May 7th 2015

May 7^th 2015: Working a Thursday in R+G+G. After one of those unscheduled scavenger hunt invasions everything has become quiet. I suspect it will be like this the rest of the night. At least until the Film Festival people come in. That is suppose to go on until midnight. I’m leaving at 9:15PM. Fuck anything else. Predator better not even consider asking me to stay.

Mismanagement hired a new guard today. (Redacted); an actual pretty white girl. I know what she’s trying to do. I smell entrapment. Mismanagement thinks I am into artsy girls with short hair because of the Kelly thing. Man is she a fucking dope for trying. (Redacted) IS attractive in a Popeye's Olive Oil kind of way but she seems like she’s in her own world. I checked out her Facebook and she looks even more artistic than Kelly! No thanks. 

I do not think I would want to get involved with her. She probably already has a boyfriend. I kind of like being single, less drama and more me time. It was cute when (redacted) came to introduce her, he was all flustered. Like usual he was trying to inform me of information I already knew ((redacted) coming to relieve me at 11) except he was mumbling quietly. I had to ask him to speak up.

Later that night some people from Private Security Company were called in to help cover the Film Festival event. Apparently the Film Festival committee and a local Indie Theater are having a beef. So the Art Museum is one of the new movie venues this year. The one guy, Plumber (Plummer?), I chatted with through the last half of the night. Made the time go by hella fast. We mainly talked about this free-roam zombie survival game idea he had. It sounded pretty ambitious (not a bad thing in the video game industry). I tried to explain how the game could be done realistically using today’s technology.

I know what it’s like to have an ambitious video game idea, but you also have to be realistic about how they can be created. Besides there’s always DLC if you can’t do everything right away. Planning ahead is a good strategy for video game creation. 

R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

Respect is a major part of the work place, but another unfortunate aspect of where I work is the infection of artificial respect. Where I work no one wants to be in charge, but SOMEONE has to be in charge and take the lumps of having to deal directly with all of the verbal and mental abuse that comes from other departments. The Security department at the Art Museum is not the most respected and for good reason.

Those in charge of it have never had an ounce of power in their lives; the legal ability to harass people for normal every day things. Knucklehead, Mismanagement, and Predator are all (or was in Predator’s case) wannabe cops. Remember that I covered the subject of wannabe cops before? It’s much worse with them.

With other people in the department like the new Lead Officers and Supervisors; Chop and Aretha Franklin. They have never been in charge of anything. Apart from maybe their kids, but never a crew of Security officers, and it shows with people like that. They took the job for the pay, and I don’t blame them, but there’s commanding respect and then there’s demanding it.

Look at get that you never had a decent job in your life, I understand that you have kids to feed and want a few more dollars on your paycheck, but a Stephanie Rawlins Blake haircut and a new job title isn’t going to make people instantly respect you. If you are the type of person that believes this then you have self esteem issues, or worse, you are secretly mad with power.

Sort of like the police, they’re not all bad and they can have their issues worked out, but that is for a psychiatrist and not your employees. Check yourself before you come to work. There might not be any rough rides at an Art Museum, but lawyers are just as much a factor if the wrong actions take place. 

April 30th 2015

April 30^th 2015: Lately we have been having these riots downtown because of the death of Freddie Gray. The rioters took out the windows of some of the nearby restaurants. Imagine my disappointment when I saw all of the windows of the museum still in-tact. What a shame that these ignorant bastards would just trash places in order to steal. They are showing the country, and the world, that they are belligerent assholes. No one really gives a damn about that guy. Even his own family realize he's worth more dead than he is alive. 

Yesterday I came to work on “The Project.” As I am up in the 4^th Floor (redacted) calls me, to inform me, we will be closing at 5PM tomorrow [today]. It’s Thursday so you can imagine how happy I was to hear THAT.

I worked that wedding Saturday so I was scheduled to come in from 1:15PM to 9:15PM. I just told (redacted) that I will come in from 9:15AM to 5:15PM instead. It is a good thing she saw me on camera because she never would have called and told me that. How do I know? Because the Part Timers that usually come in at 1:15PM are still coming in at 1:15PM…

Still this is awesome! I will actually be able to have dinner at home on a Thursday night! There has not been anybody coming through the gallery. I am posted up on the 3^rd Floor and the most people I have had today was a group from MICA. It’s ok though I am still getting other stuff done in the meantime. Day’s almost half done. 

