Issues

If it seems I've been a bit absent the last couple weeks, well -- blame it on computers. Seriously, I am getting so fed up with them. The one at work...okay, granted the biggest issue there is the outdated operating system. But before we can update that we have to upgrade the invoicing software we use. Which, of course, all costs money. Granted, some of that would be tax deductible, but it's still A LOT of money upfront and in case no one has heard, we're in a serious recession. So, I'm stuck dealing with daily frustrations, such as the fact this thing has frozen on me half a dozen times today. If not more. Thankfully, most of those times I have been able to ctrl+alt+del my way out of it, but have suffered one hard freeze that necessitated shutting the computer down the hard way and restarting. Ugh! I ran full maintenance this afternoon, hoping it would be an hour well-spent, only to receive another frickin' error report within ten minutes of coming back online. ARGH!

As for the home computer...there it's mostly connection issues. If it's not the ISP acting up, it's AT&T doing more line work in the neighborhood. And I can always tell when AT&T shows up. I'll be speeding through email or surfing along quite nicely when all of a sudden...nothing. Nada. Rien. Complete standstill. Take a walk around the block and nine times out of ten there will be an AT&T utility truck. Irritating in the extreme!

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Also irritating is the fact that someone stole my scissors over the weekend. I remember using them near the end of the day on Friday and returning them to their cubicle on my desk. Soon after coming in this morning I reached for my scissors and they were...gone! The boss claims he wasn't in all weekend, so who took them? A mouse? Someone was obviously here, 'cause they didn't just grow legs and walk out on their own. And these were GOOD scissors, not crappy ones like other pairs here at the office because I don't use mine to cut stuff you shouldn't. Which means they aren't stiff or dull but actually work. Someone better cough 'em up and fast!

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If it seems like I'm in a bit of a foul mood today well, that's because I have had a bit of an off day. Blame it on my neck, which contributed to a poor night. As some may remember, I suffered whiplash a decade ago when some bimbo at the Kohl Center tripped over her own feet returning from concessions, landing on--you guessed it--my neck. It's meant not being able to do some things, like reach for items shelved above my head, or sitting with my head turned at an angle for any length of time, and I can't look up at the sky (or a high shelf) without supporting my neck from behind with one hand. There are also (supposed to be) limits as to what I can lift. As in, not supposed to lift anything over 20 pounds. Ha! Yeah, like that's possible with my life. Maybe if I had a house boy to do all the heavy lifting and strenuous house cleaning for me. I also get migraines once or twice a month now, which causes my neck to throb with pain.

My neck has been bothering me a lot again lately, and I was hurting quite a bit when I went to bed last night. Yes, I took some drugs and applied heat before climbing into bed. And again when it woke me up at 1 and 5. The last set plus heat and another hour of sleep finally seemed to do the trick, but as is usual after a night like this, it starts to feel tense again after a long day at work. Not to mention how it sours my mood. Good thing stupid people have stayed out of my way today! *WEG*

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Oh, and what is with people not knowing how to talk on the phone? Okay, Phone Etiquette 101.

First, turn off the TV and radio. It's distracting to both you and me.
Second, silence screaming kids or barking dogs (likewise screaming dogs and barking kids). Again, it's distracting to both parties.
Third, if placing an order, have your order written down in front of you (item, description, part number, color, etc). Likewise your credit card.
Fourth, speak slowly and clearly. There are no prizes for speed, and no one likes repeating themselves twenty times when they can't be understood. Plus, if the person can't understand you, it could lead to your order being entered wrong.
Fifth, speak loud enough to be heard without deafening the person on the other line. This is the 21st century, people. You do NOT have to shout over the telephone line. Really. I'm not kidding.
Sixth, spell out names, especially unusual ones. You know whether your name is unusual or not by how frequently you have been asked to spell it. Also, do not be offended if asked which spelling of a name you use. Some people spell it S-t-e-v-e-n, some spell it S-t-e-p-h-e-n. Likewise, consider the number of different spellings of names such as Terry/Tari/Teri, Jerry/Jerri/Geri, and Chris/Kris.
Seventh, be polite. How you treat the person you're calling can greatly influence how they in turn treat you. So if you don't want to be treated like an ass, don't behave like one.

End rant. *g*