hip commander, he acknowledged it, but figured since he already said he wasn't going to teach again then they (his Intel shop) have to figure out a way to fix the mess he made. Completely horrible move made with hubris that now affects the day-to-day mission. When all's said and done, my co-worker got paperwork that will be swept under the rug, and his opinion of the unit he works for is shot.

The dude was completely deflated. He's a great dude. He was in the running for Group Airman of the year and everything. All of a sudden a comment gets misconstrued and he's made a squadron pariah. It's instances like this that are littered throughout the Air Force. One-and-done, zero tolerance everything. It pretty awful. I felt bad for the dude.

yikes.

When you leave the military you should make a podcast about the crap in the miltary I'm sure you could get many guests who feel the same.

It's kinda shitty that I cannot speak my mind now. But I'm sure I'd get in trouble. Hell, I am very good at turning people against me as it is, so whatever I'd say would be met with something way worse than a marked down performance report. Heh. I can imagine my rants from way back from my first base.

mister d wrote:Yeah, they totally might not be, probably need one of the plain T kids to weigh in. I graduated from "what's cool" to "what I like" a long time ago. Next step is "whatever's comfortable", I assume.

Velour tracksuits, here we come!

Any recommendations on how to make the most money while sitting at home unemployed?

Got my walking papers today. Came completely blindsided by it. I have only had one talking to about job performance and it was more a perception issue then a performance issue. That was almost a year ago. This one hurts more then the last time I was let go. The first time was because of downsizing froma company that was going under. This time they are a growing profitting company. A big dog in the industry.

The reasoning was I didn't show concern in personal development. Even though I went to classes once a year. Same as everyone else. I asked to go to more conferences but was denied. The axeman said if I stuck around for 10 more years it would be a failure to all involved. I am not sure how to take that. Is he wrong for hiring me 5 years ago? Is he wrong for giving me the responsibility that I currently have? Those were all his decisions, and I more than adequately did my job. Don't think it was a failure on my part. I was very happy with the company.

The last two guys that were let go were assisted in finding new jobs. One was clearly underqualified and the other was able to create a brand new position within the company. My offer, two weeks of transition time and six weeks severance. Total bullshit. But I am doing the two week transition time. My former boss knows a lot of people in and out of the industry that could be potential employers and he is a grudge holding bitch about certain things. I want to leave on a good note even though I was fired. It is not something I would normally do. Usually I would have just walked out and said fuck you and never looked back. I am conflicted right now if I am doing the right thing.

I want to help my former co-workers on gaining the knowledge of my job, but another part of me wants them to fall flat on their fucking faces.

Thanks for letting me rant and share.

duff wrote:Any recommendations on how to make the most money while sitting at home unemployed?

Got my walking papers today. Came completely blindsided by it. I have only had one talking to about job performance and it was more a perception issue then a performance issue. That was almost a year ago. This one hurts more then the last time I was let go. The first time was because of downsizing froma company that was going under. This time they are a growing profitting company. A big dog in the industry.

The reasoning was I didn't show concern in personal development. Even though I went to classes once a year. Same as everyone else. I asked to go to more conferences but was denied. The axeman said if I stuck around for 10 more years it would be a failure to all involved. I am not sure how to take that. Is he wrong for hiring me 5 years ago? Is he wrong for giving me the responsibility that I currently have? Those were all his decisions, and I more than adequately did my job. Don't think it was a failure on my part. I was very happy with the company.

The last two guys that were let go were assisted in finding new jobs. One was clearly underqualified and the other was able to create a brand new position within the company. My offer, two weeks of transition time and six weeks severance. Total bullshit. But I am doing the two week transition time. My former boss knows a lot of people in and out of the industry that could be potential employers and he is a grudge holding bitch about certain things. I want to leave on a good note even though I was fired. It is not something I would normally do. Usually I would have just walked out and said fuck you and never looked back. I am conflicted right now if I am doing the right thing.

I want to help my former co-workers on gaining the knowledge of my job, but another part of me wants them to fall flat on their fucking faces.

Thanks for letting me rant and share.

What industry are you in? I know you're around Indy, whereabouts and how far of a commute is too much? I'll be glad to help if I can.

I'm sure the people who just fired on your are banking on you being too nice to hold back knowledge over in the next two weeks.

mister d wrote:I'm sure the people who just fired on your are banking on you being too nice to hold back knowledge over in the next two weeks.

OK. I've read that like 25 times. Did you have a stroke halfway through there?

Baby brain hahahahahahaha!!!!!!!

I don't know what happened. "The people who fired you are probably also banking on you being too nice to hold back." They are the fuckers who trust you won't counter fuck. That work?

mister d wrote:Baby brain hahahahahahaha!!!!!!!

I don't know what happened. "The people who fired you are probably also banking on you being too nice to hold back." They are the fuckers who trust you won't counter fuck. That work?

Yes. I wasn't even trying to be an ass about it. Just couldn't remotely figure out what you were trying to convey there. I agree with ya.

Damn, duff. That sucks. What industry?

I work in the RV industry, but I am the Citrix administrator. I have worked in IT for the past 12 years. I am up in Elkhart, BSF. The three hour communte to Indy would be very taxing. Although I may send you my resume if you have any interesting leads.

The axeman disabled my admin account today. So I will have some trouble fucking them over. I do think they assume I won't fuck them over because I am a nice guy. But the thought crosses my mind every couple of minutes. Does anyone know how to get a hold of a Canadian that could possibly do some damage over the intertubes?

Can't wait for tomorrow as I go in and work for a company that just fired me. Yeah!

Sorry to hear the bad news Duff. In these crazy corporate bureaucracies, who really knows why anyone is promoted or fired? It depends on the qualities of the supervisors who judge intangibles in so many cases. And why should we be confident in their assessments?

(Just to clarify, I didn't mean any sort of active sabotage, I just meant if you have a few processes only you know how to do right, maybe you walk out the door leaving zero people who know how to do them right.)

Man, I wouldn't even begin to begin to even singe a single bridge. There's just a very modest, very short-term pleasure in this. Unless this is a very unusual situation, there's much more upside to being correctly seen as someone who fully cooperates on his way out the door, with a recognition that this may actually be for the best.

I could fuck them over good if I really wanted to. And I am certain that a few things that I do on a daily basis might slip my mind. I was told that during these two weeks that I could miss for job interviews and such. What better way of having to leave and not train people. Always find it odd when people are asked to train their replacements.

Oh well, off to better things. Thanks for the encouragement and being a break from the routine. I need to swamp more often. I has been too long.