as i make my final stand

major news

this "head held high" thing is working for me, but i can't decide if i'm more inclined to celebrate or cry, and because it's holocaust memorial day celebrating's not really in order.

the last month has been rough, the financial constraint has been hanging over my head and i've been waiting for the body responsible to sort everything out. i figured that the drop in salary would be roughly 8%, but i discovered that it's actually more than 25%.

not doable. not only is it incredibly insulting, it's unreasonable to expect somebody who doesn't live at home to be able to survive. i threw my toys out of the cot - i would've done exactly this a month ago except that army policy is not to tell a person what he'll be earning until he's earned it.

and of course, the army is exempt from the country's wage laws.

i walked into my SC's office, and explained to him that if the situation wasn't corrected immediately i would have to be discharged from service immediately. that caused him to make the first call, and when he got back to me it was to tell me that they were looking into it, and until i get an answer i'll simply have to take out a loan.

i gave him a look almost as incredulous as i was feeling, and asked him if he really thought that losing more money with an uncertain outcome was a possibility. "no dice," says i, "and if that's the answer then i'm outta here".

second call, my TL called me away, and by the time i returned my SC'd gone into a meeting with the Big Boss unit commander. we never go to him with our problems, but i stood outside his door for half an hour and contemplated my next step on the assumption that i'd be released soon and in need of a job*.

in such a short time i couldn't for the life of me begin to decide who i'd interview with first, even for a transitional. too many choices :)

i must admit, i was 50/50 on intention. i claimed to not want to leave, but if i had to be released tomorrow it would solve a whole bunch of my problems - i could earn a real salary and grow my hair like a normal person, for a start.

anyway, the Big Boss came out and i let him know *exactly* and entirely unashamedly how i feel, and had had enough time to get worked up that i expressed leaving the unit as a threat.
surprisingly, he understood completely (my TL also gave me his full support: "pity, but a man's gotta eat") and my SC was dragged into a higher-level debate.

an hour later my SC received a call, informing him that yes, they'd made a mistake and all my privileges and monies will be reinstated and reimbursed. good job on them for having sorted that out in record time, when they could have done that a fucking month ago.

so i'm glad, i will have cash soon and my salary is as it should be**, but i'm pissed and the incompetence and inhumanity that i've suffered and tomorrow's going to see me calling the army paralegal armed with righteousness and great anger. why the hell did i need to go through something like this?

* i called piles in the meanwhile to ensure that my release would be smooth and uneventful. not only did his checking up on me screw up all their systems, but it turns out that my release, whenever it does occur, will be neither smooth nor uneventful...

** although still horrifically short of the industry standard. it's just another price to pay for the privilege of being in the armed forces [*retch*]

minor news

i just sent singer the following message:
about being a friend
you know, i've been thinking about what you said and it's really pissed me off - it's REALLY not fair to tell me that i'm not a good friend.

when you need me, you know i'll be there, and ESPECIALLY when you date other guys you'll get my full support... and i expect the same in return, AS A FRIEND.

we broke up half a year ago, and if i recall correctly your exact words when we first slept together afterwards were "we're both adults". you need to figure out how you define friendship, and when you're ready to be friends, i'll be right here. AS A FRIEND.

i may be a bastard but don't tell me i'm not being fair.

speaking of which, bt blew off our date tonight on account of studies... bummer. at the same time, though, it's kinda weird being on a "date" on holocaust memorial day.

work today was okay (as in, i did a bit of real work), but i'm exhausted and i kept nodding off. sucks.

i just finished reading terry pratchett - only you can save mankind, and it's a great book :)

i paid one of ze germans a visit (he's been living in my area for a year and it's the first time i've seen his apartment), had good coffee and a good chat, and then made a round to the only open supermarket to organize guinness.

now that i've had a bottle i'm ready for one of those showers of standing under the hot stream healing and having my headache melted off, and then i think it'll be bedtime.

unless bt makes a booty call, but i think that's just a fantasy :P