Dear Ms. Rianmom
Once again, thank you for your feedback.
Regards,
Rianmom???
Really?
And that will be the end of it
Fall semester w00t!
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
His reply-
"Dear Rainmom-
Thank you for your feedback."
Ummm yeah. . . and then this;
Dear Rainmom-
This semester SOC 100 will be presented as each of the sociology instructors have created his/her own syllabus. Planning for the spring semester will include an opportunity for the sociology faculty to decide collective on the student learning outcomes and how those outcomes will be measured in the liberal arts core.
It is the intention for the SOC 100 courses to have the identical student learning outcomes and method(s) of measuring those outcomes based on the criteria in the liberal arts core. If you do not want to participate in this discussion that is fine. Nevertheless, a syllabus will be developed that is consistent across all sections of SOC 100 and one that is compatible with the student learning outcomes and assessment process."
And I said-
"First- as you should be able to tell from my signature on all the e mails you received from me thus far, my name is now Ms. Rainmom, please make a note of it, as I have legally changed it and have filed the proper documentation with HR. So, Ms. Rainmom it is. . .
Second- I never said I did not want to participate in such discussions, I only said that as adjuncts, we are not paid in the summer, so if you wanted us to work on this as a team, we should have been offered jobs for the summer. May is the end date for our spring contracts, there is no more compensation after spring semester ends without a new contract, so June, July and most of August would be unpaid time without a new contract. For you to say I did not want to be part of this process was quite off the mark and puzzles me greatly. I want to be paid for my work, period. I regret that is such a conflicted issue.
I respectfully disagree with your assessment of my position on this matter. I believe that adjuncts are paid such small stipends because their responsibilities are limited to teaching duties. This is a development issue, time consuming and would be in addition to the instruction time for my sections. I love teaching, and wish I could make a living at it at PNTS, get paid a living wage, with health insurance, which I do not have right now. I would welcome the chance to take on new responsibilities like this, but need to be paid for my work.
In conclusion, I respectfully request that you take note of my actual position on this matter, which is I am currently paid a small sum to teach, I would love to assist you in this development endeavor, however, because I am the single parent of 6, I need to be paid for my time in accordance with PNTS commitment to social justice and fair wages. In my mind, and hopefully yours, that commitment includes adjuncts like me.
Respectfully,
Rainmom"
Game ON!!!
Thank you for your feedback."
Ummm yeah. . . and then this;
Dear Rainmom-
This semester SOC 100 will be presented as each of the sociology instructors have created his/her own syllabus. Planning for the spring semester will include an opportunity for the sociology faculty to decide collective on the student learning outcomes and how those outcomes will be measured in the liberal arts core.
It is the intention for the SOC 100 courses to have the identical student learning outcomes and method(s) of measuring those outcomes based on the criteria in the liberal arts core. If you do not want to participate in this discussion that is fine. Nevertheless, a syllabus will be developed that is consistent across all sections of SOC 100 and one that is compatible with the student learning outcomes and assessment process."
And I said-
"First- as you should be able to tell from my signature on all the e mails you received from me thus far, my name is now Ms. Rainmom, please make a note of it, as I have legally changed it and have filed the proper documentation with HR. So, Ms. Rainmom it is. . .
Second- I never said I did not want to participate in such discussions, I only said that as adjuncts, we are not paid in the summer, so if you wanted us to work on this as a team, we should have been offered jobs for the summer. May is the end date for our spring contracts, there is no more compensation after spring semester ends without a new contract, so June, July and most of August would be unpaid time without a new contract. For you to say I did not want to be part of this process was quite off the mark and puzzles me greatly. I want to be paid for my work, period. I regret that is such a conflicted issue.
I respectfully disagree with your assessment of my position on this matter. I believe that adjuncts are paid such small stipends because their responsibilities are limited to teaching duties. This is a development issue, time consuming and would be in addition to the instruction time for my sections. I love teaching, and wish I could make a living at it at PNTS, get paid a living wage, with health insurance, which I do not have right now. I would welcome the chance to take on new responsibilities like this, but need to be paid for my work.
In conclusion, I respectfully request that you take note of my actual position on this matter, which is I am currently paid a small sum to teach, I would love to assist you in this development endeavor, however, because I am the single parent of 6, I need to be paid for my time in accordance with PNTS commitment to social justice and fair wages. In my mind, and hopefully yours, that commitment includes adjuncts like me.
