I fuckin' rock sometimes.

I painted it. It was not as hard as I thought it would be.



Sometimes I scare myself. It isn't really this shiny. It is still wet. In case anyone wants to know. I used Tremclad rust paint. I did not prime or sand it. All I did was rip off the mac-tac and paint it with a roller. Couldn't use a spray because I couldn't really move it.



And I think it looks a lot better without the fake mable mac-tac.



Oh, and ignore the thumb print on the handle. I actually painted the door shut and had to force it open. I will fix that later.

Hey, I never said I was Martha Stewart.

Ok, I might have said that once. But cut me some slack.

Draft from the past.

Thought I would share with you the comments I received on a post I made to another site. This has been sitting in draft for a while waiting for a day I couldn't think of anything to blog about. This particular post was one I put here as well on June 26th. Incidentally me in this instance is not me but a pompous windbag with a superiority complex.

Comments for: Best way to get your call times up? Argue with an asshole.

I realize customers are a big PITA, but you sound like a jerk. It's not your job to be such a smartass with people - you are paid to assist them with their problem, not give them an attitude, regardless of whether they started it. If I was your employer, you'd have been fired.
Posted by me at June 29, 2004 12:22 AM

Yeah, baby! You've got some ATTITUDE. ;)
Um...can you create a case for me, please?
Posted by m. at June 29, 2004 10:52 AM

Excuse me? But I am not paid enough to be told I am an asshole by a person who has no idea who I am. Don't fucking steal my VCR and then get attitude with me when I won't show you how to work the remote.

I don't see why I should have to show common courtesy to people with none.

How's that hearts and flowers shit working for you? I would love to see you after a ten hour shift of these idiots.
Posted by Evel at June 30, 2004 03:19 AM

I would have paid $$$ to hear that call!
But you know even if he does go buy a M.ac he's still going to call you for support. Because you are computers:)
Posted July 1, 2004 01:56 AM

And by the way....I am NOT a jerk. I am a bitch, therein lies the difference.Posted by Evel at July 1, 2004 07:01 AM

I had a customer one time who did not want to tell me his name, and we had to have it to create a ticket. In frustration he said that his name was Dick. I didn't say his name at all during the call until the end and I said "thanks for calling DICK!"
Posted by Me at July 1, 2004 10:55 PM

Fine, you're being a bitch. Regardless of how much you get paid, you're not being paid to be a bitch to the customers. And honey, I HAVE worked customer service, and I KNOW it sucks, but that is your job to take their shit. It's unfortunate, and I am not saying that person isn't an asshole, but what I AM saying is that you better watch your attitude before you're canned.
Posted by me at July 2, 2004 02:30 AM

Someone takes life waaaay too seriously. How sad.
Posted by Evel at July 2, 2004 04:56 AM

Personally I'm tickled that you're Canadian and that you remember the torching of the white house!

As far as 'me' is concerned, I personally assume that anyone posting here may actually not be posting 'real life' verbatim, but rather what they wish they either had or could have said. Why would someone read this site and assume that everyone says exactly what happens in reality? (Even if you are, Cube 420, I wouldn't assume you are)

This is a venting site. These days, the most stressful jobs around are those which require being cheerful to people (because they're customers) no matter what. Flight attendants are getting chronic fatigue syndrome from having to smile all day long - I can't recall the exact term for 'smilitis', but it's increasingly being recognized as a major organizational behavior problem in the service industry.

So why pick on people here? This is effectively a health benefit. Why not bugger off and annoy someone who's actually done something to you rather than going trolling on sites that everyone else is enjoying?

If you don't like it, don't come back... it's a simple solution to a simple problem
Posted by Maggie at July 2, 2004 07:32 AM

I wouldn't say I'm trolling because I read all the entries on a daily basis and rarely comment, and when I have, it's not been in disagreement with what was said. Obviously, this girl's posts have touched a nerve of mine, and the reason why is because I have worked in the customer service industry and I have overheard people being rude and nasty like this girl claims she is and I think it's wrong. I understand this is a place to vent, but then tell it like it is, don't pretend to be so nasty. And I wouldn't be surprised if she really is that nasty either. That's my issue. Just wanted to explain. Now I will stop posting and everyone can feel good about their attitudes again. :)
Posted by me at July 2, 2004 02:55 PM

Oh and one more thing - I take life too seriously? I'm not posting long entries all the time about how nasty I am, or wish I was, to customers. Furthermore, if you're posting in a public forum, don't expect everyone to agree with you 100% of the time. I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks you have an attitude problem, I'm just the only one who said it.
Posted by me at July 2, 2004 03:00 PM

HAHAHA! Comment all you like. I personally don't have a problem with my attitude.

And for the record that is exactly what I said. Not apologizing for it. I don't care what service you are providing to a 'customer' (which incidentally is not the case here since this guy was stealing the software) it does not give them the right to treat you like a second class citizen. That guy was nasty from hello. And he got it back, in spades.

You have to be a real asshole to me to illicit that kind of response, so when you are, you get it back, its that simple. I am not arbitrarily snotty to people. That guy deserved it.
Posted by Evel at July 3, 2004 03:46 AM

Never did find our who 'me' was, he was so sure of his own self-righteousness that he remained anonymous. Most idiots do.

I'm sorry, but it's over.

"It's not you, it's me."

"Ok, I lied, it's you."

Recently I discovered that my fridge had something against milk products. I thought we could work it out, possibly seek therapy but it just refused to keep them cold.

It was in denial that it even had a problem. It thought I should be satisfied with the perfect freezer performance it was giving me. That I was being unreasonable for wanting it all. We may have been able to get past that, but then it started exhibiting some passive aggressive behavior by pissing all over the floor.

That, I'm afraid, was the last straw. It is all so sad when a relationship ends. It's the kids that suffer.

So, the fridge and I had to part ways. It just wasn't working out. I called the landlord and he says, "No problem, I will bring you a new one."

He, of course, meant new in the sense that I had never laid eyes on it before. Not that it was brand new. This is what he brings me.



And yes, that is mac-tac. (Sticky paper, or whatever you call it in your neck of the woods.) That's fake marble mac-tac. Only the best for this chick. Posh! The mac-tac is, of course, to cover most of the rust.



I did say, 'most of the rust'. He looks at me and says, "Well you can change the mac-tac." Gee, thanks.

Oh well, it does keep things cold and the boy will just have to adjust to having a new fridge in the family. The old fridge is in the barn and has visitation rights. It was the least I could do.

I plan to paint the 'new' one. I might even get the sister to paint a big sunflower on it. Could be cool.

How to embarass a 14 year old in a grocery store.

Hold up a large tube of bolonga and say,loudly, "Hey Boy! How about a big fat balogny?" Then burst into fits of laughter. (You have to say Bah Lone EE and drag it out for effect.)

The boy is not amused, "Jeez Mom, your embarassing me." Looking around to see if anyone notices that he is with me.

"What? There is nothing funnier than a big ole hunk of balogny." Grab another equally large rolled meat product. "Unless it is a big hunk of salami." I am laughing so hard I snort.

The boy walks away from me like he has no idea who that crazy lady is.

Sometimes, I just crack myself up.

Dangers of sneezing.

Sneezing is the single most dangerous thing you can do. Avoid at all cost. I sneezed last night and fortunately I live to regret it.

