Friday, December 7, 2012

Communication Breakdown

Today was a funny, or should I say odd sort of day.  I started my day working from home and messaged Frank, an engineer I work with so we can solidify our plans to trek into NYC for the company holiday party.   Not driving or having a car at the office is the main idea so that we can have a few drinks and not worry about driving.

And so the story goes, the night before we finally get an email (930 PM) in regard to the bus we are all supposed to be chipping in for.  The bus will take us to NYC Chelsea Pier for the party and back to Hauppauge later that night.  The bus turns into a LIMO as most other participants backed out at the last minute.  Communication Breakdown.

So, Frank says his wife can pick us up and take us to work and then pick us up later and take us home from the office in Hauppauge.  Wanting to go for a run, I say is 930AM ok...he says, no, we should work from home and she will pick up at 2pm.  Perfect.  Communication NOT breaking down.

This day in history "On this day in 1865, the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, officially ending the institution of slavery, is ratified. "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction." With these words, the single greatest change wrought by the Civil War was officially noted in the Constitution."

Later in the day, we see an email from a colleague who is supposedly on the list to be taking the LIMO.  Now at 8 people with a cost of $65 each as opposed to the party bus at $30.   The email is somewhat vague, but a have an uncanny way of reading between the lines.  Basically, 3 of the 8 on the list for the LIMO are now going to be driving into NYC as they did not have clear information the day before of the plans for bus or limo.  Are you following this ?  Communication Breakdown.

Now, being that we are free, and slavery has been abolished in the US, everyone is really able to decide for themselves what to do to get to the party on time.  It does not sit well with me, that in the final hour, a handful of us are scrambling to make plans for ourselves.  The best price we can find for a car service (not much fun with 3 in a back seat and 1 next to the driver) for the long haul to NYC is $300 cash.  Frank and I decide that the drive to the station, LIRR, walk 10 blocks, catch shuttle at 3XSQ, and then onto Chelsea Pier (about 3 hrs) is just not worth it for a 3 hr party.  I have been trying to get Mark and Sanjay but they are either busy or the phones go to voicemail.  Communication Breakdown.  I finally get them and tell them they can try to catch a ride with some of the car poolers.

So, I stayed home for the first time in recorded history with my career at Thomson Reuters, having missed only 2 Christmas parties in the past 22 years.  Ordered takeout, went with Kyle to renew his referee license, and then settled into the couch with some tequila.

Communication Breakdown, It's always the same, 
I'm having a nervous breakdown, Drive me insane! 


Photo of the day "Communication Breakdown"



Magic Number 110


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