Why has this gone on for so long?

Long-time readers (and perhaps newer ones as well) probably wonder why the hell I've stuck it out in this office for so long when Bleh is the kind of coworker that could drive one to the very edge of sanity and confusion? Well, there are quite a few reasons, and today I'll write about some of them.

1. "It's the economy, stupid." Yep, we're living in harsh times and jobs are scarce, especially in my field. Also, the young are not appreciated in my field, nor are they paid very much, so my current options are stay here and survive, or leave and be in the poorhouse. Bleh isn't hauling in the dough and she actually does do some work when she's not whispering loudly to her kids (who are here almost every day!) or mysteriously away from her desk.
2. Why should I have to be the one to leave? She should leave, yes. She's the one with the boat- and plane-buying husband and a second job she could work from home. No one would give a sh*t if she had her widdle-baby teenage children with her all damned day if she was in her own house. (But then again, no one would give her any attention either, so we see why she won't go anywhere that has no captive audience.)
3. I've gone through all the proper channels to try and resolve this conflict but can't get the support I need. My immediate supervisor (The Supervisor) has an aversion to conflict, so she's no help. Bleh's not going to be fired because, get this, the Powers That Be think I'm the problem! Yes, you read that correctly -- they think I'm high-maintenance because I've dared to complain about Bleh's lack of professionalism. My Supervisor's supervisor tried to give me cubicle walls to 'solve' the problem(s). When I politely declined (because honestly, that would do nothing but put me inside a cube outside of which Bleh would continue to be Bleh), the Head Honcho made fun of me with The Supervisor in front of my face. Talk about employee support! Sure, there's actually one more level of authority above Head Honcho, but at this point, I don't think I could take another round of rejection and apathy regarding my plight. I mean, seriously, if the two people who could help me won't, why would the guy two buildings over who probably doesn't even know my name help me? He's even less invested than they are.

So, The Powers That Be have decided to let Bleh run rampant and stick the shiv of fate further under my fingernails. Maybe there's some cosmic lesson about patience and love that I'm supposed to be learning by suffering this bullsh*t... maybe not.

Maybe the Universe can go f*ck itself.

More Phone Calls for The Husband

Bleh's on the phone now, finding out where The Husband (who is at home today) can go to register their boat.

Because he can't call himself. No...Baby Husband Boy can't do anything for himself. I'm surprised he didn't make Bleh take off work to go register the boat herself. Sheesh.

Here's a little ditty to get stuck in your head all day long...

"Summer breeze... makes me feel fine..."

Oh, and that's what Bleh and the family named their boat. [Eye-roll.]

Sailing doesn't take her away either.

Bleh is telling the Supervisor (very loudly, of course) that she couldn't go sailing in the new boat this weekend because it was too windy.

A single tear falls...

I feel like I've been taking crazy pills.

Bleh, for whatever reason, has decided to give up her second job*. Oddly enough, she has recruited another colleague in our office to replace her when she quits job #2 next month. The other colleague apparently wanted a second job to make money to send her kid to college. We'll call this other colleague "Lucy."

So no, there's nothing wrong with this scenario in and of itself.

HOWEVER, there is a problem with the fact that Bleh is on the phone with Lucy right now, giving her tips on how to perform this other job! Hmmm...let's all use our time at this job to train someone else for another job in another office. Nooooooooo... not obvious. Not obvious at all.

*Ironically, she was bragging earlier about having paid cash for the used boat she and The Husband just bought. Bleh Logic: quit your second job and buy a boat.

Saved by Zero

Bleh casually strolled in at 8:23 today. She then sat down at her desk and made a personal call to find out her "lab results." Apparently she got a message at home about them, but of course, waited until she got to work to return the call. I'm guessing her results either aren't in, or she's not dying, because she made no dramatic announcements, she merely left to get coffee.

It's now 8:34 and she's finally sitting at her desk. I assume she's working, but I'm not sure. She has obviously distracted me.* Ahhh!

Boat news: as of yesterday, the boat purchase is still on. The Husband has supposedly found a used one in Florida and wants to buy it and haul it back here. To his farm. In the middle of nowhere. Where there are no bodies of water. (Note: we are not located within a one-day drive of FL) Check it! Bleh-logic is in full-effect: they're buying a boat instead of paying for childcare, they're going to haul it 100s and 100s of miles despite how much they complain about the cost of gas. (Remember, these are the same folks who won't come into town on weekends because they don't want to use gas.)

Sigh.

*I am fully aware of the irony of my tracking the every move of someone who drives me nuts. Look, you work with Bleh for more than a week, and I swear, you'll start going crazy too. And if you don't do anything about it, you'll suffer even more. Besides, you have to admit, I'm fairly good at fulfilling your schadenfreude quota for the week.

Sailing takes me away...

...if only.

Bleh has announced The Husband is buying a boat. I don't give a rat's ass what they do with their money, I just don't want to hear about it (or the consequences thereof). I'm sure we'll be hearing about how they can't afford braces for the kids or dance camp or something later this summer. I feel bad for those kids, I really do.

Oh, and speaking of the kids, they've been here in the office every day the past week. Bleh can't afford a babysitter, but she and The Husband managed to score a boat. Logic is so entertaining in their world.