31st July

LGBT people born today:
1911 – Henry Wilson – US Actors’ Agent – Died 2nd November 1978
1915 – George Forrest – US Librettist – Died 10th October 1999
1932 – Barbara Gittings – US Activist – Died 18th February 2007
1965 – Ian Roberts – Australian Rugby / Actor 1970 – Brent Banes – US Porn

And those who died:
1957 – Pavel Tchelitchew - Russian / US Painter – Born 21st September 1898
2003 – Glenn Kopitske – US Hate Crime Victim – Born 1966

Another Stressful Day

*****BEWARE WHINGING & MOANING CONTAINED ON THIS POSTING*****

****Like that is any different to normal****

Sorry I didn't post a personal item yesterday, but once again I couldn't get onto any Blogger sites at all, all evening.

Today, I have had a pretty stressful day. It wasn't really anything major, but I just became really fed up with all the gossiping, moaning (I know, hypocrite), back-biting, butting-in and unprofessional behaviour.
To start with the guy who was late in last night wasn't happy when I pulled him up on it. I warned him that the new company had already threatened to get rid of guards and he thought I was telling him I was going to get him sacked. I corrected him, telling that I was just giving him advanced notice of their intentions and if anyone was going to get him the sack he needed no help from others.
Then one of the day guards didn't turn up and I had to phone him. He said that he didn't know he was working, despite two other sources telling me that he had been told.
Then there was all the usual gossipping from the fat guard, disagreeing with everything from the smelly young guard, and the seemingly non-stop diatribes from the third guard.
Someone, and I have an idea who, whinged on the phone to the old manager when he phoned (as he does allegedly in his capacity as a scheduler now about 15 times a day). He then whinged to someone at head office, who in turn told my new manager to change the rosters so that everyone had to do a certain position (which is better off being manned by the same person all day for various reasons).
I was left with this job, as my new manager is apparently incapable of operating a computer for more than opening email, but I only had an hour to do it (once he had left so I could use his desk, which has the only available computer to our department at the moment).
All this and a few other niggly bits which have been on-going since Tuesday really began to stress me out, making me less than accommodating with my staff than usual. Normally I am quite placid at work (but I let stuff build up and eventually, like today, I explode at anyone and everyone!).

My old manager phoned and asked why I hadn't responded to his text (sent about 10 minutes previously). I replied that I was slightly busy rewriting the weekend and weekday rosters because of his interference at head office. He replied by saying that "my guards" should stop phoning him to complain then and hung up the phone, very unlike him to get into a strop like that. His further two (again unnecessary calls were very brief).

I am so glad to get out of that place for a few days. They have a guard covering the supervisors position tomorrow who hasn't done it before. And then a poor team of guards on Monday for the day shift. To top it off on the ex-manager's last call I hope I heard wrong when I thought he told me that he was covering a vacant position on this site on Sunday! He really doesn't want to be doing that! Idiot!

I am back to work on Wednesday night, if there is still a building left standing. To be honest I don't care if it isn't!

It is Brighton Pride tomorrow and I was hoping to de-stress while attending that, but I have no one to go with (and am not too sure about the weather), so I think I will give it a miss. Oh well.

30th July

LGBT people born today:
1904 – Salvador Novo – Mexican Author / Poet / Playwright / Presenter – Died 13th January 1974
1910 – Edgar de Evia – Mexican / US Photographer – Died 10th February 2003
1954 – Paula Martinac – US Editor
1966 – Cameron Cruise – US Porn
1968 – Scott Baldwin – US Porn 1980 – Eduardo Valenti – Brazilian [?] Porn

And those who died:
1771 – Thomas Gray – UK Poet / Professor – Born 26th December 1716
1894 – Walter Pater – UK Author / Critic – Born 4th August 1839
2002 – Anthony Edward Dyson – UK Literary Critic / Lecturer / Activist - Born 28th November 1928

Sagi Kalev

I have to wish a happy 38th birthday to the gorgeous and very muscular Israeli model and bodybuilder Sagi Kalev. Sagi is a very sexy guy, so enjoy these few pictures I have found:

