The next day. Nothing has happened but it may be too early to tell as we are only half way through the day. As scheduled I was supposed to be at the main fruit stand today. That is where I started the day, working alongside Violeta at Janis’ desk. It went well, Violeta and I get along fine. Some laughs were had. Janis flitted about and Kimberly remained unseen by my eyes on another fruit stand platform.

Yancy was busy lurking about yet in a satisfactory mood. It seems he was aligned with my situation rather than Brandon and his put-upon twenty-something malaise. But even that might be too early to follow through on. As Yancy lurked word was received that Marcus was working at home today and no one would be at the fruit stand where I usually sit.

It was decided by Yancy that I should go back to the fruit stand, and I definitely had no problem with regards to that. It was not going to be immediate, time would tell when I would go. And Janis was the time keeper and when she was done doing her tasks, she returned to her fruit stand area allowing me to head out.

She suggested that I take a subway from there to here nut I’m not a fan of the subway and opted to walk. It was clammy and by the time I was at ‘my’ fruit stand I was somewhat drenched in sweat. I had back up undershirts so it was no big deal. And I’ve been sitting at the fruit stand watching the fruit ripen.

Last night was alright. Mike talked me in, off the ledge as did Bill from the road he was on. Bill received the text of yesterday’s tale and Mike heard the verbal side of things. Both were on my side naturally, and I think Yancy was too. I have an inkling that Yancy is of the mind that what happens on Tuesday stays in Tuesday, since Wednesday is a new day.

Mike drifted in and out of a nap as I talked to Bill on the phone. At one point I was looking at texts, and one in particular from Larry David. I archived it when all of a sudden it appeared once again. I tried archiving it to no avail and finally opted to deleted but that was not happening.

And then it was happening but I did not notice it moved from Larry David to Bill’s text and I wound up deleting 17,000 texts from Bill over the years. It seemed yesterday was an accursed day. I panicked and tried to access my trash bin all the while Google telling me it was not going to happen, and then it was going to happen.

I was able to retrieve the texts from over the years, which was a relief and a bit of light at the end of the tunnel. Mike and I watched 1982’s Poltergeist. We had each seen it before. I saw it in a theater back in the day and it was the early days of smoking pot for me so I was considerably stoned as well as a bit freaked out.

I was planning on having a little cigar as I walked from one fruit stand to the other but decided not to. I think it was an accomplishment because a part of me thinks I smoke too much.

It was 11 years ago that Chris Gohorel died. That menas it’s been 11 years since Kevin, my late ex-roommate told the ever so wonderful Scrut Herbisox that I had posted photos of Chris’ belongings being set at the curb. I never did such a thing and I think that was probably the last time I ever said anything to Kevin. He passed away in 2023. Scrut still lives though.

I like my job. It’s a good job, it pays well, and I generally enjoy the company of my co-workers. And I’m talking about a little fruit stand that which I work at most of the time. There are people at that little fruit stand that are good at passing the buck.

Even though all signs point to this job being their responsibility they try to fob it off to somebody else and I sit there paying attention to their explanations and excuses. Now I’m generally at the front of the fruit stand so I deal with people that arrive.

And most people have an appointment just easily researched but not all the time and I have to scramble at the last minute to figure out who this person is going to see a lot of the time all they have is the first name. Today’s first name is Brandon. And unfortunately there are dozens of Brandon’s in the directory.

I have to be nice when talking to these coworkers and I can’t say “what the fuck is wrong with you?” so it is at the tip of my tongue and at the back of my throat and I remain silent. I am the low man on the totem pole and I have little or no support to back me up.

I came back from lunch early after going to lunch later. And when I came back I had a message from Yancy about the Brandon encounter. Brandon contacted Yancy with his side of events which are as follows:

Brandon: Candidate arrived at 14th floor at approx ~9:55am for a 10am interview
Me: She was there at 9:45. He did not show up until 10:05

Brandon: Receptionist asked who she was seeing, she said “Brandon” with no last name as Recruiting Team does not give out interviewer Last Names to Candidates for Privacy
Me: This is bullshit. Every other company gives the first and last names of whomever is interviewing.

Brandon: I was already on my way, arrived to 14th fl at ~9:57am to pick her up for the 10am interview
Me: He got there at 10:05

Brandon: Receptionist made a big deal out of Candidate not knowing the Last Name of the Interviewer (Me) (even though AFAIK this is standard fruit stand policy and will not be changed)
Me: Once again, bullshit

Brandon: Receptionist rudely criticized me in front of the candidate, and said I should’ve called to let reception know about this. As just an Interviewer, I don’t schedule these / not responsible for this, and the feedback should be routed to the Recruiting Team, but instead was directed to my individually and rudely.
Me: I suggested that he let me know who was coming so we (the fruit stand) would not have egg on our face. Nothing rude, just an adult chat which Brandon seems to be unaccustomed to.

Receptionist emphasized that I needed to add the candidate as a guest to some system, (VisitAdmin) which again as just an Interviewer this is the first I’ve ever heard of, and I don’t think is my responsibility – should be taken care of by Recruiting
Me: Brandon is basically saying ‘I didn’t do anything wrong’ but then again he didn’t do anything right.

Brandon:All in all it felt uncomfortable:
1) made the candidate feel awkward that she was not prepared for not knowing her interviewer last name.
Me: I reassured her it was not her fault.

Brandon: 2) left a poor impression of fruit stand that we were not prepared (even though IMO we did everything correctly)
Me: The fruit stand is still prestigious. No fruits were bruised though Brandon’s 20 something ego did take a hit

Brandon: and 3) I personally did not feel like i was treated with adequate respect given the situation; and I believe the candidate observed this as well
Me: Classic deflection. I was not treated with respect! I want my Mom! I’m gonna tell!

If people did their jobs properly and informed the fruit stand front desk this could have all been avoided. But they didn’t.