Working with Bitches (Mandatory Sadly)

Of late, I have had the company of several of my co-workers during a training window before I assume my full work tasks. Their caliber has ranged from the most scandalous job cheats and near-outright thieves to merely being competent with no motivation to being highly skilled and compliant with workplace regulations; slavish, dogmatic (and usually burned out.)

I partnered with a man who is basically working an 80 hour week with a commute back to the East Bay on top of that. There is just nothing I can contribute to his experience, he and I are not working the same job. I have observed though that he is primarily fishing for opportunities with 'being seen' by a higher profile shift, and that in six months of what was basically hard work with some butt kissing thrown in, he is in the same place, making the same money. He had the opportunity to apply himself to workplace classes that can raise your pay grade, and he's passed on them, since he feels the commute is not worth it. I feel this was at best a short-term view of his finances, since a raise means more overtime too, right?

Of the various folks I have met so far, the weaker workers have also been struggling with the language. Many people give them some leeway because of their less than clear understanding of all the job functions....they can accomplish the basics, but the higher applications of the work escape them, and they can't ever realistically hope to achieve the in-office pay grade training or get enough respect to be promoted without it. So that's that for them, their options are to take two jobs and hope they don't plant their cars into a ditch driving home.

Despite this, I have found these second language coworkers very laid back. Maybe it's the lack of sleep, but I appreciate their relaxed approach to the job. I feel a certain amount of hustle is necessary, even desirable, and that it is basically what culls the best from the rest, but since driving safe is a function of my work, what does rushing over my biotech's campus matter?

Ironically, the three men I have met so far at my work most worthy of respect and exemplary of the extremely serious school of public contact and management are respectively;
1) Regarded with a mix of dread and respect
2)Regarded poorly even by his coworkers (I've heard him called 'that fucking 'OJ' so I assume he really earned it, he seems like a very jerk-snap military style of leader)
3) The perfect leader, gracious, knowledgeable, no wasted action....wound too tight and everyone knows it. He's a school shooting waiting to happen.

I have contempt for people who do the job just to look good. I feel sorry for people who either don't fully understand the job or just do it for money, without any hope of promotion of pay grade raise. I like people who just do the job, and if it makes them look good, hey, nice bonus.

My proximity to work is greatly relieving any stress I think would be acculmulating, I feel great, and the money helps. I blew 250 bucks just for fun a week ago, just to show myself what that was like. Feels good, I missed living above the poverty line.

Accords: I seem to be well liked.
Arguments: No beefs. Any misunderstandings chalked up to 'teaching'.
Exercise:Moderate amount of walking at work, my knee is keeping me from the gym.
Sex: Cold, pinched nerve in my neck, back beef, then my knee went out. The one day I had free she played WoW, so no, but on the other hand, Athena rules my skies right now.
Music: Found Last FM, interesting, but about six times the sucky bands to cull to make a decent channel.
Travel: Quick trip to Alameda, work.
Old Stuff: Myspace and Palladium books have my attention for some reason.
New Experiences: Read 'Soul Catcher' by Frank Herbert. Fascinating, not really sci-fi though. Bit weird.
Microenvironment: My home is messy, and some of it is my fault, but I still hate it. On Monday I have to clean and do some chores or I will go insane.
Macroenvironment: The world is fucked, and the United States seems intent on overspending itself into infinity. I have loose plans to restart in the UK. I remain unconvinced these plans are unnecessary.