gridlore | My job these days

It occurs to me that I never bothered to post about my new job. There is a reason for this. Put the flame-resistant cover on the computer, and read if you dare!

OK, at the end of December, I went to apply at various places. Since I've done it before, I applied at various security companies. One of these was Sentinel. I went through the usual pile of application paperwork. Then I realized that I was filing out an application for a California Guard Card. This is something you normally do after you are hired. My confusion grew when the next thing to fill out was a W-2!

Before I knew it, I was taking the open-book test on arrest procedures and law. Without ever really having an interview, I was told that they would begin looking for an assignment for me. About a week later, they had one. 280 Metro Center, a shopping center in Colma.

Luckily, this is a place I can get to on the bus. But her is where the story gets *very* disturbing.

I'm working Monday - Wednesday, between 1000 and 1700. I was told that "someone" would meet me at the guard shack to show me the ropes. Monday at 1000, and I'm there, but nobody else is! I call the office, and get a "oh! we were going to try and have somebody meet you..."

Excuse me? Try? I have no idea what to do, and I'm locked out of the guard shack! (A real shack, BTW. No heat, a microwave, and a sliding door that sticks.) The office tells me to find the maintenance man, and he can let me in. Wonderful. I do encounter Oscar, who is great, and actually tells me the essentials of my job.

So, the first thing I do in the shack is read the other guards' activity reports, trying to get a feel for what it is I'm supposed to do! No help, except for the realization that our area of responsibility includes the UA Theater across the street. So, I start patrolling, making it up as I go along.

Day two, still no key. Track down Oscar. he lets me in. Keep faking it. Several of the merchants are telling me that I am the only guard they actually see! Evidently, the others hide in their cars or the shack. Now, I'm walking about 8 - 10 miles a day on this job. I haven't walked this much since I was in the service. You know I'm feeling it.

Day three. No bloody key! I call the office and explain that this is something that is vital. They finally get a key out to me. This person is evidently my supervisor. He spends exactly 15 seconds with me. Finally get to go home.

Over my "weekend", I try to get some walking in, but my left knee is giving me trouble.

Comes Monday. I'm walking in, and Oscar tells me there is a new lock on the shack! Aaaarrrgghhh! I have to call in *again* to get the combo! Finding it difficult to walk.

Tuesday. There are no activity report forms. Since nobody ever appears to pick the damn things up, I doubt that anyone would notice if I filled out one with items like this:

1242: Invited into RaveGirl by all-female staff, spent the following hour in wild orgy, culminating in massive group orgasm.

1345: On lunch break.

Yesterday, I was taking massive painkillers, and still limping. I realized that I would be making more money on unemployment! I need to figure out how to get out of this job and get something better until I find out if the county dispatcher thing is going to work.

Tomorrow, I'm going down to the office and flat-out demanding either a vehicle at that site, or transfer to a more stationary site.

Feh.