I just got off the phone with a tech who was out to put 10M modem into a cust’s house. Cust’s computer was running window’s 98 first edition, didn’t have an Ethernet card OR a USB port installed in the computer. I very caustically asked – “What did they expect to happen? That the computer and the modem would communicate telepathically?”
The tech didn’t laugh.
I was sad.
Maybe you will instead…
29 July 2008
28 July 2008
I Love Them... I Really Do...
I just spoke to a customer. His computer is not turning on, and there is nothing either the tech or I can do. Tech is there for a modem install, by having me provision the modem we cannot set up the .net email account for the customer. I try to explain this to the customer and he says – “So, what you are saying is that the web pages are not going to work tonight? I won’t be able to get online or get email right?”
I said “Sir, if your computer is non-functioning at the moment, then the internet nor the websites are going to work for you. If you, however, get a working computer the internet will function.”
Customer: “Oh. Can you repeat all of that again? I want to write it all down so I can understand it.”
I took a deeeeeeeep breath in, held it, hit the mute button, released the breath, turned the mute off and said brightly, "Sure, let's see where you are confused."
I said “Sir, if your computer is non-functioning at the moment, then the internet nor the websites are going to work for you. If you, however, get a working computer the internet will function.”
Customer: “Oh. Can you repeat all of that again? I want to write it all down so I can understand it.”
I took a deeeeeeeep breath in, held it, hit the mute button, released the breath, turned the mute off and said brightly, "Sure, let's see where you are confused."
18 July 2008
5 Minute Disturbance
Morning is a time of deep sleep for me. It's when my body finally relaxes after a romp of active dreaming and I get some of the most important rest of the night. I loathe being woken up at this time, especially suddenly. However, that being said, I don't mind being woken up if it's a sense of danger that is impending.
This morning, my dog heard something outdoors that he did NOT like. He ruffed up his fur, and walked stiff legged from the bathroom, to pace between the front and back door growling. Then a sharp series of barks erupted from his throat followed by more growling.
I woke up like a shot, lay still listening to the morning outside my window. Were those footsteps I heard? The rustling of an intruder? I did not know. I could not tell. All I knew was my dog was upset about something, and I was frightened.
After a five minute performance of canine vocal skills, my dog abruptly stopped. He didn't return to the rug in the bathroom, but instead went to lay out on the rug in the kitchen. I went to check on him, and he scrambled to his feet to meet me at the kitchen doorway, ears back, head down.
Whatever the danger was was now over. My dog was back to being submissive to me and quiet overall. The only noise his nails on the hardwood floors, no imagined sounds to be heard either by my ears or my heart or my head.
I was safe once more with my protector at my door. :)
This morning, my dog heard something outdoors that he did NOT like. He ruffed up his fur, and walked stiff legged from the bathroom, to pace between the front and back door growling. Then a sharp series of barks erupted from his throat followed by more growling.
I woke up like a shot, lay still listening to the morning outside my window. Were those footsteps I heard? The rustling of an intruder? I did not know. I could not tell. All I knew was my dog was upset about something, and I was frightened.
After a five minute performance of canine vocal skills, my dog abruptly stopped. He didn't return to the rug in the bathroom, but instead went to lay out on the rug in the kitchen. I went to check on him, and he scrambled to his feet to meet me at the kitchen doorway, ears back, head down.
Whatever the danger was was now over. My dog was back to being submissive to me and quiet overall. The only noise his nails on the hardwood floors, no imagined sounds to be heard either by my ears or my heart or my head.
I was safe once more with my protector at my door. :)
16 July 2008
Early Onset....
(aka where I get to laugh at myself)
This just happened. I figure it’s amusing if a little sad. It’s just one of those mornings I suppose.
Me: “Dispatch! This is megan.”
Tech: “Hey Megan this is tech 9339 ….”
Me: “Oh ok… hold on a second… gotta finish something…”
45 second pause ensues as my mind blanks out and I forget where I am.
Me: “Dispatch! This is megan.”
Tech: “Hey Megan, this is tech 9339 *STILL*…
Me: “Aw crap… I’m sorry. I blanked.. I went for the first instinct.”
Tech: “You know… with Alzheimers you can wrap your own Christmas presents and still be surprised Christmas morning.”
Me: “Yeah same holds true with pets and really small children…”
We laugh.