Respectfully,
Rainmom"
Game ON!!!
My reply to the situation at hand. . .
"I am confused as well. In the 5 years I have been working for PNTS*, I have never collaborated on any aspect of my class with any of the other sociology faculty, especially since there have been changes in who is teaching what classes over the course of those years. I understand the need for a core curriculum, but in my time at PNTS*that was treated as a map for the goals of the class, not a blueprint for all instructors to follow. Each instructor led their students to those goals using their own personal strengths in their classrooms, and at the end of each semester, each class took a unique path to the same destination- the amazing race to knowledge as it were. I know that there have been changes at the campus level, transitions and such, and that there has been an increase in interest about this course as a Liberal Arts core class- however, there was never any discussion about collaboration, much less any meetings between us scheduled by the SBS department, so I am very confused as to why you felt such a collaboration existed.
In addition, the path toward the outcome that you are describing involves a great deal more than what an adjunct's compensation covers, with those meetings and discussions and a lot of intensive writing, and as an adjunct, it is beyond what I am currently paid, and I just do not have the financial reserves to do this much work for free. As you recall, in May I emailed you about possible work for the summer, due to the fact I lost funding for my research due to budget cuts, this would have been a fine opportunity for someone like me to have, especially since I plan on teaching after I earn my doctorate. I would have be more than willing to apply for it, and if given the job would have been happy to develop such a document as well as train new instructors in the process- much like I am helping with in my other job. As an adjunct, I am not paid over the summer, indeed I worked at McDonald's this summer to pay my bills, so I would have welcomed the chance to apply for this kind of job for the summer.
So, I admit to being as confused as you are about this issue. As I am supposed to be in class teaching this course at 9:05am in 2 days, I would appreciate an update on this situation as soon as you are able."
Stay tuned. . . .
*Peanuts;)
In addition, the path toward the outcome that you are describing involves a great deal more than what an adjunct's compensation covers, with those meetings and discussions and a lot of intensive writing, and as an adjunct, it is beyond what I am currently paid, and I just do not have the financial reserves to do this much work for free. As you recall, in May I emailed you about possible work for the summer, due to the fact I lost funding for my research due to budget cuts, this would have been a fine opportunity for someone like me to have, especially since I plan on teaching after I earn my doctorate. I would have be more than willing to apply for it, and if given the job would have been happy to develop such a document as well as train new instructors in the process- much like I am helping with in my other job. As an adjunct, I am not paid over the summer, indeed I worked at McDonald's this summer to pay my bills, so I would have welcomed the chance to apply for this kind of job for the summer.
So, I admit to being as confused as you are about this issue. As I am supposed to be in class teaching this course at 9:05am in 2 days, I would appreciate an update on this situation as soon as you are able."
Stay tuned. . . .
*Peanuts;)
Sunday, August 29, 2010
What do you have?
Bracing for the inevitable, hoping for the best, dreading the worst, and in the end, realize that there are so few moments in life that are absolute bliss- and savor them all as much as possible?
So, Friday, I sent my syllabus to the department, and the other adjunct did the same, the third one never responded. And I got the following e mail back from the department head-
"I am confused about the syllabus for SOC 100. I assume all the students enrolled in SOC 100 for fall 2010 have the same syllabus, same learning outcomes, same assignments, and same grading points. Is this the case? If not, it needs to be the case so the liberal arts assessment and the learning outcomes match from one section of SOC 100 to the next."
Assume- makes an ass out of u and me. . .
Spoke with the other adjuct and found out that she will use my syllabus, and I guess that is that. . .or is it?
You know me- probably not:) More on this later. . .
So, Friday, I sent my syllabus to the department, and the other adjunct did the same, the third one never responded. And I got the following e mail back from the department head-
"I am confused about the syllabus for SOC 100. I assume all the students enrolled in SOC 100 for fall 2010 have the same syllabus, same learning outcomes, same assignments, and same grading points. Is this the case? If not, it needs to be the case so the liberal arts assessment and the learning outcomes match from one section of SOC 100 to the next."
Assume- makes an ass out of u and me. . .
Spoke with the other adjuct and found out that she will use my syllabus, and I guess that is that. . .or is it?
You know me- probably not:) More on this later. . .