Oh, I was throwing up at that moment. Probably should have mentioned that.

One other pearl of wisdom before I die:

When rushing to the bathroom to talk to Ralph, whatever else you forget to do in that moment, do not, under any circumstances, forget to turn on the light and fan.

These two items, while they will in no way affect the outcome of your conversation with Ralph, will prevent you from falling asleep on the porcelain phone and wake up unable to straighten into a complete standing position. The worst possible thing you could do, at that moment as well, is to sneeze.

Just a tip, carry on with your lives. Nothing to see here.

Can I get an Amen?

"Thank you for calling the Undisclosed Customer Service Center™ my name is blah blah blah..."

CUSTOMER: "I have this software on my computer."

ME: "Ok." I will play your silly game.

CUSTOMER: "I am trying to activate it and it won't work."

Long story short. Volume license software. OEM key.

ME: "Sorry, you have to use a volume license key for that software."

CUSTOMER: "But I want to use my OEM key for that."

ME: "I want my car to be a Fararri, but we can't always get what we want."

CUSTOMER: "That is retarded, I want to use my OEM key." I am thinking he doesn't have volume licensing. I am also thinking his mother and father were blood relations.

ME: "You can, if you install your OEM software, but if you are going to use your volume license software you will have to use your volume license key."

CUSTOMER: "I don't get it." Clearly.

ME: "I will put it this way. You are trying to start your car.....with your cat."

How did you get this number?

"Thank you for calling the Undisclosed Customer Service Center™ my name is blah blah blah..."

Customer calls in, she has purchased Product A. It included a tutorial, which you need Product B to view. You don't have to purchase Product B, there is a free viewer download you can use instead. She never gives me the chance to tell her this.

CUSTOMER: "I purchased Product A, it says it is designed for Product B but it is not on the disk."
ME: "Product A?"
CUSTOMER: "No Product B, it is telling me it is not on the computer, but the box says it is designed for Product B so Product B IS on the disk."
ME: "No, it says it is designed for Product B and you don't have it."
CUSTOMER: "But it says it is included."
ME: "No it says it is designed for Product B."
CUSTOMER: "Ya, that means it is supposed to be included." In what universe?
ME: "Consider this, Product B costs $400. You paid $60 for Product A, did you really think Product B was included?"

SILENCE

CUSTOMER: This is a rip off! CLICK

And the conspiracy theory guy. He is always fun.

CUSTOMER: "I want to report a bug, and if you don't fix it I will file a complaint with the De.par.tme.nt of Ju.st.ice."
ME: "Ok, shoot."
CUSTOMER: "Your OS is preventing me from installing a different OS on my system."
ME: "How's that?" Can't wait to hear this one.
CUSTOMER: "It is intentionally deleting track 00 on every one of my cd's. So I cannot make a boot disk."
ME: "Let's get some additional information."

He is running an OS that is 6 years old. Let's call it 'Doors You'.

ME: "And what OS are you trying to install. Li.nix?"
CUSTOMER: "No, OS2."
ME: "Is that Ma.cIn.to.sh?"
CUSTOMER: "No, I.BM."
ME: "Really, I wasn't aware they even had an OS on the market." Neither did you, you say? Not suprising, considering the last version came out in '96.
CUSTOMER: "Yes they do, and the Undisclosed Computer Software Company™ is activly sabotaging my attempts to install it on my pc." Like we give a shit.

I won't draw this out, you can see where it was going. This guy was going to take this all the way to the supreme court. I gave him his support options for the 5 year old software that he did have on his system. Considering it does not have its own CD burning capabilities, it is most likely the third party software he is using that is causing his cd's to be ruined. Or it could possibly be the fact that he is a moron and did not download (yes I said download) the OS2 software properly. It was going to cost him, and I am not sure how we could help with the other OS, but we would give it a try. He was fun.

CUSTOMER: "I am not paying for this. You will give me free support or I will file a complaint with the DOJ."
ME: "Ok then, is there anything else I can help you with? No, then thanks for calling the Undisclosed Customer Service Center™, you have a nice day."

Next crayon.

Feedback, Schmeedback.

Got the feedback for my TM interview. You know, for the job I didn't get? Incidentally, the feedback was not delivered by either of the 'women' that interviewed me. They pawned the job off on my TM. She told me I could have a meeting with one of the two if 'I insisted'. They're yella!

It appears that I am a, lets see, what did she call it? Oh ya, a ring-leader and a bad influence. I apparently influence those around me to bend to my will. Wouldn't that be a good thing? I mean, in a leadership position?

One of the two also did not appreciate some of the emails I sent to her voicing my concerns over some of the scheduled company events that repeatedly overlook half the company population. Events that are always scheduled for weekends, when half the center cannot attend because they work on the weekends. Apparently they do not appreciate the fact that I point out their thoughtlessness. I even got blamed for other people's emails along the same line.

Here's the thing. I suspect that they (meaning upper management) fear that I may 'influence' my team and others against them. But wouldn't that inspire 'them' more to make me one of 'them'? But I guess they can't risk it.

Anyway that is their story and they are sticking to it. That is the excuse they are peddling this time. If I was everyone else in this scenario I would be very insulted. To imply that these people have no mind of their own and I can make them do pretty much what I want? (not really seeing the downside here)

Ok, I suppose I can. However, I would never use my powers for evil.

Ok, I would. But I wouldn't do it to intentionally hurt anyone.

I need to stop now, I am not even convincing myself.

This looks interesting.

Found at Hohmann by way of Radmilla.

1. Go into your archive.
2. Find your 23rd post.
3. Find the fifth sentence (or closest to).
4. Post the text of the sentence in your blog along with these instructions.
5. Tag five other people to do the same.

Since mine are not numbered, it took a bit of counting to find.

" Am I dying? "

I don't know what this says about me, or even if I care.

But whatever, tag, your it.

The boy is wired wrong. Part Two.

I go to bed at 4pm (I work at 1am)

8:00pm - Boy crashes into the room. "Dad just came with the child support, can I get a pizza?" ME: "Fill your boots."

8:05pm - Boy crashes into the room. "Cover your eyes, I am turning on the light." He is looking for the phone book. In my room. The one with no phone.

8:10pm - Boy crashes into the room. "What do I ask for?" I don't know...ask for what you want?

8:15pm - Boy crashes into the room. "I don't know if they deliver." ME: "IT'S A FUCKING PIZZA PLACE, THEY ALL DELIVER!"

8:20pm - Now that I am awake, I have to pee. I walk out into the living room, "How long before the pizza gets here?" THE BOY: "I never ordered it, I don't know what to say." ME: "Here's a shot in the dark, how about 'bring me a pizza'?"

I end up ordering the pizza, and never getting back to sleep.

13 hour shifts are fun on 4 hours sleep. I highly recommend it.

The boy is wired wrong.

I am getting ready for work Friday night. The usual, shit, shower, shave and shove off. I reach for the toothbrush (in a glass beside the sink) I add the paste, begin to brush and ....holy shit, what is that taste? I take it out of my mouth and I notice it is black. WTF?

I find the boy in the living room. "What is up with this?" I stick it in his face.