Chinese Whispers

Okay! This is complicated, so please pay attention. I cannot mention names (much) in case I get accused again of "breaching confidentiality." I shall be asking questions at the end! You may take notes:

Today at work was marked by one major misunderstanding on the part of the most junior of my team. My new boss asked me for the numbers of the guards who are on their rest days, as we needed someone to cover tonight's shift. He was surprised when I told him we didn't have any contact numbers (my old boss used to have them all in his mobile, or head office used to call them).
I advised him that my young colleague would have the number of one of the other supervisors who was off. My new boss therefore went and found him and asked him to call and see if this other supervisor could work. It turns out that he misunderstood who this supervisor would be covering for. He thought it would be for the night supervisor and so told the rest-day supervisor that the rostered night supervisor had blown out. The rest-day supervisor declined to work, but phoned our old boss (who is currently working at head office) that the night supervisor had blown out, he phoned my control room to speak to me, but I was elsewhere. He left a message that the night supervisor had blown out and for me to call him. The guy who took the message told someone else who then, in turn told me. The guy who took the message has the same first name as my new boss, so when I was told that "Steve says [the night supervisor] has blown out," I assumed this meant my new boss and so when I mentioned it in passing to him, assuming he knew, he was really pissed off!
Apparently he couldn't get hold of any schedulers, and they never returned any of his voicemail messages.
It wasn't until a few hours later, speaking to my young colleague that I worked out what had happened and informed my new boss. He had just finished shouting and swearing at the schedulers that he had finally got hold of for not telling him about the blow out and not calling him back. Luckily he then laughed about it (I think he was just relieved that we were now only 1 guard down for tonight, not 2).
I had a word with my young "friend," about this and another matter I had to pull him up on. And a couple of other people had words too.
Other than this though, not much happened at work today.

Time for the questions:
1) Who's on first?

29th July

LGBT people born today:
1930 – Paul Taylor – US Choreographer
1953 – Tim Gunn – US Presenter / Fashion Consultant / Author
1964 – Joseph Steffan – US Lawyer / Activist
1968 – Arno Brok – Dutch Politician
1973 – Patrik-Ian Polk – US Director / Producer / Singer / Screenwriter / Actor
1976 – Sonny Markham – US Porn ???? – Rik Jammer – US Porn

And those who died:
1998 – Jerome Robbins – US Director / Choreographer – Born 11th October 1918
2005 – Hildegarde – US Singer – Born 1st February 1906

First Day (With The New Company)

As you probably know by now, I'm still working at the same location, but have TUPE'd over to a different security company. This, though, happens to be the same security company that sacked me almost 3 years ago, thereby making my life slightly more miserable than normal for a while. They say that my previous dismissal probably isn't going to be a problem, (notice the all important word "probably?"). I don't intend to give them an easy excuse (as I did last time!).
So, all I will say about today is that it was slightly stressful, as communication wasn't forthcoming without interrogation, but we (I) cleared some things up today. There were problems, but there are bound to be when a major change takes place like this. Let's hope that it all works out for the best here (or better still that one of my job applications bears fruit!).

Let's also hope that we get to work in some air conditioning very soon as I went through 2 shirts today I was sweating that much! (Sorry, I know, too much information!).

28th July

LGBT people born today:
1927 – John Ashbery – US Poet
1941 – Colin Higgins – US Screenwriter / Actor / Director / Producer – Died 5th August 1988
1958 – Sarah Schulman – US Author / Playwright / Historian / Actress
1969 – Alexis Arquette – US Actor / Musician
1972 – Richard Newman – UK Reality TV [Big Brother] / Presenter [Gaydar Radio]
1975 – Imke Duplitzer – German Fencer

And those who died:
1655 – Cyrano de Bergerac – French Author – Born 6th March 1619
1987 – Arthur J Bressan Jr. – US Director – Born 1943

Wasted Days - Again

Once again I feel like I have wasted my days off. I have been absolutely nowhere, talked to no one and done nothing. Well, that's not quite true, but it feels like it. I have brought home my free PC from work, though the internet is still not up and running yet (I'm waiting for Kevin to stop being drunk and find the disk I need), I finally got my clinic results (all clear, as expected), and I purchased a new duvet and pillows (now all I need is a new mattress). Other than these minor things I have achieved nothing this weekend. Worst of all is that I started my days off feeling horny as hell, and I am still feeling that way!!

