Good day

I wasn't supposed to be at work today. But a wee. mini, minor crisis came up and so I decided to mosey in. Actually I decided to drive like a bat out of hell - because this morning I dropped off Judith for her driving test (she passed!) and the guy took FOREVER to actually administer the bloody thing (20 mins to set up 20 cones? c'mon) and we then had to endure the vagueries if the DMV. Still she passed, I got out in time and managed to cruise to work in time for the meeting. Which went okay - lots to do in the new year though.

Headed back and had Jude drive me to an outlet mall (she's now insured) where we got into the Xmas spirit by buying something from virtually every store at stupidly low prices. The place was next to empty, the parking plentiful, the bargains terrific and the staff overly attentive in that 'I'm SO bored" kind of way perfected by the department stores years ago. I used to think that department store attitude came from spending a lifetime surrounded by goods they didn't pay you enough to buy yourself, but now I think it's a mixture of aching feet, polyester uniforms and the stupidity of virtually every customer.

No real chance for pics yet so I shot a quick one of reception on my way to payroll where my cheque (check) was waiting for me and no dramas unfolded.

Now for wine, for dinner and for the final of Clash of the Choirs (which we DVR'd last night)

My new camera arrived

Lumix FZ18
Originally uploaded by akiko@flickr

Spent the evening charging various batteries and the morning turning off the various beeps that accompanied my every move with it.

Massive zoom makes for more shots of unsuspecting old folk. I feel a photo safari coming on.

Hundreds of 'idiot modes' that probably make for amazing pictures but rob me of the chance to say that a shot is 'mine' and will therefore be all but ignored. It's looking promising though.

Pics over the weekend I think

Oh the drama

Turns out that my package WAS on the truck after all.

This I know because when I went in to collect my package - it wasn't there.
Despite a call that said "I have it in my hand, I will place it aside for you now"

Still in an attempt to move into lemonade manufacture I said

"Well that's good news. You guys are delivering a second package to me too. He can drop them both off together"

But of course he can't.
Because he now has instructions to return it to base.
So that I can pick it up.
Tomorrow.

The man in the knackered warehouse to whence I had journied seemed quite shocked that I would question the competence of his staff and his confidence in their ability to divine ass from elbow.

Still the mustang averaged 31mpg (that's 37mph for you UK folks today)... perhaps it's being powered by the vibration from the one loose piece of trim driving me to distraction (oh for a piece of blu-tac)

Note to all - UPS... should be known as "Ooops"

Yet more fuckwittery

Oracle morons
Originally uploaded by AndyArmstrong

So the old company was sending my last pay cheque by mail. Or rather by UPS. They forgot Friday and sent it out at 5pm on Monday. Delivery by 3pm Tuesday. Except it didn't arrive. UPS said it was on a truck and that I should "Not go to bed before 11.59pm". Well this morning still no package. It hadn't even been in Michigan. It was in Penn. No worries, it left this morning at 8am. Except it didn't. They didn't have the apt. number. Weird I'd given them the apartment number on Monday. And Tuesday. And at 7am this morning.

I asked why the package hadn't made it on time. "For no good reason" they said.

Comforting.

"Why not come in tonight between 8pm and 8.30pm?" they said. It might be here.

Then they called back - it's on a truck.

Then back again "It's not on a truck"

Then once more - "all of the appointments for 8pm to 8.30pm are gone. It'll be tomorrow. Maybe."

"Appointments? You told me to come by."

"Yeah, we did. We shouldn't have. We're busy."

So no cash before Xmas. No cash from the new guys until Jan 15th and no bloody holiday cheer for me or my family.

FUCKWITTERY

Day two

orange.JPG
Originally uploaded by stevenjude

okay so into day two of the new job and still at a bit of a loss regarding how to best fill me time. I've done benefits. I've met the people physically in the office, I've used the right click option on my mouse (it's a PC!) but there's only so much that you can do between Xmas and New Year in a half empty office.

That said I'm going through all of the stuff that's currently in research and trying to figure out how the good bits of each could form a cohesive whole. I guess it's like looking for which rabbits are going to make the coat and which will hit the stewer. You have an idea but it's only post skinning that you really figure it out.

That's quite a Michigan kind of analogy actually. Maybe I am made for this state after all.

Snow

IMG_5176
Originally uploaded by stevenjude

It snowed yesterday. A lot. Inches and inches of snow fell and not a snow plow could be seen. Apparently they clear snow only on work days - or just before work days; so you're left to fend for yourself if it snows between 6pm Friday and 3pm Sunday.

Still the dog was happy and the town was pretty much empty as we trekked knee deep (shoulder deep for Velcro) through the pristine white snow.

Woke up this morning fearing that I might not be able to make it into work - but the roads had been (partially) cleared and so I put the Mustang into second (wheel spin in first) and edged out towards the motorway. Wasn't too bad out there - though I did see a few people who had spun clean off the road and a couple of people who really deserved to.

The journey in took about 40 mins, I reckon that on a clear day I could shave 10mins off that and the new building is rather lovely. I'm a little out in the open and my area of the office is arranged so that I have my back to everyone but other than that it's all okay. My silver, half dalek chairs revolve, people are friendly and generally things seem organized. I had my ID card within minutes, my computer soon after (it's a PC) and was up and running within an hour of arriving.

Orientation is tomorrow - so I guess that I'll have chair training and the chance to choose a health insurer then. Until which I shall attempt to look busy and to meet as many people as possible - given that it's the week before Christmas and the Holiday Season has helped 'thin out' the bodies available for hearty handshaking.

So far though, so good. This is going to be a tough job, but I'm thinking that I might even enjoy the challenge. Better to be worried about the job at hand than about the fact that someone, somewhere is going to book you on a plane to Des Moines rather than Detroit.