PSA
So I got sacked.
poor circumstances, really.
before arriving in cali, bossman at the adventure company said "a lot of our guides have second jobs to help make ends meet, 'cause it's pretty expensive here". so first thing I did after arriving in Santa Barbara was pass resumes around. Got the job with uncle Rocco.
fastforward to the week I moved into my apartment. I'm booked at both jobs for about 4 days straight, SBACo jobs starting around 8AM, Pizza jobs starting around 6pm and running until close;(doors close at 2:30, cleanup runs until as late as 4am) so I was getting home late, and getting up early. On the last day of the 4 day run, I told the pizza place I was quitting, this wasn't healthy for me, and might endanger one of the clients at the sbaco job.
The next morning, I wasn't able to wake up with my alarms, and missed a trip. since I was lead guide (read, only guide) the trip didn't go.
despite trying to make ammends after waking up, (offered to buy their lunch, since it was about lunch time, and take them on an alternate trip that'd only take a couple hours of their afternoon, as well as a complimentary trip of their choice on a day of their chosing) bossman at sbaco still felt there wasn't a place for me there. his rating scale was "do I trust the guide with my family." and considering he's got a 1 year old child (if that, his kid isn't walking) bossman's required levels are pretty high, his tolerance low. given his rating system, looking through his eyes at myself, I don't blame him for his decision, and I'd probably have done the same. oh well.
Something I raised with the office manager was that their waiver procedure was weak. there wasn't enough on it outlining the dangers of the activities,(though they did have one specific for the surfing tours) and the other staffers wern't making a big enough deal of them. just "here's the waivers, sign them please." and that won't hold up if someone in the USA sues someone else. not good enough just to have a signed waiver, there's precedent showing that alone won't protect a business. the guides have to actually mention the risks associated with an activity. "you could be hurt or killed" must pass the lips of the guide, every time the waiver is passed out. I've always appended that with "I've never hurt or killed anyone on my trips, but the possibility is there. I don't feel like doing First Aid today either, so we'll be ok."
that said, I'm kinda glad I'm not with 'em. one lawsuit could sink the company, and everyone in it. and since I raised my voice while I worked for 'em (and they said "no, what we're doing now is fine") they know. they can't say they're doing everything.
The job with Uncle Rocco was kind enough to take me back in, and up my hours to boot. Given how high their employee turnover is, I wasn't too surprised that they'd want someone who'd been trained on most aspects of the customer end of the business back. In the same time period, I made as much after tips at both jobs, so I'm sure I'll be ok.
the apartment is nice. it'd be a great location if I were taking any classes at UCSB; I'm about half a block off campus. I can see 3 fraternaties or Sorrorities out my window, 4 or 5 if I actually go out into the street. welcome to student slums, as it were. I'm in a clean enough building though.
I spent most of last week visiting a couple friends in Orange County. (yes, the Orange County of "the OC" fame) spent 4th of July on a boat. it's for sale, and for cheaper than any of the houses in the area... wouldn't be a terrible place to live, down in the harbour(or harbor, silly yankee spelling) but there wern't enough sails on the boat for my taste.
and now, a musical interlude.
Last Novemberish, my brother posted about a band named Ra. I'd heard of 'em before, but hadn't picked up more than 1 song until he posted. I'd like to share with you today the lyrics for a song by Ra, called Swimming Upstream. It's been on my mind lately, though it isn't a good example of their music, most of it is harder in style.
"Swimming Upstream" - Ra
The sun disappeared right before my eyes
My heart turned and walked away
I gave you the keys to an open door
And you threw them right back at me
Once again I'm alone with a pain in my chest
So sad, so sad, so alone
The clouds start to gather, here comes the rain
You meant more than you could know
I can't say I miss you
You're always around
I can't say I love you
'Cause you'll cut me down
I'm wounded and hurt
And that's my fault
But I made my decision with my back to the wall
And I gotta move on from here
I've done all that I can do
Yeah I gotta move on from here
I've been swimming upstream for you
As time passes by, I can't explain
It's hard to be next to you
Is it my face or is it everything
That you're not attracted to?