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
Water for Chocolate, security over fidelity, fear over happiness and other lousy trade offs
Always at the start of the Jewish New Year, I get these strange inspirations to write about topics that at first seem at odds-yet it is always about leaving behind the old year, and embracing the new possibilities, and my inability to let go of some of the more lasting effects of the past, that continue to wreck havoc on my present and cast doubt over my future.
That I am writing as I ponder love is quite new, as it has been a very long time since anything but maternal love has entered into my realm, and I have to be honest, for lack of a better term, it has been a most demanding of times. I have entered into a relationship that is up and down, high and low, amazing and frustrating. . .you get the point.
There is distance there is drama, and today, I just cried at how hard it is to do this love thing. It is easy to love my kids, even when they are at their worst, because at the end of the day, they are my kids, and well, I have that bond with them that supersedes any of the every day crap that would keep me from writing them off.
Romantic love is quite different, and I find myself almost clinical about the situation, though have refrained from plotting it out or running any regressions. . .controlling for variables is ONLY palatable in my romantic life. . .I know, weird!
To say I am happy with the situation, is for the most part true- however, recent events make me wonder how much longer a long distance relationship can last when you want to see someone every day and you can't, and when your work schedules make it impossible to be together, and you start to look at other couples, and there is something very much like the feeling you used to get when someone got the one thing you wanted and they were your BFF- you are at the core happy for them and their bliss- yet bitterness can also show up, brought on by the fact that you are lonely, and alone, and when you can't be together it is hard not to wonder if things will ever be better. I cannot fathom life without him, but I cannot stand the situation as it is. . .bitter sweet, love at a distance, water for the miracle that is chocolate- these are the harshest of trade offs:)
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Other Odds and Ends. . .Oh the places you will go!
So- As I reach the credit limit on my credit card, I am looking forward to to hopefully having health insurance again thank to my wonderful advisor and her efforts. . .cannot ever thank her enough for all the hard work she puts in for all her jobs, and yet finds time to help me as much as she does- Props to her!Yes, you read that right, I have no insurance- but, sputter sputter. . .you are sick. . .yep I am. . .how can sick people NOT have insurance. . .wellllll you can read my dissertation in a year and find out:) Yes, I said a year:) Aiming high. . .
So, how did we spend summer vacation- On the Beach, pretty much. . .I had 2 trips which I already told you about, well except the Atlanta trip, that was actually kind of funny and well, offers one of THOSE moments- here is what I mean.
I became a flier late in life- just never went on plane trips as a kid. . .so when I started flying, a new airline was just starting out- Midwest. I had my first several flights on this airline- and from what I know now, totally spoiled by their original service. Room, food, and WINE, which I need when flying, no I NEED it really- medicinal purposes
So, when AirTran wanted to buy Midwest, I was totally against it, because I believed the hype. . .that they would "ruin" Midwest. . .I know now that Midwest ruined it, and that what is left in the place of what used to Midwest is not even an empty shell- it is a totally different animal(yes I went there, the new company's claim to fame? Animals on the tails of the planes. . .as opposed to "the best care in the air, you can now be "treated like the animal you are")
So, flew AirTran round trip to Atlanta. . .and it. was. awesome.
Friendly, efficient and really a good basic airline, which included radio on board, so cool. I stand corrected on AirTran, and wonder if Midwest would still be some semblance of itself had AirTran won that fight. . .
Cheetos Full Moon coming up along with a trip to Great America. . .all with tons of pic I'm sure and of course I will have to keep you posted on the job, the plot thickens as we speak. . .
T'Shuvah on my terms and a Tale of 2 departments
Have been lax on blogging- health issues being the biggest offender, with 2 recent trips to the ER for some quick fix for the persistent blood issue that just won't go away. . .but I digress
FUNDING has landed, and not a moment too soon because I am ready to give one of my adjuncting gigs up and now I can. I am in love with with my first year student classes, and the people I work with in that department, but the other department? Farking hell!
