When the Weather Outside is Frightful...

Boy is it cold outside! Especially at the Wyndham Condominiums where there is a 10 degree drop in temperature from the buildings bowl-shaped structure. The wind just grabs the side of the building and wraps all the way around, reaching its peak right at our doors. The residents don't notice it as much because they are only out one or 2 times a day, but we do. Nothing we can do but take the hit. There is one study I would like to do however.

How many times do we actually come from inside the lobby to the residents car door just to close it for them? We certainly don't make it there in time to open it for them unless the resident is preoccupied with something inside the car or if we are standing outside already. And I do have to say that 90% of them are capable enough to give it that light tap themselves. Management is looking over our shoulders and we are expected to respond. One bright outside (non-resident related) visitor give me her humble opinion the other day that I thoroughly enjoyed hearing, calling our job "gaudy," meaning it is showy but in a tasteless way. Much wasted effort to try and 'class' up the place. What makes it worse is that management has a board of residents that waste their time holding meetings about such topics. Do they ever ask the guys on the front line what is best for everyone? Hardly, management acts as the boards liaison (not ombudsman, they are required to register a fair settlement). To sound unbiased, I do have to say I understand management wanting us being on our toes. People need baskets, elderly need their canes and groceries picked out of their back seats, and sometimes they even need a hand getting up. This is not the problem though because most of these people are easily distinguishable. What is the problem are the younger residents who get out of the car with enough ease that they don't really need our help. Most tell us to stop wasting our time but there is not much you can do with the boogie man on your back. You spend a good amount of time racing people to their doors, braving the cold, moving in and out of the heat, and developing pneumonia. Not that I expect any of this to be changed, the place is run with an iron fist (at least on its facade). It's just good to get some of this off your chest sometimes.

Despite all this, the day wasn't half that bad. As I mentioned in an earlier post, depending on who I work with, my day is either bright and sunny or dark and grim. Today was bright, worked with Ricardo, a fellow Rocky and technology freak. We talked about the potential of the PSP, the upcoming iPod 6th generation, Blockbuster's Online system, computer maintenance, LCD television screens, and all that jazz. Worked with Mel also, who is the same as always... telling guests that their parents' apartment is 3 blocks away. Good times.

Another thing to beef up my day was a visitor who decided to bring his accordion and play it in the lobby. This is the first time I have seen anything like this at work. The residents really enjoyed his music and some even came from their apartments and took a seat to watch him play. He started playing out of nowhere (they didn't stop to question him because they identified him as former resident), but after he was done he told us that he promised a friend he would do it for the building. Nice music, all upbeat. I admit, I was very captivated. It has been a long time since hearing a real musician, one that doesn't have their music enhanced in the sound studio. It brought me back to my days in high school ensemble.

Unfortunately, right before I left work today I had to help a resident off the floor in his bedroom and onto his bed. He wasn't feeling well enough to stand up and his wife wasn't able to lift him by herself. This man has had multiple trips to the hospital (most by ambulance) and I don't see why no one has considered him being under a more watchful eye. The apartment, as are many of them, was 100 degrees and smelled like Mrs. Campbell's apartment; hate to be gruesome but it smelled like rotting flesh (as if I knew what that smelled like).