He looks at me like I should know this, "I cleaned my trucks today." Matter of factly, like it was a regular day in the life of the boy. BTW, in case you are unaware, trucks are the part of the skateboard that attach the wheels to the board. Like an axel.

"Are you kidding me?"

"Why? Is that your toothbrush?"

"No, why would I put my toothbrush right next to the sink, in a glass? That would be retarded." Is he kidding me?

"Sorry."

Sorry, he says. It wouldn't have been so bad if he had used it and tossed it, but he felt the need to put it back in the glass next to the sink. You know, so I could continue to use it. He says he didn't know it was my toothbrush. Who's toothbrush could it have been? I am not running a flop house. If it wasn't his, logic would dictate that it had to be mine.

I get the pissing on the toilet seat, men are genetically wired for that. But some of the stuff this boy does, totally baffles me.

Using a roll of toilet paper a day to wipe his shitty arse. Is this because he is destined to be a big arsehole?

Leaving garbage on the counter directly above the garbage can.

Walking past the bathroom, into my room, to tell me he has to throw up.

Using a bottle of shampoo a week on half an inch of hair.

Cleaning his sneakers. Every night. With a face cloth.

Waking me up to remind me to wake him up. (You mean like I have been doing every morning since you were born?)

I guess you can chalk all that up to being male. But this? I do not get this.

I am in some sort of parallel universe....I think.

The boy just cleaned the house. The entire house. I am officially in the Twilight Zone.

Ok, from a distance it appears clean. But upon closer inspection I have to say it's half-assed. The floor is clean but the corners are full of crumbs. When you walk into the bathroom, again it appears clean, but you look in the sink and it is full of toothpaste. The garbage is taken out, but just barely, it sits on my doorstep.

But hey, at least I didn't have to do it, and I didn't ask him to do it either. What is up with that? What has he done? What is broken? Should I expect a visit from the police or an angry father of a knocked up teenage girl?

I have decided not to look a gift horse in the mouth and just go with it. I will let you know if I hear shots fired.

Wrong Word gets around.
We had a bit of a meltdown here a couple days ago. And it was all over gas, and I ain't talking flatulence here.

On the 22nd I was minding my own business when my friend called me. As I was talking to her I could hear the newscaster say 'a dollar seventy nine a litre'. She says, "Mom is stuck in a gas line, she heard that gas was going up to a dollar seventy nine a litre." Just as she said this I heard the newscaster say, 'it's just a rumor'. So, I say, "It's just a rumor."

"No way, Jimmy's friend said it is already $2.11 in Halifax!"

Again I say, "Just a rumor, it's all over the news." She is having none of it.

Later, I head out to visit a friend. You would not believe it. People were lined up for a quarter mile in each direction at every gas station. Police were directing traffic. Stations were running out of gas.

Don't these people ever listen to the news? I inch my way past one gas station and come up along side a cop directing traffic. "Have you thought to mention to these people that it is just a rumor?" The cop shrugs his shoulders and waves me by. As I look up at the station sign, it is still at $1.12 the same as it has been for over a month.

I get to my friends house and she is buzzing, "It's just a rumor." I say, feeling like a broken record. "Nope, we just passed the station down there and it is already up to $1.26 a litre." The same station I had just passed. You think this is how things get started?

"I am telling you it is just a rumor, it was all over the news."

"Your wrong, the guy at Walmart...."

"What guy at Walmart?"

"A guy, I don't know his name, he said it was already $2.11 in Halifax." Possibly it was Jimmy's friend, spreading the word.

"Oh, well then! If the guy from Walmart says it is so, then it must be so. I, foolishly, was getting my information from the national news. But the guy from Walmart is a much more reliable source."

I wonder sometimes how these people make it across the street on their own without becoming a grease spot?

Rifinito!

Finally it is all complete and the boy is safely ensconced in his brand new room.





And the piece de resistance!

This logo for R.ed Dr.ago.n Socie.ty. I think it turned out pretty good.

Maybe the boy will stay now.

And another thing...

We can't forget the final touch. This is what the boy will see when he sits down to do his homework.


(See How Much I Love You!)

Finished....well almost.

I think it turned out pretty well. And the boy likes it.

     

     

The boy wants to sleep in there tonight so I didn't get a chance to put the logo on the door.



But this is the logo, I have already traced it on the door, but will do it tomorrow when the boy is in school



I have complete faith....ya right.

Please do not try this at home.

Wish I had taken my own advice.

Just an update. I have most of it done.


Just have to put the white stripe on.


This wall might be a little tricky.


And the boy wants some sort of skateboard logo on the door.

There are muscles in my body that I had no idea I possessed.

And right this moment, I wish we had never met.

And another thing...

J.D. Fortune, wins Rockstar INXS and becomes the newest front man for that band. And he is from right here in Pictou County.

I had thought people were obnoxious when George Canyon came in second for Nashville Star. People have lost their minds here.

I just don't have the bone structure for this anymore.

Started to paint the boys room. This used to be panelling.


I first had to black out the windows so the boy would stop nailing a blanket up in front of it. He likes his room pitch black.


I just finished the priming and the trim.


Now I just have to paint the green and the stripes. I started it Monday and every bone in my entire body is screaming.

Pray for me.

David Blaine - Street weirdo Performer

What is it with this crayon?

I mean, I get the whole magic trick schtick. But what the hell does that have to do with standing on a fuckin' pole for hours? Endurance? And I should give a shit, why?

Pick a career and go with it psycho.

When this freak talks, he sounds like he is definitely on something. Supposed to make him sound deep I guess, he just sounds like he is on crack.

He gives me a headache, from rolling my eyes into the back of my head so much.

You know, your 'career' might go a little better if you tried not to creep people out so much.

End of rant.

Don't know what it is, but this guy really rubs me the wrong way.

PFO!

I might start wallpapering my room with all the PFO letters I get.

Can't be too disappointed though. At least this time they didn't give the job to some idiot.

Can't wait to hear what sort of feedback they will give me this time. Just to remind you, the feedback I got on my resume last time was - 'mention actual humans'. Should be interesting.

I will let you know what ridiculous pearls of wisdom they impart upon me this time.

I'm an astronaut and I own this bar...

Had my interview for the TM position today. I thought I would take a stroke, but I am ok. This being only the third interview I have ever had in my life.

The first was when I was in high school, and the interviewer was Japanese. Didn't go well since he didn't speak a word of English. Didn't get that job.

The second was for the Undisclosed Customer Service Center™™, and now this one. I never really had to interview for jobs before. People asked me to work for them, period.

So I get into the interview and it starts out normal enough. Work experience, educational background. Then they start in with the behavioral interview. Have you heard of this?

It makes sense I suppose but it lends itself to subterfuge. I mean, they ask you to 'Can you give us a situation where you anticipated a problem and the result was favorable'?

Now, how the hell would they know if it is true or not? It's not like they ask you to prove it. "Ya, I guess it would have to be the time I landed on the moon and Neil tripped on his space boots. He could have bounced right out into outer space had I not had the forethought to tether us together before we left the shuttle. That was a close call, I tell you what."

Ok, I will admit, they may have not bought that one, but you get the picture. It's a ridiculous process.

Anyway, they tell me that as soon as they finish the last interview on Friday that they will be choosing the successful applicants. That we will find out by end of day Friday and that person will start on Monday.

At least I won't have to stew too long.

