Have you heard the latest? A number of companies are now givin’ their employees two paid days off a year to attend political rallies, marches or any other form of displayin’ their displeasure with current events. Supposedly these employers will not allow their employees to engage in riotin’ or other behavior that may cause damage or that harms other people. Well, that’s good to know but who’s goin’ to monitor or verify the activities of these individuals? And if they somehow discover you did throw a rock or brick through a window, then what? Do they call this individual(s) back to the office, deduct a day’s wages and make this individual(s) write 100 times on a chalkboard, “I promise I (we) will never throw a bricks or a rocks through a window again?”
Crazy times, huh? I use to think gettin’ paid for jury duty was a slick gig, but obviously the idea of gettin’ paid for marchin’ in the streets is an indication of how far we’ve declined. Can you imagine tellin’ your Captain or B/C that you will be takin’ next shift off to go protestin’? Of course, in today’s world it may not be too far-fetched to think this would be tolerated on the Department, but a number of years ago I can think of a dozen or so Captains and Chief Officers that would have taken a chunk out of your posterior and then rearrangin’ a few brain cells.
A few months back I commented on the Credit Union’s phone answerin’ issues. I mentioned the hold times and havin’ to listen to a truck-load of jibberish about how their menu had changed. Finally, after what seemed like forever, I got to speak to a real person. I might have hit a nerve because shortly after the story came out I got invited to lunch with the new head of the Credit Union Board, Scott Gribbons and the new CEO of the Credit Union, Dixie Abramian. It was actually a good discussion because both Scott and Dixie agreed that there were some problems and agreed that most of the hiccups were noted and bein’ corrected. I haven’t experienced any more borin’ messages, so I guess the lunch meetin’ was a success. Thanks Scott and Dixie.
However, I was really surprised to see a picture in the July Grapevine that showed Dixie Abramian gettin’ a direct hit from a bucket of water. Don’t get me wrong, I think bucketin’ never should have been outlawed and always believed it had a bunch of positive benefits. But fast forward to the N.W.O (New World Order) era and this method of good ol’ station house fun was considered a brutal and sadistic method of torture, at least to the powers on the upper floors of City Hall East. They also viewed bucketin’ as behavior that was unprofessional, demeanin’ and that created a hostile work environment. Thankfully the Credit Union isn’t concerned with “Political Correctness” – unless there’s a business name change.
Many of you may remember John Chapman and his decision to bucket Cindy Garvey. Yes, the then wife of Steve Garvey, the Dodger’s first baseman. She had come to visit FS 35 and just as she was gettin’ in her car to leave, John bucketed her. I heard his bucket was a direct hit as well. Of course John was convicted of that crime and sent to Leavenworth Penitentiary, but he obviously has been paroled.