On hate

Right now, I think I have reached a new level of hating my job. It isn’t actually the work that I hate. In fact, oddly, I sort of like the work because it is never the same thing. And although I often mention how much I hate the boss, this new level of hate is not related to him much of all.

 

It’s the expectation that everyone here has that I don’t know what I’m doing. It is the expectation that I have no freaking life and that I will jump to attention with every single email that hits my crackberry. It is the expectation that they better double-check the stuff that I just fixed incase I’m lying and I really didn’t fix anything at all. And it is mostly my ‘backup’ who is doing this crap (insert a swear word there in the place of crap – because that’s what I truly mean).

 

Yesterday, after I left at well after 3 pm, I had an email about the fax machine not working at 4 pm. Well, first, I’m off the clock. I had already put in enough hours and I did not have to reply back. Second, she is allowed to call the help desk and get help for those sorts of things… but she is allowed to not like the person who answers at help desk and just never call them. Third, after doing nothing and waiting for me to come in this morning – I checked all the plugs to find that a plug was out. *IT’S THE FIRST THING YOU CHECK!*

 

So, she comes in this morning, doesn’t even say hello or anything, and starts pounding away at the fax machine – like I ignored her email and her help desk ticket and didn’t do anything. Guess what – I had another emergency going on and I still got it fixed. But, do you think she says anything – nope. She storms off and grumbles that it took long enough. What? Did she think I was going to come back to work after I left yesterday to fix something like the fax machine? If it was that important, why didn’t she call help desk about it? Why does she think I have to jump to when she says too?

 

I’m tired of this. I’m tired of untrained people second guessing what I’m doing. I’m sick of people who are supposed to help me, doing crap, giving me more work, giving me crap about the way that I do my work, and the commenting how long it took me to do the work. Hell – it’s called work for a reason. Not a lot of people like it. If everyone worked here, I wouldn’t have to do everyone’s work that they don’t feel like doing.

Oh, I can just feel the great day coming on… it’s going to be a *glorious* one right now. I can feel it.

Stupidness

I feel that I should get paid triple for any issue that is related to people being completely stupid in their activities and their actions. There are also levels of stupidness, and lately, they have all been happening. Let me explain.

 

Level One of Stupidness – this is for the person who knows no better, and they act like they know more. Instead of asking for help, they just start pressing random buttons, hoping to solve the problem. And in addition, they did not keep track of what they were doing when they were pressing the buttons. Acts on this level deserve a good *Whack* behind the head.

 

Level Two of Stupidness – this is for the person who knows better, has shown signs of life inside of their head, and they have suddenly forgotten everything. This usually occurs when the person has moved their office – either from a building to another building or even when they change departments. Suddenly, it is like they are using a computer all over again. There are signs of lapses of brain activity, the symptom is usually forgetting the answer to a question I had already answered 5 times in the past week. Asking me again, is not going to get you a different answer. I’m not the stupid one, so don’t ask me the same question again. Acts on this level deserve a good *kick* in the butt.

 

Level Three of Stupidness – inactivity of any sort. This is usually when someone gets a brand new laptop, gets home access, and they promptly wait 3 months to turn any of them on and then wonder why the password has expired. This is not my fault and I should not be bothered about these issues. This level should be at least triple pay for myself. Acts on this level deserve a good *smack* across the face along with the *kick* and the *whack*.

 

Level Four of Stupidness – any combination of the first three levels of stupidness. This is the ultimate person who shows no signs of being able to ever really work with a computer. They are the biggest PITAs and they have an air of entitlement. For the punishment for this level, they should be required to partake in training and all of the above punishments.

 

And anyone showing these signs, impact my job. It is my job to cure their stupidness or to hold their hands. It is enough to drive someone to the edge. I did not sign up for this job to hold hands and to cuddle people when they are afraid of the power button.

Another cure for this stupidness would be to take their mouse and keyboard away – to visually shame them – to make them an example – to show everyone else around them, they are so stupid, they can’t be trusted with keyboards or mice.

 

Just another day as a frustrated non-profit accidential-but almost trained techie.

July Music Poll

I can't believe how much of a success Everyone Walk the Dinosaur has been, that once more, I am asking my friends to help me select the hold music. I did get a request for disco, but alas, I don't have any disco music on my iTunes. It breaks my heart not to offer that up as an option. Maybe I'll have some on my iTunes before August.

But again, I must give the reasons behind some of these song choices......

