Journey back to ME!!- I'm getting bugged!!

[goldcupmom]

Julie, Come on no one goes to Teterboro NJ. There are only 7 houses in the entire town???? I grew up in the next town over Moonachie (yes that is correct) What are going to do there? Just curious. My family still lives in that area and I make it up there about once a month. Are you flying into Teterboro or Newark?

DH is going to Honeywell headquarters. He basically is going to hold one of his employees hands thru a presentation. No clue where they're flying as DH admin hasn't made any arrangements yet. Just know they have to be there bright and early Tues morning. Sounds like it will be an exciting trip!!

 

[goldcupmom]

Well, I'm up & moving & not QUITE as sore as I thought. Basically feel the weak/tired muscle stuff rather than soreness. Didn't make WW as I got on the computer as soon as everyone was gone to do some car previewing & next think I knew it was past WW time & I hadn't even showered. With any luck I'll go tomorrow. I need to!!!!

2/7 -

lt tortillas(2)
veg bacon(2)
egg b(1)
ff chz(1)
banana peppers
fiber 1 bar(2)

 

[Amy&Dan]

Okay, now I know to avoid Zumba until I am in way better shape! Hey you made it through and you lived to tell about it. I hate cars and those warranties they CLAIM to have never own up to what they say they will. I hope it all works out. You are doing really well, just keep that up. I hope dh gets a car that is just what you want, frankly, when my van died I was up for anything that ran! I hope you have a great weekend Julie and some time for you!

And hey, its warm here so if you get snow I had nothin to do with it!

 

[traceycooper]

Hi Julie, wow that workout sounded tough & you hardly ached!! Keep it up girl
Sorry to hear about the van - hope you get it sorted.
Have a great wekend

 

[goldcupmom]

You know, the Zumba wasn't too bad. It was the Total Body Conditioning that kicked my butt!! DSil called last night & she, DD & I all were so totally exhausted all day yesterday. Not as much sore as just totally drained. Had to be TBC. Actually, if I didn't have to go to a stupid "Holiday" dinner tonight w/ DH boss, I'd go to Zumba w/ DD.

DS18 & I managed to pick up the van & get it home. It runs, but not over about 45 & makes a horrid noise. We may car shop some this weekend. Our criteria is New, cheap, a/c, auto. Basically DD will have to take what she can get. I'm hoping to hold the payments for her to as close to $200/mo as possible for when she has to take over. It will NOT be a quick process, I'm sure.

Tonights dinner is at Jinjas Bar & Bistro - asian food. The started in Santa Fe, then here & now they have one in Orlando. Food looks like it would be good, but I think I'd hate to see the nutrition info. Hopefully I won't do too much damage.

Didn't make WI today, either, but my scale showed me up 1. Not surprising as DS18 forgot his ID and Money yesterday & texted me to say he was starving from campus, so we went down to a local spot to meet him & had mexican food. Across from campus, cheap & really good!

1/8 -

ww quesadillas(8)
fiber 1 bar(2)

Made it to the gym & swam for 55 min, then a really hot steamy shower. Muscles felt better in the pool, but imagine they will hurt again later. UGH!!!!!!

 

[toystoryduo]

Hope you have a great weekend, Julie!

Sending some car shopping your way......

 

[goldcupmom]

thanks for the Tracy! We did end up getting a new car.

Left home at 10 a.m. & stopped at EVERY car dealer along the way. DH was ready to stop at the first & buy a Suzuki X4 or something. Next stop was ford....high pressure, but DD liked the focus, but pricey. I did find 6c in the parking lot & there was a radio station there & we each had a slice of dominos pizza(free lunch) & DD & I picked up 2 free tickets to see 27 dresses. Honda next...great cars, but nothing she could afford. After 6 more dealers we hit CarMax, but ours sells only used. Spent HOURS looking & DH sitting in them. They had 1 used Toyota Yaris hatchback...DD HATES hatchbacks...calls them 'big butt cars'. But DH liked it & it fit him Ok. Next stop was the Toyota Dealer across the street. Had the 4 dr sedan Yaris in a beautiful metallic navy blue, decked out & pmts only about $250/month. So, we ended up driving it home. She is thrilled!

I think I have pics figured out & will post later tonight or tomorrow.

More later....duty calls at the moment.....

DS18 needed me to watch a video they made of him drumming for a youth retreat this weekend.

