Dear So and So

[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!

[OakLeaf]

Check the drain pan under the fridge, too.

[alexis_the_tiny]

Dear trash workers, I am VERY SORRY about all those pee bombs we've been chucking down the trash chute. But the bf can't walk and I don't know where to buy bio-hazard waste bags this weekend. I promise it'll end when Monday comes.

Dear Boyfriend, when your back has a nagging pain for the last 3 months, it's not a cue to keep up with 400km/week mileages on the bike. Now you can't move and we don't know what is wrong because well, you can't get to the doctor if you can't move or be moved without causing you an incredible amount of pain. I don't mind giving you round the clock care but I do wish you'd pay some attention when I tell you to go easy on the back.

Dear friend, yes, I can help you with your research paper. What I cannot help you with is pulling a research paper from the air because I know jack***t about your topic of research. And by 3 a.m. Today. Its already 8 p.m. Holy cow.