Dear So and So

[Owlie]

Dear former professor--
I asked you to write a recommendation letter for me for this school in September. I asked you again in October. I gave you all the materials you asked for the first week of November. I've sent you I-don't-know-how-many e-mails with a reminder about it. It was due on the first. You still haven't filled it out. They start reviewing applications next week. I realize you're busy, but seriously, you've known about this for months, and you've had at least two to actually write and submit the damn thing.
Argh.

[Biciclista]

Dear Owlie
Call the department secretary.
she's used to being his mother/nursemaid
She can probably put the pen in his hand.

Dear former professor--
I asked you to write a recommendation letter for me for this school in September. I asked you again in October. I gave you all the materials you asked for the first week of November. I've sent you I-don't-know-how-many e-mails with a reminder about it. It was due on the first. You still haven't filled it out. They start reviewing applications next week. I realize you're busy, but seriously, you've known about this for months, and you've had at least two to actually write and submit the damn thing.
Argh.

[Becky]

Dear Owlie
Call the department secretary.
she's used to being his mother/nursemaid
She can probably put the pen in his hand.

*chuckles* So true....same thing works with doctors....

[bcipam]

That said, I tend to agree with Lisa in that you might try to react to your sister with some degree of compassion--at least with the current situation. Your brother's situation IS sad.

.

Thanks everyone for your response... I realize this probably is not the place but it seemed as good as any to vent...

Indy - I get what you say about compassion... just know there is a really long back story and at one time i was compassionate towards my sister but after too many years of my sister always being the victim and feeling sorry for herself, I became hardedned to all her drama. For instance, 4 years ago, when my brotherinlaw was going through depression and using drugs and alcohol - instead of helping him she moved out and in with another man leaving her two teen age kids to care for a drunk father. The 15 year old came home and found him dead from an OD. My sister all of a sudden started to play the "poor widow" and became totally disabled just when those kids needed her most. Thank goodness for my other sister and I to pick up pieces. Anyway, long story, I could write a book...

Found out brother has stomach cancer; its advance. I'll probably be going home shortly.

[indysteel]

Thanks everyone for your response... I realize this probably is not the place but it seemed as good as any to vent...

Indy - I get what you say about compassion... just know there is a really long back story and at one time i was compassionate towards my sister but after too many years of my sister always being the victim and feeling sorry for herself, I became hardedned to all her drama. For instance, 4 years ago, when my brotherinlaw was going through depression and using drugs and alcohol - instead of helping him she moved out and in with another man leaving her two teen age kids to care for a drunk father. The 15 year old came home and found him dead from an OD. My sister all of a sudden started to play the "poor widow" and became totally disabled just when those kids needed her most. Thank goodness for my other sister and I to pick up pieces. Anyway, long story, I could write a book...

Found out brother has stomach cancer; its advance. I'll probably be going home shortly.

Oh, I hear you. My sister has been a mess for years. Like you, I just couldn't handle it or her anymore. I do, however, feel sorry for her. I don't want her life, and I understand and feel sad for the things in her childhood and young adulthood that contributed to her dysfunction and mental illness. That doesn't mean I am not detached from her though. That much hasn't and likely won't change. I've just reached a point where I don't really need to judge her anymore for her mistakes. They're hers; not mine.

I'm truly sorry about your brother.

[bcipam]

Indy... I used to tell my sister where I thought she went wrong but decided, as you mentioned, its not my business to judge her and what she has done with her life so some time ago I stopped. I am perfectly happy minding my own business but then she tries and bring me in on the drama. I still don't know why she had to call me. I was already in touch with my mother and other sister. I know it is was to get me to feel sorry for her... I feel for my brother; I feel for my mother, I feel for my dad and I am sorry that my sister doesn't see how wonderful her own life is or can be. But I can't give in to her "victim" thing... life is just too short.

Thanks, for indulging me however. It's good to get another perspective... I tend to bottle my emotions up good and tight and I know I lack empathy...

[limewave]

Dear Limewave~
Today is a new day.

[bmccasland]

Dear Mr.C -
Why do you keep bringing up pesky little details that you want me to address on a project that's almost finished? You are aware that to address these odd little building construction details, your Environmental document due date will be delayed, again? I'm supposed to be addressing impacts to wetlands, bugs, bunnies, and fish - not the building trades or county taxes.

[snapdragen]

Dear Limewave~
Today is a new day.

*thumbs up*

[Owlie]

...and it turns out the professor is still on vacation. Classes don't start until Monday, but still! I'm starting to think something's up besides vacation, though. Even though he's busy, he's usually very good about answering e-mails and so forth.

DBF--
Why are you calling me to ask where to send the bills? That little tear-off bit has all the information you need! And guess what? We don't need to use our envelopes, because they give you one! Just stick the tear-off bit in the envelope with the check, put a stamp on it and stick it in the mailbox. This isn't rocket science. And every other month, you ask me where to send the rent! Granted, I don't have it memorized either, but it's written on the handy piece of paper they gave us when we signed the lease.

Do you live in a bubble?

Me.
P.S. Thanks for cleaning the apartment, though.

[indysteel]

Dear Fellow Board Members and Executive Director:

I've served on this board for three years now. In that time, I've been nothing but frustrated. While I believe in the mission of our organization, we can't seem to get anything done without drama and teeth gnashing. To say that there communication and follow-through problems is an understatement. I've sincerely tried to offer insight and suggestions on how we can improve, but nobody seems motivated for longer than a day.

ED, I hold you responsible for much of this. You're a lovely person, but you're also terribly disorganized and undisciplined. Others have tried to explain our collective frustrations with you away as mere "personality differences." I don't disagree, but that's a cop out. Your position requires effective communication, strategic planning, and good organization. So, while you have a lovely personality, I don't think it's best suited for this job. That, of course, begs some serious questions; questions nobody seems to want to ask.

And regarding the member of your staff that I've had to deal with for the past three years. I have long struggled with her, too. For a long time, I thought I was being too hard on her. She is young, after all. I tried and tried to give her the benefit of the doubt. To learn today that she's actually DRIVEN three other employees to quit because of her mean-spiritedness and arrogance leaves me speechless. Why does she still have a job and where were you, ED, in dealing with all of this? How has this situation persisted?

When my term is up in April, I don't currently intend to renew. I don't really want my departure to devolve into finger pointing or a blame game. I'm merely acknowledging that it's not a good fit for me. I love volunteering for a cause and people that I care about, but I think my time and engery and passion could be better used elsewhere.

Thank you.

[maillotpois]

Dear refrigerator -

I give up. What the heck is making you so stinky?

[lph]

Ick on the back wall? A blocked draining channel? We had a weird smell in ours once, which went away after I cleaned the itty-bitty channel in the back with a q-tip. Obscure greenish goop in there...

[Eden]

My parents once spilled milk in their motorhome fridge.... it took many, many cleanings and lots of Febreeze to get rid of the smell...

One thing, other than baking soda, you can do to help get rid of funk that has permeated the plastic is coffee grounds. There's a little fridge at work that is so nasty that when ever anyone opens it, I want to leave the room..... (no I don't keep any food in there). A half a cup of (new - not used) coffee grounds took care of the nastyness pretty quickly. Coffee is in all the breakrooms, and thus much more accessible at work than baking soda, with the added benefit that it smells nice.

[maillotpois]

Thanks for the tips!