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It’s Thursday, and I’m back at work.
I woke up at around 07:38 this morning, which is way too late for my liking.
I heard the alarm go off the morning, and hit the button, then rolled over thinking I’d lay there for a few more minutes.
That few minutes turned into two and a half hours.
So I got up, threw on my clothes and finished getting ready in less than twenty minutes.
I drank my first coke while walking out the door.
And it looks like training the man in PA is back on.
This time, I log in to clerical work.
My employer isn’t billing the client.
Whatever.
At this point, he still isn’t here, but it’s probably because nobody told him.
It’s hotter than hell in here.
We keep bitching at the facilities manager, but it’s turning into something that has to happen on a daily basis.
I’ve threatened to buy everybody on my row, (and as many other people as I can afford), canned drinks if it doesn’t cool off in here.
I might have to deal with being hot, but I’m not going to deal with being parched, and I definitely cannot afford to keep buying bottled drinks.
Betty, I got your comments about importing all my L-J entries, and thank you very much for your offer.
Fortunately, I already got them imported, thanks to a little xml.
I’m applying for a mentor position at work.
It won’t mean any more pay, but I’m hoping it will lead to something else.
Here I go again being hopeful.
Let’s see how it turns out.

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That last caller had to have been sleeping or something. When I asked for his ID, it took him literally a minute to answer, and then I still had to ask three more times because he couldn’t figure out what was going on. He asked if I was verifying his transaction. OK. Just because the Burger King is looking at you in that special way doesn’t mean you need to be a total twit.

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This morning’s really got me wishing I could just take the telemarketing approach. Whenever a telemarketer calls, I usually just tell them I’m not interested. That’s what I’d like to tell my employer today. “Hello Ms. Rush, I’m calling to offer you an opportunity to win some money today, and all it will take on your part is—” “I’m not interested.” Click. Why can’t life be that easy? I don’t like dealing with all the stupid people who aren’t even presented with the suggestion to take responsibility for their actions. It’s stressful, and it makes me feel ill, and it’s really a lot more hard work than I get compensated for. So either raise the pay, or, I’m just not captivated enough to come into work. If I didn’t think I’d get fired, that’s what I’d call in and say. “I do apologize for the inconvenience, but my interest in this job is currently unavailable. If you could just call back in about a week or so, I should be able to assist you at that point. However, nothing in the former statement constitutes a promise.”

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It’s finally time to end the day. No laundry got done tonight. I found out right before I left work today that I’ll no longer be training. Apparently the client’s go-between didn’t think my employer was going to be billing. brilliant. I wonder if they told their guy in PA. I mean, to tell the truth, this lessens my work load. But I’d really hate for him to just be left in the lurch. I really hope tomorrow isn’t like today was, but that’s probably a vain prayer on my part. Later all.

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I just got off the phone witha woman who’s convinced she won’t ever receive her Effexar because we shipped it via regular mail on the 20th, and it should have gotten to her by now because she got a letter from us that was mailed on the 20th and arrived at her address two days later. When I suggested that she contact her doctor to get a late mail order prescription, she insisted that that wouldn’t work, and that she was going to get charged the full price without a copay, and the whole world’s going to end because she didn’t get her meds two days after they shipped. What a psycho.

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I got done with today’s training session at around 11. I prepared screenshots for the trainers in PA, so that they can get a look at how Jaws and the database from hell interact. I just got done with that. There are a total of 53 screenshots. The company ordered pizza for everybody today. I definitely took advantage of that. Now, it’s time to get back on the phone and take the phone calls. I’m so tired. I wish I could go home. I’d like to take a nap.

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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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