Nah, not going to be a "preachy" missive this morning. More of a status update.
Status, as in, this is the last Monday as a working stiff. As in, next Sunday night, I turn off all my daily alarms (except the Sunday one of course) and wake up whenever I wake up.
Woo-Hoo!
The new boss has settled in and seems to be doing ok. Had her baptism of fire on Wednesday. I walked in the office about 7:20 with the phone ringing. Never, ever, a good sign. Turns out it was the Principal from our outlying Elementary school calling from her cell phone. Seems there was no network or phone connections at the school.
Well, Bummer Dude! I took a look at it from our side and couldn't see any devices at that campus either. Called up our network connectivity guy and pointed him that way to see what there is to see. Then called the new boss to keep her apprised.
About a half hour later, I get a call from our guy saying he can't find anything wrong, but, bigger than Dallas, there's no connectivity. I update the boss and recommend getting our contracted support on it. (This is a guy that used to work for us, but now charges an arm and a leg to do the same work. I know, Beans, I know....)
In any case, he's out there about an hour later and is on the phone with our internet provider who can't find any problem with their equipment either. Just no connectivity.
Meanwhile, the murmuring is getting louder.
The natives are getting restless, because, you see, "We can't teach without the internet". Personally, I think the first three words are the truth, the rest of the statement is an excuse.
In any case, there is much rumbling about the Tech Department this and Tech that. Blah, Blah, Fricking Blah!
So, the new boss is at Central Office discussing the issue with her new boss when the Asst Sup for Business and Finance calls in on her cell. (She's on the road to College Station to watch her son graduate.) She casually mentions that it might be a problem with the bill. Seems we haven't paid it in a few months due to a disagreement on the amount.
YGBSM!
My new Boss let's loose with a volley that would have put the New Jersey to shame. The bill was paid very (very, very) shortly thereafter and, magically delicious, connectivity was restored.
 | |
| INCOMING!!!! Source |
Rejoice in the Lord, always. I say again, Rejoice!
Oh, and .....
Funny how vendors always seem to want their money. Hopefully a meaningful learning point for the Business/Finance person. Very, VERY glad to hear that Friday is your last day there. If I read it correctly. V/R
ReplyDeleteYou read it correctly. I doubt the point was taken. She's a bit stubborn that one. And sure of herself (not in a good way).
DeleteImagine, wanting to get paid for providing a service. The nerve! Liked their version of "Hazy Shade of Winter". Nice choice for a Monday Juvat. Let's hear it for the eighties big hair bands! Was a bit more partial to Bananarama myself.
ReplyDeleteI thought it a tad nervy also. But yet, somehow, understandable. I wonder if we could garnish her wages for those couple of months. That might drive home the point. NaaaaH!
DeleteA billing dispute? Wow, seems odd no one thought of that possibility.
ReplyDeleteLove The Bangles.
Well our network guy, in describing the issue, did say it was "like someone had turned something off" although both he and the provider's tech guy said everything was powered on.
DeleteYeah, me too.
I do see a MEM (Multiple Earworm Monday) happening today.
ReplyDeleteIt started with the first two words of the post!
My wife has been the bill payer for all of our marriage, except for the one time she tried to use the flimsy excuse of, "But I was in the hospital having my appendix removed!"
I called the company when the overdue bill surfaced, sounded out the rep to see if they had a sense of humor, and then described the above story in a bit of greater detail and while laughing, the rep made the late charges go away.
Good post!
Always nice to deal with a human being, as in someone who understands that sometimes feces occurs.
DeleteYour story of the "bit stubborn" individual reminds me of a meeting I had some years ago to lock in the training schedule for my unit at Camp Lejeune. The attendees were a major from the base, myself, and my Gunny. For two hours, as we went through the schedule line by line, the major would insist that we could not do what the schedule called for. Each time I would produce either the Marine Corps order, or the Base order that said we could and the major would very grudgingly concede that point. By the time the meeting concluded I was steaming and as we walked out my Gunny said to me, "Hey, sir, don't mind him, he's just a sexual intellectual." That was just too much, and I said what the heck to you mean? "You know, sir. He's just a fookin know it all."
ReplyDeleteSexual Intellectual. Yep, that would apply to a lot of folks around here.
DeleteAh, bean counters. Necessary, even indispensable, but they need to stay in their lane, IMO.
ReplyDeleteLane? Heck, I'd be satisfied if she stayed in the side of the 8 lane highway heading in her direction.
DeleteNobody at the ISP said “um, you know you got turned off for nonpayment?” There’s no account-wide flag for that, or something?
ReplyDeleteApparently not. The ISP technician was on the phone with us searching for the problem for a considerable time and didn't say anything. I'd think that if there were a flag, that would have been mentioned earlier.
DeleteIt's always fun when someone can (in humor) ask "did you pay the bill?"
ReplyDeleteWell....for the remainder of the week, I'll be using that statement to address any help requests from that department. After that, well it JUST won't matter.
ReplyDeleteI love The Bangles! And that is a great song!
ReplyDeleteAs for not paying the bill due to a disputed amount?? So she lost the dispute and looks like an idiot to her colleagues? That just doesn't sound smart on a couple of different levels.
The count-down has begun! Yea!! Only 4.5 days to go..."restart my highly evolved process for turning fine exotic wood into sawdust." I know folks that do this!! Sawdust makes great fire-starter BTW, ask me how I know...
Cardboard egg crates, sawdust and candle wax? Is that the secret formula in your neck of the woods? Works great for me.
DeleteI sometimes add old pieces of t-shirt and pine pitch also, mix together, and wa-la...heat!!!
