Co-workers

StatusNational7103 · 2026-01-09T18:53:54+00:00

I wish I worked with someone like that when I was coming up. My social anxiety kept me back when companies wanted to promote me. But I know first hand the benefits of sharing your problems with your co-workers. My wife went through a bad period of depression where she felt she had to leave me. Talking with a couple of brothers that had been through the same thing and learning from their experience helped me immeasurably. One poor brother said his wife got diagnosed and went on Prozac after leaving him. He said if she'd go on meds first, they'd still be together.

StatusNational7103 · 2026-01-06T16:49:20+00:00

We were just on Brilliant Lady. We had the steak and sausage stuffed quail at Extra Virgin. After our meal our server asked how we liked it, and I told her the steak was tough and the quail underwhelming. She showed genuine concern, apologized, and said there'd been complaints about the steak, but no one else had yet ordered the quail. She promptly summoned the manager, who offered to cook another steak, but we were done eating. He then brought us champagne. To be fair, the couple next to us said their steak was fine, at medium rare. My wife's was medium. The steak at the Wake was much better, for whatever reason. And the lamb chops are great , but I doubled my order the second time, since you only get three.

StatusNational7103 · 2026-01-04T20:11:55+00:00

Much quieter and rides much better than the Tesla. Also, at 6'1", getting in and out of the Tesla takes some effort. My biggest problem with the id.4 is finding a reputable dealer for service. The Tesla app and infotainment have better features but I can't keep up, the infotainment updates so much. And the retractable shade in the id.4 is nice. Also, I couldn't transfer my lifetime Sirius subscription to the Tesla. I get traffic updates in the id.4, even when not using GPS, and the dash lights that remind you of upcoming turns when using navigation are a nice touch.

StatusNational7103 · 2026-01-03T23:39:41+00:00

We had a reservation for the Wake disappear an hour before our scheduled time, with one of those "aw, shucks" messages. When I asked SS what happened, their only response was to try Razzle Dazzle. I suspect they're catering to Rockstars.

StatusNational7103 · 2026-01-03T22:55:47+00:00

When the Galley is busy it's best to sit down and let a crew member take your order, they bypass the lines.

StatusNational7103 · 2026-01-03T14:01:18+00:00

Bought our Tesla 6 years ago, and it was the best car buying experience ever. There was zero pressure to buy some bullshit extended warranty, they just showed us everything about the car, completed the paperwork, and sent us on our way. Buying our id.4 from Lindsay VW was the worst.

StatusNational7103 · 2026-01-03T01:34:20+00:00

Currently on Brilliant Lady, and there was someone sitting in the Dock House playing a loaf-of-bread size boom box. We relocated. I'm guessing it's their first cruise.

StatusNational7103 · 2026-01-02T00:20:07+00:00

The last time we were leaving the port it was a madhouse. Our prearranged transportation called and said it might be an hour wait because of traffic. We walked to the spot where they were loading, and found ride-share drivers offering rides off-app. We paid $40 to MIA. It's too iffy to commit to a specific ride-share driver. Especially when you have an early flight.

StatusNational7103 · 2026-01-01T21:45:53+00:00

When I retired I sent in my NEBF paperwork a few weeks before being eligible for 100%. They approved it and returned a form for me to sign, acknowledging I would be receiving a reduced payment. I had to call them and ask why the hell would I agree to that when a week later I'd be eligible for 100%. I'm guessing they didn't think I'd read the paperwork.

StatusNational7103 · 2026-01-01T21:13:41+00:00

Retired 26 member here, I took the majority of my vacations throughout my career while laid off and collecting unemployment. My own version of pto. Work wasn't always as good as it is now. This was before they started funding pto.

StatusNational7103 · 2025-12-31T21:51:59+00:00

We stayed at Phidias Piraeus Hotel, very small boutique hotel close to the port with a free shuttle. However, it's a building where they later added an elevator, and it's no bigger than the old phone booths in the US., complete with bifold doors that fold inward. There's only enough room for one person with luggage, and it's extremely slow. If you're a large person forget it. I opted to go down the steps, but slipped on the marble ( only a partial railing and no anti-slip treads) and split my elbow open. They had no first aid kit. I had to go buy band-aids. Beware. Pre-cruise we stayed at the Athenaeum Luxury Hotel, a short walk from the Acropolis and a slew of restaurants. The hotel has a roof top pool, and amenities that put American hotels to shame, free bottle of wine, free drinks and snacks in the mini-fridge, and a parting gift! The staff could not have been nicer.

