Something keeps bothering me..

Do you ever get the feeling that folks only keep you around to use you for something.

That if they were to ever be able to do what you're able to, you wouldn't be around anymore?

That if you weren't able to do the things you can, you wouldn't be as vital anymore?

Yeah. I'm feeling like that right about now.

Yesterday I put in one hell of a workday just to get things done.

I'd posted about how I'm from the old-school teachings that my grandparents instilled in me.

I take pride in my work, and I do it to the best of my ability. I refuse to do something halfway, and leave it done with "just enough" to get it to work. In my opinion, that's just not right. I correct and complete the problem, and then in my estimation it's finished.

Yesterday, I was trumped.

We moved a workstation, and there were some unforseen consequences of the move. One was the failure of the IP phone, and another was the failure of the PC itself.

One was easily fixable. The other was not.

I had a replacement phone for the phone issue, but the PC was another matter altogether.

What had happened with the PC was best termed as a lack of housekeeping by the user of the PC tower. During the move, dust was able to sift into the contacts and hard drive of the PC, effectively erasing any and all data from the computer.

How do I know this?

Because it worked fine when I turned it off from the office it was in. Heck, it works fine now (once I removed the foot of dirt and dust from the inside of the machine!), and when transporting the PC, I took great care in keeping it stable.

Now, housekeeping on a PC isn't difficult. All that is really needed is to grab a small can of compressed air (that I provide these folks for free when asked!), and blow it into the tower about once a week. This keeps the dirt down, and the circuts clean. A clean PC is a happy PC!

Yeah. It doesn't happen much around here.

So, after putting in 18 hours of work to get the problem fixed, I was called and told to leave things "as they were", and go home. The problem will still be here when I get back, and I can work on getting it resolved then.

Grudgingly, I agreed, and headed home for a bit of food, and my bed.

When I came in this morning, it was to managers rooting through my office trying to find their PC and phone, and then yelling at me because their desk wasn't completely moved like it was supposed to be.

Being half-awake, and still a bit on edge from the excess of work I'd done the day before, I was impressed that I could muster up the polite response of telling them to talk with the GM who ordered me to go home, and that I'd take care of their problem when I was able to.

Threats of termination floated on the breeze, and I finally ordered them out of my office so that I could get to work.

Yeah, I'm still working on the problem. Heck, it's taking me longer to post than normal because in between sentances I'm checking for compilation completions, hoping that my data recovery scripting is going to work, and I can at least salvage some data that was lost..

Yet I can't help but feel that if any of the management here felt that they could do the job I'm doing, my time here would be awfully short..

I've been told on a regular basis that I do a great job around here. Things go smoothly, and problems don't happen very often. When problems _do_ show up, they tend to get fixed right away, and they get taken care of to such a degree that the problem usually doesn't happen again.

Now if I could only use that problem solving skill to replace faulty users, I'd really be in business, wouldn't I?

I'll talk with you all tomorrow, I've got a computer to fix.

We're not in Kansas anymore..

You know, I've often wondered what's happening with our economy and society today.

Maybe I'm just a throwback because most of my raising was done by my grandparents..

I mean, whatever happened to taking responsibility for your actions?

I don't see many of our banks and lending institutions taking responsibility for the things they've done. They're just trying to cover over their mistakes, and have someone else pay for it all.

How about taking pride in your work?

I've blogged on here quite a few times about the idiots I work with. However, I wouldn't be caught dead trying to pass off some half-assed work just because I know that it would be ruined in a tenth of the time it took to fix. Why? Because it's my job, and I'll do it to the best of my ability.

There are trends and common occurances that I've witnessed that really start to bother me. "Plausible deniability" and such are phrases that I really don't like to see in the news, but they seem to happen all to often.

"Don't blame me, I was following orders."

Yeah. I hate this one too. Why? Because the lump of fat you have sitting on your shoulders should give you some idea of what's right, and what's wrong. If it's wrong, you need to stand up for what's right. Don't just turn your head, and do it because you were told to. That is what makes a person an accessory. Stand up for what you've been taught, and do the right thing. You'll stand out, you'll stand apart, and you'll be marked. This isn't a bad thing. Why? Because you'll be the one in the right, and doing what is right is always the best bet.

It might not always be popular.

It might get you into trouble from time to time.

It might even cost you more than you're willing to give.

But I've decided that I'm going to take a stand.

I'm going to be accountable for my actions. I'm not going to follow the group, and I'm not going to be one to shy away from the confrontation either.

I'm here to say that things aren't looking too nice, and I want to change that.

I'm here to say that if more folks were to take responsibility for what they say and do, we wouldn't be in the serious mess we're in now.

Who's with me on this?

I know. Not many. It's not feasible.

