Near-Bad Experience

Here a few months ago, The Wifey finally got out of a job with a company that contracted to the military. She had been looking for a job for a few weeks, and even tried to get a Civil Service position at the office she was in. For those who don't know, Civil Service is basically civilian personnel who work for the military/gubmint. She took a position in the private sector with a company who works with military.

Fast forward a little, and she gets a call (while at her new private sector job) from Civil Service, telling her that she's been selected for the job she applied for, and asks if she's interested. We talked about it at great length. I told her that as long as she's meeting her financial responsibilities here at Casa De Tweaker that she can dance on a pole if it makes her happy. She decided to take the Civil Service job (I don't even think she even considered the pole dancing thing...). It did have the unfortunate timing in that it would only allow her to give one week's notice.

She started gathering the massive load of paperwork, etc. that is required to get a federal .gov job. It was then that we realized we could not find her original papers (more than a birth certificate; she was born overseas on a military base). She immediately began the process of getting new papers (six weeks minimum), and notified the folks at Civil Service of the situation. They told her not to worry about it, and sent her an official temporary waiver that told her to have them by March.

She gave notice at work.

Then, for no reason whatsoever, some moron on base called The Wifey and told her that since she could not provide the necessary documentation that the job offer was being officially revoked, and that the job would likely go to the second candidate. She wanted to freak, but she kept it together and told her boss what was going on. He's a good guy (retired full-bird Colonel, USAF), and told her that they'd work with her until the situation got straightened out.

Well, he's a decent guy. HIS boss, however; not so much. He took the I Eat, Sleep, And Shit This Company approach. He felt all betrayed, so he told The Wifey that she would continue to work her last week with the company, and that she'd still be cleaning out her office that Friday.

Dick.

Naturally, The Wifey freaked. I really wanted to as well. Since it was Thursday, his pretty much meant that my wife would be gainfully employed for eight more hours. She contributes almost exactly 50% of this household income. This is bad.

She was screwed, and it smelled alot like someone at the military base screwed the pooch something fierce. She did exactly what she was told, followed the rules, and took a Signed Government Document to mean what it said, and it cost her both jobs. The Wifey talked to everyone there that would listen, and some saint mentioned that she should contanct the Inspector General's (I.G.) office. She spoke directly with the I.G., who told her that she'd look into it.

The I.G. has a great deal of authority. Part of it must include the ability to light fires under the asses of many. As we understood it from folks she talked to, the I.G. pointed out the severe case of Recto-Cranial Inversion Syndrome that someone was experiencing, and to get their shite together post haste. The I.G. called her - again, personally - on her last day at the private sector job and told her to wait by the phone for a call, and that it would be good news. She hung up her cell and it immediately rang in her hand.

Civil Service was very apologetic as the told her to report for duty promptly at 0900 on Monday.

Worst 24 hours of my life.

But the beer was better that night than it had been in quite a long time. Appreciation for what you have knowing how easily you can lose it will do that.



tweaker