Infuriating Thing of the Day

Orion will probably verify that I don't infuriate easily. Laugh, cry, frustrate, piss off, yeah, but infuriation is really rare for me. People usually remember when I'm mad. They prefer not to see it happen. And, if it so happens something is directed at me...well...it's not pretty.

And, I am 99.5% sure someone will be seeing it a little later this week.

One of the more recent trainees moved here from the 'projects' in Chicago. That in itself doesn't mean much - but once again, I've had to learn and adapt to things I'm unaccustomed to. The story she told at hire was much what I would have expected...single mom, wanting to get her kids out of the big city, into an environment that was far safer, with no drive-by shootings, crack houses on the corner, etc. She's done very well as a phlebotomist. I was very proud to have her do part of her training with me; it made me feel good to have done something to help a woman make a step up in the world to a better paying job, one that she could take anywhere in the world should she choose to do so, y'know?

But, as she came to trust me and tell her story, I was absolutely appalled. I'm not a moralistic prig/prude, but sometimes even I can't take much more. She has a husband. He robbed a liquor store not too many months back and is currently in a county jail nearby. She says she's trying to get a divorce because he's no good. She has a boyfriend in Chicago. She has a 21 year old 'boy toy' in Chicago, too. She's currently flirting hot and heavy with one of the guys in the department who became appealing when he was brought up on trumped up sexual harrassment charges. She sneaks around the various floors and gets on the Internet to read her email which is against the rules on company time...and then she tries to show us risque stuff she's received. I've kept my mouth shut, tried to be a nice person, etc., but today she crossed a line.

I broke down and bought a new set of scrubs this weekend. I needed them badly. I bought a pair of forest green scrubs.

So, I wore them to work today, and at the end of the day I changed my lab coat. Hadn't buttoned it up yet. This woman walked past me, grabbed my lab coat and looked inside. "Kate! Where'd you get those?" The rest of the lab is behind me. They all chorus, "Wal-Mart". She then says, "I don't know why you bought those! You look like a PIMP!" And, she threw my lab coat lapel up against me and stalked off.

I'm like...huh? Sure not my idea of what a pimp looks like. I was hurt and offended. Big time. I didn't say anything...I was too flabbergasted.

But if she's true to form, next time I wear these scrubs, she'll think it's cute and funny to say something like.."Hey Kate, you wearin' those pimp clothes again?"

And this time I won't hold back.