What a way to spend a birthday…
Yup, 35 today. Gettin’ up there in years, but that’s okay. What’s not okay is how I’m spending my day so far…
Being the dedicated employee that I am, I’m sitting at work watching a Notes database replicate from here to another office. You see, a user keeps corrupting his Notes, and he REALLY needs email right now because of a project with a high-profile, high-dollar customer. He’s working nights and weekends, and really couldn’t give up his machine to let me fix it. So, now, after going to bed at midnight, I got up at 4AM and drove to work. Fixed his machine through remote control, and started the replication of his mail database…three hours ago. [sigh]
We don’t have large pipes between the two offices…so this large mail file is taking some time. I’ve already got a server in the budget for their office for next year, and considering this, I may get it done much sooner.
Now you would think that I would be praised for this unselfish, get up at the ass-crack of dawn, drive 35 minutes, fixing feat on my BIRTHDAY nonethess, with my parents scheduled to arrive in oh 3-4 hours from right now… but no. The user didn’t say even a simple thank you yesterday…nada.
You see, this user HATES Notes because all he’s ever known is Outlook. It’s been compounded by the problems he’s been having with database corruption and the client crashing a ton. I didn’t KNOW it was crashing a ton…that was something he’s failed to mention until yesterday. He also failed to mention that every time it did hang or crash he would kill it with Task Manager… Now, why did the Notes client crash a lot? Oh I dunno…I think at one point yesterday he had 3-4 spreadsheets, 1 word doc, a powerpoint, a PDF, a browser AND Notes all opened at once… Don’t see how THAT could be a problem… And this guy wasn’t one to reboot, and so after crashes of programs, he would end the task and restart the program. Microsoft Office, Windows and Notes all LOVE that…
It doesn’t help the fact that every interaction I’ve had with the guy he makes some snarky comment about how “this didn’t happen with Outlook.” In fact yesterday he said “Outlook is my friend.” to which I actually replied “Then you keep shitty company.” [sigh] I had been patient and cordial with the guy for weeks, but I guess I got to my overflow point. And if nothing else, It made me feel a tiny bit better, and he thought it was funny…
Happy Birthday to me…
Paul Mooney
October 23, 2005 @ 12:00 pm
Happy birthday mate…. any chance that I could have a chat with your end-user on your behalf…..
Does he use notes for anything else but mail? Does he have any idea that the product could make his high-profile job easier if he took a look at the product…
….must….stop….urge….to…..rant……..
Greyhawk68
October 23, 2005 @ 9:56 pm
No shit. I try to do stuff with this guy, but he is so focused solely on email right now that he can’t be bothered with anything else. Maybe after the busy season I’ll make a breakthrough…
jonvon
October 25, 2005 @ 2:14 pm
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BROTHER!
sorry you had a crappy day and weekend man. but heck, at least you are older now!
Bruce Elgort
October 25, 2005 @ 4:08 pm
Happy Birthday John! I hope you have a bright OUTLOOK for the next year