Today is November 1, 2010 and in 12 days, Bambi will be gone. Cue an HBCU marching band, the funkiest Junkyard Band go-go groove you can find or a 90 minute disco track. It’s so close that I can taste it. However, there is still plenty of time for her to completely remove all traces of the fragile sanity that I desperately to hold on to. In case you have no idea what I’m talking about, Bambi is the young lady that is helping out in my office. You can read about her inability to conquer simple office tasks here.
A few a you begged for more stories from the dumb side, so I will oblige. Hopefully, blogging about her and trying to find a way to smile through the frustration will help me avoid an assault charge. (If not, ya’ll are witnesses for my insanity defense.) Last week was a particularly trying week here and by Friday, she had worked my last good nerve. I had my ipod playing a gospel playlist in order to calm myself and she actually tried to talk OVER the music. WTH?? Dude, I’m trying to drown your elementary banter out. Stop talking to me!!!
When she first started, I gave her a list of important people and information. You know, the bosses husband, the names of her children, names of their respective schools and offices, etc. Well, since she has arrived, I’ve found myself half listening while on my own phone conversations so that I can keep an ear open to her end of whatever conversation she’s in. Whether in person or on the phone, she’s bound to give erroneous or idiotic information. I usually have to wave my hand and intervene.
The main line to our office rings and she answers. Of course I can only hear her side of the conversation, but that’s usually enough to let me know she needs me to intervene. It’s Friday and I’m drained, so I decide to this one play out.
Bambi: Good morning, director’s office. How can I help you?
Bambi: Oh hi Kabuki. No, your mom is in a meeting. Can I take a message for her?
**listening and intently scribbling on a message pad**
Bambi: Ok, I’ll give her the message. Take care!
A few seconds later, she takes the pink message slip into my bosses office. I’m not even going to tell you everything that I already know is wrong, just based on the one side of the conversation that I can hear. 20 minutes later, my boss returns from her meeting and within 5 seconds calls my direct line.
Boss: Get in here.
Me: Coming.
I grab my memo book and pen, and head into her office. Others might have quaked in their boots, but I wasn’t worried at all.
A word about my boss – I love her! She is truly the best boss I’ve ever worked for. She’s one of the smartest and most accomplished people I’ve ever met, but she is grounded and very “human”. Know what I mean? She reminds me of my mother and all my aunts. She’s originally from the Bronx, so watching her interact with the big boys is amazing. She can slice and dice them with kindness and intellect, so smoothly that they don’t even realize they’ve been eviscerated. And, when necessary, she’ll cuss you slam out in a NY minute. She’s big on integrity and she demands your best. As long as you’ve given it your all, she’ll have your back in any situation.
I close the door and she can barely contain her irritation.
MrsTDJ: Yes Ma’am?
Boss: Really? She’s this stupid?
She thrusts the pink message slip across the desk at me. Wow, just wow. I don’t know where to start, so I took a picture of the message for visual evidence. Ya’ll know the camera on my blackbe.rry sucks, so do your best with the image.
WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?????
There are so many problems that I don’t know where to start. Hmm, let’s see:
- WHY ARE YOU WRITING IN ALL CAPITALS?????? DIDN’T ANYONE EVER TELL YOU THAT IT WAS RUDE AND INAPPROPRIATE???? YOU’RE PRACTICALLY SCREAMING AT YOUR BOSS!!!!
- My boss NEVER, EVER goes by Dr. E. What is she, your pal? Her last name is only 5 letter long. Write it out!
- Her daughter’s name is Kiajoki. Yes, her name is African, but I’ve given you an information sheet. Use it! Better yet, while she was on the phone, ask her to spell it. Don’t freaking guess!! What is this charades? “Um, sounds like cuckoo”
- She is her step-daughter and in the five years that I’ve worked her, she has NEVER referred to my boss as her mother. No friction, but her mother is alive and well. Her father married my boss when Kiajoki was 7. So now, you’re using selective hearing??? If she said step-mother (which I know she did), write step-mother!
- Columbia, AFRICA?? Really Bambi?? Columbia, AFRICA?? Where exactly is that located? Halfway between Annapolis, AFRICA and Baltimore, AFRICA?? Is that anywhere near your hometown of IDIOTVILLE, AMERICA??? She’s in Gambia, Bambi. An actual country in Africa. Gambia.
- Her damn stepdaughter is making an international call during the middle of the day. Do I really have to tell you to interrupt her meeting to give her the opportunity to take the call? Since we have email, text and facebook, clearly she actually wanted to SPEAK to her. Doesn’t make it an emergency, but common sense would dictate that you give boss lady the option to talk or call her back.
Ya’ll, she’s slowly yet steadily killing me in teeny, tiny increments. I feel less intelligent just sitting here everyday. Who wants to play words with friends with me on my ipod touch?? My username is MrsTDJ. Help me feel smart again!
Life giving..Like water in a oasis! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Wow! She is all kinds of wrong here. lol
Chiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiilllllllllllllle………….LMAO!!!!
This is like a crack addiction….must have more!!!!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! I agree with AR Gal! We want DAILY UPDATES!!! Kiajoki!?!? And that’s what she came up with???? Why????
LOL…I still can’t get over Columbia, Africa. Really? And, why exactly can’t someone tell her that her services are no longer needed?
exactly what I’m wondering! I’m thinking she knows somebody who is somebody?