Showing up early only works if you are the only one to think of it.

Went for bloodwork this morning. They open at 7am so I figured I would get there at 6:30am.

Good plan, eh?

It would have been if I was the only one to think of it. As it was, I was #3, and they were serving 80. WTF?

Some of these people were pro's. Probably there once a week. I propose that they take their own blood at home, they probably know how its done by now. That way they can just drop it off and I don't have to wait 3 hours for my sample after fasting (food and water) for 12 hours. Or, as an alternative, don't bother with the whole blood thing. After all, if you have to have blood drawn every week, you might just want to give up and live your life while you still have life left. It's just a big money grab, you don't really need all these tests.

Can you tell I am a little cranky now?

I wait the 3 hours and finally get in to have my sample taken. As I wait my turn I notice a teenager in scrubs and I suddenly get nervous. Please not him, please not him.

Guess what? Yeah, I got him. He takes me in the cube. I ask him which arm. He says, "Which do you prefer?"

"I only ever did this once before, so I have no idea." I say. Then it dawns on me, "You've done this before, right?" This gets snickers from the other techs. "Yes." he says. Then he starts to poke at my inner elbow. Poke, poke, poke...poke poke poke.

"Are you looking for something in particular?" Silence. Poke, poke, poke.

I couldn't see any change affected by the poking but apparently he did. He brings out the needle and I think I saw a look on his face like, 'here goes nothing'. JESUS H CHRIST! OUCH! He got it though.

You would think the initial entry of the needle to be the most painful part. Not true. Its the changing of the vials. Taking one out and pushing another in, while trying not to move the needle in the arm. FUCK ME GENTLY!

Now I have a nice large bruise to remember him by.

Now I have to turn around in another half hour and take the boy in for his ECG. At his last doctor visit she noticed an irregular heart beat. I am trying not to let it freak me out and amazingly the boy is not freaking out over it. I will let you know how that turned out.

And another thing...

Got my PFO letter for the associate trainer job, wasn't really disappointed since I really did not want the job. However, I was told I would get an interview for the TM job.Which means, behavioral interview. Once again the politically correct, Oprah crowd rules the world.

Have you heard of this shit? Behavioral interview? "Give me an example of when you showed initiative and took the lead." Wow, could that be any more vague? Fingers crossed.

"Throw him in the lock-up 'til he's sober."

Ok, is anyone else following Canadian Idol? I mean any sober people?

What kind of crack is the Canadian voting public on? Have we become a country of toned-deaf, internet voting freaks?

The chick, Mellisa O'Neil? Ok, she is not bad, but the other two left in the competition? WTF?

Aaron Walpole, God love him. He can carry a tune but he turns every song into a lounge act. Can you say Cheesy?

And the dude from Newfoundland, Rex Goudie. I am sorry, but this dude could not carry a note in a bucket. Not even if he had a forklift.

I think RockStar INXS has the right idea. Give the public a vote for the bottom three but let the professionals decide who stays and who goes. Not some Drunken Sailor's pre-teen daughters.

Let's get these people detox'ed for next year, eh? It's embarrassing.

Selfless act of charity?

N.S. man preserves record of historic explosion.

Sounds like a good idea eh?

Well today there was a spot on tv about him. How he found the last resting place of a little girl who died that day and was buried in an unmarked grave. Well it is marked now thanks to him and a local funeral home. Sounds sweet, don't it?

Here's the catch. Along with the name of the little girl and of course the date of her death, the headstone has HIS name on it and the name of the funeral home. I kid you not! I wish I had a picture of it.

What the fuck is up with that? That is about the tackiest thing I think I have ever seen. I think the little girl and her family would just as soon leave her grave unmarked as have it be an advertising for a funeral home or an employment reference for some asshole genealogists.

What do you think?

They blame it on Katrina.

Is anyone buying it?

New Glasgow, Nova Scotia Gas Prices
September 02nd, 2005 04:47 PM 138.9 cents per litre
September 04th, 2005 09:03 PM 145.9 cents per litre

They blame it on Kartina, but the government has no problem taking its cut.



But what are ya gonna do?

Some days you're the windshield, other days you're the bug.

I have a trojan. I can't get rid of it.



Will have to format and re-install.

I hate formatting and re-installing.

Paging Mr. Dover, Mr. Ben Dover?

Thursdays price for gas - 128.9 cents a litre.

Bend over and take it like a man.

Please people, don't panic.

I am driving to my friends house yesterday and see a huge line up of cars at one of the gas stations. This is weird because there are four gas stations within spitting distance of each other.

I look at the sign, nothing strange, 109.9 per litre. It's been that for a while. What do these people know that I don't?

I get on the highway and take the exit to my friends house and all becomes clear to me. The garage on that exit has a tall lighted sign that announces the price of gas.

119.9 per litre! Holy Shit! No wonder there was a line-up. However, I am of the mind that I don't have time to wait in a line-up for half an hour just to save a couple of bucks on gas.

And another thing...

Think of the gas you waste idling your engine in the gas line-up.

I'll pass. I am just glad I don't have to pay for heating oil this year.

Elvis has left the building!

Was sitting in the smoking area at work the other day and PW came out.

VISUAL: Minimal makup, baggy jeans, oversized grungy sweatshirt, sans hooker boots.

Elvis has definately left the building.

On a lighter note.

Just sitting here giggling over commercials. The Keith's Angry Scot commercials are my favorites. They haven't got the Scurvy one up yet (my all time favorite) but here are a couple of the better ones.

Spilly Talker
Neck Brace

And the Joe Canadian commercial. The one we all want every single American on the planet to commit to memory.

Got any favorites you want to share?

A call to arms.

I spent a couple hours on the 23rd rallying the troops.

I came in to submit my resume for the trainer position only to discover that I was but one of two to do so. Not happening, we are not making it that easy for him. If he wants to stack the deck, I will make damn sure it's a full deck.

So, I went through the center bullying encouraging anyone with a resume on the system to submit it for the associate trainer position. People who didn't even want the position, it didn't matter, I even updated a couple myself at home. Now when they give the position to PW, we can all get together to tear the MO a new one.

Won't that be fun?

And they continue to poke the bear. WTF?

Ok, I get that you are pissed off about being a garbage man but don't fling my garbage cans in the middle of my driveway and screech your tires as you drive away. I was not the one who fucked around through high school and now has to clean up after everyone else.

Not sure if I mentioned this before. (just checked, and no I didn't)Big drama surrounding the new training.

There was this one chick in our training class, we will call her PowerWhore or PW for short. First a visual. Long hair to her ass. Caked on makeup, hooker boots and a mini skirt.

PW was the cheerleader of the group. Every time someone said anything negative, she flew up the trainers ass and massaged. "You are such a smart man!" "What can we do to make you feel good about us?" She went so far as to sing to the Extremely Huge Head from the home planet. A song she had learned in 'his' native tongue, Lebanese. Immediately following the song, she asked for a private moment in one of our conference rooms. You can fill in the blanks, use your imagination.

Fast forward to end of training. She is asked to be a SME (Subject Matter Expert). Forget the fact that she has no idea about the subject matter. Then when the second wave of training begins, she announces that "They" (whoever they are) have asked her to come in and 'monitor' the training. Gee, wonder how she got that gig?