That's what makes it that much more of a challenge.

A rant for those who could care less....

I'm writing this for all of my blogging friends...

Who really needs the added hassle of an anonymous commenter that writes with nasty sarcasm and vile towards something you've written?

I can't think of one.

Unless you're really into it, I guess.

As a form of self-flagellation, I could understand posting controversial things in order to mentally flog your self-esteem, and cause emotional scarring.

Other than that reason, I can't think of any use for an acidic remark from anonymous posters.

What could make someone want to spew nastiness on a person's webpage, and then decide to remain anonymous instead of stand up for their opinion or comment?

I mean, when I've got something to say, I really make no apologies for it, and say what I feel. If it's taken in the wrong context, I can better explain my meaning, but for the most part I'll make no defense for my opinion. However, I'll also make sure that folks know who it is who's doing the talking, and not wonder about the nameless faceless ass who rants and raves but doesn't believe in taking credit (or blame) for their decisions and actions.

In this day and age, it seems to me that it's more acceptible now to be faceless. That way, you can do or say what you want, and yet be "appropriate" when it 'really' matters.

Public opinion is as fickle as a teenage girl choosing a boy for her prom. They want it to look good, yet be fashionable. Trendy. Something that they're willing to show off, and make themselves look good.

This blog of mine isn't like that. If that's what you're looking for, let me save you the trouble. Go someplace else. I'm opinionated, and I really could care less if you agree or disagree with my stance. What I'm about here is letting you all know who I am, what I stand for, and what I believe in. Plain, simple, to the point.

No, it's not always going to be factual. Why? Because I'm going to be giving it my personal slant. A sliver I get might only be a tiny piece, yet the pain it caused me could make me feel that I've found Paul Bunyan's lost twig, and it's pierced me to my core.

That's called creative writing. Deal with it.

In closing, I'd just like to say that I don't mind comments. I love them, actually.

What I'd really like is for all that comment to at least own up to these comments, and not be some nameless faceless lump with acid for a tongue, and decide that anything and everything that I write is crap because it doesn't jive with what they believe in.

Be a real person, and disagree with me. But do it with a bit of dignity, and own up to your comment.

I'm done for now.

Have a nice day.

In memorium: The Nemesing One

One of my "mentors" here in the blogosphere is gone, and I feel the need to at least give a moment to remember him, and let his family and friends know that I'm thinking of them during this time.

The Nemesing One passed away this last Monday, and I'm still in a bit of shock over the whole thing.

I liked showing up at his site each morning to find some biting and slightly bitter commentary about his view of the world today.

His take on things like social reform, the economy, family life, and religion all centered around one thing: His sex life. As long as he was getting sex, he was happy with how things were. If not? Well, then everything could go to hell, and he was more than willing to tell you how to get there.

Myself?

I hope that I'll be able to keep his memory fresh in my mind, and maybe channel his sarcasm and wit every once in a while when posting something that really irritates me.

I don't know if I'll have his style, or ability to make up words and phrases for my intent, but at least I'll be able to blame him for the IDEA of ranting about things, and calling stuff white or black, and not painting everything gray.

You'll be missed TNO.

Head over to his site, and pay your respects if you will.

I'll return you to your regularly scheduled blog tomorrow.

Struggling to find my niche..

You know, I never really know what to write about on here at times..

I mean, I want to be funny, and I like to keep things light-hearted.

However, there are times where things just really bother me, and I feel that they need to be said. At times like those, I air them here, since I can basically say what I please, and really not feel like I'm being judged or condemned for my viewpoint.

If I felt that way, I could always turn off comments. However, with as few readers as I've got, that really doesn't amount to much, now does it?

There are times where I've talked with some friends from my past, and I'll remember something funny, and write about it.

There are times where something has happened in my family life, and I write about it.

There are times where I've seen something on the news, and I've complained about it.

And then there are the times where I have no clue what to write about, and so I give you more examples of the idiots I work with.

However, how many times can someone call a moron an idiot before it gets TOO redundant?

I mean, if I keep beating you all over the head about the brainlessness of some of my coworkers, it stops being funny, and starts getting mundane and annoying, doesn't it?

I'm no savvy writer. I can't Google some phrase, and come up with some funny diatribe about the economy, or Obama, or the housing market, or the financial system, or anything like that and tickle your funny bone.

I'm sure that my past isn't something many folks want to read about. In between the bouts of abuse and neglect, the times where I tried to innocently kill my brother and I with cars, and basically be a wild kid are overdone on many blogging sites.

My family life is something that I find interesting. However, my wife doesn't share my point of view, and so in the interest of keeping my manhood and family life secure, I'm no longer blogging about this as well!

So...

What to write about?

I could waste more time wondering out loud about this, and go completely nowhere with this blog entry today, or I could come to the point.