I will explain- I am going to assume that most of you reading this understand what a syllabus is- and that it is no small feat to create and maintain one. The hardest part is always getting the first one done, with changes in the semester and policies, and all sorts of additions you are constantly crafting it, dare I say nurturing it and making it a part of your teaching, almost a partner in crime;)
Keep in mind the fall semester starts in 2 weeks as you read the next part- I got an e mail from the department secretary saying that the department head wanted my syllabus to look over (yes, he really DID go there. . .reminds me of grade school "go tell so and so that I don't want to talk to her") so I sent it, and heard nothing. . .until Friday- where this long cut and pasted e mail was sent to me and the other 2 sociology instructors that wanted us, in less that 2 weeks to ok I'll quote the e mail hang on
"In reviewing the past syllabi for SOC 100 it appears these syllabi provides the student very limited information as to what they will receive in class lectures and/or discussions. One of the syllabi (that's mine:)does include student learning outcomes (old term is course objectives) however the assignments within the course itself are not linked to any of the student learning outcomes."
Ok- this "chair" is one of the most unprofessional people I have ever had to deal with. . .and THAT is saying a lot. Loses his temper like a 2 year old at the drop of a hat, will not lower himself to e mail adjuncts, just not very effective and up until now, it has not been a problem. . .but NOW guess what he wants? Here I'll show you-
"I would respectfully(this means he KNOWS he fucked up and is clearly trying to play catch up) request the three of you discuss how you want to structure the SOC 100 course for the fall. In that discussion you will need to link the assignments to the student learning outcomes by identifying which assignment is linked to which outcome.
Ok- for those of you NOT familiar with the process of curriculum development. . .myself EFFING included, this means we, btw this e mail is dated August 10, 2010, have to meet, develop a core curriculum, and be on the same page. . .and submit that Theory of Relativity meets Constitution meets the TORAH. . .see, mission, rights, guidance, that's what the 3 documents represent, sorry getting worked up and analogy CRAZED. . .
Ok SUBMIT it by. . .ready. . .MONDAY AUGUST 23. . .
Holy SHIT, really? Gosh anything else you want with that? How about peace in Israel? How about the answer to the meaning of life (42 btw)
Well, I was in Atlanta for the ASA I left on the 12, so did not get back to him until this week when I sent him my syllabus and got this message on Friday
"Dear Sociology Faculty,
Please be in contact with each other to develop the SOC 100 syllabus."
Whaaa? No names used, no respect, and keep in mind this is 10 DAYS after he first contacted us, at the end of summer, RIGHT BEFORE THE FREAKING START. So, I emailed the other "staff" saying I felt it was not really enough time to do such a thing and got one reply back-
"the syllabus I have been using is pretty lengthy. When I get to a computer I will send you a copy. Since we all hav(sic) different instructional methods and do not have a pre-formatted curriculum, I, too, am at a loss. This is a very last-minute request for what I feel would emcompass (sic)almost complete revisions of our lesson plan."
HELL TO THE FUCK YA!
So remember there is still one "staff" who has yet to weigh in. . .and well hang on I'll quote
myself-
" I do it differently. To be blunt, I have no time for this at all, and cannot fathom why this was not brought to our attention sooner."
To which the other "staff" replied
"I agree with you. This is something that would take a curriculum development specialist several weeks to complete.Let's just add the final paragraphs that were suggested to each of ours and then forward them to the "chair" for his approval of each separately. I have no idea what 3rd staff does in his classes."
So to sum up- I got an e mail on the 10th of August to create a core curriculum for the class I am barely paid to teach (I make 3.87/hour, and that doesn't include the travel expenses because honestly I know at some prices I am losing money but love teaching). I am expected to do this for free, since it is not listed as one of my "contractual obligations" (ahhhh thanks Bill for giving me a chance to turn that term into my bitch, yes Laura STILL BITTER, reason can be summed up in a word and initial- Andy W.)
By the 20th of August, the "chair" is wondering where his new curriculum in the form of a common syllabus is. . .
soooooo, IN THE SPIRIT of Nickeled and Dimed the ACADEMIC version. . .all I can say is. . .not gonna do it and if you are going to make it part of my job you can pay me for it, and if you will not accept my syllabus as is for fall, you can teach the fucking classes yourself!
FUNDING has landed, and not a moment too soon because I am ready to give one of my adjuncting gigs up and now I can. I am in love with with my first year student classes, and the people I work with in that department, but the other department? Farking hell!