Anyway...... We got home about 8 p.m. Finally stopped to get McDs on the way. I had a few bites of leftover friday night's salad for breakfast, 64 oz water, 16 oz sparkling water, a SMALL piece of cheese pizza and a kids clif bar all day. McD's was HARD not to get burgers & fries, but I ordered a classic grilled chicken sandwich w/o mayo & ate that while smelling fries. Then had a WW ice cream at home.

Have been battling the 'throat pressure/gas' thing again. I really think it is an acid reflux thing & hormonal/stress induced...as well as food. I'd been eating TONS of chocolate & junk & then this came on. Really annoying.

DH is headed to NJ tomorrow morning, so I just realized DD & I likely won't be able to Zumba on Tuesday night due to picking DS18 up at school. ALMOST cycle weather, but not quite as it's still below freezing in the morning. Hopefully by next week. it's 60 out right now & gorgeous! I THINK spring is here!!! YEAH!!!!!

I'm thinking of taking on a 9 week job. runs mid-march thru May & it's grading standardized tests. I actually think it would be fun & it pays really well for the short amount of work. The money isn't the main thing, but I think maybe it would help to wake up my household a bit. And, I used to put the Ebay funds into my 'kitty' for extras, emergencies, trips, etc. & I won't be ebaying anymore. Not sure, but definitely a good possibility.

But, I need to fit in a FL trip between now & 6/13 as I have SW credit to use.....DD & I usually go Presidents day weekend, but I'm awaiting my Amtrak points(which should post this week) so I can make sure we can travel to FL for the cruise for free. Then I will have 1 complete RT ticket on SW extra & w/ this credit we would llikely go totally free again. I'd really like to pull a last minute trip next weekend, but......

Off to the laundry again.....

Hope everyone is having/had a good weekend!

1/10 -

ww quesa(8)
ww ice cream(2)
mint(2)
fiber 1 bar(2)
ww lt tortilla(2)
chicken(3)
cheese(3)
vegs(0)

 

[traceycooper]

Hi Julie
The car sounds lovely cant wait to see pics
We have a Honda - you cant beat Japanese - very reliable (i'm touching wood now i've said that!!)

 

[toystoryduo]

Hi Julie,

I'm glad to hear that you found a new car! Glad the helped.

The job grading standardized tests sounds like a good one! I would love to do something like that especially since I probably won't be eBaying anymore either. Is it a nationwide thing or just in your area?

Hope you have a great Monday!

 

[CACruisin']

Julie, I think the job grading tests sounds like a great idea! Aside from the money (which is always good! ) You are right about it being a good wakeup for your family that they need to do a bit more for themselves.

Congrats on the new car! Sounds like you got a really good one!

Also BIG CONGRATS on the 30 lbs!!! I'm so jealous since I'm still in 70's HECK HECK - you know what I'm saying!

 

[goldcupmom]

Well, yesterday was an interesting day & today hasn't been a whole lot better.

Took Sashi for her 2nd shots, then took DS18 to mall for haircut. He walked to ChickFilA to have lunch with a friend while I shopped at Mervyns - Final Clearance stuff was Buy 1 get TWO free! Needless to say I had fun & that was the only fun part of yesterday. I got: 12 pr thong undies for DD, adidas shorts, 2 tank tops, Dockers Capri pajamas, velour sweat suit, 3 tops, 2 Xmas tops, 6 pr of shoes, hoodie, sweater & jeans for just over $60.

Then on the way to pick DS18 up at CFA, I called to see if he asked for his check & W-2 again. Yes, & was again told he couldn't have them until he made an appt & talked to owner. So, I went in & got their phone book & called Dept. of Labor. Then I called the office mgr & asked her about DS18 check & got the same story. I then called Dept of labor back & set up appt for today, called IRS & got the info on filing a complaint, then got home & called the business mgr for this unit at CFA corporate in Ga. The owner/operator here may be in charge, but CFA name is on the building & there are MANY things they need to know. I told them only a few. Yes, I play hard ball.....I think it was caused by dealing w/ 2 of my Brothers who are lawyers & going most of the way thru myself. I also wrote the info to CFA via email.

Well, the business mgr apparently called as within about an hour DS18 got a voicemail message from the owner saying he wasn't 'withholding' (my words) DS18 pay or W-2 & he could come get anytime.

So, later I took DD in to get her 3 checks that were there & her W-2. They gave her 1 check and both her and her brothers W-2 (another IRS faux pas).