April 25th 2015

April 25^th 2015: Working another wedding tonight. Good crowd, but I can not say the same for the rioters downtown. Some people say it’s going to move up this way but others are saying it’s going to stay down by the Harbor. I don’t know what they would want with this place. The New Entrance is nothing but glass so… no point in fortifying the building . Knucklehead would have a hard-on about this shit. With Predator in charge it’s more likely he’s crying or jerking off to news footage. If it was a daylight riot he would be running around all official wearing his trench helmet and safety vest. Trying to give us the impression that he knows what the hell he’s doing. Predator is scared. I asked him what we should do if the riot comes here. He had his deer-in-the-headlights look. They are fucked. I say “they” because I am not sticking around if the shit hits the fan. I do not owe this corrupt museum anything. Most importantly no one in their right mind should die for material objects.

Speaking of which my project is coming along nicely, still have not left the 4^th floor though! I’m thinking I should post the 1^st Floor Special Exhibition first before I do anything else. That one will be gone before 4^th Floor… Nah! Anyway the first eight hours went by fast. Tonight I’m posted on the Passenger Elevator. So like last week I’m sitting in a [smaller] box writing and playing video games. Predator is going against the new order and is not giving anyone a second 30 minute break. He even challenged (redacted) by saying he will give her a copy of where it says he does not have to in the book. I think I’ll take that copy! I already know he won’t give to me! He knows how my lawyer can use it

These people are idiots. A couple walked up to Level 2 in order to catch the elevator downstairs. Dude there’s a door right there near the Court. Man I hate stupid people. I work for the type so I got reason. My PS Vita battery just ran out. It really sucks when you are in the middle of a gun battle when that happens. It’s like a cliffhanger. One more hour to go. Hopefully less. That riot turned out to be nothing, I bet Knucklehead’s disappointed. Ha!

April 23rd 2015

April 23^rd 2015: This is different. Mr. Ass put me down for 11:15 to 9:15 because I worked 15 hours for that wedding Saturday. As I have said in the past he is VERY serious about that 25 hour limit. We are still short and he is calling for volunteers for something going on Tuesday. 12 volunteers for Tuesday. I am not working it because I can't work it. After this Saturday’s wedding, and Thursday, I will be booked hours wise. He will try to guilt trip me into it. It won't work but he will try.

I come in here at 11:15 and (redacted) is already in a bad mood saying “you’re late”, I told her to look at the schedule. Mismanagement put me down to do reliefs. (Redacted), my first relief was cool with it. I do not have anyone to get at 1PM so it’s no big deal. Still make sure to add this to the list of retarded shit Mismanagement has done. After my 30-minute lunch break I only had to relieve (redacted) for her 20-minute break. (Redacted), the new guy, was MIA so I skipped him entirely. Mismanagement was leading, or I suppose I should say Misleading him, during his orientation. After my hour break I took over for R.J. up on 3^rd Floor. I’ll be here for the rest of the night. Which is quite alright as long as the 3G holds up.

Uncle Tom finally got around to putting new vending machines in the break room. Now we can use our credit cards meaning the machines have joined the 21^st-fucking-century. The drink machine even has Monster energy drinks in them. It’s not completely perfect though, the snack machine has some new options, like tuna fish snacks… That’s a lawsuit waiting to happen…

Speaking of lawsuits it’s nice to see the fucker actually do something useful other than be involved in bullshit secret meetings. 

Setting The Record Straight... Covertly...

Where I work harassment and power corruption are a daily dose of reality. It’s the same at any job. There will always be that one supervisor, manager, or boss that just goes mad with power. Even if they are not truly qualified to work there.

Mismanagement is a recurring character in my journal entries, you’re very much aware of this, but if it’s not obvious at this point she is based on a real person. Pretty much everyone in these blog entries is. I am not writing this for entertainment value, or just to make money, I’m really trying to help. You AND me that is…

I believe that writing is a great way for myself to relieve stress, but in this case it is also a great way to spill the beans on the ongoing struggle that myself and fellow officers have with working Security in an art museum. Working Security is not the same everywhere, I think I mentioned this, but where I work it is unfortunately unique. It doesn’t have to be but the people “in charge” make it that way. The sad thing about is it that I would love to mention their real names, but I fear I would lose my job.

Not that I want to continue working here forever, like some other guards I could mention, I want whatever everyone wants; something worth-while. For example today I am actively job searching to find a position somewhere (that isn’t Security) where I can better make use of my college education. Does this mean I will make a new blog about THAT experience? Hopefully I won’t have to because it will be better organized than my current place of employment. 

