Wednesday, July 16, 2008

The Latest

Quickly, Jason has another of his famous contests going on, and I finally got off my duff and entered again. It's a bit sappy, and not my usual, but I kind of like it. You can check it out here. I've met a few new people like I do every time I participate, and it really is a lot of fun.

Man, I have been bizzzz-ee at work. So I have an excuse. Sorry I've sort of dropped off the map lately. Some things I've been working on for over a six months suddenly went south, so my manager and I came up with a plan to get around it. Everything was working fine until one customer had a particular setup that caused my stuff to not work, and an easy solution wasn't available. The plan involved me rewriting an entire section of code, and it had to be done instantly. I worked from sun-up till midnight most of last week getting it done, and of course there were other problems and subsequent fixes, problems and fixes, over and over until it was mostly resolved.

Yesterday, the day before official release, I took a day off and took my family to Canobe Lake (an amusement park). When I got home at 9PM through two traffic jams, my work inbox was crammed with still-yet more errors to fix, and the rantings of a panicked manager (the manager of my manager) who didn't know I'd taken the day off.

So I was up until midnight again fixing problems. But I wiped them all out. Now I'm waiting for the verdict, and hoping I don't lose this freaking incredible job that I have.

I'm not that worried about it, but you never know what can happen.

We took our dog with us to the park, which is allowed by rule, but we certainly got the hairy eyeball from passersby. Right out of the gate. The people in the car next to us stared at us as we deployed the family plus dog. Rudely. We were approached more than once on the subject, and I heard families discussing it with their children as we passed, "that's just ridiculous to bring a dog here!"

She's just a small thing, not like a Rotweiler (check that spelling because I'm too lazy to), a Dobie or a Pit Bull. I'm not sure what had everyone's panties in a collective bunch. I remember in the old days when there were no fences between yards and dogs ran free and kids were allowed to roam in their neighbor's back yards. I hate to say it, but America has gotten to be way too uptight.

Anyway, the car parked next to us had a cracked driver's side window, and it was still there as we were leaving, so my wife dropped a napkin onto its front seat that said in her distinctive feminine handwriting, "Fuck you" and a smily face where the period would go.

God bless her.

One other funny thing, before I forget. We had Brinks Home Security over at our house to replace a battery and transformer that went dead on our alarm system (it was way past due). Two young guys, professional and efficient. We always offer something to technicians that come by--for cable installations, dishwasher repair, furniture delivery, etc--such as water or snacks. My wife was making sandwiches for the kids, and said, "Can I offer the two of you a peanut butter and jelly sandwich?" One of them, without missing a beat said, "No thanks, I have to drive."

13 comments:

Me said...

LOL @ your wife!!!! I had no idea, Scott!!! Mrs. Hard To Want rocks!!!!!

Oh, and you writing again?

FULL of win.

Toni Anderson said...

:) That message is very cool :) I hope you got the right car?

We take our dog everywhere we can pretty much--and he is a big hairy hound. I only don't take him if I know I'll have to tie him up by a busy road or leave him in the car. If there's more than just me (as a supposed adult) then he usually comes along. In France they take the dogs everywhere. Department stores, food stores etc. (It can be gross :) At least that was the case last time I was there, going back a few years now.

The world is getting uptight, Scott. No doubt about it. Chill world. :)

Toni Anderson said...

PS. Good luck with the software release.

Sarah Hina said...

Very much enjoyed your contest entry, Scott. Like the new blog set-up, too. And thanks so much for your kind comments earlier! You are a generous soul.

I hope the final verdict from work is "smooth sailing ahead." :)

Dixie Belle said...

Whoa!! A new blog look. It's great. I loved the story about the dog and the repairman. You're always a joy to read.

Scott said...

Alan - She's not one to mince words, but beats herself up for not being quicker on the draw when people are offensive.

Toni - I find myself longing for the old days when people could be people. I guess France isn't so bad after all!

Sarah - That was very sweet. Thanks. I had a hard time choosing the new blog template, and I may make a switch again. If I were being really creative like I'd like to be, I would make one myself...

Dixie - Thanks. I'm glad you enjoy my little ditties (if that's a word)! I took the blog template from a free site, but didn't keep the link they put that leads back to them. I'll have to find it again and put it back so everyone can give it a whirl. It was really easy.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the comments over at my blog, Scott! I always enjoy meeting new folks via Jason.

The peanut butter jelly comment has me cracking up. It reminded me of one of my kids' favs.

Beth said...

I always offer soda or coffee, so the PB&J thing was just so cool. I'm starting to love your wife a bit. =)

Sheri Perl-Oshins said...

I still love pb&j. Now my girls can't bring it into school because of all the nut allergies. What is the world coming to? Kids who can't eat pb&j...

Did the guy say it because he was truly being clever or did he think you had offered him a beer? Truly funny.

Sheri Perl-Oshins said...

I still love pb&j. Now my girls can't bring it into school because of all the nut allergies. What is the world coming to? Kids who can't eat pb&j...

Did the guy say it because he was truly being clever or did he think you had offered him a beer? Truly funny.

Scott said...

Aerin - Good to see you around. The next time somebody gives him attitude about PB&Js, I'll crank the YouTube video over my computer speakers.

Beth - Yeah, I think I'll keep her!

Scott said...

Sheri - He was definitely being clever. It's really a magical thing when somebody lays one on you like that, especially when you don't know the guy. It was a casual thing to say and certainly out of the ordinary. My wife and I both love that kind of thing.

Kathleen said...

You deserved that Honorable Mention. Nicely done.