Then the rumors begin. She will be 'given' the Associate Trainer position. Needless to say I fire off an email to the Big Giant Head. He says, "No one will be 'given' anything. The position will be posted and qualified person given the job" We'll see.

Next day, job is posted by HR. Start date 19th (but posted on the 22nd) and end date 23rd.

OH NO YOU FUCKING DON'T! I go find my TM.

"You need to go talk to the Big Giant Head, or I will." She really doesn't want that, and neither does the Big Giant Head.

Needless to say they are extending it for a couple of days.

Moral of the story: If you want to get ahead in this world, make damn sure you can sing in a foreign language. Or at the very least look decent in a pair of hooker boots.

Half a bubble offa plumb.

Well another weekend shift under my belt. This one was easier than the last, thank God.

I get home on Saturday afternoon and the neighbors rush out of their house to greet me. "The cops were here last night!"

"Great, what the hell did the boy do now?"

"No." she says, "I asked if it was him and they said the boy was too young. They were looking for someone older." Turns out they told her husband,(the brain surgeon) the name of the boy they were looking for be he forgets. WTF? Four mounties surround your home at 1 in the morning and you forget who they were looking for? That man is half a bubble offa plumb.

Anyway they said they would be back but never did. They must have realized they had the wrong place.

Then this morning I wake up to a strange cat in my living room, the brain surgeons cat came through my screen! And it cannot fly either. Who knew?

I think they might be sharing the whiskas.

Bite Me!

My cousin Sonny's fiance, Rebecca, is finally here in Canada for good. She is from Hong Kong. She has been back and forth a couple times but she is here for good now.

The last time she was here I forgot to ask her to take a look at my tattoo. If you remember my friend and I got identical tattoos last year that said 'bite me' in Chinese. Well that was what we hoped they said. Since neither of us actually speak Chinese, we had to go on faith.

Well when Rebecca walked in today I flashed her the leg and she said,in the most adorable accent, "Oooo, bite you?"

"Well thank God, for all I knew it said 'stupid Canadian'."

I have to remember to tell Kimmy, the friend I got the tattoo with. I remember when we got them we said, "So what if it doesn't say what we want it to say, it's not like we will be running into an actual Chinese person who will point out our stupidity. Right?"

Then Sonny goes and chats up a Chinese chick. Way to make us sweat.

Four days, whatever will I do with myself?

Finished my first 'week' on the new backshift schedule. What fun. Working 1am till 2pm for three days.

The first night was brutal. I could not for the life of me sleep all that day, although I tried. By the time I got into work I was already tired. That first night I didn't get a call till 10:30am.
Nine and a half hours before I got a call! It was rough. We basically just sat around and talked, played cards and bored ourselves stiff. By the time I got home I was that tired that I don't even think I took my shoes off.
I just crashed.

The next night was a little better, although I still only took 3 calls in 13 hours. I at least had a little more sleep. But since there is only 10 hours between the shifts, I didn't get much else accomplished. I got home and was in bed at 2:13pm.

I was really rested for the last shift, and it was a good thing. We actually started to get quite a few calls on Monday morning, but it wasn't till the day shift had already arrived so I still only took 12 calls in total. But before that, we played Trivial Pursuit for about 3 hours.

Now here I sit, Tuesday afternoon, (I think) and I am tired. Must go take a nap.

And another thing...

You can disregard the 'vote for Kaysar' thing in the previous post. I have discovered a program that will send in my votes automatically. You just put in how many times you want to vote and presto. So far I have voted 10,345 times and counting. Every 5 seconds.

Don't ya just love technology?

Your Oh Kay Sar!

Ok, I have lost my mind again over Big Brother. Again.

Click to vote to bring back Kaysar. Do me a big favor and make sure that sanctimonious, holier than thou, Eric does not get back on, or I will have to cease watching. I can not stomach one more second of his little flock saying, "What would Cappy do?"

Fuck Cappy, what would McGuyver do?

He would vote for Kaysar, that's what!

Ok, I am just off three 13 hour shifts. I am just a little punchy. I will let you know how it went after a little shut-eye.

One shift down...

So, we got one shift in. Didn't go too bad. No one was killed and nothing blew up.

I start my backshift tonight at 1am. I am sure it will take a while to get my body into the rhythm. As long as I have some decent tools.

Last night I had a headset without an amp, which makes it impossible to hear yourself. If you can't hear yourself, you can't tell if you are talking loud enough. It was annoying.

I told a TM, "I will file a ticket on it." Oh great! That will make it all right. Considering I filed a ticket for roaming profile. TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO!

Then I spot the MO milling about, looking very much NOT busy. I sign off the phone and stand beside him.

"Hey, busy?"
"No." He says.
"Well, I can't hear on my phone, I need an amp."
"Did you file a ticket?" I roll my eyes at him.
"How hard can it be, I can just boost you up over the Great Wall of China over there and you can fetch me one." He looks at me like I am kidding, and then realizes I am not.
"I will see what I can do."
"Your on it then?"
"Ya, I'm on it."
"Your the man."

So he proceeds to tell another MO, "Evel needs an amp." She turns to the TM, "Evel needs an amp." The TM goes purple. -- evil grin --

I believe if you want something done, you go to the top.

It's not like he was busy or anything.

Stress? What stress?

My eyelid has been twitching for the past 3 weeks and it has been driving me crazy. But like a good little 60's baby I avoid the doctor like the plague.

What the hell do I need a doctor for? I have the internet. Looks like it all points to Eyelid Myokymia.

Stress? Check.
No Sleep? Check.
Caffeine? Check.

Benign, I'll take it.



Tim might be upset when I switch to decaf,
but you'll just have to suck it up, Princess.

It's official....sort of.

I passed the test, and the min skills. So I guess I am officially a ...what?

We are not even sure what they are going to call us. Tech routers? Something to that effect. Well we will soon find out. We hit the floor, live tomorrow.

Meanwhile back at the farm, they fire one of the MO's and an assortment of other upper management. Not sure what that is about. They say downsizing, then they announce another new project as well as hiring 40+ more techs. Make any sense?

The moral of the story? - Don't buy any green bananas.

Can you say, "Four days off" ?

That's right, I got the backshift. 1am till 2pm, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. 13 hour shifts but 4 days off.

Initailly I was not on the list. But I poked and bitched and whined until I got what I wanted. The best part about it is that the other shifts will start on Thursday, so the Extrememly Huge Head said we could come in and listen to calls and the Undisclosed Computer Software Company™ would foot the bill. So we will be able to hear some live calls without being at all responsible for them. And get paid.
-- insert evil grin --

And another thing...

I was up all last night studying, got to sleep about 5:30am. I get up at 9 to pee and hear the downstairs neighbor yelling through the connecting door. "EVEL! THE BUG GUY IS HERE TO SPRAY!"

FUCK! Thanks for the advanced warning.

Guess I forgot to mention that I had been having an ant problem since I moved in here. I was hoping that the destruction of the old rotting deck would take care of the problem but I woke up one day last week to this.

And these are just the ones I caught on film before most had scurried away. EEEWW!

So the boy and I had to find somewhere to go for a few hours. Since I am not ever off on the weekends, I had no idea where that would be. Finally we headed out to my brothers. The boy snuck off to a bedroom and went back to sleep and I visited with my brothers fiance. By the time it was safe to go back home I was ready to crash and barely made it in the door. Made a B-line for the bedroom and dropped dead.