April 18th 2015

Today I am working a wedding tonight, until… well I don’t know yet. Mr. Ass has already taken the liberty of putting me down for 11:15 to 9:15 this coming Thursday. He is hell bent on enforcing that 25-hour limit. I’ll stay until 1:15AM if I can (the maximum 16-hour shift). Say what you will about Predator (actually I have done plenty of that already) but at least he doesn’t give a shit about this ridiculous limit. I went 15 minutes over the limit because of the school tours this past Tuesday. It doesn’t really matter.

Mismanagement has been in charge of the post assignments today. It shows. I am in first exhibition, but I am getting the 1PM lunch break. It’s ok I wasn’t hungry yet anyway. Tommy Gun's posted on New Entrance so she gave him the 12PM break. Then D.J. had to come BACK to the  Special Ex to relieve me. Yeah I think it’s retarded but that was her sentiment exactly.

The copy machine at the staff building is WAY better than the one up on the 5^th Floor. I tried doing some copies up there and their settings are all fucked up. The staff just use normal settings so my copies came out fine. (Redacted) was staring at me like I was not suppose to be there. She’s right I wasn’t but there’s nothing in the policy about not using the copy machine. I also wasn’t suppose to make 125 sheets. Oh well haha.

As you would expect it’s chaos tonight. Chop, Predator, and Mismanagement biting at each other like a Cerberus with schizophrenia. Everybody’s trying to be in charge, but none of them have a clue. Mismanagement is not even in the building and she chimes in like she’s directly in the room. Chop's posted on 3^rd Floor, before the guests show up the alarm sets off. As usual the poor radio reception did not help the miscommunication that followed. Mismanagement (who remember is not even in the building) commanded Chop to move the extensions away from the alarm beam.

Chop, who HATES being corrected, began lashing out over the radio. “I did that!” Mismanagement repeats herself. “It’s not da problem.” Chop barks back. Predator hops in shouting “I’m on my way up to shut it off manually.” Chop insists that she can fix the problem herself, out of fear that she will look weak and lose control of the situation (not that she ever had any). Turns out one of the early guests were standing too close to the beam. 3^rd Floor Lobby was packed! Even after the alarm went off Mismanagement kept pestering Chop about extensions. Being the Lead Officer on the Night Shift does give her clout to be counter-commanding, and as a human being she doesn’t take shit from anybody, even with Knucklehead.

Yesterday that former White House flower lady came to the museum. According to (redacted) it was the total cluster fuck everyone expected it would be. 300 people came in through Old Entrance, all at once, just to hear this woman’s lecture in the Auditorium. The Auditorium can only hold a maximum of 400 people (on the top and bottom sections total). Chop, who was guarding the lower Auditorium entrance, was tasked with preventing guests from entering after it hit the maximum number. She experienced an ethical tug-of-war between following Knucklehead's orders and pleasing a mob of angry guests.

Like tonight with Mismanagement, Knucklehead barked empty orders over the radio without grasping the volume of the situation. Chop held her ground, and like with Mismanagement, snapped back trying to explain what was really going on and how she was trying to prevent a riot. Knucklehead was fuming because he is in front of some private security guy who he thought were secret service. Only Chop can get away with pissing off that egghead unscathed!

Tonight I’m posted on the Freight Elevator, nice cause I get to sit down after being in marble hell for the first eight hours of the day. This also explains why the entry’s so long, sorry bout that. I swear I spent most of the night playing Killzone: Mercenary on my PS Vita. Still has enough juice to get me through the end of the night once I am done with this.

A lady fell and hit her head earlier. Paramedics had to be called. She cut her head but refused medical treatment. At times like these you get to see how bad everyone runs around like chickens with their heads cut off. Mismanagement actually waddled over to the main building, Predator rode the elevator up to the 3^rd Floor (playing with his massive phone along the way), and Chop stood by Old Entrance (as I have said before EMS always stop there first). Questions erupted between the three over the radio; “is there blood?”, “should I call 911?”, where did the incident (referring to Incident Reports) occur?” (Redacted) kept the situation organized from the Monitor Room; made the calls, prepped the first aid kit, and kept the radio chatter up to date. EMS showed up at New Entrance (they must have updated the address) and I brought them up to the 3^rd Floor.

There were so many guests the new girl, didn’t even know there was an accident at first. 20 minutes after EMS had arrived Chop stated that she was still waiting at Old Entrance for them to appear. (Redacted) told her that they had already been in the building (this was no secret over the radio). She complained that nobody told her then accused HIM of not listening on the radio! Ignorant to the end…Tonight we got TWO 30 minute breaks, a fucking miracle!