I will explain- I am going to assume that most of you reading this understand what a syllabus is- and that it is no small feat to create and maintain one. The hardest part is always getting the first one done, with changes in the semester and policies, and all sorts of additions you are constantly crafting it, dare I say nurturing it and making it a part of your teaching, almost a partner in crime;)
Keep in mind the fall semester starts in 2 weeks as you read the next part- I got an e mail from the department secretary saying that the department head wanted my syllabus to look over (yes, he really DID go there. . .reminds me of grade school "go tell so and so that I don't want to talk to her") so I sent it, and heard nothing. . .until Friday- where this long cut and pasted e mail was sent to me and the other 2 sociology instructors that wanted us, in less that 2 weeks to ok I'll quote the e mail hang on
"In reviewing the past syllabi for SOC 100 it appears these syllabi provides the student very limited information as to what they will receive in class lectures and/or discussions. One of the syllabi (that's mine:)does include student learning outcomes (old term is course objectives) however the assignments within the course itself are not linked to any of the student learning outcomes."
Ok- this "chair" is one of the most unprofessional people I have ever had to deal with. . .and THAT is saying a lot. Loses his temper like a 2 year old at the drop of a hat, will not lower himself to e mail adjuncts, just not very effective and up until now, it has not been a problem. . .but NOW guess what he wants? Here I'll show you-
"I would respectfully(this means he KNOWS he fucked up and is clearly trying to play catch up) request the three of you discuss how you want to structure the SOC 100 course for the fall. In that discussion you will need to link the assignments to the student learning outcomes by identifying which assignment is linked to which outcome.
Ok- for those of you NOT familiar with the process of curriculum development. . .myself EFFING included, this means we, btw this e mail is dated August 10, 2010, have to meet, develop a core curriculum, and be on the same page. . .and submit that Theory of Relativity meets Constitution meets the TORAH. . .see, mission, rights, guidance, that's what the 3 documents represent, sorry getting worked up and analogy CRAZED. . .
Ok SUBMIT it by. . .ready. . .MONDAY AUGUST 23. . .
Holy SHIT, really? Gosh anything else you want with that? How about peace in Israel? How about the answer to the meaning of life (42 btw)
Well, I was in Atlanta for the ASA I left on the 12, so did not get back to him until this week when I sent him my syllabus and got this message on Friday
"Dear Sociology Faculty,
Please be in contact with each other to develop the SOC 100 syllabus."
Whaaa? No names used, no respect, and keep in mind this is 10 DAYS after he first contacted us, at the end of summer, RIGHT BEFORE THE FREAKING START. So, I emailed the other "staff" saying I felt it was not really enough time to do such a thing and got one reply back-
"the syllabus I have been using is pretty lengthy. When I get to a computer I will send you a copy. Since we all hav(sic) different instructional methods and do not have a pre-formatted curriculum, I, too, am at a loss. This is a very last-minute request for what I feel would emcompass (sic)almost complete revisions of our lesson plan."
HELL TO THE FUCK YA!
So remember there is still one "staff" who has yet to weigh in. . .and well hang on I'll quote
myself-
" I do it differently. To be blunt, I have no time for this at all, and cannot fathom why this was not brought to our attention sooner."
To which the other "staff" replied
"I agree with you. This is something that would take a curriculum development specialist several weeks to complete.Let's just add the final paragraphs that were suggested to each of ours and then forward them to the "chair" for his approval of each separately. I have no idea what 3rd staff does in his classes."
So to sum up- I got an e mail on the 10th of August to create a core curriculum for the class I am barely paid to teach (I make 3.87/hour, and that doesn't include the travel expenses because honestly I know at some prices I am losing money but love teaching). I am expected to do this for free, since it is not listed as one of my "contractual obligations" (ahhhh thanks Bill for giving me a chance to turn that term into my bitch, yes Laura STILL BITTER, reason can be summed up in a word and initial- Andy W.)
By the 20th of August, the "chair" is wondering where his new curriculum in the form of a common syllabus is. . .
soooooo, IN THE SPIRIT of Nickeled and Dimed the ACADEMIC version. . .all I can say is. . .not gonna do it and if you are going to make it part of my job you can pay me for it, and if you will not accept my syllabus as is for fall, you can teach the fucking classes yourself!
Contrast that with my OTHER department- that sent me to San Fran because they believed I would be able to assist the department in their goals. . .and have been nothing but supportive. . .it is like living in both Bizzaro and Superfriend world, at the same time, reality permeability just messing with me bad. . .