I then went in to ask if DS18 check was really on premises for him to pick up as the owner had left a message. The mgr finally went back to ask the office lady & returned to tell me NO & hand me the store phone with the owner on the other end. Mgr was white as a ghost & shaking like a leaf handing me the phone. I was loving it at this point as I have a loud voice even when I whisper & I was NOT going to whisper. Let the whole restaurant hear...... More later.... I just looked at the clock & I have to go get DD at school.......

 

[Amy&Dan]

Give them heck Julie! I can't wait to hear what this guy had to say, I hope you gave him a run for his money!

I miss Mervyn's so much. Why oh why did they close those in this area? I am checking back later to see the full skinny on this one.

 

[goldcupmom]

Ok, I'm back....

When I took the phone the owner/operator screamed at me that HE ran this store NOT CFA corporate. I calmly explained that DS18 had contacted his managers several times and I did as well and they all said the same thing, that they had orders from him not to give DS18 his check. As his employees, his representatives in his absence, did this I felt I had no choice other than to call in people who could assist DS, Dept of Labor, IRS & Corporate.

It was then that he dropped the bomb that DS18 had been TERMINATED on 1/24 for not showing up to work on 1/21, 22,23. NOPE!!! DS finished his shift on 1/19 and later took all his keys to the restaurant, safe, clothing & etc in, gave them to the mgr on duty and said he quit & would not be back. Owner tried to argue that his managers/employees didn't ever tell him.

I then explained that EVERY single time in 3 years that DS had been 5 min late or they needed someone to cover that they called DS cell, the home phone and even MY Cell repeatedly. If he didn't show up at 5 a.m. on 1/21 to open and the owner didn't know that he had quit, how come no one called to check as no one would have known to be there to open the store in DS absence. That certainly quieted him down. He then tried to say that he is not responsible for his Mgrs omissions in this case. Wrong! Said DS still needed to come to talk to him to sign the papers where he wrote DS up for not showing to work before his check. NOT Happening!

He tried to tell me that DS could come in today, or anytime, when HE was present in the store to pick up the checks. NOT! I came write back with NM law stating that an employee has to receive his final check in the manner in which he received all others unless the employer makes other arrangements in writing within 3 days. Since all checks are picked up at any time CFA is open and simply signed for at the front, that is how I expected DS to be handled.

He then got on the DD issue and I pointed out that he was in violation of corporate policy sending her out after dark alone, w/o a required 'buddy' and an 'alarm'. He said he wrote her up for not having the alarm with her as well. I then asked him where the alarms are kept and if they were kept in working condition w/ batteries in them. He tried to change the subject knowing that they keep them LOCKED in a locked cabinet in the office w/o batteries.

The discussion went on for a long time & he finally again said DS could come in to get his check today between 8 & 5 while he was there. I politely, but loudly, reminded him of my 11 a.m. appt with the Dept of Labor this morning to file a formal complaint. He backed down & said DS check was in the store, even tho the mgr told me moments before it was not. I suggested he call the office mgr to make sure & have her come out & tell me. Almost 10 min later she appeared, yelling at me that she never told me or DS that he couldn't have his check & told me he could come pick it up before 5:30 while she was there. NOPE! I again had to point out there error and the fact that each time DS was told no check, he had others with him and that when she told me on the phone earlier, she was on speaker phone with others present. She yelled again & stormed to the back.

During the phone conversation, I distinctly heard the click/whirr noise you would associate with being recorded. I made sure in my follow up to CFA corporate to mention that I believe at least part of the conversation was recorded without my knowledge or consent.

So, DS went in last night & got his check. DD is still missing 2 and the owner had them at his home & said he is mailing them. If we don't have them by Thursday, we will start all over again.

DH is afraid that the owner will find some way to come after us or DS. After all this the owner called the young girl supervisor(friend of DS) and told her she had to write down EVERY conversation she had ever had with DS that mentioned CFA. She refused & said told DS she would quit first. He then instructed her to write down everything about the night she was made to tell DD & I that DD was suspended. Yes, I was mad that night & it's no secret I told her & the Mgr on duty that someone needed to let corporate know what was going on here.

Owner said that DS had been in the restaurant several times & seen him & hadn't talked with him. I asked why HE as the MAN didn't talk to the ONLY employee that has been there since before they opened if he was concerned that he didn't show up to work after missing only ONE day in over 3 years. I said in my belief it was the Man/Owners job to contact the boy/hourly employee, not the other way around. He didn't have much to say after that.