I'm so lost and confused when I look at you
Your eyes, your lips, so soft
And then when you see me, I turn away
'Cause I know that I turn you off
I can't say I miss you
You're always around
I can't say I love you
'Cause you'll cut me down
I'm wounded and hurt
And that's my fault
But I made my decision with my back to the wall
And I gotta move on from here
I've done all that I can do
Yeah I gotta move on from here
I've been swimming upstream for you
I've been swimming upstream for you
I've been swimming upstream for you
Yeah, I've been swimming upstream for you
I've been swimming upstream for you
I hope you look it up for a listen, and pick up any of the rest of the Ra music you find; they do a rawkin' cover of the Police's "Everything You Do Is Magic."
poor circumstances, really.
before arriving in cali, bossman at the adventure company said "a lot of our guides have second jobs to help make ends meet, 'cause it's pretty expensive here". so first thing I did after arriving in Santa Barbara was pass resumes around. Got the job with uncle Rocco.
fastforward to the week I moved into my apartment. I'm booked at both jobs for about 4 days straight, SBACo jobs starting around 8AM, Pizza jobs starting around 6pm and running until close;(doors close at 2:30, cleanup runs until as late as 4am) so I was getting home late, and getting up early. On the last day of the 4 day run, I told the pizza place I was quitting, this wasn't healthy for me, and might endanger one of the clients at the sbaco job.
The next morning, I wasn't able to wake up with my alarms, and missed a trip. since I was lead guide (read, only guide) the trip didn't go.
despite trying to make ammends after waking up, (offered to buy their lunch, since it was about lunch time, and take them on an alternate trip that'd only take a couple hours of their afternoon, as well as a complimentary trip of their choice on a day of their chosing) bossman at sbaco still felt there wasn't a place for me there. his rating scale was "do I trust the guide with my family." and considering he's got a 1 year old child (if that, his kid isn't walking) bossman's required levels are pretty high, his tolerance low. given his rating system, looking through his eyes at myself, I don't blame him for his decision, and I'd probably have done the same. oh well.
Something I raised with the office manager was that their waiver procedure was weak. there wasn't enough on it outlining the dangers of the activities,(though they did have one specific for the surfing tours) and the other staffers wern't making a big enough deal of them. just "here's the waivers, sign them please." and that won't hold up if someone in the USA sues someone else. not good enough just to have a signed waiver, there's precedent showing that alone won't protect a business. the guides have to actually mention the risks associated with an activity. "you could be hurt or killed" must pass the lips of the guide, every time the waiver is passed out. I've always appended that with "I've never hurt or killed anyone on my trips, but the possibility is there. I don't feel like doing First Aid today either, so we'll be ok."
that said, I'm kinda glad I'm not with 'em. one lawsuit could sink the company, and everyone in it. and since I raised my voice while I worked for 'em (and they said "no, what we're doing now is fine") they know. they can't say they're doing everything.
The job with Uncle Rocco was kind enough to take me back in, and up my hours to boot. Given how high their employee turnover is, I wasn't too surprised that they'd want someone who'd been trained on most aspects of the customer end of the business back. In the same time period, I made as much after tips at both jobs, so I'm sure I'll be ok.
the apartment is nice. it'd be a great location if I were taking any classes at UCSB; I'm about half a block off campus. I can see 3 fraternaties or Sorrorities out my window, 4 or 5 if I actually go out into the street. welcome to student slums, as it were. I'm in a clean enough building though.
I spent most of last week visiting a couple friends in Orange County. (yes, the Orange County of "the OC" fame) spent 4th of July on a boat. it's for sale, and for cheaper than any of the houses in the area... wouldn't be a terrible place to live, down in the harbour(or harbor, silly yankee spelling) but there wern't enough sails on the boat for my taste.
and now, a musical interlude.
Last Novemberish, my brother posted about a band named Ra. I'd heard of 'em before, but hadn't picked up more than 1 song until he posted. I'd like to share with you today the lyrics for a song by Ra, called Swimming Upstream. It's been on my mind lately, though it isn't a good example of their music, most of it is harder in style.
"Swimming Upstream" - Ra
The sun disappeared right before my eyes
My heart turned and walked away
I gave you the keys to an open door
And you threw them right back at me
Once again I'm alone with a pain in my chest
So sad, so sad, so alone
The clouds start to gather, here comes the rain
You meant more than you could know
I can't say I miss you
You're always around
I can't say I love you
'Cause you'll cut me down
I'm wounded and hurt
And that's my fault
But I made my decision with my back to the wall
And I gotta move on from here
I've done all that I can do
Yeah I gotta move on from here
I've been swimming upstream for you
As time passes by, I can't explain
It's hard to be next to you
Is it my face or is it everything
That you're not attracted to?
I'm so lost and confused when I look at you
Your eyes, your lips, so soft
And then when you see me, I turn away
'Cause I know that I turn you off
I can't say I miss you
You're always around
I can't say I love you
'Cause you'll cut me down
I'm wounded and hurt
And that's my fault
But I made my decision with my back to the wall
And I gotta move on from here
I've done all that I can do
Yeah I gotta move on from here
I've been swimming upstream for you
I've been swimming upstream for you
I've been swimming upstream for you
Yeah, I've been swimming upstream for you
I've been swimming upstream for you
I hope you look it up for a listen, and pick up any of the rest of the Ra music you find; they do a rawkin' cover of the Police's "Everything You Do Is Magic."