Hey You by Madonna - Yes, the one that was available for free by MSN. It is actually a good song. It is about time that Madonna gave us some free music!

Red, Red Wine by UB40 - Can I just use the reasoning that it is a fun song?

Tell Me 'Bout It by Joss Stone - It is from her new cd and I like it. I am kind of torn on most of the cd, but this song I can listen to quite frequently.

Let Them Talk by Harry Connick, Jr. - I think I always have to have a choice that somehow screams back to New Orleans. This one is from Harry's NOLA cd. Plus, it has the reference to "talk" in it. It is a bit slower, but with Harry, his voice keeps you happy.

I Would Walk 500 Miles by The Proclaimers - You all are probably thinking, "huh?". Well, I really like this song and I have a plan for this song. When I get married, (don't roll your eyes all at once), this is going to be the Father/Daughter dance. It was my dad's favorite song and I can't think of a better song to make him "there". It's such a great song and it never makes me sad.

Kinda Cool, Ain't It by the Povertyneck Hillbillies - Pittsburgh boys - nuff said! At least I didn't pick Mr. Right Now from them.

So those are the choices. Vote away. Vote often. Throw the vote! Help me pick the next hold music!

And the winner is....

Was (Not Was) with Everyone Walk the Dinosaur! It has made it’s debut on my phone system at work and has been a hit so far. I actually have staff calling each other and placing the other on hold to hear the hold music. It has only been on a couple hours and I’ve had three comments from callers (all positive, I must add!)

 

So, I will work on another list of possible songs for June/July and put the voting back up for my friends – because my friends have the best taste in music. And the voting is not limited to one vote. You can entirely throw the decision in your hands if you vote enough! It’s going to be fun. I will only put up songs that I current have access too – I won’t download anything just for this bit of fun (of course nothing stops friends from making sure I have more music to pick from). Now, if I could just get Will Smith’s Summertime, there may be a contest next month.

Stay tuned!

Pains of getting old

I know that I'm just in a funky mood, but the reality is, I have been like this for a while. I've been worrying about this knee pain that I always seem to have. It will go away for a while, but when it comes back, it is so bad. But I have to hide and try to imagine that it isn't there.

When I go for walks, it's always there. At times, it feels like I almost can't take another step forward, but I still move forward. Thru all the hell of the past two plus years of knee issues, this right knee has never seemed right. The doctors never really found anything - everything sounded like, 'let's make this up and get her out of her care as soon as possible'.

My walking on the South Side is supposed to be my stress relief. I tell myself that I'm going to walk all the way out until my mind is not longer thinking of work or of home (and that sister of mine!). I start out and at first, I think, the knee is only warming up... it's only going to take a bit. But it doesn't seem to warm up. At some points, it feels like the back is hurting. As I cross the street and head towards the Sports Medicine Center and the Steelers training facilities, it hurts in the front and towards the bottom. Sometimes, it feels like there is a freaking fireball in there. It never is the same pain in the same area, but it just doesn't feel right.

So the walk to relieve stress becomes actually stressful as I try not to worry about this. If I was fine last year and no one could fine out what was going on, then nothing has changed. I haven't slammed it into anything. It hasn't been twisted. It just is the same thing as last year. My primary care feels that if I lose weight that it will help with the knee pain. So I go forward even more. Probably going beyond where I should, but I have to lose weight. That is the key to not only my knee pain, but the key to all the other things in my life that just isn't right - losing weight will fix everything.

By the time I turn around, I just want to be done. I even push it at that point. You would think knee pain would slow me down, but now.. I have to go faster. The faster I go, the longer I go, the more weight I'll lose. I have to make it back to the beginning in less time that it took me go out. I push and I even jog. And when I don't jog what I perceive to be long enough, I hate myself and I hate my knee.

Sometimes, I just wish someone would have the answer. I imagine walking past the Sports Medicine Center and someone stops me... that they have the answer, that they seem my limping (which I never do), and they know how to get rid of the pain.

And as I get back to the car, I wonder, what if this pain is just in my head? It is real, but I don't swell up anymore (not that I really want to look to see if I do). It is real, although there seems to be no lost of strength or lost of range of motion. So, what happens if this is all in my head?

God, the walking is my stress relief.... I need to walk. I need this. And now, if this is just something that I have to learn to deal with because I'm getting old... I don't want to get any older.