Got back up at 7, drove the boy to meet his friend and got back to studying.

I am such a wild and crazy gal.

"Stand back, and make sure you are wearing your protective goggles."

I think I might get through this training as long as my head doesn't explode.

The Extremely Huge Head announced that we are doing so well he has decided we will hit the floor next week. If you only knew the amount of information there is you would understand what he said next.

He looks at me, "Are you ok?"

I was purple. I could literally feel my blood rushing through my veins. All I could think was, 'How the hell am I going to retain all this information?' There are a kazillion developer products and at that moment I could not tell you what one of them were.

Then the trainer let us listen to some calls. Whew!

I think if I can just get past the written tests I will be ok. I totally suck on paper. On paper I second guess myself, but I can bluff the shit out of a phone call if I have to.

The coolest thing about this new job is the power. In CC and in Pro, we did a lot of complaining about the techs. They liked to refuse to take calls, they would send customers back to CC if they thought they were misrouted. Customers could end up talking to 6 people before they actually got their issue resolved. (usually by the first group they had been transferred to.)

But with this job we will be taking the customer to the tech. Explaining the issue and taking names. When we are done with a customer we will know that that customer will be helped and by whom. And if the tech refuses? God help them!

"Ah, you don't want to take this case? Oops, I just assigned it to you. You think it belongs somewhere else? Hold please, I will get that tech on the line and the two of you can fight it out amongst yourselves. B-Bye!"

This is going to be cool!

Baldry won't be back this time.

Long John Baldry

When I was a teenager, this guy was it for me. We would all sit around smoking weed and listening to 'You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'. I don't care who has done it before or since, his version was the best.

A couple years ago I had to spend months on eBay trying to replace one of his cd's. I remember how excited I was to finally find it. I played 'Baldry's Back' till the boy threatened mutiny.

Back before the dawn of video and MTV, artists had to rely on talent not hype. I don't think we even knew what he looked like back then. He was a great talent and that is all we based our opinion on.

It is sad when you have to let go of that. Video's are cool and all but now a days anyone with a couple bucks and a bellybutton ring can get themselves a record deal.

Sadly missed, but never forgotten.


Long John Baldry
1941 - 2005

I left some stuff out, if you can believe that.

Well, we finally figured out what the training is. Well sort of. We found out why it was 'secret'.

They don't actually know what it will be in the end. It's more like a pilot. See what we can be trained for. Have us as a backup for existing centers, basically cross train us for every level of customer service highest to lowest. They are big on redundancy sites right now since our center went down in a blizzard for 4 days, and there was no one to cover.

Since most of us already have experience in consumer and professional customer service, they are training us for higher levels. You know, those customers who purchase thousands, even millions of dollars of support. Companies that may even have our technicians on site already or have the option to have them flown in.

Some of the others are a little freaked out. But these customers will require even less from us. They will know exactly what they want and who they want to speak to.

Before we even learn what we will be training for there was a little bit of tension. Especially from a few of the techs that were chosen. They are upset, understandably, about going backwards in the company. (the salary cap is lower in CC) But they don't even know where this might lead, so they should at least give it a chance.

Not this one Tech Chick. The Extremely Huge Head from the Undisclosed Computer Software Company™ is welcoming us and giving us an idea of what it was all about and she starts. She is upset about being there. She feels it is a demotion. Now, keep in mind, we don't work for the Undisclosed Computer Software Company™, we work for the Undisclosed Customer Service Center™, the Extrememly Huge Head is our client. He is pissed. This tech chick idiot won't shut up. He keeps telling her to take up any employment issues with her MO.

Then she does it royally, she equates her draft into this new project with being asked to flip burgers. HOLY MOTHER OF GOD! You don't look your client in the face and tell him it is beneath you to work for him in this capacity.

One of the trainers (not ours, thank god) was offended by this comment, he stood up and told her that the Undisclosed Computer Software Company™ was a family and no one department was any better or worse than the other and stormed out of the room.

This, you would think, would shut her up? No. She kept going. Finally the Extremely Huge Head shut her up. "I can't do anything about your employment, I can't say to your MO, fire her. All I can say is I don't want her on my project. Again, if you have any employment issues take it up with your MO."

BURN! Wonder if I will see her in training on Monday?

So, how is training going? It's frustrating. There is one chick in this class (not idiot tech chick) that is jumping all over my last nerve. She is literally holding us up. She constantly asks questions, senerios about future events, "What happens when I am on the phone for 6 years and I get a cramp?" The guy from the Undisclosed Computer Software Company™ who actually wrote the training book is training us and she is correcting him. I kid you not! This dude wrote the book. Even if he says the sky is green, you do not correct him. What the hell is wrong with you?

I turned to the guy beside me and said, "I'll give you 20 bucks if you break her legs."

"I think one of them is already broken."

"Ok then, ten."

Dude from the Undisclosed Computer Software Company™ is pretty even tempered, and clearly religious but I can see him cracking.

He might do it for free.

And another thing...

Another reason the tech chick is bitter? The CC agents get a one dollar an hour raise! Considering that the techs start out at a dollar more an hour, it has to do with wage equity in the project.

Bite me bitch!

Ignore the man behind the curtain.

Today I start the 'secret' training.

The Extremely Huge Head from the Undisclosed Computer Software Company™ did indeed show up yesterday. He was not impressed with the setup.

There was much angry words and smoothing of feathers. Threats and compromises. Pictures of the great wall were taken and, I assume, sent back to the home planet. I don't blame them, that wall is just indescribable.

So far the Undisclosed Computer Software Company™ has not pulled the plug on the new project but they are not happy with the training facilities. Nor are they at all happy with the presence of the Undisclosed H Em Oh™.

So, what does the Undisclosed Customer Service Center™ do to rectify the situation? After the Extremely Huge Head left building they constructed what can only be described as a brain fart. They hung tarps around the hastily thrown together 'special' training room. Big time security at the Undisclosed Customer Service Center™.

I wish I had been there this morning when the Extremely Huge Head cast his peepers on that rediculous setup.

Can't wait to hear what his reaction was.

Your own worst enemy.

And how was your day?

Incoming message from the Big Giant Head!

The Big Giant Heads from the Undisclosed Computer Software Company™ flew in yesterday to begin training.

A little background. I work for the Undisclosed Customer Service Center™ who's only client (until very reciently) in this center was the Undisclosed Computer Software Company™.

A couple months ago the Undisclosed Customer Service Center™ courted a new client, lets call them Undisclosed H Em Oh™. They figured it would take this new client a while to make up their minds and by then they would have a new location ready for them.

Not so, they were quick to sign on the dotted line. And now they want to begin training and the Undisclosed Customer Service Center™ had no place to put them. So, while waiting for a new location they put a wall down the center of our production floor. Gave them 150 cubes and they started training. They are also using all of our training rooms.

Coincidently, around this same time, the Undisclosed Customer Service Center™ is also courting the Undisclosed Computer Software Company™ to bring in a new project. Much training, new shifts, the whole nine yards.

They didn't figure on getting the go ahead on both projects at once.

So the Big Giant Head's from the Undisclosed Computer Software Company™ show up here on Monday and this is what they see.