DeleteI've got one or two (million) old t-shirts I can volunteer. Might just try that.
DeleteHUZZAH!
ReplyDeleteThank you sir!
DeleteNice to hear you're on final and cleared full stop. Will there be a Hail and Farewell, gold watch and all that? My mom's hospital was bought up by a big HMO a couple years before she retired. She was BNOC (Big Nurse on Campus) in the previous organization, but the new one didn't seem to care. 30 years amounted to a "free" lunch at the parent company offices 30 minutes away. Very bitter taste in her mouth. She had a bigger bash my sister organized, but she was sad all the same. Hope your going away is better.
ReplyDeleteGiven that 3 of the 7 people in the department are departing at the same time, I'm not thinking there will be anything official. But.....WHOGAS? oh and KMAGYOYO!
DeleteWhoa, two fine additions to the Acronym Page! (I'll get right on that...)
DeleteI was surprised they weren't already there. Quite common usage amongst my former mates.
DeleteThe PD I used to work at bought an AFIS (Automated Fingerprint Identification System) back when they were really expensive, quarter of a million dollars expensive, and took up a whole room of equipment and desks for 2 workstations. They did NOT buy the $10k complete maintenance plan that included room and lodging for the techs and parts and labor and programming assistance and, and, and...
ReplyDeleteMy boss and I (he head of the Forensic Crime Lab and me the staff ass(istant)) both lobbied most fulsomely for the maintenance contract, but City Hall knew better....
I think you can see where this is going, right?
So, about a year into using it, actually just after a year where the built in contract finally expired, El AFIS machine went Teats Up in a major way, barfing on itself, pooping the bed, whole 9 yards. No maintenance contract? Well, Bend Over must have been the billing agent because we took an $85,000 dollar hit. And because our machine wasn't covered for the little bit it worked before it didn't, all identifications made during the non-coverage phase had to be thrown out of court, because, obviously, the machine was broken, right?
And, because it was City Hall that decided the HAL 9000 didn't need maintenance, City Hall had to pay for the repairs and the maintenance contract at $20,000 a year (price did indeed go up) out of discretionary money, not PD money. Which kept them from painting fake brick crosswalks in the street and planting trees under powerlines and buying CFL bulbs for poor people and paying for HAZMAT cleanup for the CFL bulbs for poor people. Buwahahahahahahahahahahahaha.
So, how much does the ex-employee mercenary computer killer make per job? Did you ask?
On Friday, are you going to wear a kilt and put wode on half your face? Make up a big cardboard and tinfoil Claymore...
So you can shout, "FREEEDOM!" of course, right?
Not pay the bills. That, that was precious...
I know he is in 6 figures and making more than the Superintendent, but he's wicked smart.
DeleteNo, I'm going to go out with way more dignity than that. Here's a photo of me rehearsing my speach
Happy second (?) retirement. Will this mean that you will post more than once a week; take some of the load off of OldAFSarge, as it were.
ReplyDeleteA very enjoyable read, that was.
Thanks for the post.
Paul L. Quandt
Got to talk to the slave driver about doubling my pay, or maybe a window seat on the oar, or maybe a small sliver of meat in the breakfast gruel. This negotiation thing becomes easier as time goes on, doesn't it?
DeleteBut you get Tuna once every month or so. Not enough?
DeleteThat's not enough Tuna to make any kind of samich. What does juvat think he's going to do with all of the " free " time he has, after completing the jobs on, of course, the lists provided by SWMBO.
DeletePaul
Paul, turn $15/board foot exotic wood into beautiful, useful sawdust.
DeleteI'm posting once a month? No wonder I'm so tired.
DeleteI think there's an old saying "Quality has a quantity all of its own". Or something like that ;-)
DeleteAh yes, those 'pesky' bills... Snerk... NOT the first time I've seen that happen, and the crawfishing by accounting is usually EPIC! Glad to hear you're about out of there, maybe with some sanity still intact!
ReplyDeleteSanity went a very (very, very) long time ago.
DeleteHey Juvat;
ReplyDeleteCan't fault you on the Bangles...I liked them a lot and not just for being a "Girl Band". Their music was really good Well I considered all of them smoking hot back in the 1980's and cheerfully have had carnal relations with any or all of them if given a chance back then, lol
And not paid the bill...? *wow* can't make this up....
Thanks, MrG! The Bangles are still pretty hot and according to the source of all knowledge, they're still touring.
DeleteWelcome to the ranks of the retired!
ReplyDeleteIt'll take some getting used to, and KEEP BUSY!
I've seen far too many guys retire and wither away because of "Nothing To Do"....
That is solidly my biggest concern right now. What do I do next? For exactly that reason.
DeleteDon't let it freak you out, but definitely be aware of it happening.
DeleteI've got Ham Radio and old cars to play with, along with fixing up stuff around the house, keeping SWMBO happy, and watching the grandson grow.
I'm sure you have pursuits outside of work that can fill the time.
Just got to find the new normal, drjim. We'll muddle through.
DeleteCongrats, juvat - I'm in the same boat as you, about 3-4 months later. Am also looking forward to it. But SWMBO, in her usually tactful way, says she is worried I'm gonna die soon after since I won't be mentally challenged or have enough to keep busy. In talking to others who have gone before us into the retirement void, the first year or two are fairly easily handled since there is a backlog of things on the list of "what I'll do when I retire". It's once that list is done with that retirement really begins and the second 'new normal' is determined. Best of luck with it all - I'm sure you'll do fine and muddle along nicely!
Delete