Pictures from Vacation

I found out today that the coworker who is technically my backup (who absolutely hates doing anything remotely technical and hates having to react quickly) has been job looking. It's not that her job is hard. In fact, she has it pretty damn easy, because she says no so easily and does the things she wants to do. So, while I show off some pictures of vacation, I'm going to moan about her, because whatever she decides to do, will impact me.

Her leaving may not be a bad thing. Maybe then we could get someone into the position that wants to be helpful, wants to know how to do things, and wants to be my backup. It's pretty far fetched that this will happen and if it does happen, it would probably take about a year to find this person. The job is low paying. But I don't want someone to continue in this position that they absolutely hate.

But she has it easy. Tomorrow she is taking a day off, "Because I'm burned out from doing your job". Hell, I've done my job for 7 years and I have never said to my boss, "I'm burned out". He has told me to take a day off here and there, but I never go to him and say "I can't think today and I need tomorrow off".

And today I got the whole story that I've heard most of my life coming out of my sister's mouth. She was complaining because the art gallery that I used to run that has been her responsibility for a year has been difficult. She "can't live in your shadow" and "you were perfect and I do it all wrong". Of course she is saying this in front of the boss in a big production. I mean, this is like I'm her big sister and she is living in my shadow. Hell, I gave her the checklists that I used to use for the art gallery. All she has to do is read and she would be fine. But things didn't go well because she decided that some things would take too much time. So instead of saying, "Yes, I skimped on some things that used to be done", I got blamed for her failure because I make her live up to a high standard that no one else can do.

My sister got married and moved out. I don't have to hear this any longer. Maybe it is time for this coworker to get out of here and move on. I was never perfect in my job. I'm still not perfect. But this blaming me for something like this, is just a big baby move.

Now the image guide:

Image one - HOUSE OF BLUES! I could have eaten there every single night. Good drinks, good food, good bread pudding. I may think about taking a trip to the Cleveland House of Blues just for the food.

Image two - A picture for my scientific friends out there. This was at one of those miniature golf courses that are everywhere at the beach. It had this whole sci-fi thing going on inside the building and when you go outside, it is all tiki-huts, with subtle hints of sci-fi influences (the markers for the course all had symbols and such like this).

Image three - The beach one evening, after the subtropical storm moved away - and while motorcycles roared behind.

Why Did I Come Back?

On the trip back from vacation, I could feel the tension building with each state that was left behind. I was trying to tell myself that it was the tension from driving the majority of the way (since I hate the way my mom drives my car like it is old and falling apart!) But after yesterday, I know the real source of the tension that has eaten my back all up again: freaking work!

First, I don't know if I can explain my coworkers in the best term. Some are good at what they do. Some are annoying as hell. When it comes to computers, I would say about 75% of them are completely clueless and would rather stand on their heads than handle a "computer problem". A good friend said "they suck" and my favorite, from geeka, "they are freaking morons".

Here is my example. We have these brand new phones that tie into our email system. When I say the word "VOIP" people tremble in fear. It is actually pretty damn cool. However, I have side-tracked myself here. The point is, the person reported that she wasn't getting any voicemail and that they didn't show up on her phone at all.

She didn't report: she screamed on me in the middle of the hallway.

I looked at a couple things and decided I needed reinforcement. I was swamped with the 300+ emails in my inbox and I could have been looking for a solution all day long for this. Short story for the 4 hours that it took to figure out: the user had an email rule in her Outlook to send ALL incoming messages for just herself to be sent immediately to Deleted Items. (Slap the hand across the forehead -- yep!)

The gull here? She then said it was something that I did! Me, who wasn't home from vacation until 8 pm on Sunday. Me, who has been knee deep in stupid emails all day. Yeah, I go around and establish email rules that would stop you from working! Let alone, this rule was created 7 times.

It all begs to ask, why did I come back?

Odd bike week tidbits

Ok, its the Harley Motorcycle Week here. Its more like multiple weeks, but that doesn't really matter. But I'm having stereotypes smashed.

1 - some like musical review shows! We were at Good Vibrations last night and it was loaded with them. And they loved it.

2 - I never thought bikers got along with golfers. Well some are both!

3 - a woman riding behind her man had this large-ass brightly patterned purse that could have been a suitcase.

I'm sure I'll see more before today is over.

Peep watching at the pool

First, someone had their laptop there! And it wasn't me.

Second, what is with wearing sunglasses while swimming?

Third, I saw another reason why I will never wear a bikini.

Fourth, all the womaen would suck in their stomaches until they were in the water. Hello, water makes you bigger!

