So you think your life is sucky...
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Yes it really does not take that much effort to find some much worse off than your typically petty problems. I definitely will not bitch about my manager. (Yes 10 years younger than me) but he knows how to get the right attention when there is a problem and quickly learns the quirks of his people. Which he then handles with out asking most of the time. A great man (Thanks Russ C.) I almost posted my Friday which although trivial was definitely frustrating at the time. I will now share so we can have a laugh. Thursday night my wife flushes a lid from an aerosol can down the bowl. It gets past the trap but hangs up at the seal on the floor. OK no big deal, un bolt the bowl from the floor lift it all up, clean it out and put a new wax ring down (right) Well the pluming was not placed right. So when I put the new ring down I used one with a guard molded in. Well that 1/8 inch was to mush so when the bowl was placed back on the floor the tank hit the wall to hard and broke the seal between it and bowl (but I did not realize it then.) Second trip to the hardware store and get a different seal. Pull it up, put the seal in and reinstall. First flush and water is pouring from the back. Back to the hardware store, get a third wax seal and a kit for the tank. Now just guess, if you had done this job in the first place you probably did not check the hardware you used for the tank and bowl right:mad::mad:!) Well they used some cheap cast metal wing nuts that have very much corroded. With just my hand the wings break off. I now have to hack saw them off on both sides. With the location restricting my access to only allow about a 1/4 inch travel for each stoke. Finally reinstall the bowl, next put the tank on. (Remember it hitting the wall?) Well the original installation was jury-rigged to bolt the tank on so it was at an angle. With the stock kit the tank is flush and will not seat right. Next flush water out the back again. Back to the hardware store (a different one) and yes they have extra thick seals for the tank (oh goody) get it and reinstall that tank. Well that angle that the tank has to be at to mount on the bowl is to much even for the extra thick seal (it is 1.125 inches thick and the one removed is 1.75! and no longer made.) Water still out the back. It has now been over 6 hours and no usable water closet (is that proper English?) Now man may be able to make it for a while (tomorrow morning) but wife and daughter do not like the idea. A plus here is they both let me be in a very grumpy moo
Michael A. Barnhart wrote: and no usable water closet (is that proper English?) I never hear anyone call it that. I hear loo, dunny, even porcelain palace, but never 'water closet'. Christian No offense, but I don't really want to encourage the creation of another VB developer. - Larry Antram 22 Oct 2002 Hey, at least Logo had, at it's inception, a mechanical turtle. VB has always lacked even that... - Shog9 04-09-2002 Again, you can screw up a C/C++ program just as easily as a VB program. OK, maybe not as easily, but it's certainly doable. - Jamie Nordmeyer - 15-Nov-2002
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Christian Graus wrote: Maybe the Sat/Sun work is why his wife is moving out ? Probably. Any job theat requires 5-7 days a week work puts to much strain on a relationship. My wife always complains that I work to much and I'm virtually unemployed or working from home. (subtle difference) Regardz Colin J Davies
Sonork ID 100.9197:Colin
You are the intrepid one, always willing to leap into the fray! A serious character flaw, I might add, but entertaining. Said by Roger Wright about me.
Colin Davies wrote: I'm virtually unemployed or working from home. Yikes, how do you manage to work from home? I'd find it very difficult to relax at night if my workplace was also my home.
Simon Walton
Sonork: 10024P
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This pretty decent guy who works with us has run into some bad luck of late. His wife is pregnant and due in December. He just told me they are no longer living together. He was supposed to come into work on Saturday to finish some stuff up. He arrived late and explained his car had been stolen on Friday evening. He then arranged to come in on Sunday to finish up, but phones me on Sunday and tells me that his motorbike, which he just bought, has siezed up. And you know what? He actually said "Paul I am sorry I could not get the work done, I tried but..." I wanted to shake him and yell "For fucks sake man I understand! Don't worry, we are not going to fire you because of a few missed hours because your life is upside down. Go, go sort things out and if you need us we are here for you!" Plus while he is a bit grim when no one is looking, he smiles and is trying his damndest to sort things out. What a trooper. While I really should not complain... here I am, just 23 years old, trying to fulfill the wild promises of our salesmen and trying to counsel a 28 year old who looks up to me as his boss. The next time any developer bitches about managers not doing anything and being worthless I can easily retort that you have no leg to stand on, we do a lot that you never see and thou shalt be grateful for it. So that was my Sunday evening sermo... rant. :-D
Paul Watson
Bluegrass
Cape Town, South AfricaColin Davies wrote: ...can you imagine a John Simmons stalker !