-The great wall of china.
-Training rooms occupied.
-Strange people milling about.
-Security barring them from half of the center.
-Techs (their techs) standing around for an hour waiting for seats so they can begin working.
-One hastely constructed training room smack dab in the center of the production floor that they are informed is 'special, just for them'.

So, one of our classes begin. Trainer is distracted by production floor noise and the added noise coming from behind the great wall. He is pissed. He sends the class for a break and does not come back.

Next thing you know, the Big Giant Heads inform everyone that training is postponed till Friday and they leave. This is not good.

I suspect that they went back to their hotel and immediatly contacted the Extremely Huge Head and he is on his way from the home planet.

Heads are going to roll. I just hope that it is not mine.

Scheduling brilliance!

Last night I get to work (at 3pm) only to find that by 7:30pm I would be one of only two agents working. WTF?

Who's brilliant idea was that? And I was off at 11pm so the other poor soul (Kay) would be there all by herself till 1am.

Needless to say, I stayed till one. You got to wonder who, in upper management, lied on their resume. Organizational skills, my ass!

The TM on duty called the Big Giant Head to see if he could ask some agents to stay for OT, but she conveniently didn't call back until all the others had left. 'I could stay if I wanted to', she says. 'Yes, she knew it would only be us two', she says, but she thought I was on till one. WHAT? She thought two agents were plenty to take care of all business calls in North America? I was NOT impressed.

I ended up taking 106 calls and Kay took almost 80. If you called in last night, I apologize, but I was just rounding them up and shipping them out. No extra chatting, no going above and beyond. Everyone got the bum's rush.

And another thing...

It had to be that way, cuz we were working the professional line, and of those 106 calls I took last night, maybe 20 were professionals. All the others were calling after hours for personal support. And they weren't getting the whole "we're closed" thing. Some people can be so thick sometimes.

ME: "Thank you for calling the Undisclosed Customer Service Center�? my name is blah blah blah..."
CUSTOMER: "Ya, I can't get this program to work." It's Me.dia Pl.ay.er. Groan!
ME: "Consumer support is closed for the evening, if you would like to call back in the morning, someone should be able to help you."
CUSTOMER: "So here's the thing..." He starts babbling about his issue.
ME: "Sir, I am not a technician..."
CUSTOMER: "Ok, I need a technician."
ME: "As I said that department is closed, if you would like to call back in the morning..."
CUSTOMER: "No I need to talk to one tonight, I will pay..."
ME: "I am sorry, but I can't charge you, there is no one here that can help, they all went home."
CUSTOMER: "So you won't help me? I paid a lot of money for this software and you are telling me that you will not support it?"
ME: "No, that is not what I said, I told you that that department is closed, everyone in that department clocked out 4 hours ago and went home."
CUSTOMER: "But your there, why are you answering the phone if you can't help customers?"
ME: "You have reached the professional group, we handle tech support for professional products."
CUSTOMER: "So you lied, there are techs on duty, you just won't send me to one."
ME: "Yes there are techs here, they are trained in professional products, if you had a professional product I could get you through to a technician. It would require the use of a support account or a credit card charge. The charge for professional support is two hundred and forty five dollars." That shut him up.
CUSTOMER: "That is so unfair!"
ME: "What is so unfair, if your tech support cost $245, you would have 24 hour service. But yours is free, so you have to call back during support hours. It's simple."
CUSTOMER:"Ok, well let me ask you this...."

Ok, this has gone on long enough, I am in Q and I don't have time for you...< - CLICK - >

And how was your night?

Curious-er and curious-er.

Another thing that makes me think this might be the Technical Router thing. All the current TM's were asked if they would volunteer for a back shift.

No one, of course, did. So since no one volunteered, someone will be voluntold.

They wouldn't ask for volunteers unless they plan on having that shift.

Fingers still crossed.

And another thing ...

For those of you concerned about my impending incineration. You will be relieved to know that I got my training schedule changed from that 7am start to 3:30pm.

Sigh of relief.

It's all so ...

Lots happening at the Undisclosed Customer Service Center�. A bunch of the pro agents have been in sales training this week. Then I get my schedule and there it is, training. I ask a TM what the training was for, I figured they would say sales. Not so.

"We were not told what the training was for. Just that you are scheduled for it."

Now if it were sales they would just come out and tell us it was sales.

"What is so top secret about training?"

"No idea, they won't tell us anything."

So, I ask around. I can tell that it is NOT sales for the simple fact that there are people that are already in sales in the training. There are also people from the xp tech department in this training so I am thinking it might be some sort of tech router.The suspense is killing me. I really hate not knowing.

I am really hoping that it is tech routers. Ever since they hinted that they had a new shift for possible technical routers, I have been dreaming of it. Three days on and four, count 'em, four days off.

I would kill for that. But what is with all the secrecy? Another rumour is that big giant heads from the Undisclosed Computer Software Company� are flying up for the training.

Gotta be something besides sales. After all, any moron with goo.gle access can do sales.

And another thing ...

I get an email telling me I am scheduled for training on the 20th.

AT SEVEN A M!

AM! Did I mention it was AM? Holy shit!

I have been night shift (5pm to 1am) for most of the last 2 years. I am not sure what will happen to me if I am asked to function at 7AM. And I have to work till 12:30 the night before.

I don't know but, I am pretty sure if I step outside at 7AM I will burst into flames. I am scared!

I voiced my concerns with a TM and he is going to try and get me switched to the night class. Pray for me.

Rain, Rain go away.

If it would only stop raining, I could sit here.



Can ya tell I am proud of myself?



Is it that obvious?

Stupidity. Not just for customers anymore.

I know I pick on the lowly computer home user. They are not the only ones calling me with absolutely stupid requests. (if you want to insert funny accent for tech, go ahead)

TECH: Starts to babble on about tech things, what he has tried with this customer, what he wants to try next. "What do you think?"
ME: "I think you should call your mentor."
TECH: "The mentor line is busy."
ME: "So you thought 'hey, I can't fix this, and the more experienced techs are not available, so I think I will call customer service? Did you want me to send Gerry the Janitor over and you can consult with him? Give your head a shake."<-CLICK->

TECH: "We are installing this operating system and we need a bypass key for activation."
ME: "What is wrong with the key the customer has?"
TECH: "We already used that one on his laptop."
ME: "Did he purchase a second OS?"
TECH: "No."
ME: "Then No."
TECH:Then very snotty, "If you wouldn't mind checking the case notes, there is a note from my mentor that authorizes me to call cc for a bypass key."
ME: "How nice for you, but I could care less. If your 'mentor' wants to give you the key he can fill his boots. OS software keys are one license for one installation. If I were to give you another I would be actively pirating the software."
TECH: "Really?"
ME: "I'm sorry, are you new?" <-CLICK->

TECH: "Ya, I need a bypass key for office upgrade."
ME: "Does the customer have a qualifying product?"
TECH: "No."
ME: "Then, no."
Insert snotty comment about checking case for mentor note
ME: "Did you delete the customers qualifying product?" Which does happen and we don't penalize the customer for our mistake.
TECH: "No."
ME: "Look, your 'mentor' has access to the tool. If he wants to give this guy four hundred bucks worth of software he can go right ahead, but I am not. That would be piracy. If your customer wants a full version product he has to purchase it." Who trained these people?