Tomorrow I am back at work and it will be my first day with the new company (in the same location). It will be interesting to see who is in charge, what they expect of us, how much they have changed already, and how much things get messed up with people not knowing what they are doing. I don't even know if I will still be a supervisor or not. They have to keep me at the same rate of pay, but not the same position (not that I am that bothered about the title, and to be honest, I never wanted to be supervisor anyway). We shall see. I should have lots to tell you about this time tomorrow when I return from my first day back with the company who sacked me almost 3 years ago!!!

27th July

LGBT people born today:
1904 – Sir Anton Dolin – UK Ballet – Died 25th November 1983
1940 – Troy Perry – US Reverend
1946 – Stephen Donaldson – US Activist – Died 18th July 1996
1969 – Bryan Fuller – US Screenwriter / Producer
1981 – Jody Dobrowski – UK Hate Crime Victim – Died 14th October 2005
1981 – Rafael Verga – Brazilian Model

And those who died:
1946 – Gertrude Stein – US Author – Born 3rd February 1874
2005 – Robert Wright – US Librettist – Born 25th September 1914

26th July

LGBT people born today:
1927 – Danny La Rue – Irish Female Impersonator – Died 31st May 2009
1956 – Arthur Japin – Dutch Author / Playwright / Actor / Singer
1984 – Alex Parks – UK Singer / Reality TV [Fame Academy]

And those who died:
1950 – Hans Lodeizen – Dutch Poet – Born 20th July 1924
1981 – Jeannette Howard Foster – US Author – Born 3rd November 1895
1994 – W Dorr Legg – US Landscape Architect / Activist – Born 15th December 1904

Bloody Blogger

Apart from just after midnight yesterday morning, I've been unable to get onto Blogger all weekend. Not just my blog but any blog. Occasionally it would let me view the blog, but never alter anything or post anything new. It's not like I have much to tell, but that's not the point.

I chatted with Tim on Facebook on Saturday to ask how and where he was. He is now at home, having had a horrific journey apparently though I don't know the details but he is feeling okay but stuck in bed. He has yet to get used to his crutches and, I am guessing, feels a bit delicate with his brain only partially protected for the time being. He wasn't up to company, so I have not been to see him. I hope he is feeling more like himself once he has spent some more time at home, and I hope there is someone there all the time to look after him, but that they are also giving him the space that I'm sure he needs too.

Today I picked up my free PC from work. As I think I mentioned before it is the computer that we used at work with the old company, but which didn't belong to them. My boss, as probably one of his last acts in that capacity, gave the computer to me. It is at least 3 years old (and covered in all that time's accumulated dust) but is nonetheless a FREE computer. Who was I to turn it down. He also included 3 free speakers and the flat-screen monitor. I had already brought home the wireless keyboard and mouse on Friday morning. I have checked it and wired it all up, and, yes it does work. It has a bootleg copy of Microsoft Windows so keeps coming up with an annoying message asking if I want to install a proper one (which I probably will do eventually). It is not yet connected to the internet as I have to get a disk off of Kevin to do that. I will endeavour to chase him for it tomorrow, then I can at last free my laptop from being permanently attached to the internet hub, as it is now.

Other than my brief trip to work and a short conversation on the phone with my boss, popping to the local shops and the occasional "Hello" to Penny (my normally drunk housemate), I have not spoken to a soul in person this weekend (Frank, I'm afraid doesn't count). I am bored. Even Bejeweled has lost its appeal and is just annoying me now (though I still play it, who knows why?).
I have one more day off and then I am back to work, this time working for my new (and old) employers. Lets see if they sack me again!!

25th July

LGBT people born today:
1943 – Cheryl Crane – US daughter of Lana Turner
1955 – Patricia Todd – US Politician
1964 – Jacques Brooijmans – Dutch Author
1966 – Christine C Quinn – US Politician / Activist
1979 – Diego Pastores – Mexican Porn

And those who died:
1951 – JC Leyendecker – German / US Illustrator – Born 23rd March 1874
1966 – Frank O’Hara – US Poet – Born 27th June 1926
1986 – Vincente Minnelli – US Director – Born 28th February 1903
1989 – Steve Rubell – US Businessman / Club Owner – Born 2nd December 1943
2003 – John Schlesinger – US Actor / Director – Born 16th February 1926

Save Ianto Jones?