Paul Watson wrote: The next time any developer bitches about managers not doing anything and being worthless I can easily retort that you have no leg to stand on, we do a lot that you never see and thou shalt be grateful for it. Ummmmm.... maybe you do, but my manager is worthless!! ;P ;P Mike Mullikin :beer:
Well, I'm sure I'd feel much worse if I weren't under such heavy sedation. - David St. Hubbins, Spinal Tap
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peterchen wrote: but is there a remote chance he's on alcohol? Naaah, he is a decent guy. He does not beat his wife or come to work drunk. He is taking it all on the chin like a real man, a good guy :) peterchen wrote: Just I know this "I'll do that I promise!" / "I couldn't 'cause lightning struck" sequence all to well. If I understand you right then I totally agree. We are not running, nor can afford to be, a charity. So if someone is not pulling their weight they go, part of the deal. We used to have a girl working for us who was perpetually sick, depressed and "unfairly treated by life." For awhile we were very supportive, went out of our way to help her and accomodate her. Eventually though we, and she, realised she brought it all on herself and that she needed time out to sort her life out. I am a firm believer of "you cause most of your own ills." Controversial or not I have experienced enough to think it is true. I hope to god this new guy is not in the same boat. I don't think so, time will tell though. Sometimes I wish I could just run a damned charity, but really it won't be helping anyone, it would just be solving the effect, not the cause.
Paul Watson
Bluegrass
Cape Town, South AfricaColin Davies wrote: ...can you imagine a John Simmons stalker !
Paul Watson wrote: He does not beat his wife or come to work drunk. people can be on the bottle for years without anyone noticing. But I don't want to press it on or talk you into something - just keep an eye open for me, will ya? ;) Paul Watson wrote: you cause most of your own ills Mostly yes - and I fully agree in the sense that it's how you handle your ills. Too much outside support is as bad as no support at all. When life gets rough, character grows - but with everybody paving the road for you, you get nowhere. "Challenged" people need to live up to the same (relative) standard as others. Many tend to use their challenge as a protective shield, and many show a little bit too much understanding. Straight white males with house, wife, and 11/2 childs have to get up monday morning too. Which reminds me - time to go to bed ;)
skulls don't kiss for an explanation - wait for the vacation photos! [sighist]
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Colin Davies wrote: Probably. Any job theat requires 5-7 days a week work puts to much strain on a relationship. As I said to Christian I try my damndest not to give my guys more than is reasonable. If they however don't focus and end up at the end of the day with work left to do then they need to stay in and get it done. All part of the deal they agreed to. We even let them set the deadlines and expectations, so there are no excuses if they come up short. Being an experienced man, Colin, you must have some good tips on the art of balancing work against resources. While having a jol and being a great boss is nice and all we also need to remember there is a job to do.
Paul Watson
Bluegrass
Cape Town, South AfricaColin Davies wrote: ...can you imagine a John Simmons stalker !
Paul, my comment wasn't directed striaght at P Watson or Blue Grass, but at the industry. Paul Watson wrote: Being an experienced man, Colin, you must have some good tips on the art of balancing work against resources. Thats impossible Paul. (let me explain) The factors required are constantly changing. It's simply a fact that the software development industry needs people to work more than the standard number of hours per week. Could you oneday monitor your employees to see how many real hours work they put in. I'd be surprised if they could manage a 50% rate of productive work per hour. If you could figure out how to make people more productive for each hour spent working, you'd be onto a good thing. Some factors that can help this, are improved working environment and larger monitors. But there are limitations. Forced breaks in the workplace can also relieve stress thus enhancing productivity. Regardz Colin J Davies
Sonork ID 100.9197:Colin
You are the intrepid one, always willing to leap into the fray! A serious character flaw, I might add, but entertaining. Said by Roger Wright about me.
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This pretty decent guy who works with us has run into some bad luck of late. His wife is pregnant and due in December. He just told me they are no longer living together. He was supposed to come into work on Saturday to finish some stuff up. He arrived late and explained his car had been stolen on Friday evening. He then arranged to come in on Sunday to finish up, but phones me on Sunday and tells me that his motorbike, which he just bought, has siezed up. And you know what? He actually said "Paul I am sorry I could not get the work done, I tried but..." I wanted to shake him and yell "For fucks sake man I understand! Don't worry, we are not going to fire you because of a few missed hours because your life is upside down. Go, go sort things out and if you need us we are here for you!" Plus while he is a bit grim when no one is looking, he smiles and is trying his damndest to sort things out. What a trooper. While I really should not complain... here I am, just 23 years old, trying to fulfill the wild promises of our salesmen and trying to counsel a 28 year old who looks up to me as his boss. The next time any developer bitches about managers not doing anything and being worthless I can easily retort that you have no leg to stand on, we do a lot that you never see and thou shalt be grateful for it. So that was my Sunday evening sermo... rant. :-D
Paul Watson
Bluegrass
Cape Town, South AfricaColin Davies wrote: ...can you imagine a John Simmons stalker !