My point?

I'm going to write about my interests and hobbies. Maybe at some point I'll toss in a memory or some rant about our financial situation, but for the most part, it's going to be about things that I do for fun and hobbies.

I'll start tomorrow.

Like all good procrastinators, I know how to put off doing something!

Have you got Spring Fever yet??

Yeah, it's starting again this year...

I look out, and I see all of the things that I want and need to do out in the yard and around the house..

Yet, for all of my observations, I just can't seem to get motivated to really "do" something about it all.

Do any of you have this problem?

Take this for example:

This weekend, I had a friend of mine come over, and we trimmed down the monstrous hedges that grow in front of my house. The fence that is between my house and these green monsters is 5 feet tall, and some of the sections that we cut off these hedges were six to eight feet taller than that!

Anyway, after trimming these down, we piled them on my "to do" pile of dump junk, and planned on making a full day of dump runs for this coming weekend.

My dump pile has gotten a bit out of control.

I mean, it's still got stuff from the house remodel (including the sliding glass door we removed), old yard clippings, closet door junk I'm never going to use, the wannabe carport that fell and crushed my poor work car this winter, and other sundry items that really don't have any place at my house...

All in all, I'm looking at about 6 trips to get it all cleared out of my yard.

My friend also has things he needs to get rid of, so on my day off yesterday, we went over and gathered everything he needs to get rid of, so that we'd be ready for this weekend.

As it's looking like right now, we'll have one full load for his stuff, about another half load from his dad's stuff that needed to get taken out of his shop, and then the 6 or 7 loads that I've got stashed at my place.

But it doesn't end there...

My folks are also needing stuff taken out as well, and that adds another 3-4 loads to our planned dump trip.

So the grand total?

About 14 loads.

I'm hoping to have two trucks, so that we can make just 7 trips instead of wasting my entire day doing nothing but running from house to dump all day...

That, and I'm also praying that this dump date doesn't get postponed for some unknown and ungodly reason, either.

Because if it does, I have no clue when I'll get motivated enough again to make the attempt!

Anyone feel for me?

Time to go find a soda and some doughnuts.

I've been around the world and seen that only stupid people are breeding...

Yeah, it's Friday.

I'm actually getting a bit annoyed with the antics of some of my "frequent flyer" idiots. I mean, there are only so many times that I can repeat something before I start wanting to get sarcastic and snarky.

How many times should one person have to remind another about logging onto one specific program before starting another one that requires the first program to be open in order to gather data from the initial program's database?

It's as simple as:

Open program A. Then open program B. Why? Because program B needs to get info from program A in order to work correctly.

Yeah. Not quite rocket science.

Then there are the occasional idiots that decide to make the worst decisions ever when I'm extremely busy, and caught in the middle of another job.

Take today for example:

I'm currently in the middle of doing an exhaustive inventory for ALL of the computer equipment located in my building. That means servers, switches, scanners, radio ports, data cables, even Cat-5 jacks and phones.

While scraping away 3-4 years worth of dust from some locations, I happen upon interesting things like copper line converters, and BOS twinex controllers. These have been phased out of my system for the last 3 years, and yet I've found four that are still hooked up, and running...

While doing this, one of our associates decided to calibrate the laser scanner that we use to determine cube for an item. This scanner has a scale and sonic measuring devices located on it to determine height, width, and depth along with weight. This then can tell us how many of these will fit on a pallet, and how many pallet we can potentially put on a 48 or 52 foot trailer.

So, while deciding to calibrate the scale, they start pressing random buttons all over the scale.

My corporate supervisors call me an hour later to tell me that the weight info they're getting from my scanner is WAY off from their initial scans. Things that used to be 2-3 cube items are now coming out to be 200-300 cube items.

I head over to check.

Yes, I found the problem.

While calibrating the scale and scanner, they hit the buttons for Grams instead of Pounds, and Centimeters instead of Inches.

My company's data is measured in Inches and Pounds. So for the Inches to increase from 3 inches to 155(cm) is WAY out of proportion. Why? Because their hardware is still trying to convert the CM into Inches. So it's reading 155 inches when it was last measured at 3...

Now imagine this 45 pound box coming in at 1500 grams or so.

Yeah. You get the idea.

Once nice long recalibration session later, I've got the issue solved, but I've also killed 1/3 of my workday.

Ah, the joy of knowing when to leave things alone, and when to just nod and go about your business like it's another "normal" day....

I'm actually looking forward to this weekend. Maybe in some way I'll forget about the stupid crap, and be willing to start all over again on Tuesday...

I honestly think that's one reason my General Manager asked me to move to the 4 12-hour shifts..

See you all on Tuesday, and have a great weekend!