This was a good weekend. We ran errands on Saturday, did laundry, started packing for the trip out to MN and in general took care of stuff. Unfortunately, we had to go to the mall on Saturday afternoon and that was enough to make me want to physically hurt people.
The masses were just everywhere. One guy was wearing a tank top with an open plaid shirt on top. The tank top was very loose and as he walked he gradually exposed his entire nipple to anyone unfortunate enough to look at him. This is just wrong. When I go to the mall I don?t want to see nipples. Malls should be nipple-less. Period.
On top of this some sort of pop group was have a mini-concert and I was immediately conflicted. Memories of Tiffany and her mall tours floated to mind and it brought me right back to eighth grade. But, the unbelievable noise, the crush of bodies, the smell of people and the overpowering worry that if I didn?t get out of there I?d become one of them resulted in a mini-panic attack. I hate people.
On Sunday we had a very nice dinner with Kevin?s parents for Fathers Day. They?re talking about selling the house this time next year and moving to North Carolina. If he can just make it through one more year of work they?ll be able to get his health insurance and that?s a pretty big deal considering the constant cuts to veterans benefits (Kevin?s dad was in Vietnam) and senior care.
The ridiculous part of the whole thing is that he?s almost made it to 30 years so he should be able to leave with his pension intact. Unfortunately, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer about seven years ago and the resulting surgeries, chemotherapy, prescriptions, doctor visits and time off work combined with his already poor health, bad back and bad knees have led to the problem he now faces.
Everyday he goes in to work and his manager treats him like crap. He is completely beaten down by his bosses regarding how much time he?s missed. They?ve basically threatened him with losing a portion of his pension because he may not have worked exactly 30 years when you take into account the time he?s missed due to illness.
Of course, if he were to quit before the 30 years he would lose part of his pension and that?s exactly what they?re trying to do. The owner of Shop Rite could afford to buy out Kevin?s dad?s contract, but he would rather force him into quitting because that?s the kind of soulless prick he is. ?Eff the workingman, I need to buy another house!?
It?s such a depressing situation, especially when someone you care about is the victim of it all.
His thirty years is up in August ? less than a month and a half away! But, in order to make sure that they don?t get screwed over he has to keep working there for another freaking year.
The whole thing makes me sick. Join me and boycott Shot Rite. They don?t deserve our money.