My sympathies Paul :( I had a couple of Indian contractors working for me, then got a call one day from their agency. The agancy guy said "Suchandsuch's wife has had a miscarrige and she's a bit upset, he might want to come back early" :~ I had to come up with an excuse to talk to him away from others and let him know we would let him out the contract ahead of time, arrange the soonest flight possible etc. He was such a nice guy as well, hope him and his wife are doing ok now. Would you like to meet my teddy bear ?
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Megan Forbes wrote: Yeah, I love it, work from home, check work email from home, etc, etc I can just imagine trying to setup VPNs to employees houses over Telkom lines. Endless excuse fodder as to why work was not done :-D Plus I think the whole team comraderie, company spirit is enhanced when we are all crammed into a tiny loft in 40 degree weather with no aircon... :-D
Paul Watson
Bluegrass
Cape Town, South AfricaColin Davies wrote: ...can you imagine a John Simmons stalker !
Paul Watson wrote: I can just imagine trying to setup VPNs to employees houses over Telkom lines. Endless excuse fodder as to why work was not done :laugh: Telkom lines.... so easy to push out of one's mind...
I knew it would end badly when I first met Chris in a Canberra alleyway and he said 'try some - it won't hurt you'..... - Christian Graus on Code Project outages
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Working from home is WORSE IMO, because you're there, and they expect you to be at their beck and call, as if you were not working at all. Christian No offense, but I don't really want to encourage the creation of another VB developer. - Larry Antram 22 Oct 2002 Hey, at least Logo had, at it's inception, a mechanical turtle. VB has always lacked even that... - Shog9 04-09-2002 Again, you can screw up a C/C++ program just as easily as a VB program. OK, maybe not as easily, but it's certainly doable. - Jamie Nordmeyer - 15-Nov-2002
I suppose it depends on your boss. I work 9 - 5:30 Monday - Friday. If I want to experiment with improving work stuff over the weekend, I can. If I don't want to, I don't. :)
I knew it would end badly when I first met Chris in a Canberra alleyway and he said 'try some - it won't hurt you'..... - Christian Graus on Code Project outages
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I suppose it depends on your boss. I work 9 - 5:30 Monday - Friday. If I want to experiment with improving work stuff over the weekend, I can. If I don't want to, I don't. :)
I knew it would end badly when I first met Chris in a Canberra alleyway and he said 'try some - it won't hurt you'..... - Christian Graus on Code Project outages
I meant that if you work your 9-5 job from home, it's harder in terms of getting the understanding of spouses, etc. Christian No offense, but I don't really want to encourage the creation of another VB developer. - Larry Antram 22 Oct 2002 Hey, at least Logo had, at it's inception, a mechanical turtle. VB has always lacked even that... - Shog9 04-09-2002 Again, you can screw up a C/C++ program just as easily as a VB program. OK, maybe not as easily, but it's certainly doable. - Jamie Nordmeyer - 15-Nov-2002
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This pretty decent guy who works with us has run into some bad luck of late. His wife is pregnant and due in December. He just told me they are no longer living together. He was supposed to come into work on Saturday to finish some stuff up. He arrived late and explained his car had been stolen on Friday evening. He then arranged to come in on Sunday to finish up, but phones me on Sunday and tells me that his motorbike, which he just bought, has siezed up. And you know what? He actually said "Paul I am sorry I could not get the work done, I tried but..." I wanted to shake him and yell "For fucks sake man I understand! Don't worry, we are not going to fire you because of a few missed hours because your life is upside down. Go, go sort things out and if you need us we are here for you!" Plus while he is a bit grim when no one is looking, he smiles and is trying his damndest to sort things out. What a trooper. While I really should not complain... here I am, just 23 years old, trying to fulfill the wild promises of our salesmen and trying to counsel a 28 year old who looks up to me as his boss. The next time any developer bitches about managers not doing anything and being worthless I can easily retort that you have no leg to stand on, we do a lot that you never see and thou shalt be grateful for it. So that was my Sunday evening sermo... rant. :-D
Paul Watson
Bluegrass
Cape Town, South AfricaColin Davies wrote: ...can you imagine a John Simmons stalker !
Paul Watson wrote: The next time any developer bitches about managers not doing anything and being worthless I can easily retort that you have no leg to stand on, we do a lot that you never see and thou shalt be grateful for it. Hmm, whilst I can believe that you would do the best for your developers. It is my experience that most managers don't really care but like to pretend that they do to get more work out of their people. Any manager who lets his people do more than an 8 hour day/ 5 day week is onto a loser in my eyes. A schedule that requires people to work too long and too much to achieve it, is a bad schedule. Even if a person is in the office for extra hours, the odds are that he isn't being any more productive but just being there because it is expected of him. I recommend that any manager reads "Debugging the Development Process" and "PeopleWare". Then we'll see if they really give a damn about their people. The world would be a better place if we all remembered that we work to live, not live to work. Michael Life’s not a song. Life isn’t bliss. Life is just this. It’s living. -- Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Once more, with feeling