Elevator hold ups

Who knows what will happen when you throw humans into anything. Today for example...I was tasked with bringing a new computer up from the first floor. No problemo! Walked down the three flights of stairs, grabbed the box, proceeded to the elevator, pushed the button and waited...and waited...and waited. After about 3 minutes I approached the front desk and asked if they ever experienced elevator problems before. The response was a resounding "yes". I figured it was another issue with it and I sat the box back down at the desk and started back up the steps emptyhanded as a service call was placed for the elevator. Upon reaching the 2nd floor I heard voices and stepped around the corner to see two women, engaged in hushed conversation, holding the elevator door open. At the same time the janitor approached to followup on the service call. They asked if I needed the elevator and I responded that I did, in fact, have to bring a box up to my floor. I was probably snottier than I needed to be...but, what the hell?!?!?!

Computers do not act, they are acted upon

user:  my PDF's aren't working. When I double-click one I just get junk
me:  the filetype association changed...it's trying to open a PDF with MS Word
user:  how did that happen?
me:  it was changed
user:  why did the computer change it?
me:  was there a human involved?
user:  what do you mean by "human"?
me:  ...

Why kids will NEVER rule the Earth

1. Laziness
2. see number 1

Anyone that lives with teenagers will agree with this.

It's all about the pain

I got another in a long line of emails that go into nauseating detail about how something is NOT working and about how much PAIN this is bringing the user because they are NOT able to do something. I've taken note of these and I've made a concerted effort to NOT talk to people that provide me service in this way.
Examples:

- the "old" way:  My car isn't running right and I'm not able to get to get somewhere to do something that is  extremely important to me at this moment...what do you think is wrong with it??? I need this taken care of now!!!
Note that there is no mention of any request for service to said vehicle...only an almost non-stop spewing of how much pain this is causing.

- the "new" way:  there is a clicking sound coming from the front left side. I'll drop it off first thing in the morning if you have time to look at it. Thanks.
Even though the new way provides as much inconvenience (for not having the vehicle available) it provides more information to the service provider and brings him/her further into the conversation by giving them the illusion that they can work on it at their own pace.

Anyhow...I don't think any of these entitled turds at "the U" understand this. And, it seems that the closer they get to retirement, the worse their entitlement gets.

Biking to work

This morning while riding my "Townie" to work I passed two other guys that looked like they bike for a living. As I did so I wanted to make a noise like Pee-Wee Herman when he's excited...I'm pretty sure I looked like him at the time anyhow.

Stuck in the middle

So, now I've got this project manager for a VoIP system upgrade that's fighting with the consultants that are doing the upgrade. I'm in the middle and both sides want me to support them. ugh...

At the "U" entitlement runs rampant. I don't believe I work with a single person that has ever had a "real" job. When I tell people that I've only been in academia for 4 months, they are shocked. I assume they're shocked that I've managed to survive this long without the swaddling warmth of a position in which nothing is expected of me an in which I can do anything I want w/o recourse (just like them). Unfortunately, as is the case in IT, even at this level we get $hit on. The rule of thumb is:  "you touch it...you own it." We touch everything and, as such, everything that goes wrong is our fault. Unfortunately that does not translate to laudes and accolades when everything goes right.

FYI...when using the words "right" and "wrong" in the above statements, they mean this:
- "something goes right":  all is as expected even if it's happening in the middle of a raging inferno being whipped about by a tornado
- "something goes wrong":  something took place outside of expectations and someone is looking to do some "blame-damage". Windows often works in this fashion...operating perfectly as designed, but not as expected, therefore, it's "wrong" and someone has to be roasted on a spit for it.

Back to school is happening

Getting ready for the girls' sophomore year in HS. Hopefully we'll have the ca$h to make sure it goes smoothly. Jason is sending Haley to CHS this year for a variety of reasons. Hopefully all will go well. Also, I hope that Ellie chooses to do well and stay more focused this year. She's a handful for some reason. Mad just goes along with whatever. She's really mellowed out this last year or two.

Feeling weird about work. Already getting tired of all the bull$hit that users bring on. I try to stay busy with back-end stuff on the servers, but there's always a call for something that, if they thought about it for 10 seconds, they could answer themselves. Job security I guess...

Zaius is working out well in the family. I feared for the longest time that he wasn't happy with us. I guess he's accustomed to things now and he's greedy to spend time with just about anyone or any other animal.

Rode the Townie to work today and sweat my a$$ off at the same time. However, it's good to be moving.