The latest in a sad, sad tale

Funny, now that I have the time to actually write here, it seems I have little I want to say, or maybe it's just that I don't know how to write about the things that matter the most to me. Our lives here have been turned completely upside down, and I honestly don't know what to do or how to go about it.

Mark went into the dealership yesterday, as he was supposed to, to count parts that will be returned for Bill. Prior to Tuesday, he was helping out in the back, mostly being the interim service manager, and also covering the lube tech's job. On Tuesday morning, he was relieved of both duties and told he could leave. He told Mr. Parts and Service director that he might as well get started on counting the parts they had put in the back shop, as Bill has told him it would have to be done before the sale of the dealership closed, and because they were committed to paying him, he would rather be paid to DO something. On Wednesday when he returned, he was told to leave. He was not wanted there, he was no longer allowed in there, they did not trust him and that the parts would all have to be recounted, anyway. Wtf?

I was not surprised, as after I left on Tuesday evening, I seriously expected that they would not want him anywhere near. However, the area that he works in, is way out of the way, and no one would have any reason to go back there, unless they were wanting to harass him. And that's just what happened. To imply that he was doing something wrong, that he would ever lie about anything really, REALLY scalds me. If any of you knew Mark, you would know that he is a man of such integrity, such honesty that any implication of any wrong doing is utterly ridiculous. It pisses me off to such an unbelievable degree...In the end, although they knew that he was there as a direct order from Bill, and although they cannot fire or let anyone go until the sale is completed, it did not matter to them. They told him the get out and stay out. I'd say they are a little pissed off at me, don't you agree?

Sadly, I don't know how any of this will play out, but I do think that Mark will be the loser in the whole deal. They do HAVE to pay him until the completion of the sale, but you and I both know they won't, and I'm not sure what recourse we will have. Small claims court, I would assume. Bill knows about all of this and is in contact with his lawyers, but for him to make a huge stink over all of it is a bit over the top but he says he will. For the life of me, I cannot understand WHAT this guy is doing. He is buying a business that was up for sale, obviously, there should not be any problem in doing that. It takes a few weeks for General Motors to approve the sale, and this is not his first rodeo, so he knows that, too. All he has to do is bide his time, until that is finished. Then he can do things any way he wants to...but to make such a mess of everything now, to stir up such trouble now...to act the way he has with me, which I realize is not that big a deal, but he KNOWS that Bill has left me to handle all of it, so to act the way they did with me, was actually acting that way to Bill, the guy you are buying the business from. Does that make sense to you?

So, it was a good birthday. Not. We did have lunch with two of the kiddos in the city...and it was nice. I cried alot, so I'm sure that set the tone to a bit off, for a bday celebration. Ah, who cares, being 48 is really not much to celebrate. I vote that from 45 on, the birthdays go the opposite way...so eventually, we'll all end up being 21 again. My most wonderful kids got me a photo printer, and I'm excited to get that hooked up to my puter. Speaking of puters, there has been a whole lot of switching of them around here, and the one I am now using is the one I had at work. At least I will be able to get my home office organized, as I have ICS things, Bills things and my own scattered from here to there. Today, that is my mission. And I'm happy to have a mission, as I have little else..until I can get my head on straight, it's just one foot in front of the other. And I'm afraid even that will be too much for me.

I hope your Thursday is great. I don't have a 12 hour day - like I always have on this day. In fact, I don't have a day at all..., this is too much for me to get my head around. No job, no work, no job or work for Mark---somehow that doesn't compute. I knew that we would both be looking for work, that is not a surprise, but the way it has been done, the abruptness of the whole thing leaves me flabbergasted.

Since I'm obviously feeling like hell this morning, I posted a photo of a way happier time for me, one that I took in San Diego a few years ago. I'd like to be back there, right about now. Have a good day.

And another one's gone...

Our best salesman quit yesterday. He is a man of integrity, so it came as no surprise. And another one bites the dust...

Friday! Woohoo! I don't work tomorrow! Can I get another Woo and then a Hoo? I must make it through this day, and then two days away from the hellhole. Tonight, "I have to get my drink on", to quote Pearl, the most adorable three year old ever, (from an internet video that was made by Will Ferrell).

And maybe by tomorrow, I can start to feel better. Maybe after a time away from there, I can begin to understand what is happening there, because all I can see right now is the death and devastation that the new regime has brought. Bill, previous owner, says this is the way the business is moving in general. I can't disagree with him. But I don't have to like it. I don't have to choose to work in that sort of environment, and while I am the first in line for high grosses, you'll not find me being outright deceitful to get them. Sales is enough of a mind game, enough of a show of oneupmanship all by itself. The high that comes from playing the game should be enough, if you are good at what you do. We all still have to live with ourselves, look at our own face in the mirror each morning. Has that become a thing of the past, too? And so, it is with a heavy heart that I go to work this morning. We only had two salespeople - both good men, families to provide for, and good at what they do. Both made good livings there. They are/were dedicated to their jobs, and genuinely cared about the customer, as well as their own pockets. I expect the other one won't be far behind on the "don't let the door hit you in the ass" trail.

Others that work there, are considering leaving, too. I am surprised at the behavior of one employee, as that person has apparently sold their soul to be a part of the new plan. It's funny what a little smoke up the proverbial skirt can do to a person. I think the new guys will be left with three, maybe four, employees. And I wouldn't be surprised if that's what they wanted all along. But like I have been told by someone that is smarter than me "forget it, don't worry abut it, just do what you have to, and let it go". I'll get right to work on that. Have a good day.