It's Fly Lice You Plick

Saturday, December 31, 2005

Data Loss

I toiled all morning consolidating branch data into a handy Excel spreadsheet, putting extra effort to work in a whole bunch of complicated formulas (I'm brown nosing my way to a good letter of recommendation). Having nearly completed my work, I decided to leave my newly minted "untitled.xls" to stretch my legs and get a drink.

I figure 5 minutes.

Tops.

I came back to my workstation only to find Excel closed off, all my work unsaved and "K-Lite Codec Pack" clearly marked as a "newly installed program" in the Start Menu.

I'm so angry, my teeth hurt.

9 more shifts

Thursday, December 29, 2005

Goofus: Dialogue

While troubleshooting an emergency backup

Me: Did you upload the file?
Goofus: Did I abort the file?
Me: Upload the file!
Goofus: Abort the file?
Me: UPLOAD!
Goofus: ABORT?

10 more shifts

Wednesday, December 28, 2005

Class Act

Goofus was leaning over my shoulder this morning, watching me work my magic on Peachtree Accounting when he suddenly broke out into a violent fit of coughing (right in my ear, no less). Sadly, this is normal and I've become desensitized to it. After subjecting me to a light drizzle of phlegm and miscellaneous stinky disease bubbles, he turned around and hocked a loogie on the carpet.

I'm still waiting for him to start laughing, point out the hidden cameras, and finally let me in on the cruel, cruel joke that this most surely is.

11 More shifts.

Tuesday, December 27, 2005

Conversational Etiquette

Remember those old Goofus and Gallant comics? It's OK. Neither do I, though I do vaguely recall hearing of them somewhere.

Here's how they work. A situation is given. Gallant does the right thing, his evil counterpart Goofus does the exact opposite.

For example:

A series of major assignments are due on Monday.

Gallant works all weekend so that he can go to law school and make his parents proud.

Goofus puts laxatives in his teacher's coffee to extend the due date.

Now pretend that The New Guy is Goofus for the following scenarios.

Scenario #1:
While being trained on generating branch short lists, you realize that your nails haven't been clipped in weeks.

Gallant accepts the condition of his nails, waits until he gets home and clips them off.

Goofus pulls out the nailclippers (attached to his carkeys) mid conversation and proceeds to give himself a manicure, letting the clippings fall to the floor.

Scenario #2:
During a discussion on system outage, you discover that your junk is itchy.

Gallant waits til the discussion is over, excuses himself, goes to a quiet corner and um... rectifies the situation, making sure to wash his hands after.

Goofus sits himself on a nearby counter, disregarding my presence and goes to town on his junk, making a definable lift and separate motion (think lifting the frank to get to the beans).

Scenario #3:
Another talk (I don't remember the details exactly).

Gallant turns his head 45 degrees from the speaker, covers his mouth and coughs.

Goofus open mouth coughs directly in my face.

12 more shifts.