Problems at the Bay Club These Days

Things have been changing nowadays at the Bay Club Redwood Shores, where I currently work as a laundry attendant. Some of those changes have not been for the better, and there's currently a new boss of mine that, despite the fact that I've only met him once, are making changes that could seriously impact my work and my ability to get things done.

So, let's set the stage for this. Back in July, in a first few minutes of an early morning workday on July 15, I suffered a severe back injury that forced me to go to the doctor and, as a result, ultimately kept me out of work for a couple of months. I was finally cleared in late September and for the first few months, I've had help that has allowed me to take care of my back and make sure I don't overexert myself when I work. That went well for a couple of months. Then, just recently, things changed.

My scheduled was changed. So, instead of working from 6 to 2:30, which I usually do, I have been placed from 7:30 to 4. Not only that, but my help was moved elsewhere and, despite the fact that she helps me at times, it's unfortunately as much as I am used it. As a result, it has made me more bitter about this whole thing.

There had been a couple of days where I've worked alone and have had some back trouble, especially later in the day when more people come into the club, and that's something that's been bothering me about this whole change.

The change was made by our new Housekeeping director who, despite only meeting once, came off to me as a guy who doesn't observe situations or even look at something before jumping into it. He just makes changes and expects everybody to comply. It could be why so many of my coworkers have jumped ship and went elsewhere. At this rate, I could be the next.

Now, I'm currently in the process of talking to Ricardo to try to clear this up and get my schedule back on track, but now, thanks to the other boss who's unwilling to accommodate based on the fact that I was cleared, despite some limitations, I will now try to get back to my doctor to figure out my back situation again and possibly go back on restrictions.

All of this is very complicated and it's made me sad and angry at both times. I can understand a new boss coming in and trying new things, but not this early, and not this often. I can't understand it and maybe I never will. But I know one thing: I either have to comply with it or get myself fired, and the latter is definitely not a good option in any respect.

At this rate, I don't know what to do. I'll probably just play out the weekend and see where it leads me. I don't know. I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place, and I just want to figure out what my options are, if any. If I can get back on the schedule that I had been used to, that would be great. If not, I would like to know why and what I can do to get back to a regular schedule. It could possibly mean getting out of the laundry room.

I have a lot in front of me. I hope I know what I'm doing, and I hope I can find a way to get to my doctor and figure out my back situation. That's the main thing that's making this whole situation very hard. The adapting to new systems, too. If I can't do that, I'd rather just leave and let somebody new understand the process.

Things are always changing, and this one has some good and some bad to it. Either way, I'm not happy and I'm trying to rectify it. Hopefully, there's some good news ahead.

In My Opinion: It's Time For A New Car

Ever since I got my license to drive, I have had a 1997 Acura 2.5 TL that has done me well and I have been glad to drive it all those years that I've had a license and been behind the wheel. But now things are changing, and what has happened to my car lately has made me realize that this car is no longer doable as a long-term vehicle, at least for now.

So why do I bring this up, you ask? Well, last night, while coming back from the Stockton Heat game, I ran into some trouble with my car. So first, the check engine light came on and I didn't make anything of it, as I've never had trouble with my engine lately. Next thing you know, the check engine light starts blinking and almost rapidly. I started panicking. I didn't know what to do. I ended up having to pull to the far right side of the San Mateo Bridge and having to call Caltrans to get a tow truck out there and get me across the bridge. The man who did it was wonderful and let me off right near the interchange of Interstate 101 and Highway 92. I managed to make it home while the light was still blinking at times. It was past midnight by the time I got home. I didn't go to work today as a result and because of the fear that something terrible would happen to my car on the way over.

Today was better but I was still nervous. I still had to use my car to go to Stanford today and the check engine light actually turned off overnight before I got in my car and went down. When I drove back, the check engine light started coming back on and started blinking at times again. It was not good.

So I bought a car reader to find out what it was. The codes that gave me were P0304 and P1399 with a PD on the end of the last code. So, I looked it up and found out that the blinking light code was part of the P0304 and it represented a serious issue. I know I need to get it in at one point. The question is: When will an auto body shop open for me to get my car serviced? It definitely won't be on Super Bowl Sunday.

This is not the first incident with my car, but it has been popping up more and more often in the past few months, and I've had to take my car into the shop to figure out what's wrong. But I think this latest incident may have been the realization for me: It's time for a new car. It may already be officially done with the Acura I've had for so many years.

Thing is, I've asked my parents numerous times when you are going to get me a new car so I can get out of the deathtrap that I'm currently in? So far, their answers have been: We're thinking about it or talk to your dad or we're looking at options. And every single time I hear it, I always think about President Trump when he talks: I don't believe him. I'm not saying that I say the same thing about my parents, but I keep hearing their reasons over and over again and eventually it almost comes to the idea that they don't want to give me a new car. Maybe that's not the case, but I've hear those excuses for so long, I get tired of hearing them.

So let's make this simple: Get me a new car! Can't be that hard. And with this new car you get me, don't try to buy it off a friend or somebody just because they're not using it anymore or they're generous or anything like it. The Acura treated me well, but it's time to go in a different direction. For most of my drives, it's usually long-distance, mostly up to Stockton or Sacramento or any other place within California, so I would prefer a car that can get me some long-distance miles on it without having to address any issues along the way, like I did last night. That's my one thing I would like to see out of my new car: A long-distance capability to it. Not sporty, like my Acura. Not luxury, like many cars. I want something that's reliable and can last me a long time. Period.

They're wonderful parents. They've done so much to make me happy and all that, and I will always appreciate it. But in terms of my car, they've fallen short there. It's time to start seriously considering it, because my car is near the end, and the latest nightmare I went through proves it. Either get me a new car or get rid of the old one and don't get me a new car. I can last without one. But I just want to see real change made for this particular issue, and I won't rest until it is addressed. My Acura was great, but a new car sounds like it's in the works.