So- long story short, I am being asked to do months of work in 10 days, with no pay. . .business as usual in the adjuncting, along with no benefits, no respect, add no pay for lofty and unreasonable expectations. . .
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Vouchers for a flight nevermore
Ok- finally the STORY of why I will Not EVER NEVER EVER NEVERNEVER AND I MEAN NEVER fly Midwest/Frontier airlines AGAIN. . .
Got the opportunity of EPIC scale last month- an unfortunate event in the life of a boss meant I was off to San Fransisco for almost a week, staying in Berkeley, in a condo, meals paid for. . .and after the shoe drop roller coaster of last year and the GROWING discontent with my adjuncting gig in my Beloved former life, I was thrilled to be able to go. Shocked at how eay it was to arrange, and well, maybe that was the gather cloud bank that should have tipped me off, but no matter. . .Sunday I was at the airport and ready for my flight having stayed up all night because by the time I got the kids settled and started packing it was after Midnight, and well, I had to be up at 5am. . .here was my first Planes, Trains, and Automobiles moment. . . I actually said this to myself "ok, so maybe this is not a great idea, but I get on the plane, I sleep for 3 hours, get up when we land, and nap when I got to the condo after a wholesome Berkeley lunch. . ."
The flight was delayed due to engine trouble- and here is the best part, the new flight was not scheduled to TAKE OFF FROM MILWAUKEE until 10 minutes after my connecting flight in San Diego to San Fran took off.
So- now what? I approach the desk and Victor is CLEARLY not ready for any work yet- back to the desk watching the clouds (is that a bunny? no, it is a passenger being towed behind a plane by their ankles) and when he finally turns back, he has a very interesting look on his face, one I am not used to seeing in the customer service realm, I call it the FOAD- fuck off and die face. . .you know it when you see it, glare, sneer, curled lip, glint in the eyes DARES you to ask a question. . .but you know me, I went there-
Me- I am in need of some answers about my connecting flight
FOAD- I can't help you with anything now they are fixing the plane
Me- I know I am not asking you to go fix it faster, I am asking you about the flight I am going to miss because of the delay
FOAD- That connecting flight is on a different airline, I can't help you call them.
Me- But I am missing it BECAUSE of Midwest, and your rules say that if I am going to miss a flight due to mechanical failure, it IS a Midwest problem
FOAD- Let me check. . .nothing here until 6:30pm we could fly you to Boston and you could wait there and then send you to San Fran non stop. . .at 3pm (it is 8:35am CST)
Me- Whaaaa????
FOAD- You could wait in a change of scenery
Me- Trying to figure out if he is really saying this, determine that yes, he really is saying that flying in the OPPOSITE direction of where I need to go is an awesome thing and that it is weird that I am not jumping at the chance
FOAD-Well?
Me- I guess I will have to think about that. . .NO
FOAD- Well, if you are going to be a difficult bitch I can't help you
Me- UMMMMMMMM did you just go there?
FOAD- Well, if you would stop acting like one. . .
Me- Replaying the conversation in my head, looking for support, realize I was/am one because I am asking for him to help
Me- Excuse me for a moment Dials cell and reaches Midwest Customer service- explains situation told that Victor denies (?????) the exchange and that I was the one who refused to take the trip to BOSTON to get to San Fransisco Ummmm, and as she is telling me this she actually hears what she is saying and puts me on hold. . .
FOAD- Sees me on phone, gets call, glares, as an official comes on the scene, in time to see the look. . .
Me-looking rather smug
Official looking person- You can hang up now, I have everything set.
Me- ???
Official person-You are on the 6:30pm flight, here is a "meal voucher" (clearly they do not pay for their meals in the airport because the meal turns out to be a bottle of water and a cup of coffee, all the voucher pays for) and a voucher for 200 dollars.
Me- Ok Thank you
Official person. . .LEAVES, with not even a good bye!
Me- looking at flight board- sees the "6:30pm" flight has been DELAYED. . .until "TBD" which is code for "whenever the hell we take off" find out that there is only ONE plane and it is going to San Diego, then coming back, then back out to San Fransisco. . .
Ok, no sleep remember? Scared that if I sleep I will miss the flight and well, dammit they are NOT gonna get away with it, so I stayed up. . .and yessssss finally got on the plane. . .at 9:45 pm CST. . .and got another 100 dollar voucher. . .
Anyone want to fly Midwest?