Things that have happened are just not what you would expect from a Christian based business the size of CFA. Meetings where the employees are told that they are taking food from the owners kids mouths if any equipment is damaged/broked and he puts prices on everything to illustrate; telling them NO ONE can request time off for any reason as it's too hard for him to schedule, they have to just work or find their own person to cover & if that person doesn't show, they BOTH get suspended; Not sending out schedules until after the first shift of the week has started & then changing them several times a week without notifying anyone & then writing people up when they had no idea they even worked.... I could go on & on. 17 employees including 3 mgrs/supervisors quit within 1 week of DS quitting. Do they not see that there is a problem???

So, I guess time will tell if he tries to get back at us. DS says the business mgr really does not like the owner and has recommended several times that he be removed from his position. I wish no one trouble, but don't mess with my kids!!!!!!!!!! & don't do things that are illegal!!!!

 

[keenercam]

Wow! Julie -- I am so sorry you are going through this, but I am so glad your kids have you on their side to make sure no one takes advantage of them. Sending you a huge Mama Bear!

 

[goldcupmom]

So, on to today.......

I had to get DS to UNM this morning, then home to spend HOURS trying to get our return home flights booked from FL - SW opened up thru mid-august & I didn't know. Bummer is they reduced the # of non-stop flights, so I don't like our return time, but oh well.... Better than spending 6 -8 hours for a 3.5 hour trip.

Also rebooked the rental car w/ new codes that include all the insurance.....we will be there during hurricane season & I have visions of tree branches ruining a rental car & me being stuck. Ended up only $28 more than the rate I already had booked.

Then DSil called & she was just informed that again she is being screwed by her ex. She had put some $$ from her inheritance into a fund & let him manage it. He had used it to funnel some of his $$ thru & now, since it is in her name, she has to pay all the taxes & fees on it w/o getting any of the money he had made, which ends up being well over half of what she had in it....& not pocket change!

I had planned on going to Zumba tonight, but not going to make it since I have to pick DS up at UNM which is about 40 min away in good traffic at rush hour & I'll have only 50 minutes from the time I pick him up(if he's on time) to time the class starte. Oh well.......

I had also planned to take Sashi for a long walk & then the NM winds kicked up. Can't walk too well in a sandstorm!

To top it all off, DS21 went to work w/ his buddy who is driving the zamboni in his absence. Talked to his boss about when he should come back into work & boss told him he would call him, just wasn't sure when he could fit DS21 back into the schedule.....Yep, I was right.....no job!!!!!

So, I've had a wonderful couple of days. I'm just hoping the CFA drama is over & that both of them will soon get jobs again. DS18 thinks he is probably going to get hired by the church he drummed for & spent the weekend helping to run a youth retreat. The youth pastor wants to hire him as an assistant. That would be AWESOME as DS18 is really good at that & enjoys it. Time will tell........

This morning I realized that I had scheduled my mammo for this Thurs at 9 a.m. WW time!!! So, I called today to change to next Tues. Praying all goes well......

Hope everyone is having a better start to the week than I am. This morning I was down .8 from last week for the BL WI. Not sure how, but I guess it's because I was too busy to eat/drink much of anything yesterday. At one point I had 2 computers & 2 phones going researching stuff for the CFA problem. I'm hoping for a better loss than that at WW on Thurs since I missed last week.

Off to go get DS18......the driving never ends.........

 

[goldcupmom]

Wow! Julie -- I am so sorry you are going through this, but I am so glad your kids have you on their side to make sure no one takes advantage of them. Sending you a huge Mama Bear!

Yeah, Cam, I don't back down! Had U of I not made me do some things I just couldn't live with, I'd probably be one mean lawyer right now like the younger of my 2 lawyer brothers who is a NASTY DA!

I read once that The decision to have a child is the decision to allow your heart to wander around outside your body for the rest of your life. It is SO TRUE!!!!!!

 

[toystoryduo]

Wow Julie,

I am so sorry for all that you are going through right now. Good for you for calling the right people to get this handled. I'm sorry you and your family have to go through all of this.

Lots of , prayers and coming your way today.

 

[traceycooper]

Well julie remind me not to cross you!!!
But good on you to stand up to them like you did, i'm rubbish at that kinda thing!!
The loss was proberbly due to stress!!
I'm hoping that this is the end of it for you now & you can all move on.
Keeping fingers crossed for DS18 assistant job

 

[DisDee]

Hey Julie, Way to go! I need you to fight my $700.00 pathology bill. LOL!

 

[traceycooper]

Hope your having a good weekend Julie
Any news on the job for DS 18 ???