TECH: "I need you to redirect this customer. I am an XP tech and this case was created for office." He gives me the case number and, look at that, he is right. Says so clearly that it is office. Along with the proper transfer code for that department.
ME: "Are you kidding me? How long did you wait on hold for me?"
TECH: "Five minutes."
ME: "And all the while, staring at the proper transfer code for this customer? Why didn't you just transfer him there?"
TECH: "Ah...." <-CLICK->


TECH: "We just finished the install and we need to be transferred to activation."
ME: "So, why didn't you just call activation?"
TECH: "Ah..."
ME: "Not your secretary." <-CLICK->

Again with the roaring.

It's not fancy...



But it works.



I might start a business. LOL!

La tabella � completa!

The table is complete, with complications. I forgot to allow for the thickness of the top when I measured for the legs, so its a bit high. Sonny will cut the legs down for me.


But I think it turned out alright.

This little pile of lumber?



Is destined to become an night stand. Wish me luck!

And another thing...

After finishing the table, I was moving it to take a picture....and broke a fucking nail! Do you believe that?

More delays.

Well the jigsaw had no blade. So I had to call my cousin, Sonny. All he had was a skilsaw.



He said he would come over and saw the legs for me. Great, cuz I won't deal with anything that can cut my leg off. A flesh wound is fine but I draw the line at amputation.

So, Sonny comes by, power tools and daughter in tow. The princess and I stand back, cuz he is already down one finger and that does not inspire confidence. Once he is finished he asks if I want him to put the legs on for me.

"Ah, no. I can handle it." It's a table, not the space shuttle.

Then the princess pipes up, she is all of 5 I think, "Don't you want my daddy to make the legs for you?"

I kneel down in front of her, like I am about to prevail upon her the wisdom of the ages, "No, sweety, women don't need men to build anything, they just need their power tools." In more ways than one.

As they were leaving I thanked Sonny. "No problem" he said.

And the princess, all sweetness and light says, "Daddy, why did you say 'no problem'?"

"Oh, was he complaining the whole way over?" I ask.

"Oh Yeah."

Never trust a kid to keep a secret.

Anyway, I got one leg on the table before I had to go to work, and then it rained cats and dogs, so I won't finish until tomorrow. Pictures to follow.

Those who doubt me, can bite me!

I turned this...


Into this...


And did not break a nail.


ROAR!!!

I had to quit when I finally broke the saw, but tomorrow I will break out the jigsaw and finish 'er off.

I am woman, hear me roar!

Been busy these last few days, I am building a table for my deck.

Yes, I said building a table. With my own two little perfectly manicured hands.

So far I have just cut and laid out most of the wood, but the hand saw I have is warped. So, I am just waiting for my brother to arrive with the new saw and a power tool I need (a power driver).

A couple of people offered to do it for me, but you know men, the offer then make you wait till winter. By winter I will not need a table for my deck. So, I lugged the wood up the stairs and started on my own. Mind you, it will never make it into the Bob Vila Hall of Fame, but it will serve my purpose.

I will post pictures when it is done.

And another thing...

Building has been slowed due to the fact that my son and I had a bit of a corn boil today. I am suffering a bit.

I have come to the conclusion that you never really buy corn you just rent it. There can't be any nutritional value in corn, since it exits in the exact condition as it entered.

She's Baaaaaacccckkk!

Canada's most notorious female killer, Karla Homolka, is back on the streets, of Quebec.

She went straight from prison to the studios of Radio-Canada to do an exclusive interview in very bad french. I guess she wants to live in Quebec so decided to go the French route.

This whole thing has been huge embarrassment for the legal system in Canada. Twelve years is not adequate punishment for the monstrous things this psycho did. Rape torture and murder of several school girls including her own 15 year old sister. The prosecution jumped the gun when they plea-bargained Holmolka. Had they just waited a couple months, (until the video tapes surfaced) they could have had her for the rest of her days. Safely behind bars.

In the last hour they added a crapload of restrictions on her for a year after her release. But I doubt it will stick. Holomolka declined an offer of earlier parole consideration for just this reason, she served her entire 12 years. Meaning it is unlikely that they will be able to enforce the restrictions. The court gave her a sentence and she served the entire sentence. They just better pray that she can keep it together and not go psycho again.

I am still of the hope that there is at least one other psycho out there who will finish her off, just for the notoriety.

Hey, psycho's should be good for something, eh?

Happy Fourth!

And just for today, go ahead, blame Canada.

You know you want to. But remember.

Good news, bad news.

After being missing for 6 weeks, 8-year old Shasta Groene found at a Denny's Restaurant in Idaho in the company of Joseph Duncan a level three sex offender. Her brother, Dylan Groene, has yet to be found.

Apparently this dick-head has a blog that advocates the non conviction of sex offenders. Stating that "Sex Offender Registration is State Sanctioned Discrimination."



This guy has a string of sex offences in multiple states and has the nerve to blog the following:

"Most sex offenders are just like me, not at all concerned about re-offending since the idea is not even in the realm of possibilities to them. They are hard working responsible law abiding citizens, and in fact on average slightly better adjusted than the average working class person."

So far this 'person' is just a child abductor/abuser but judging from the fact that Shasta's brother is still missing, I wouldn't be suprised if this 'thing' is also a murderer.

Makes you wonder what the point of registering sex offenders is. Perhaps society should investigate other alternatives. Like chemical castration or, my favorite, sand blasting.

What do you think?

Happy Canada Day!

I AM CANADIAN!

Crazier than a bag of hammers!

It was an interesting night tonight. The usual bag of dumb as dirt computer users.

"Thank you for calling the Undisclosed Customer Service Center� my name is blah blah blah..."

CUSTOMER: Ya, I got an error message when I tried to open a file.
ME: What is the error message?
CUSTOMER: Don't remember, I closed it.
ME: (SIGH) Interestingly enough, the error message will tell you what went wrong and why.

(I wait, while he recreates the error. I tell him to tell me what he is doing as he is doing it.)

CUSTOMER: I click on this zip file, and it tells me filename.zip cannot be opened because associated program does not exist. (can't remember the exact message, but it was something to that effect.)
ME: Do you have WI.NZ.IP on your computer?
CUSTOMER: What's that?

Give me strength. Next crayon.

CUSTOMER: It says, installation incomplete, Product A upgrade cannot find a qualifying product.
ME: Can you read the disc to me?
CUSTOMER: This product will search your system for a qualifying product for this special upgrade edition.
ME: Do you have a previous version of Product A?
CUSTOMER: Ah,no.

One more...

CUSTOMER: I try and connect to the internet and it says - Cannot Connect to Server
ME: Who is your internet service provider?
CUSTOMER: Huh?
ME: Who do you pay for internet access?
CUSTOMER: You have to pay for that? I thought the internet was free?

I kid you not!

And another thing...

Just had to share this call that a co-worker told me about.

Customer called in from Ma.cD.ona.ld's Restaraunt chain. He had mistakenly shortchanged a customer fifty bucks. He wanted the CSR to look up the person in the Undisclosed Computer Software Company� database so they could contact him to come back for his change.

After telling the person that was impossible, he became frustrated. You can do it, the Undisclosed Computer Software Company� knows everything about everyone.

And how was your day?