Oh, and the cookie was stale and not baked on board. . .deal breaker, ya totally;)
Put a RAVEN on the damn plane, Frontier, Nevermore. . .
Got the opportunity of EPIC scale last month- an unfortunate event in the life of a boss meant I was off to San Fransisco for almost a week, staying in Berkeley, in a condo, meals paid for. . .and after the shoe drop roller coaster of last year and the GROWING discontent with my adjuncting gig in my Beloved former life, I was thrilled to be able to go. Shocked at how eay it was to arrange, and well, maybe that was the gather cloud bank that should have tipped me off, but no matter. . .Sunday I was at the airport and ready for my flight having stayed up all night because by the time I got the kids settled and started packing it was after Midnight, and well, I had to be up at 5am. . .here was my first Planes, Trains, and Automobiles moment. . . I actually said this to myself "ok, so maybe this is not a great idea, but I get on the plane, I sleep for 3 hours, get up when we land, and nap when I got to the condo after a wholesome Berkeley lunch. . ."
The flight was delayed due to engine trouble- and here is the best part, the new flight was not scheduled to TAKE OFF FROM MILWAUKEE until 10 minutes after my connecting flight in San Diego to San Fran took off.
So- now what? I approach the desk and Victor is CLEARLY not ready for any work yet- back to the desk watching the clouds (is that a bunny? no, it is a passenger being towed behind a plane by their ankles) and when he finally turns back, he has a very interesting look on his face, one I am not used to seeing in the customer service realm, I call it the FOAD- fuck off and die face. . .you know it when you see it, glare, sneer, curled lip, glint in the eyes DARES you to ask a question. . .but you know me, I went there-
Me- I am in need of some answers about my connecting flight
FOAD- I can't help you with anything now they are fixing the plane
Me- I know I am not asking you to go fix it faster, I am asking you about the flight I am going to miss because of the delay
FOAD- That connecting flight is on a different airline, I can't help you call them.
Me- But I am missing it BECAUSE of Midwest, and your rules say that if I am going to miss a flight due to mechanical failure, it IS a Midwest problem
FOAD- Let me check. . .nothing here until 6:30pm we could fly you to Boston and you could wait there and then send you to San Fran non stop. . .at 3pm (it is 8:35am CST)
Me- Whaaaa????
FOAD- You could wait in a change of scenery
Me- Trying to figure out if he is really saying this, determine that yes, he really is saying that flying in the OPPOSITE direction of where I need to go is an awesome thing and that it is weird that I am not jumping at the chance
FOAD-Well?
Me- I guess I will have to think about that. . .NO
FOAD- Well, if you are going to be a difficult bitch I can't help you
Me- UMMMMMMMM did you just go there?
FOAD- Well, if you would stop acting like one. . .
Me- Replaying the conversation in my head, looking for support, realize I was/am one because I am asking for him to help
Me- Excuse me for a moment Dials cell and reaches Midwest Customer service- explains situation told that Victor denies (?????) the exchange and that I was the one who refused to take the trip to BOSTON to get to San Fransisco Ummmm, and as she is telling me this she actually hears what she is saying and puts me on hold. . .
FOAD- Sees me on phone, gets call, glares, as an official comes on the scene, in time to see the look. . .
Me-looking rather smug
Official looking person- You can hang up now, I have everything set.
Me- ???
Official person-You are on the 6:30pm flight, here is a "meal voucher" (clearly they do not pay for their meals in the airport because the meal turns out to be a bottle of water and a cup of coffee, all the voucher pays for) and a voucher for 200 dollars.
Me- Ok Thank you
Official person. . .LEAVES, with not even a good bye!
Me- looking at flight board- sees the "6:30pm" flight has been DELAYED. . .until "TBD" which is code for "whenever the hell we take off" find out that there is only ONE plane and it is going to San Diego, then coming back, then back out to San Fransisco. . .
Ok, no sleep remember? Scared that if I sleep I will miss the flight and well, dammit they are NOT gonna get away with it, so I stayed up. . .and yessssss finally got on the plane. . .at 9:45 pm CST. . .and got another 100 dollar voucher. . .
Anyone want to fly Midwest?
Oh, and the cookie was stale and not baked on board. . .deal breaker, ya totally;)
Put a RAVEN on the damn plane, Frontier, Nevermore. . .
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