So, I spent last week in a hotel near Dulles Airport in Virginia setting up a new network. Most things went great, but we had a vendor, whom we are paying a lot of money, crash and burn on a support call. In a fantastical way. I mean, it was like dealing with a telco. We managed to complete everything on time, I even got to visit the Air and Space Museum before my flight back. But the bad experience shook our confidence in the vendor. Badly.
I spent a lot of time upset over this . . . actually lost sleep in my disillusionment. I wrote up a list of stuff I was upset about, and on Monday I took some time at my own office to re-write a more professional list of things that I want addressed. I sent this off to the responsible parties, and immediately got calls back, which I did not want to take. We have established that they have until Wednesday to answer my concerns and restore confidence.
But the thing that sticks in my mind was when I checked my voicemail last night, was that shortly after I had sent my list of concerns off, was that the guy who called back, his voice had fear in it. Like I’d caught him in the cross-hairs. Granted, he probably has the most riding on this . . . but I want him to succeed, and this is something I tried to convey in my message, though I made it clear that we were entirely prepared to cut our ties with the vendor if I were not impressed . . .
There is a little gratification to be had in the knowledge that you have scared someone, because fear is a powerful motivator. But, things happen . . . support and communications screw up from time to time . . . I don’t want to hear from someone who is working from a place of fear, I want people who have the confidence that they can see a way out of the problem . . . fear has its place, I suppose.
Well, I hope things work out. While giving the vendor time to get their story straight, I have also lined up some alternatives.
“Hrmmm, this coffee . . . not so great . . . hrmm, this coffee, tastes weak. I made the coffee, did I put enough grounds in . . ? Funny, I don’t remember scooping the grounds this morning. I didn’t scoop grounds this morning? I didn’t scoop grounds this morning! Oh . . . *check the trash* nope, no used filter from yesterday . . . hey, that looks like tan-tinted water!! Ewwwwwwwww!!”
Washed out my cup, re-started the process.
My mental effort has been on . . . well, work, I guess, except for this little diverting update to entertain the masses.
Somewhere I read recently that just because you are content and satisfied with your life, doesn’t mean that there aren’t things you ought to be re-considering and working on. (more…)
I never do these web quizes, but sometimes I’m waiting on a web server restart on a Friday afternoon and I say what the heck, and I get told that I’m something lame:
You Are 30% Boyish and 70% Girlish
Even if you’re not a girl, you’re very feminine.
You’re in touch with your feelings, and your heart rules you.
A bit of a emotional roller coaster, one moment you’re up and the next you’re down.
But no matter what, you try to be as cute and perky as possible.
I’ve got Arlo Guthrie in my head, and uploaded some pictures from December, 2000 that I took in New Orleans.
Riding on the City of New Orleans
Illinois Central Monday morning rail
Fifteen cars and fifteen restless riders
Three conductors and twenty-five sacks of mail
All along the Southbound odyssey
The train pulls out at Kankakee
And rolls along past houses, farms and fields
Passing trains that have no name
And freight yards full of old black men
And the grave yards of the rusted automobiles
Good morning, America, how are you?
Said don’t you know me, I’m your native son
I’m the train they call The City of New Orleans
I’ll be gone five hundred miles when the day is done.
Dealing card games with the old men in the club car
Penny a point aint no one keepin’ score
Pass the paper bag that holds the bottle
And feel the wheels rumblin’ ‘neath the floor
And the sons of Pullman porters
And the sons of engineers
Ride their father’s magic carpets
Made of steel
Mothers with their babes asleep
Rockin to the gentle beat
And the rhythm of the rails is all they feel
Good morning America, how are you?
Said don’t you know me, I’m your native son
I’m the train they call The City of New Orleans
I’ll be gone five hundred miles when the day is done
Night time on The City of New Orleans
Changing cars in Memphis, Tennessee
Halfway home, we’ll be there by morning
Through the Mississippi darkness rolling down to the sea
But all the towns and people seem
To fade into a bad dream
And the steel rail still aint heard the news
The conductor sings his songs again
The passengers will please refrain
This train got the Disappearin’ Railroad Blues.
Good night America how are you?
Said don’t you know me, I’m your native son
I’m the train they call The City of New Orleans
I’ll be gone five hundred miles when the day is done.
I got to the BART station this morning. I suppose it was a little chilly or something, because all the Real Californians were huddled in their jackets, like pigeons who tuck their heads into the bodies during the cold days of the winter, trying to stay warm while they scratch for food.
I thought it was invigorating, and not nearly as cold as the air conditioning on the bus in warmer days, when I have to pull the sweatshirt from my backpack that I carry for just such occasions, and for visiting the machine room, which we keep cooled with ferocity.
I suppose some of these folks came over from Oakland, and were still bracing themselves from the chillier air found over the mountain from Walnut Creek.
!!! SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY !!!
!!! NOON 'til WHENEVER !!!
Danny and Yayoi will host a laid-back open house and birthday
party at their new (as of last November) apartment in Walnut
Creek.
Whose birthday? Yayoi! How old? A PRIME NUMBER!
Friends, neighbors, friends of friends, neighbors of friends,
friends of neighbors, children, grandparents, and other
generally good people are welcome to drop by and participate.
We will feature:
- BIRTHDAY CAKE
- SNACKS
- BEVERAGES
- A picturesque view of MOUNT DIABLO
- Furniture
Of course, if you like to bring stuff, you are welcome, but
you are in no way obligated.
Yayoi likes to play fun strategy games, so, we might spend
some time playing "Settlers of Cataan" or "Ticket to Ride" so
if you like that sort of stuff, there ya go.
Depending how things shake out and who shows up and when and
whatnot, we might wander off to eat, drink, make merry
elsewhere, or we might eat pizza. You never know, do you?
Nitty gritty:
- If you plan to come, maybe just maybe let us know?
- dannyman@toldme.com OR yayoi@toldme.com
- <Contact us for tele ###s>
Directions:
<Contact us for directions.>
We look forward to seeing you whenever we do see you.
I work for a small company. When I started, we all went out to lunch. And when the next guy started, we all went out to lunch. And today, the new guy . . . well, just the developers are going out to lunch. This is actually very sensible, but I was kind of looking forward to a free lunch. Today, TANSTAAFL – There Aint No Such Thing As A Free Lunch. Fortunately, Yayoi makes me lunch every day. Mmmm, sandwiches!
And, today is pay day. For the first time in my life, I have a six months of rent in a savings account. I think we should probably keep adding to this stockpile, on the off chance that we some day discover some affordable housing to buy. I am also looking forward to getting back in to the 401k game.
The trip, one way, if I were in slightly better shape, would be nearly an hour. I got out the door late so it was more like an hour and thirty minutes.
I am no Joe Gross, but then he’s not dannyman, so I figure all is fair.
