December 2008

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Kathi

2nd Lt. Christopher E. Loudon
22 years old from Brockport, Pennsylvania
1st Battalion, 22nd
 Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division
October 17, 2006 

 

2nd Lt. Christopher Loudon graduated from Slippery Rock University with a Baccalaureate Degree in Environmental Health in 2005. Upon graduation, he entered the United States Army on September 9, 2005. He received his commission as an Infantry officer and was assigned to 2nd Platoon, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry, 4th Infantry Division at Ft. Hood, Texas. He deployed to Iraq in July 2006 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. 

2nd Lt. Loudon’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Ranger Tab. 

He was KIA in Baghdad, Iraq when an IED detonated near his vehicle. Also killed with him were; Corporal David M. Unger, 21, of Leavenworth, Kansas ;Corporal Russell G. Culbertson III, 22, of Amity, Pennsylvania and Specialist Joseph C. Dumas Jr., 25, of New Orleans, Louisiana. 

He leaves behind his parents, Randy and Susan Loudon ; his wife, Jacey Loudon ; a daughter, Isabel Loudon ; two brothers, First Lieutenant Nicholas Loudon ,and Jonathan Loudon ; his paternal grandmother, Florence Loudon and his maternal grandfather, Everett William Campbell.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero. 

While I know it’s not officially Christmas yet, Christmas comes whenever I say it does in the Some Guy Case. The reason for that is because Christmas Eve I will end up working 12+ hours and Christmas Day 18+. It’s not likely that I will get to see my family at all Christmas Day and may not even be able to speak to them on the phone. It can be a bummer at times, therefore Santa visits our house on whatever my days off happen to be that week. Normally it’s a few days prior to the actual holiday, although last year it fell a couple of days later.
I’ve already nestled the youngest curtain climber in bed and the other one will soon be on her way. They both know well that Santa Claws doesn’t show up at the houses where children are awake and are very interested in receiving such a visit tonight. We left the Christmas lights on so he could find the house and of course we’ve left out cookies and milk for him and carrots for the reindeer.
This is one of times of year when I just fucking despise my job with a vengeance. I’ve come close to quitting a few times simply because it’s the holidays and they have always meant so much to me, ever since I was a child. I even came up with a plan last week to pay off all of my debt and quit my job late next year, just making what I do in web advertising. I could do it too, but it would mean a cut in my lifestyle which I really don’t want. Once January has come and gone I will get over it and be back to business as usual. I get the same urge when I’m on vacation and see how people actually get shit like nights, weekends and holidays off of work, just not quite as urgent as I do during the holidays.
I was going to post some more but got involved with something else so I guess that’s about it for this evening. I may get something up tomorrow but it’s not likely…

I decided this morning that I was going to take the chicken-shit way out with terminating the flasher. She was scheduled in at four or five this evening, at which time I was going to be well on my way to Alabama, so I just figured I would make my schedule changes (which included taking her completely off) and just tell the folks working the shift that she could call the manager tomorrow. hehe. I figured that my store manager deserved a bit of her own medicine and needed to be forced to do her job.
Alas, but it didn’t work out as planned. The flasher showed up at 2pm to pick up her paycheck. I let her get paid and then told her that due to her inappropriate behavior we would no longer need her.
She took it quite well actually. She smiled and said ‘ok, do I have another check coming?’ as she bebopped her way out the door. I guess she was just glad that she had a couple of paychecks and would no longer have to work Christmas Day. I wish everyone I have had to fire over the last 22 years took it so nicely. Shit, I even had one lady pull a knife on me back in the eighties. I ended up having to get the law involved and take her out of the restaurant over that one. Somehow I’ve never managed to get my tires slashed although I do occasionally check to make sure.
Terminating people has to be one of the most distasteful things I ever have to do in my job. I get a fucking knot in my stomach every time I have to do it. The ones that cry are the worst. I can’t stand that. Fuck, I can’t even watch a sappy movie without getting all teary-eyed and here is some blubbering fucking idiot making me feel like shit.
The only saving grace is that I don’t fire people unless they REALLY need it. You have to be a complete and utter fool to get fired by me (you know, like showing your saggy tits in the middle of the dining area in one of my restaurants) . If it’s just some run-of-the-mill piece of crap that won’t do what I say, normally just cutting their schedule gets the point across and either they quit or shape up.
I’m all about second chances too. The girl I replaced the flasher with? Someone I fired two years ago when I was still a single unit manager. I’ve gotten much nicer since my promotion. I put up with a lot more shit than I ever would back then. That’s what I don’t get about my managers. They should be running their stores as if their paychecks depend upon their performance (it does) and they don’t. They want all the money and recognition but they can’t get to fucking work on time and want to hit the door at 2:15 in the afternoon. Anyway, when I was a manager I always felt that you should get a couple of tardies and after you show me that you can’t get to work on time I start replacing your ass one minute into your shift. Getting sent home for being one minute late is embarrassing as shit and it usually cures the problem. It’s been quite some time since I did that to anyone. Now I just pretty much shrug it off. I figure if I can’t make the fucking store managers get to work on time there’s not going to be a cure for getting the employees in on time. Although I can give the store manager’s written warnings and make sure that I document everything I don’t have any real power to do anything to them as punishment.
It’s a pretty safe bet that for the next couple of days all my employees will show up on time. I have their Christmas bonus checks in my notebook and I will be giving those out personally. If I’ve left before they get there? I guess they’ll have to hunt me down or wait until the next time I’m there.

All Information Was Found On And Copied From MilitaryCity.com

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

I’ve got a rape/murder I’ve been reading about and looking into that I want to post but I think I am going to take the night off instead. My body is apparently telling me that it’s not quite over passing that kidney stone this weekend and I am exhausted after working all day. Maybe I’ll get it posted tomorrow morning prior to going to work.