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I’m on the phone with the guy I’m training in PA, and his trainers on that end seem to think it’s their place to determine what’s going to be discussed during each day’s phone call. Keep in mind that these people know nothing about Jaws For Windows, and they have no idea of the number of modifications that necessarily get made when it comes to the viewing of the screens. His trainer is telling him one thing while I’m telling him another. This is highly frustrating, and I can feel my blood pressure rising. I don’t need this turning into a constant upfill battle.

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It appears as though, (after over twenty-four hours of downtime), we’ve managed to re-emerge into the webosphere. Apparently the site was being moved to a different box. A notice of the scheduled downtime would have been nice. Consequently, I’ll be changing hosts. We’ve had nothing but problems over the last few weeks, and it’s gotten beyond the level of ridiculous.

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It’s almost 10:00, and I’ve been on hold for almost an hour. Where the hell is this rube at? If there’s one thing I hate more than anything else, it’s people who are extremely late. I hope for his sake that he has a really good excuse for being this late. If it’s his employer’s fault, then fine. But if it’s his, I’m ripping him a new one. I like having the time to sit here and post, but I don’t like it when someone is supposed to be at an appointment, which is what a conference call is, and doesn’t show. That really irks me. Maybe it’s just a feeble attempt on my part to reassure myself I’m at least somewhat close to being important enough to be given at least some modicum of consideration. But either way, it pisses me off. I don’t like my time being wasted by anyone. And I don’t want this coming back on me in the form of an accusation of work avoidance.

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While I’m waiting for the client’s man to join the conference call to begin today’s training session, I might as well recount how this whole thing came to be in the first place. A few weeks ago, I was asked by John if I would mind helping someone out who works for the client who is using Jaws. I said I would. So a few days later, I participated in a conference call with this individual. I agreed to help, because I figured it would be the nice thing to do. Evidently, that was my first mistake. I provided all the documentation I got during training, sent an email or two back and forth, and pretty much left it at that. Then, last Friday, I was asked if I would agree to a weekly conference call until further notice. I said I wouldn’t, mainly because I don’t believe it really takes that much to learn this system, and secondly because I was afraid that someone from corporate would take one look at that and eventually conclude that it isn’t reasonable accommodation, and I’d take part of the fall-out. That’s something I can’t afford because I don’t have enough job security to prevent my being sacked in order to save someone else’s skin. I came in Monday morning and stated why I couldn’t accept to John. Wednesday morning, he told me that I didn’t have anything to worry about, because I wasn’t being asked to take on a consultant’s position, and it would just be a favor to him as an individual. That settled things a little. Then, not twenty minutes later, our operations manager came to my desk and informed me that I would participate in a daily conference call, and that I would clock into training billable, which makes sure my employer gets paid. I get nothing extra. The implication was that, if I refuse, my career path would be redirected. So there it is. I’m expected to pass on every piece of information I’ve gleaned over the past two years, every tip and trick, every single keystroke, to someone else, for free, (or rather, for my standard $8.75/hour rate). Even I didn’t expect that one coming. I’ll be extracting splinters from my colon for months. And just Sunday morning, I was foolish to think that maybe this could be helpful to me. I was foolish enough to think that, finally, all my hard work might actually pay off to some degree. Now, the whole thing comes to light. This has been in the works for at least the last month. At first they asked. Since I refused, now I’m being compelled. From what I hear, the client is bending over backwards to accommodate this man. The only problem is, it’s at my expense. I don’t blame him, he had nothing to do with this. But for the foreseeable future, I get to be on display. Ladie and gentlemen, for your entertainment and edification, and to help you get some warm fuzzies, a blind person! I thought I was past the point of being vulnerable enought to be hurt by my employer. Maybe furious, but not hurt. I was wrong on that one too. This whole thing makes me feel violated in the worst manner, like something to be used and then thrown away. I feel cheap and dirty, like I’ve been prostituted ritually in the temple of the dollar. I don’t say that just to be dramatic. I really and truly mean it.

