Eyes heavy

Still ... poor sleep, noises never cease

problems left unsolved

work, learn

pangs of the past beleaguer me

"did you like teaching", answering yes

bills

time

scratches without an itch ... idle hands

projects

Sleep, invite me to a party no RSVP required

BYOD (dreams more important than beer)

What is my job

I'll first give you the short version. I am a phone rep (resentative) who fields calls for people needing parts and checking on parts. I know, it doesn't sound like a complex enough job to warrant much money.
The end of the week got better and I started doing more work.


The long version. Using a proprietary SQL I research parts, inventory and customer invoice and information finding the parts requested (often techs calling in don't have the part numbers or don't have the right numbers). I also have to find where orders are, why orders aren't shipping and find logistical solutions (inventory control). Now, couple with with having a glitchy SQL which is version 5.2 after people had years with version 2.3. The systems don't run the same.

The switch to the new system didn't import all the most recent data and so about 6 weeks of data (orders, invoices and the like) were not imported. They were not lost, but they are not available in the new system. To find prices for techs and mechanics, I have to refer to old printed material on discounts for people -- one large company gets 35% disc on items $200 +, etc. It is a lot to remember. Now, the interesting part of the job is that I have to find parts that are long-since retired from machines that are too old to run. I have had to go through schematics of appliances (breakdowns) finding old part numbers or descriptions and use the SQL to hopefully find a match. On Friday, I got to learn the magic of light bulb designation through dimensions and type all to answer one question.

I like my team. The number three guy in the company, who has the largest office on site (numbers 2 and 1 don't work in that building) is nice, motivational and down-to Earth. He interviewed me, but knows marketing and sales more than tech stuff like computers, SQL and more typical programming languages. In a few weeks I will earn hourly more than I did at PH, and thereafter every "hurdle" I pass, my raises come in.

I sit on my butt all day --- bad, but I do work and have little down time. When I first started they didn't have a computer for me that worked. On Friday, my headset for the phone failed. The servers they have running are maxed out due to the data transfer issues. When that is hammered out -- 9 weeks, about, the server will get faster and the work will be easier on everyone. It's nice that I have my own desk. It is 100% smoke free. The only food smell is from the lounge that reeks of microwave food.

The other funny thing about my job is listening to people who haven't mastered their only language English. Hey, ya'll gotter pah't det fit dis here gaskit? Yeah, I figger dat its dis won-AE-IE-OU-YU-THEN- sayvun-AEF-AN

So, that's 1AEIOU7FN, right?

For more complex math, please see Net clost *1.15, then try vendor cost does not equal List Price --> change in inventory management

++ now add returns, faxing, sales orders

later, quotes, new solicitation

Drunks of Hazard County

Go Go Kosovo!

Yeah, let freedom ring and may the democrat republic never waver, never yield! Go freedom!

Congratulations Kosovo! Spending my tax dollars on THAT nation makes sense!

moment of unrest

Playtime with the Cramers

Legendary disappointment

"I am Legend." --- many holes, much unexplained, not a feel good movie, lackuster ending, and they broke a rule in good movie making concerning animals. You just don't do it!

So ... this athiest is bad at math, right?

from the "Calculate Your God Delusion Index", I see that the authors can't draw a simple number line. That's funny! I'm not "Batshit crazy" and I can draw a number line. I found the first two levels of delusion interesting, then it fell into 'operational psychosis' at higher levels.

Well, the creators (ha ha) spent some time with this and still didn't get a number line right. Good going duds (not dudes).

Well deserved

I do wrong and deserve the berating I get. So, I deserve the Hell that I calming walk to visit.
It's a shame ... I'll miss Heaven.

On the same path, eagerly walking to Hell ...

I made the day of a girl who had a nasty one ... she called me wanting to thank me, so sweet

I turned on my phone too late (I turned it off at work in the afternoon to save my battery), a friend was in trouble and desperate. He was out of sorts ... confused (from alcohol or drugs) needing help. In the end, his distance too great for me to reach him quickly, I sent officers to do a wellness check on him. I will try again today to check on him.

I am a little help to a person feeling quite alone, okay make that a few people who feel alone and desperate. One particular girl is a survivor of many hellish child experiences. I will never forgo being her friend, as she needs friends. I just wish I could live a life where she could have a "safe haven" being free to walk in, sit, and talk with me.

Loneliness ... a sad curse. Apparently there is a vast amount of loneliness despite the number of people on the planet. Of course, if you can't be yourself around someone, then you are still alone from yourself.

I have met lost souls and persons with many pains casting long shadows on the ground. I have had the opportunity for some people to cast their shadow on me ... let go of some of the past, giving it to me to remember and them to forget. I never wanted the burden, but it is nice to take the load for someone so loaded and often so young.

If I existed only to carry the sadness of others, it would destroy me. I am thankfully that I am also reminded that I am loved despite my evil nature, despite that I do wrong. Being loved, truly loved, is what a soul ultimately wants.

looked into vacation idea ...

WHOA! Skip all that or at least one place I looked! It was nearly as expensive as Disney World.

dirty man

Talked dirty this morning ... "my lips touch yours ...", was naughty this evening on the phone with my special someone.

Yes, MR ... I am going to Hell, I got it.

I want to have different circumstances for sure, but it is what it is.

closer than before

I have had calls and txt messages from work more than when I worked there. It is nice to know that I was liked while I was there. I got a call from a cute girl ... nice that I made her day. I also spoke with another friend from work. She's great, but is stuck with her situation -- long time bf with waning interest in him. Frisky fun girl who never "sowed her wild oats" instead settled down quickly and perhaps too much so.

she had a bad day ...

nothing went right, frazzled ... sad

I did something right
and she cried

It isn't revenge, though she is the girl who made me cry. I showed her that despite her convictions ... someone does care and like it or not .. gives a damn!

