Because it has to be immortalized somewhere...

"Its Wednesday....with boobs!"

Astounding

Another call today that makes me wonder how people get through daily life....

"I can't get my email on my Treo anymore..."

"How are you trying to get your email? Through wireless sync?"

"Yes."

"Okay. Is there an error when you try to do a sync?"

"I don't know. Its a replacement and we were trying to set it up.."

(Here I get the password for the wireless sync account. I see that she does have an account set up and that it does report an error.)

"Can you get an internet connection?"

"Yes, it brings up websites.."

"Okay. Pleae tap the wireless sync icon, to start the sync.." (I presume she's actually done this before, since she indicated she had...)
(She begins mumbling some things I didn't really pay attention to.) "Wait...you want me to hook it up to the computer and press the button...?"

(Yes...because connecting the device to the computer with a wire is an effective way of doing a wireless sync.)

"No. I want you to tap on the wireless sync icon on your device.."
"Oh, okay. It says sync in progress." (Moments later.) "Sync in progress...I can get my email wirelessly?"

*bangs head* I mean....seriously.

Some people...

This is part of a conversation that I've actually had with a customer today:

Cust: "I can't get my bluetooth headset working."
Me: "Is it paired with the device?"
Cust: "What do you mean 'paired'? Pear? That's a fruit to me. You'll have to explain it in layman's terms."
Me: "Does the device see the bluetooth?"
Cust: "What? What do you mean?!"
Here is where I go through the steps to create a pair or partnership between the device and the headset - during which the customer interjects with:

"I've done this already, I've gone through this. I told you that!"
Me: "Okay, but we need to do it again. I need to know if the problem with the headset occurs before or after the partnership is created."
Cust: "Its not the headset! Its just not working..."
Me: "So, the problem occurs when you try to use the headset? After the partnership is created?"
(I'm avoiding the use of the word 'pair', since it's obviously nothing more than a fruit.)
Cust: "Partnership? What do you mean by partnership? I don't think you understand me..."

he denied this fact and told me he's "just loud". Mind you, this is not a man who seems to have problems with speaking English and it didn't sound as if it were a second language for him...so, why he couldn't understand basic words we learn in elementary school, I don't know.
I'd ask a question, he'd tell me one thing. When I asked again for clarification..the answer was different, and he'd yell at me that I didn't understand. Oh yes, then there's the whole treating me like I'm the stupid one. Of course I don't understand when you keep changing your answers. Moron.
He started out loud, and throughout the call he got to the point of yelling at me (and his dog, which was barking in the background. I'm lucky though - he only swore at the dog). Of course, he denied this fact and told me he's "just loud".
I don't understand how people like this make it through daily life.

Oh yes...direction....

I remember what I was going to say, with the last post.

The QA manager sent a note to my supervisor indicating that I wasn't what they were looking for. This is fine with me...I understand I'm not perfect for all positions available. What got me was that she stated I "need attention to detail".
Mind you, I submitted the call twice. I failed it once - with a note as to why I failed it - no case created in our database. The other I graded as if a case had been created - including notes on why I scored the way I did. My supe thinks I may have been alright if I had copied and pasted the information from the regularly scored card onto the failed one. ~*blink*~ ~*confused look*~
And they think I need attention to detail?!

I went for it...

and didn't get it. I will not be a new part-time member of the QA team. I'm okay with that. There was no pay raise included...so, more work for the same amount of money, basically. It doesn't 'demote' me or anything else.
The only advantages that it offered - being off the phones for awhile (though I'd be listening to calls), and having a foot in the door to a full time position off the phones. With everything said and done, I'm almost relieved, actually. Personal factors indicate that it may have been more stress (brought about by management I'm sure I would come to think of as only marginally competent..).
I was going somewhere with this post...but as I started it this morning, and I'm off work now, I've lost track of where I was going. Before I make a fool of myself (or more of one, depending on one's view), I shall stop the typing now and spare you all...or, maybe, I'm just sparing myself.