"The Conversation"

It happens each vacation - "when you find someone and have your own family". It happens around this time and sometimes I can just push it away. This time is harder. It is probably the whole "milestone" birthday that makes this one harder.

Gay Dolphin

If you have ever been to Myrtle Beach, you probably heard of The Gay Dolphin. Its this huge store that has so many levels and has so much stuff. But not even good stuff. Just *stuff* 

We headed there after going to Le Grande Cirque - which was good in a way of it being like a high school production in comparison to the real Cirque. Then we walked around Broadway At The Beach and realized just how many bikes are coming here tomorrow.

Dinner was at Planet Hollywood. It was nice, but not so hot. Maybe it was the fact that my mom doesn't really care about that kind of stuff.

A gold lame cap

I'm waiting for Le Grande Cirque start and I should not have been worried about being dressed nice.

Yep, one row in front of me is a woman in a gold lame cap with a gold lame hair scrunchie.  And there is a woman with a hairnet bun with some fako flower thing that doesn't match her floral explosion shirt.

And the biker just seems out of place here. I'm sure I'm going to see them at all kinds of odd places, but at a show circus that is called "spellbinding"? Yeah, the new agey music too just doesn't match him at all.

Doing the Charleston

Spent too many hours in a car today - but we went to Charleston and found some fun - and without too much rain.

We did a historic tour and then a tour of Magnolia Plantation. But the plantation was much more than just the house. It sits on swamp land and they have acres and acres.  I'm not a brave soul, so we took a nature train and saw lots of alligators.

Looking for alligators reminded me of my 1st band trip to Disney. They forced us to do a tour of the cape and to look at educational space program stuff. Instead, we looked for alligators the entire trip.

Each night the weather sounds bad and then in the morning - they've changed their minds. But now this coastal storm may become a named tropical storm. I may never see the pool!

Soul Sensation

Today the highlight was the dinner at The House of Blues. Sad? No - this is what I've been waiting for!

Years ago when I was in New Orleans with my mom, my sister and of course with geeka - we had Soul Sensations when they were a brand new drink. I'm glad to say that it is now a regular drink.

But back then, geeka had to "borrow" the advertising for the drink so we could have the recipe. Of course, it never got returned. This little floppy paper thing isn't missed. And the new one from today isn't going to be missed either. The drink featured vodka, and sounded like something I would drink, just not today. So, I will have the recipe for another time.

I played the first mini-golf of vacation - and I won. The course was supposed to be more difficult, but it was easy.

Barefoot landing is ok - but not much there. We were going to do the ghost tour that was out there, but we aren't impressed at all.

Weather is a factor. I keep on hearing "coastal storm", which is sort of like a tropical storm but with more northern winds. Its windy and thus making it cooler than expected. The forecast changes more than it does in the burgh. 

And I must say - this place is like a mini-burgh. Tons of Steelers shirts on people and tons of merchandise for Steelers.

Its more of a guideline....

That's one of my favorite lines from Pirates. It so is the case today.

Speed limits? Its a guideline that is not followed in Charlotte in any manner. Its a guideline that is really law if you are in a speed trap zone.

It is beautiful here. Its sort of chilly this evening as it is really windy. The resort were are in is nice. The unit is ok. My bed is not a queen, but it is a full size (but my feet still drop off the edge). However, the second bathroom is screwy. The shower is in one room and the toilet is in another. Who came up with that was nuts!

We went to Dick's Last Resort tonight. I had an Electric Lemonade and it was good. The wait staff are so rude - but then that's what they are suppose to do. They throw straws at you and make paper hats with really rude statements on them. Mine of course said "I really, really, really miss sex". Mom's? It said "I need to borrow a vibrator". Yeah - it was a barrel of hoots there.

And watching the weather they are talking about "a possible tropical storm". 

Two state borders away

Just got into VA. Its rainy so far.

I feel so relaxed. Yeah!

Oh, my mom so far likes Mika. Who knew?

Vacation - less than 8 hours away

I should be asleep, but it just seems so early to go to bed. I have to drive the first leg tomorrow and then probably the majority of the driving. I don't mind driving. In fact, if it gets me away from Pittsburgh quicker, I'm game!

I so need this vacation. There are things that always drive me to need vacation more and more -- and mostly it is work and exposure to my sister. Last year was just too much about her and her wedding. This year, you would think that my sister wouldn't be driving me to go on vacation. Well, she is. She has plans and expects me to change things to fit them.