.... pop, oh goody, we're online

I started my stark job with little hope or prospect. One woman, the team leader is a manic depressant -- scary mix as the moods are like drafts in a building. Whoa -- cool, whoa hot! Another guy there is large, not quite as strong as Bob in Incredibles, but looks equally silly hunched over the desk the space surrounding him like an ill-fitting suit. Another woman eats like a rabbit -- munch, much, much -- she's rail thin. Another woman there does the same thing -- real big. I guess life isn't fair.

Day four, I have a computer that works, somewhat. I have a phone system that has my name, and have all the programs that I should have. Apart from handling phone calls -- the bulk of the job, I have done all else ... entered in paperwork (Brazil's landmass worth of paperwork) including shipping, returns, invoices, faxing, (where are they) slips for shipments that are lost or late.

They moved from one system to another and there was a major problem with data transfer. About 6 weeks did not completely, and in some cases at all, load onto the new program. The program therefore made these items limbo -- did they ship, did they not ... back order?

This is partially why they need more people there. The backlog of fix this defeats the new business that they need. I am working on learning it all. Today I was able to pitch in and do some of the backlog. Anything to help the team and eventually move on to where I do sales and the potential for raises.

I like the team, but need to ask for an odd request of my direct super --
can I extend my hours there (not getting overtime) in order to have a more realistic lunch of 60 minutes?

We'll see how that goes. I will wait til I put in a week, I think.

Day 3 ...

I did a little more today. I got my computer and it was working. The problem is getting over the hurdle of the interface. There are four programs that they use. There is a fifth that many use, but it is the "old" system. Those who used it, love it and hate the new system.

The new program has advantages and disadvantages. It uses Windows capabilities and defeats other Windows capabilities. Because of the manner of data storage, the SQL is limited and needs more versatility and wildcards. What the users forget is that the system has to track down millions or billions of part numbers and correlate that to orders, inventory and more. Of course it should require some human-factor thinking (part number containing "7") should not be an allowable function -- consuming very valuable resources. On the same token, you may not know much about the part number so you should be able to do more with description, regardless whether you know the manufacturer.

This is also true if company A is bought be company B. Now, Company A might continue to produce the part and name it Company B; may manufacture a new part with Company A; outsource old part to Company C. This is where the complexity begins. Okay, I understand that some person may not know the part number, but they ought to have an idea what it is, right?

Part of my job will be finding parts for people who don't know the part numbers.
Another part of my job will be to order parts, ensuring that we have the parts (informing the customer approximae time of delivery) and getting prices.

The prices are the biggest mess of all.

Service Company F has a certain volume of business and gets __% off list price, unless ...
there is only a Net price listed
If the sale is a quote, numbers are rounded to integer dollars and freight is seemingly arbitrarily guessed.
I can see few instances when my team members actually calculate weight of parts for shipping.

I have a lot to learn, but I can, if given the chance, do much now.

last bit of last day

pick up G, for she doesn't have license or car (there)

drop off G for same reasons

got back round 10pm
tired on first day ... boring, not a good start

What stayed with me was feeling of love, hugs and kisses I got.
I'm an ass, bastard, jerk, putz, numbnutz, but still got rewards for effort, for trying (other than trying others' patience)

In my mind, would like to see one girl turn to novelist
one girl turn to nurse
one girl get her humor and childhood back -- then become a program manager for multiple facilities
one man finish his degree (after changing twice) to physics then marry the nurse

see one woman end her relationship with guy in favor of being a person more in control of her life (mother of two) and her defunct bf who is on the chronic fatigue side

In confession, strongly like one woman, have a fading crush on the program manager -- wish her my best

I would like to see the one girl develop into woman and defy all odds and be exceed her potential. Uncomfortable with herself and success, she will, for a long time, suffer

Chris

Chris Hogan

* thanks Dave

She

Little girl, baby ... I've never been a father, "daddy", uncle yes. Little girl seeks me out ... wants to write me. Again, I am spoken about in corners, shadows, "is it okay". It hurts that I can't call her "little girl", "daughter", "baby". Her generous nature is natural ... she doesn't know it hurts that others care about me. I hardly share a thing in my mind, let alone my true passions ... this little girl ... melts my heart


a stone giant brought to his knees

softy inside

Girl who would be woman ... the Nobel Peace Prize could not bring pride as great as this. "daddy" would melt me as sure as the sun a candle ... young friend, I cherish the moment I read your letter, you honor me with any letter even ... da da da "X"

I am touched

first day at work

I just watched someone work today. I nearly fell asleep. Hey, guys! Why don't you go ahead and let me work, eh?

burdon of youth

Here is Joshua! I'm sure that the grandparents will eventually let Jeff and Paula hold him.

I would like to post Christopher pictures, but ... I don't have any,

ahem, Dave, JJ?

sweet girl broke my heart

It was my last day with many people last night. There was a kid there who broke my heart completely apart. She asked me for my mailing address so that she could write me.

That hurt! It still hurts when I think of it.

Dear sweet girl. I hope I get to read something from her.

It was the gesture I'll remember ... even if she never writes.

She coupled it with hugs.

Again ... hurts that I never was a daddy, happy that I might have been a good man around some people. I was considered good role model at work and uncle to at least one person (not the aforementioned girl).