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I really don’t need this right now. The Pacmate batter doesn’t appear to be charging correctly. I really can’t afford a new battery right now. It appears as though it will run on AC power, but I don’t know if that will last or not, and if it doesn’t, then I’m screwed. The batter starts to charge, then remains at %0. I have no idea how much a new batery will run, but I can pretty much guarantee I don’t have it right now. Can something please go right today, please? I don’t think I’m asking for a lot. Just for everything to work like it should, for people not to be immensely stupid, and, if it’s not too much, to be treated like a human being. That’s it. Nothing more. I’ll forego any luxuries. If I were someone else, I’d be able to get a new Pacmate battery for free. But apparently he possesses some magical quality I don’t. OK, that’s a little bitterness showing through. But with the week I’ve had, it’s to be expected.

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I’m back at work. Time to do this all over again. I get to perform for my superiors, so they can all stand there anb be amazed at what the blink can do. I get to continue training the client’s man, who seems to be completely oblivious to the fact that his employer is bending over backwards to accommodate him, at my expense. Exploit one to help the other. They apparently bought his copy of Jaws For Windows! I, on the other hand, have had to scratch and claw for what little accommodation I’ve gotten, and with John possibly leaving in January, I stand the chance of losing most of it. The outlook from this vantage point is pretty damn bleak. I’ll elaborate on that later.

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I slept in late this morning. Fortunately, I woke up in time to get ready for work. I didn’t switch the clothes over last night so my WolfFM shirt isn’t dry, and that’s the shirt I wanted to wear today. I don’t want to go and play lab mouse again. More on that later. I haven’t gotten a chance to post and tell the story. It’s really screwed up though. I hope we’re not in cue today, because I’d like to be pushed around and yelled at as little as possible. Going to see if the clothes are in a wearable state. I hope they are, at least something reasonable.

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Supposedly, the database from hell was upgraded last night, and so we’re supposed to have all the attendant problems. Yay Java! At any rate, the hyperlinks have been updated, but as of yet the actual upgrade isn’t there. Should make for a lot of chaos. Definitely looking forward to it. I had an exhausting day yesterday, and I really don’t want another one today. But thanks to someone else’s unpreparedness, it looks as though I’ll get it. Just once, I’d like a day that doesn’t involve any of my normal adventures, or system downtime, or cue The work day didn’t start out exactly as I would have liked either. I filled my tumbler up with Mountain Dew, and some of it spilled in the people carrier. That’s not where the Dew is supposed to be. I have a decent schedule today, so that’s good. My lunch break is right in the middle of the day, and that’s a lot better than yesterday’s, which was at 14:00 (2 in the afternoon). I’m hoping that, by the time I get back to the Yid-Palace this afternoon, I’m not completely trashed, and can actually manage to get something productive done later on tonight, like laundry.

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I’m so sick and tired of this shit!
We’ve been in cue since I got here this morning, there are a ton of people off the phones, and the people are just getting on my nerves!
I’m sick and tired of all their stupidity, and whining!
I wish today was over already!
There’s no way in hell I’m working overtime!
I’m completely pissed, and fed up with the whole damned thing!

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I just took my first call of the day.
They had WolfFM in their background.
If you haven’t listened, you really should.
Steve Wolf creates a very nice blend of today’s adult contemporary hits, along with those of the 70’s, 80’s, and the 90’s.
I’ll shamelessly plug when I have more time.
Anyway, I wish they’d let me listen at work.
I’d probably get a lot more done.
The music’s arranged in such a way to make productivity optimum.
I’d think my employer would probably make everyone listen if they could manage it.
LOL.

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Wednesday, before the hurricane hit, everybody bailed. So the company ordered pizza for the people who stayed. Unfortunately, there were three of us who didn’t get to have any because we were stuck on the phone all afternoon. We put in for paid time off, but it wasn’t aproved. So John bought us doughnuts out of his own pocket, and let us eat them this morning. That was very nice of him, and greatly appreciated.

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The server went down again this morning.
I’m not sure how long it was down for, and I’m not sure how long it’s going to be up.
I started looking at hosting arrangements this morning, but didn’t get far as I didn’t have a ton of time.
I’m really not in the mood to deal with all the members today.
They’re getting on my nerves just for being members.
This whole damned place is getting on my nerves.
I’m fed up with it.