I have just found this site, SaveIantoJones.com, via the BBC News website. It is a site dedicated to getting everyone's [?] favourite Torchwood character revived. Personally I am against this, despite loving Ianto's character (and quite fancying Gareth David-Lloyd himself). I think that resurrecting the character would cheapen his initial death. Death is a likely outcome for someone who works for Torchwood, so I feel that it is fitting that some [most] of the characters have their lives cut short. I do not endorse supporting this campaign, but it is helping raise money for Children In Need, so that is why I am mentioning it here.

Good Intentions

After all my plans this morning I have actually done nothing today but sleep. It is far too late now to chase up the clinic (that will have to wait until Monday now), I could just about get to the hospital to see Tim, but would have to fight through rush hour to do it and only be able to stay a little while when I got there (visiting hours end at 20:00). I did however contact Gareth, but he is busy tonight and tomorrow, but may join me for drinks on Sunday (though it didn't sound likely). Oh well. Back to my usual sitting-at-home-alone routine!

24th July

LGBT people born today:
1865 – Dorothy Bussy – UK Author / Translator – Died 1st May 1960
1951 – Chris Smith – UK Politician
1952 – Gus van Sant – US Director / Author / Musician / Photographer / Screenwriter
1962 – Michael John LaChiusa - US Composer / Lyricist / Librettist
1969 – Zero Chou – Thai Director
1970 – Stephanie Adams – US Model / Author
1971 – John Partridge – UK Singer / Dancer / Actor
1979 – Lee Si-yeon – South Korean Actress / Model
1985 – Teagan Presley – US Porn

Hoorah

I have just got home from my very last shift with my current employers. The new security company take over on Monday and I am back to work on Tuesday, so unless, by some foul means they get me to work over the weekend, I will never have to work for evil OCS ever again.
Also, my boss has told me that I can keep the work computer as it is not owned by any of the security companies (he rescued it from a skip at work about a year ago along with a massive plasma screen which he took home). I also get a wireless keyboard and mouse. How jammy is that!
The plan for today is, firstly, get some sleep. I should have gone straight to bed once I got in, but I decided to have some breakfast first and thought, while I'm eating that I can log on too. Later I have to chase up the clinic to find out why they didn't text me with my blood and urine results 2 weeks ago as they said they would. Then I have to find out for certain if Tim is still in hospital or at home, either way I should really visit him (as I haven't been for almost 2 weeks now). I also want to go out for a few drinks, but have no one to drink with unfortunately. Maybe I should rearrange that drink with Gareth that we postponed because of Tim's accident? Sounds like a plan to me.

23rd July

LGBT people born today:
1816 – Charlotte Cushman – US Actress / Singer / Playwright / Director – Died 18th February 1876
1899 – Ruth Ellis – US Activist – Died 5th October 2000
1909 – Phil Andros – US Author – Died 31st December 1993
1913 – Coral Browne – Australian Actress – Died 29th May 1991
1924 – Gavin Lambert – UK / US Author / Director / Screenwriter – Died 17th July 2005
1950 – Paul Patrick – UK Teacher / Activist – Died 22nd May 2008
1954 – Annie Sprinkle – US Porn / Presenter / Editor / Author / Producer / Columnist / Performance Artist
1962 – Daniel MacIvor – Canadian Actor / Playwright / Director
1976 – Judith Arndt – German Cyclist
???? – Adam Wolfe – US Porn [or 23rd August ????]

And those who died:
1966 – Montgomery Clift – US Actor – Born 17th October 1920
1989 – Michael Sundin – UK Dancer / Trampolinist / Presenter – Born 1st March 1961
1997 – Andrew Cunanan – US Serial Killer – Born 31st August 1969
2003 – Nireah Johnson – US Hate Crime Victim – Born 1986

What's Been Missing?