So for my birthday, that I don't even want to celebrate, she wants to do a "girlie-day" -- her words and then when my mom questioned it, she back-pedaled some. She wants to spend the day with girls. At least it is escaping from The Hanging Chad, but still... I have to come up with something that will get my friend geeka to come along, my mom can do... and I won't fight with my sister.

How about laser tag?

Well, the next post will be completed by me... somewhere not in PA. Yeah! It's time to get out of here.

But I'll miss my Katie-dog.

Help Select My Music On Hold

One of the perks of my job is that I control the music that plays when you are on hold on the phone system. I take pride in having stuff that is appropriate for the time or cool and different. Right now, some crazy Americana stuff is on it -- just in reaction to the 10 voice mail suggestions from midnight from a drunken boss who thought DISCO was needed.

So now, I have the poll up. But I feel like I must explain more the choices and the reasons for or against any of the music... and the rules that even if a song is the most popular, may not mean it gets placed on the hold music. The one, could probably get me fired, but I had to give it as an option.

Missing are my favor options too... I don't think I could handle "Barbie Girl" or "I'm A Blonde" too long.

So, here goes the list:

Talk by Phish - It's a play on the fact that you are on the phone and trying to talk to someone, but you are on hold. A good, funny, and thoughtful song choice. Plus, it's a cool song.

Yo George by Tori Amos - Go ahead and vote for it -- it won't get placed on. I don't think most people at work would complain (I can think of five that would actually cheer), but some George-Lovers may take the selection to the boss in protest. I love Tori - but most of her songs could NEVER be used as hold music.

Ring, Ring by Mika - Oh yes, another play on the phone theme, but this one is perhaps even cooler than Talk. Mika is one of my newest "walk to this CD" artists. I can walk to his album and smile all the way.

Where the Streets Have No Name by U2 - One of my all time favorite songs. It has that wonderful build up at the beginning of the song... like you are running or traveling somewhere. It's a great song.

Clocks by ColdPlay - Maybe one of the tamer or safer selections.

We Didn't Start The Fire by Billy Joel - In my heart, I want Billy Joel to update this song and include current events. It would be a great hit again. I just know it. I just want to hear people singing the line "JFK - blown away - what else do I have to say!".

Everyone Walk the Dinosaur by Was Not Was - It's an ear worm, but one of the good ones. It's a throw back to the late 80's early 90's. "boom boom chaka laka laka boom boom" is one line that just gets stuck in your head, but it's a good stuck in your head. This could be an interesting selection.

Good Day Sunshine by The Beatles - What poll about music is complete without a Beatles song in the options? It is almost in the summer vein, so it is a good selection - and a safe selection (no firing of me would be involved). It's an upbeat song and probably couldn't miss.

So now that I have explained these selections, will it impact your vote? Do you have suggestions for the next music poll for June/July that will have to have Will Smith's Summertime in it? Have I placed some songs into your head now (boom boom chaka laka laka boom.... boom boom chaka laka laka boom boom....)

Freedom

A couple weeks ago, I freed my toes. I was able to wear sandals. It meant it was time to paint the nails so they can be seen. It meant the toes could breathe. It was a great feeling.

Well now my whole body is breathing - I started vacation the moment I changed into shorts at work. Then I ran out of the building. No one was stopping me today. I was out the door - I sent everyone else to Ms. Texas for help.

It does not matter that I don't leave till Sunday morning. I'm freed. Free at last, free at last!

Mobile blogging?

This is my first mobile blog. I hope it works so I can blog during vacation. I'll need a way to vent about things and to give updates. Its one of the benefits of having a blackberry with a full keyboard.

Learning to Not Care

After yesterday's post, I can't believe that I'm writing about this. Now at work, not only am I not allowed to be the evil one any longer. I've been told "Not to care".

It seems... well, at times I'm just utterly dumbstruck and I can't think of the words to describe the confusion that I'm having with this. My mind is just not processing the concept that was told to me by my boss. Here I was, thinking that my coworkers who don't do their jobs, who spend the entire day balancing their checkbooks, making their wedding plans, doing college searches for their children, and worrying about the weather in Texas - were wrong.

Where is that buzzer indicating that I'm the one that is wrong? Do you hear that in the background?

Even when I worked part time in retail, my bosses there wanted me to care about what I was doing - even though they knew I was just there for extra money and it didn't matter much to me.

So, I'm going to have to go on the internet to see if there are any trainings in "Learning not to Care". I don't think I'm going to find many options here. Suggestions are welcomed.