Traffic nightmare

3 hours after I left work, I finally made it home. ~*snarl*~

I almost got to 520 bridge, just to find out it was closed. Over two hours waiting...just to be turned around. So, I had to go up north and come back south to make it across the lake. I'm glad I didn't try I-90 - I'd probably still be sitting on the freeway now. Traffic sucks.

Its definately...

my Monday. It just feels like a Monday, despite the fact that its Tuesday. It doesn't help that I swear they have me in the difficult queue. Its not that the calls have been bad, they've just been long. For instance, my first call today was a 2 hour call. I should have just known. ~*hangs head and whimpers*~
I haven't heard back from QA yet on the part time position - but I'm guessing by the beginning of next week. I consulted my Tarot cards, and they've agreed that I have a good chance at getting this.
There's so many things going on right now, its hard to figure out just what to post. Of course, the fact that I'm at work and somewhat distracted never helps with the ability (or, sometimes, lack thereof) to complete a thought and actually get it out in type. I'm going to try, though.
First, grandma's coming home this weekend, we think. The nursing home hasn't given us any information, but we know medicaid runs out as of the 11th. So, now, we have to scramble to finish getting the house ready for her return. She'll be in a wheelchair, so things will have to be different than before. That means, too, that I go back to being the only income for the household as mom will have to stay home to take care of grandma. I'm worried that we won't be able to do this..that, somehow, we'll end up living outside in the broken down van. Of course, that's worst case scenario, and I always worry about that. At any rate, grandma's room needs to be cleaned out so she has room in there. We also need to clean out the music room so we can move the toys into there, and let the kids have a make-shift play room. It'll move the toys out of the living room, and out of her way. Grandma freaks about anything removed from the house, so anything we want out and gone has to be gone by the time she gets home. ~*sigh*~
There's no time for anything. Or, maybe, its just that there's so much I need or want to do. I have "upkeep" type stuff that I need to do (the weekly and nightly chores we all do), projects that I want to do, and stuff that has to be done (music room, et al). If I just do it all, there's no time with the kids...and I refuse to be one of "those" mothers. My kids are important to me, and I intend on showing them that in any way I can.
One of the new projects I want to do is quilting. Nothing difficult to start with...some paper piece quilting in the form of potholders for now. I have plans for some later projects, but I need to learn the simple ones first ;)

(Written on 3-7-06)

I did it.

I submitted all the information I needed for the QA position. I'm crossing my fingers. I understand there's going to be a lot of competition. My tarot deck, however, is reminding me to have self confidence. It slipped out of the deck when I was playing with it...just moving the cards around.
I had more to say...but, that was awhile ago, and I've had some distractions. I think I'll stop now...

Going for it

I finally got the nerve up to ask my supervisor about my scorecard. There's a part time position available with quality assurance. I decided that if I didn't try for it, I'd never get it. So...here I am...trying for it.
I graded a call today, despite my nerves. I was second guessing myself all the way to the point where the recording started. "Do I know enough?" "Can I really grade it right?" "Do I even know what I'm doing?"
You know what I discovered? The answer is...yes!! To all of those questions, and others. Yes, I can. I know what I'm doing, what I'm listening for, and what I hear. I'm confident in my ability, and the score I've given the call. I'm confident that I can defend my score and give accurate reasons why I scored it the way I did. Maybe I scored it differently than QA would have, but at least I have my reasons...and they are sound. I'm confident in my ability to learn the nuances of scoring calls the way QA would like.
I feel good about this. No, I don't have the position, and maybe there's someone better qualified than I am. Maybe I won't get chosen...but, I feel good that I'm trying. I feel good that I'm taking the step, and that I have the confidence to know that I have a chance at the very least. I'm not just sitting back and humming and haawing about it, like I tend to do. I won't get it if I don't try for it, right? Right.
If I don't get it...then I'm not any worse off. Maybe I'll work harder, learn from the experience and have a better chance next time. I'm proud of myself for even taking this step.
Now, to complete the questionaire and get my resume in :)