December has been nothing but extremely hectic for me. I personally already HATE Christmas and holiday music, but I keep this to myself. I’m not a huge Grinch that needs to rain on everyone’s parade. However, everyone seems to find this need to remind me that I shouldn’t be a Grinch, and feel the holiday spirit. Eff that!

Where to start? I hate being in a crowded mall trying to find gifts. I hate the long lines. I hate having my feet trampled on by toddlers and strollers. I hate that everyone is in my personal bubble, breathing MY air. I hate that there are only 10 Christmas songs, all dating circa 1952 or earlier. I hate that everything is red and green… I hate it all!

To add fuel to the fire, something always happens to me on Christmas eve. This year, on my way to work, I back out of my parking space only to bump some ladies SUV. There is no damage on my car, but 2005 Toyota Highlander has this huge, caved-in bumper. She’s screaming in Vietnamese to her husband on the cell phone, and they devise this evil scheme to get a lawyer involved and everything else… not realizing, I understand that disgustingly-horrendous sounding language fluently.

Then, after calling the insurance company, I drive to my last day of work with LandAmerica Default. I put in my notice a week prior, and quite honestly, I’m glad I left that cestpool of ignorant and incompetent staff members that hold absolutely no accountability for their work. I get there… and the FedEx guy comes, but my final paycheck is no where to be found. I call HR – this snippy lady named Allison answers the phone. She tells me that they JUST mailed my check that day, and I should receive it by Friday. WTF!

I am a stickler about employment law, especially with the fiasco with Wachovia, and them delaying my final check for over a month! I told Allison that my final check with all of my overtime and PTO was to be in my possession on my final day. I then quote verbatim the Calfornia Labor Code to her,

202. (a) If an employee not having a written contract for a
definite period quits his or her employment, his or her wages shall
become due and payable not later than 72 hours thereafter, unless the
employee has given 72 hours previous notice of his or her intention
to quit, in which case the employee is entitled to his or her wages
at the time of quitting. Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
an employee who quits without providing a 72-hour notice shall be
entitled to receive payment by mail if he or she so requests and
designates a mailing address. The date of the mailing shall
constitute the date of payment for purposes of the requirement to
provide payment within 72 hours of the notice of quitting.

The last time I checked, there were 168 hours in a week, not less than 72!! Allison has the audacity to tell me that I’m pulling all of this information out of my ass, then tells me,

I’m well aware of the laws in Calfornia, and LandAmerica has done everything within their power to be compliant with the law.

Argh! Then I receive my check Friday, and it’s short 13 hours of overtime. They did not calculate overtime from 12/13 to 12/24. I call my former boss, and of course, no answer there… but in accordance to Labor Code 203 – I am entitled to a full day’s wage until I receive all monies owed to me. I know that the dipshits at LandAmerica will not be able to figure this one out on their own, so I’m filing a claim with the labor board. Stupid morons!

On a brighter note, I had a wonderful time with James and his family for the holiday. It was pretty typical, Brady Bunch-esque gathering at his brother’s house with lots and lots of food. James also got me some really cool kicks and a very cute tee The only downside is, I’m not flat-chested like the girl in the photo. So my monster only has upper teeth Anyhow, <3 it.