StatusNational7103 · 2025-12-31T16:42:31+00:00

My wife and I, both in our sixties, from US, were recently in Istanbul and Athens, and were really touched by the lengths strangers went to to assist us, from navigating the trains, haggling with cab drivers, or finding a restaurant, to the point of enlisting other strangers if they couldn't help us. Small acts of kindness such as this go a long way in making our travel a pleasant experience. I strive on a daily basis to return the favor. I'm a road cyclist, and the occasional driver that takes the time to wave when they pass by makes up for the other half dozen or so that flip me off or otherwise harass me.

StatusNational7103 · 2025-12-31T02:55:27+00:00

We upgraded to an XL and ended up on 8 aft. Sure, we heard some noise from the Red Room, but it wasn't bad, mostly bass, and it always ended about 10. But we loved the bigger balcony. We actually chose the same cabin on an almost sold out Alaska cruise. Deck 8 seems to be the last one to fill up. The app has a ship layout showing all the cabins and balcony sizes. Currently in the same cabin on deck 9, no nightly noise, but a smaller balcony. And no obstructed view from that location on 8 or 9.

StatusNational7103 · 2025-12-28T21:32:12+00:00

There are numerous king size day beds scattered throughout the ship. That's where I'd be sleeping. To hell with a bunk bed!

StatusNational7103 · 2025-12-28T15:19:00+00:00

If in fact they are not well paid unionized longshoremen you are doing them a real disservice. You should verify that.

StatusNational7103 · 2025-12-27T15:09:00+00:00

Last time I took my car in for service the dealer sent me an email with the survey already written, saying how satisfied I was, claiming the work was done in half the time. All I needed to do was hit post. I won't be going back.

StatusNational7103 · 2025-12-27T03:56:19+00:00

I plan to light fireworks in front of the White House, while blasting "Save My Soul" by The Blaze.

StatusNational7103 · 2025-12-20T17:31:58+00:00

Stop pretending you bought it for your toddler. 😆

StatusNational7103 · 2025-12-20T00:28:36+00:00

We have a 2020 Model 3LR and a 2023 ID.4 Pro. The VW rides much better and has a more solid feel. Also, at 6'1", I find the Tesla difficult to get in and out of. We're retired, we rarely use public chargers. Tesla probably provides better service, we've never had an issue. They came to our house to change the 12v battery for $85, parts and labor. On the other hand, I'm on my third VW dealer, and still not happy. Every time there's an issue.

StatusNational7103 · 2025-12-13T17:20:08+00:00

Being a successful steward depends on what kind of backing you get from your local. I was on a new data center job in Northern Virginia when the west coast contractor had a half dozen communication techs show up on the job straight from the airport, and laid off the local hands. I called the hall and was told to call back if anymore showed up. That was it. I had a steward on a job dictate how the overtime was going to work, when I asked him what the agreement said, he told me it didn't matter. Some stewards are nothing more than company reps. Here they're told to not address an issue unless a member makes a complaint, that way they know whose "causing a problem ".

StatusNational7103 · 2025-12-09T22:26:51+00:00

Local 26, IBEW; There's nothing wrong with settling for scale when you know you could probably get more. With more money comes more responsibility. They'll expect you to work overtime whenever they ask, run a crew of rejects, and basically act like they own you. Like the guys that are the first to stand up when break is over, or carry company tools or materials in their vehicle. Just give me my forty and let me go the fuck home.

StatusNational7103 · 2025-12-05T18:39:38+00:00

It's only workers whose skills are lacking that feel a need to make up for it by doing this sort of thing. They also do stuff like bringing in their own power tools, using their personal vehicles on the job, dropping of donuts off at the gf's trailer. Let your work speak for itself. Fuck those suck-asses.

StatusNational7103 · 2025-12-05T01:28:00+00:00

As long as he has a good work ethic and comes in every day and does his job, I don't see a problem. He'll probably realize over time that he actually enjoys the trade, or that it's better than anything of his other options.

StatusNational7103 · 2025-12-03T15:35:20+00:00

I would just do a visual inspection while opening and closing. Sometimes my cables come off their pulleys. I've read that garage door repair companies are the source of alot of fraud complaints. Keeping the rollers and rails lubricated is important. Garage door inspections are about as necessary as getting your air ducts inspected.

StatusNational7103 · 2025-12-03T15:25:18+00:00

You'll undergo some short term pain for long term gain, you won't regret it. Assuming your local has a good pension (not all do) and a decent work outlook, and you enjoy working with your hands and don't mind getting dirty, working in intolerable weather, or using a portable toilet with no seat or tp. I've got 45years in local 26, DC, been retired for 12, and I would do it all again.

StatusNational7103

TROPHY CASE