Awesome weekend

Picked my roomie up from the airport. Did some photoshop work, and getting another web project going. Lots of fun!

I have to work sunday (which is technically today since its after midnight). Its only a 4 hour shift, and from what my coworkers tell me its non-stop busy. I like that. The day goes by faster when there's no downtime. Plus the calls I take are challenging. It's always something new, and often requires some real thought behind figuring out what these people are actually asking for LOL.

example: "Yah, I can't get my database to replicate (replication is a term used for Lotus Notes, since it uses a 'replicator' page for downloading databases to a local copy)."

"Okay, no problem, let me remote into your system and i'll take a look at your lotus notes databases."

"Okay"

Remote process completed

"Okay, i'm showing your lotus notes replicate just fine."

"Oh, its not in lotus notes. My synchronization for my other program isn't working."

"Uh, okay. Sorry, you said replicate, and I assumed lotus notes. And since you didn't say anything after I mentioned i'd look at your lotus notes, I figured that is what you were having a problem with."

"Oh, so that page that says replicator page is what you guys think of when we say replicating? I just call everything that. heh."

(Now mind you, I should have probed and asked what program they were having a problem with)

-=Next Call=-

"Yah i'm getting an error message with my email." (all of them use lotus notes for email, but what the hell right?)

"No problem. What program are you using for email?"

"What do you mean no problem? And what kind of stupid question is that? We all use Lotus notes!"

(troubleshooting commences while the user continues to let me know how stupid I am)

-=Next Call=-

"Yah i'm getting an error message when I try to download my email."

"No problem. Let me remote in." (clickity click click) "Your email seems to be replicating fine."

"Oh its not in lotus notes. I was talking about my outlook express program." (duh..of course you were.)

"I'm sorry, we don't support the use of that program. Per ...(interupted by babbling client)"

"What?! How the heck am I supposed to get my personal email then? This is redicul(interupted by annoyed support tech)."

"Per Security Policy you are not authorized to use that program. Your equipment is not for personal use, and is company provided. The use of non-standard programs is a violation of terms of use."

"Non-standard? It comes installed on the computer."

"Yes, and on the documentation you recieved that was placed inside the lid of the laptop it explains that the program was disabled and is not authorized. You had to do something to enable it again, which means you used non-standard unauthorized software to hack your company computer for personal use."

"But my manager gave me the program."

"So he's involved as well?"

"Um...how about you just remove it for me, and leave it at that."

"Sure thing. I'd be happy to remove all non-standard software from the laptop. I'll even back up your email for you so you can save it to disk and put it on a personal computer."

"Thanks!"

(I'm such a nice guy.)