Aretha just asked that too! Here’s what I said, “Long story short, she was on a contract and that same crappy program area had been giving her good reviews. Her old program area and another program area merged, resulting in too many administrative workers. However, all those that were to be displaced, were given 6 months (began 10/1/10, so the will be employed here until 3/30/10). Because we brought her to our area and changed her duties, we had to give her 6 weeks notice that it wasn’t working. The old area screwed us because all her performance reviews for the last two years have been “Exceptional”.
Long story short, she was on a contract and that same crappy program area had been giving her good reviews. Her old program area and another program area merged, resulting in too many administrative workers. However, all those that were to be displaced, were given 6 months (began 10/1/10, so the will be employed here until 3/30/10). Because we brought her to our area and changed her duties, we had to give her 6 weeks notice that it wasn’t working. The old area screwed us because all her performance reviews for the last two years have been “Exceptional”.
Columbia.
Africa.
Imma stay from over here for 12 days.
Ohhh chiiile, things are gonna get easier.. *in my best soothing old school voice*
I think we should do something everyday as a countdown celebration til her departure. And then, when she leaves, we can plant a tree.
I’m so hitting you up on words with friends when I get home. I’ve never played with anyone before!
Bwahaha @ celebrating daily and then planting a tree!! My luck and the damn thing would DIE!
She really did me in today! I can’t even write about it yet!
It’s just TOO MUCH!!!!!!! Bwhahahahahahahahahahhahaha! OMGEEEE! That is a NEW level of dumb. Thestep-daughters name and Columbia, Africa have me on the floor * oh my side is hurting* Help me!! I CAN’T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wowser! Almost unbelievable. How did she get this far again? I actually feel bad for her for being so clueless and I feel worse for you for having to put up with such craziness. A true test of patience. You get a gold star for not killing her already. Just 12 more days! By the way, I cannot stop laughing about her spelling the name wrong–she was way off–LMBO!!!
That’s what I was thinking, like seriously, how do you function in the real world on a daily basis????
LOL I had to prep myself to read this ~ I just kicked the athletes out for being too loud in the library and then here you come with this… ROTFL Columbia, Africa? Just wow. As far as the handwriting goes, I teach American History at one of the local universities and many of the students really do write in all caps with no punctuation. I also have to tell them not to call me “Yo.” *head desk*
Slayed in the Spirit.
A true OXYGEN THIEF!
And this too shall pass, unless her contract gets an extension, lol!
If there was even a chance in hell that she got extended, you would need to hit my pops up for bail money!
And my silly ass was sitting here thinking “there’s a Columbia, Africa???” Hahahahahaha!
I’m… I’m Speechless… I…. I have no speech.. I am praying for you Mrs TDJ… Cause you are going THRU!! WOW!!
Hmmm…maybe instead of going to Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa, maybe I should visit Columbia, Africa (or is it Colombia, South America, Africa)?? A country located on two continents. I kill me. LOL!
Bwahaha @ two continents!! See, your comment would probably have confused the heck outta old girl!
Columbia Africa? Wow. Just wow. You all are saints for putting up with her as long as you did.
Oh. My. GOD. Now I’m sitting here in MY office trying my DAMNDEST NOT to LMAO in front of my co-workers. What the hell is WRONG with this woman?
How long is this going to be tolerated? This is unbelievable!!! Sorry Taya. I think she should sit with the IRP Program Coordinator.
Kafuki……bwahahahahahahahahahahahaha I had to come back and read it again. Bambi has become a force in my life that cannot be reckoned with.
Ha ha! You nut! She seriously almost took me THERE this morning! I can’t even write about it yet because it’s still too fresh! Will try to get it out in a day or so.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I mean really, i feel my IQ dropping….
I know right? I feel my brain cells becoming mush and slowly oozing out of my brain.
Hilarious post and I can see why you’d become frustrated with Bambi – I don’t believe she really cares about being efficient. Lol. I can understand some things as far as mistakes go, but Bambi clearly is the exception to such understanding.
Might as well laugh though. All one can do in these types of situations.
You are right Don, I have to laugh. Seriously. I would have lost all my marbles by now if I couldn’t find the humor in it.
One week to go. Well, 4 days since Thursday is a federal holiday. I can make it. 32 hours.
I heart Bambi. I’m gonna miss her dumb behind. LOL
I’m not quite there yet, but I might be once she is a distant memory.
Oh my goodness!!! I feel your pain. I don’t know how you haven’t killed her by now. Good thing her time is coming to an end soon. Rejoice! LMAO!
I’m on the cusp of rejoicing!!! 32 work hours to go!
..and you know the real disturbing thing is dumb a#@ people like that are the ones that move ahead…I guess they don’t pose a threat!
You are SOOOOOO right there. Normally, they’d be on a rocket ship to a position of leadership!
This totally made my day!!! I heart Bambi!
Is she for real? I can see being a bit inexperienced but this is plain outrageously stupid. How OLD is she? Bambi, bless her heart must have you pulling out your hair.
Are you throwing her a party when she leaves?
I wish I could say that she’s very young, but she’s not. My best guess, based on conversations, is about 40. Her oldest child is 23.
Yep, party today. I did well!
Why am I so late to this? OMG. I can’t breathe. Columbia AFRICA is the best. TDJ, you made my complete day with this one.