Don’t get me wrong I’m thrilled to get an International Women’s Day Tribute from my Son

#BellLetsTalk A part of my story untold until today…

Not many know the true story behind the accident that took part of my leg.

Not many are aware of the mental torture of the next few years, the total annihilation of any semblance of self-worth, self-confidence or self-esteem that was perpetrated upon me by the person I was trying to help that night.

In my weird way I always thought I was protecting those around me by fighting my battles alone. I now know that was foolish.

When you are not a confident person, when you are less that strong emotionally, and when you are the type to fight your own battles, to never let anyone see your pain, you are in fact, catnip for anyone damaged and abusive and in retrospect filled with guilt.

In the guise of the caring friend, month after month, he would come to the hospital, whispering warnings, reinforcing my fear of abandonment, my fear of disgust at my severely scarred body. Filling my head with the notion that only he could handle this mess I had become. Only he would see past the exterior damage. Only he would not be repulsed.

I fell for it. Hook, line, and sinker. In the dark place, I had fled in my mind, I knew that he was right. The weird internal voice that seems to relish your pain, stoked the fires of self-doubt, self-loathing.

I gave up almost everyone I knew, I became a recluse in order to avoid the pain of the abuse that would follow any small infraction. I wasn’t allowed a phone, I wasn’t allowed to see friends, and I wasn’t to look at or speak to another male over the age of 10. (A 12 yr old boy carried 2 heavy bags home for me from the corner grocery)It cost me two days of verbal abuse and multiple physical attacks.

The escape from the situation came after I had spent an entire night perched on the edge of a precipice feeling the only option was an either – or…choice. Only one of us could continue…

Thanks in part to the gift my friend Andrea had given me when she took her life,(suicide is not the answer) and in part to the universe intervening, my abuser did not return to our house that night.

I now know that I must have called on courage ( finally I get it Kathie Donovan) to start anew, I still tried to go it alone, never reaching out for help until 2004 when I finally found Patricia Wall. Ostensibly she was helping me get my house sold ( My son calls her the holistic missile, her help had nothing to do with real estate!!) Not everyone is this lucky. Not everyone is blessed with friends and family who support us even in the silence.

I know that initiatives like #BellLetstalk and all the mental health options we have now (still plenty of room for improvement) can help.

I hope that by finally talking publicly about this dark and pain-filled time in my life perhaps someone else will reach out.. Talk … Ask for help… or offer it… Thank you

Something they want, Something they need, Something to wear, Something to read. ..

As a parent, we feel huge pressure to make certain our beloved children have a Merry Christmas.

Unfortunately, the new reality in Calgary, where the unemployment rate has risen to its highest level in nearly 22 years, is that many workers are forced to take any job offered and work harder for less.

Currently unemployed, I jumpedat a job posting for a local courier here in Calgary.

Intelcom Express recruiting delivery drivers to deliver Amazon parcels for Christmas

JOB POSTING – As Advertised:

• Initial training
  A territory with optimized delivery route
  A fixed rate per package delivered 
  Part time, Saturdays and Sundays from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm

Part time Driver ad to which I responded:

When I told my 7-year-old son I would be working weekends in order to buy him presents, he told me I can just make him one instead. I adore his golden heart, however, Santa’s elves don’t know how to make some of the items he really wants for Christmas and neither do I.

Lego Dimensions Portal 2

http://trusca.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pTRUCA1-21917335reg.jpg

Anyone know how to D.I.Y .a Lego Dimensions Portal???

I and several other desperate souls showed up for training (As an Instructional designer I shudder at the abuse of the word training). The initial training was less than a ten-minute overview, in the warehouse, during loading of packages.

We were specifically told to take a picture of the package at the address to prove delivery was made, ring the doorbell and leave.  We were told by our supervisor/trainer  Al (who does not give out his surname) “dealing with the customers just wastes time and then we won’t make any money“. For apartment deliveries, we were advised to find a way into the building and drop the package in the hallway at their door.

Training complete?

It was made explicitly clear we would not be considered an employee(not an employee under Employment Standards legislation) but an independent contractor, being paid on a piece rate basis.  When questioned about pay, we were given vague answers about different package rates and different zones.

We were told we are expected to deliver 100 packages a day and could expect to make upwards of $200 a day if we were hard workers.We had no idea what we would actually be making; or that the unrealistic expectations set out for us virtually guarantee failure. ( Christmas makes you want to provide for those you love)

100 packages/ per day (if you work a 12 hour day – 720 minutes) = Need to deliver a package every 7.2 minutes all day without a break

• Manager (Amanda, who would not give her last name -Dec 20 2016) said that the average driver delivers between 130 to 150 packages in an 8-9 hour day (including loading) in Calgary. (That’s 130 packages delivered non-stop for 8 hours every 3.69 minutes)

Actually takes hours to load all the packages, (so it is actually a ten hour day)

100/480 =3.69 minutes per package

When I brought up this math to my supervisor he looked visibly angered and told me he may not actually have anything for me that day, I was benched and ignored for over an hour.

I was not paid for the work I did. I worked for 3 days. I delivered 160 packages.I became ill, was put on antibiotics by the doctor and called and texted Al the manager.

When others were paid, I was not. On December 9th I texted Al and asked “where can I pick up my paycheck?” he responded “Thought you were doing this for free”  then he added “This weekend is payroll. I’ll email transfer you” to which I responded “thank you” and gave my email address.

Saturday, December 17  I text*  “Hi Al when can I expect to get paid?”   he changes his tone and says “I’m verifying how many days you’ve worked as I clearly told you you had to work 5 days to get your money. As I don’t have a sense that you are coming back”

After that he no longer responds to texts. NOTE: There are screenshots of all the texts*

All of the deliveries were for Amazon packages

——————————————–

A more accurate job posting would be:

SHAMELESS CRUEL CON THAT PREYS ON DESPERATE JOB HUNTERS

Sort and load other peoples Christmas parcels into your own vehicle, drive your own car around, pay for your own gas, locate addresses on the slippery winter streets of Calgary from sunup until long past sundown when the addresses can’t even be seen. Feel your thighs burn as you jump in and out of your vehicle 100 times each, EVERY 3.69 MINUTES in the cold winter air. May or may not receive remuneration for your efforts.

Cashing in on desperate parents

Scamming a mother who is struggling to give her children a good Christmas is absolutely disgusting.

I am comforted that my children know that I love them, care for them and want what is best for them even if I can’t afford expensive presents, it’s my presence that counts.

So if you are also stressed out about the Holidays, try to spend your time doing things as a family this Christmas or make each other presents. The memories will outlast any item on their wish lists.

Amazon.ca delivers some packages through regional carriers.  

Intelcom

Package Tracking: http://www.intelcomexpress.com

Telephone (within Canada): 1 (514) 370-5096

Telephone (outside Canada): 1 (844) 370-5096

Note: This info was taken from the Amazon.ca website one week ago

Giving 1 star is far more than this company deserves. They’re a courier company for Amazon and employee’s are supposed to just drop package at your front door and snap a picture... The employee’s don’t even make gas money nor get paid.

Intelcom Courier Calgary

Unit 23, 112 Freeport Cres NE, Calgary, AB

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1.4  Score

110 reviews