Me: “what can I do for you?”
This just happened. I figure it’s amusing if a little sad. It’s just one of those mornings I suppose.
Me: “Dispatch! This is megan.”
Tech: “Hey Megan this is tech 9339 ….”
Me: “Oh ok… hold on a second… gotta finish something…”
45 second pause ensues as my mind blanks out and I forget where I am.
Me: “Dispatch! This is megan.”
Tech: “Hey Megan, this is tech 9339 *STILL*…
Me: “Aw crap… I’m sorry. I blanked.. I went for the first instinct.”
Tech: “You know… with Alzheimers you can wrap your own Christmas presents and still be surprised Christmas morning.”
Me: “Yeah same holds true with pets and really small children…”
We laugh.
Me: “what can I do for you?”
08 July 2008
"Blame the Abuser not the Victim."
I was thinking on my drive home tonight of the slogan that so many responsible "dangerous breed" dog owners repeat to themselves - "Blame the Deed... not the breed." So often, people want to place the blame of what happens on an animal that does not hold the human moral code
in their heads.
This blaming the breed in such statements like: "All Pit Bulls are dangerous with their locking jaws!" or "Dobermans get to a certain age their brains swell and they become aggressive." or "Rottweilers are inherently evil and our dangerous to our communities." (etc) completely ignores the human component to dog related bites and maulings. Often times the dogs are also victims of poor handling or training, no socialization, neglect, or downright abuse.
This is also a mindset that prevails in the covering and prosecution of rapes. So often rape victims are "blamed" for what happens to them: "Oh she wore a short mini skirt and a tank top, she was just asking for trouble." "She got drunk! IF she didn't want something to happen then she shouldn't have put herself at risk!" "Well, she said 'yes' before! How was I supposed to know that her 'no' was anything but playing around?" (this was something like the excuse
> my ex-fiance used when I confronted him about my rapes 10 years ago. He also said that since i was his fiance then i didn't have the right to say no.)
So many excuses... that instead of blaming the abuser of the victim, we blame the victim of the crime instead. We've all heard the slogan that says - "No means no" - but so often I hear guys in my games or on chat channels make jokes about it. "No means no until you can convince them to say yes!" Or they talk about how they will make a girl change her mind about sex, when she has flat out rejected them. (I'm going through something like this right now, which may be the reason for this chain of thought.)
I think the rape victim community needs a new slogan that like the dangerous breed community takes the blame off the victims. I've posted my idea in the subject line, which doesn't rhyme as well, nor is it as catchy as the "blame the deed not the breed" but it does the job well.
If you read this... can you think of another one? There's no prizes involved but I'm curious to see what the people who read this journal can come up with.
in their heads.
This blaming the breed in such statements like: "All Pit Bulls are dangerous with their locking jaws!" or "Dobermans get to a certain age their brains swell and they become aggressive." or "Rottweilers are inherently evil and our dangerous to our communities." (etc) completely ignores the human component to dog related bites and maulings. Often times the dogs are also victims of poor handling or training, no socialization, neglect, or downright abuse.
This is also a mindset that prevails in the covering and prosecution of rapes. So often rape victims are "blamed" for what happens to them: "Oh she wore a short mini skirt and a tank top, she was just asking for trouble." "She got drunk! IF she didn't want something to happen then she shouldn't have put herself at risk!" "Well, she said 'yes' before! How was I supposed to know that her 'no' was anything but playing around?" (this was something like the excuse
> my ex-fiance used when I confronted him about my rapes 10 years ago. He also said that since i was his fiance then i didn't have the right to say no.)
So many excuses... that instead of blaming the abuser of the victim, we blame the victim of the crime instead. We've all heard the slogan that says - "No means no" - but so often I hear guys in my games or on chat channels make jokes about it. "No means no until you can convince them to say yes!" Or they talk about how they will make a girl change her mind about sex, when she has flat out rejected them. (I'm going through something like this right now, which may be the reason for this chain of thought.)
I think the rape victim community needs a new slogan that like the dangerous breed community takes the blame off the victims. I've posted my idea in the subject line, which doesn't rhyme as well, nor is it as catchy as the "blame the deed not the breed" but it does the job well.
If you read this... can you think of another one? There's no prizes involved but I'm curious to see what the people who read this journal can come up with.
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