Under the armor...

Misunderstandings Abound
Well as it turned out Tuesday wasn't quite the traumatic event that I had expected. My manager called and explained she things we did not need to take it to the next level, I felt we also needed a cool-down period, but instead she suggested we get an observer that manages others. I thought perhaps having another set of ears might help some and agreed.

After talking with the Technical Lead on that Friday I took that knowledge as my own. We both started talking as I explained to the other and my manger what she asked and what I did. With that we went into discussion and some of my animosities became clear, but once more not directed at the manager so much as what the manager expects to accomplish with the data.

I continued on and after we finished we had a much better clue of what we both wanted and of course we were basically within agreement of each other. The other manager than explained her observations, sadly it seemed like they were mostly on me, which was a shame, she explained I am Detail Oriented person and that why I like specifics of what we intend to accomplish and that getting an agreement that suggest plan is acceptable is important to me, meanwhile she explained to the manager that as such they have very general ideas of what they want and that it was my purpose to do with it as I pleased just make sure it is getting done.

This came as a much more of a disappointment than a relief but the overall accomplishment was good. I was given the freedom to work with the ideas as long as I show data regularly and that is all the expectation were. Having another person there now gives me at least another ear to make sure that suddenly the table isn't turned again, as I feel that way a lot at times. I imagine the productivity level may be an issue though, I hope to accomplish the task in an expedient manner but only time will tell for sure.

Still I need to keep my eye out for new and different prospects, I don't think I can handle staying at my currently place for much longer than a year, but well I have said that before...

Oh well take care all!

Current Mood: melancholy

Frustration Ensues!
Not that I care to post this, but as usual I have to get this off my chest.

Vacation was wonderful and it enlightened me to how life works. Seeing hundred of folks in different businesses working on laptops was the single most exciting thing about work I had ever seen. Now I return to work, which I find a fiasco of administration and seemingly endless amount of red-tape and protocols.

My manager and I have a discussion of what she'd like to see in the next five months, Operation Measure Improvements, we have four stats that have stayed flat over a couple years. After counsel from the TW he thinks (and it is a logical thought) that what my manager seeks from me is a way to raise these stats. She asks me from Wednesday until Friday of this week of putting together what we can do to improve these stats.

I am at a loss at how these stats are acquired so day 1 I spend figure out how we get the figures and figuring how the data can be used to help us out with this. Day 2 I spend figuring what of the data is pertinent for the direction I need to go. Day 3, update a form to continue the current process of following up with each inidivudal and point out improvement.

Day 3 present data...
Day 3 get hammered about this is what we already know. (even though I didn't)
Day 3 get hammered about how these don't work.
Day 3 lose patience and throw up arms in frustration WTF do you want from me?

Upon talking to the TW he points out that perhaps what is wanted is me look outside the box for more ways to improve, since I am usually so good at that. However from my manager perspective if she wants this she hasn't communicated it in a way that I understand she wants us to use the same tools and get seemingly different figures by not paying attention to the tools yet coming up with something new or dynamic to improve, as if there is something we overlooked that will fix this all up and in a miracle we can raise these stats.

Day 3 inform my manager we need management intervention or other options, this has gone on too long and our communication has failed and I don't see any opening in this tunnel.

So now I need to put my stuff together figure out how to either help us or just find something else. Yeah this isn't the best market, but I am so tired of this, I want to help but seem unable to proceed further.

Current Mood: aggravated

Teaching Korean Kids to Cook
As my visit to Singapore comes to an end, the highlight is the Subject of this e-mail. As I may have told you I have a number of Koreans in my room, they have been wondering where I have been in the nights and why I wind up so late in the bed.

I told them I just have limited time and just been keeping myself busy. Today we got talking about food and their disappointment of not finding a nice inexpensive Korean police to eat. I went ahead and did some searches and informed them lunch is the time to go price wise and some other places. I informed them the best thing is to cook for yourself. He explained that he didn't know how to cook. I looked in shock and said I'd go ahead and show him how to cook.

We went to the hostel to find out what tools they have to cook. The hostel then were explained that they really don't have the tools and recommend against cooking. I shook my head in disappointment and went back to our area and saw what tools we had a hot water processor a microwave and a bread toaster.

Not much to work with but of course me full of invention though we could do something pretty simple we just needed to get food. I took my fellow patriarch of the bunch shopping at the Mufasa center in Little India. Suffice it to say quite different market place. He was simply overwhelmed by the options so I took his hand and showed him the basics some meat, some vegetable he would of liked pork but none wow an Indian without pork who would of guessed. We decided upon ground mutton, noodles, green capascicums (peppers), some hot peppers, and some snow peas. In all we spent a little over twenty dollars for it.

Along the way back he asked shouldn't we have sesame oil and salt and I said, sure lets go get some so we went along the way and picked up those too.

I let him watch me cook the first bunch with him assisting and explained that he would have to do it on his own for the next try. Meat need to be cooked the longest than we need to get the noodles soft and finally add the vegetables. All in all a total of six and half minutes of microwave cooking and about 20 mins prep.

He and the others enjoyed the meal immensely amazed and that prows of this American and they were very gracious. I then had him prepare the meal he made a few errors and his meal did come out differently but I explained to him this is just learning you can do it lots of different ways and try different things. I enjoyed his for the more vibrant vegetables and explained there were good things about his to and than asked if he would like to write it down. He seemed more confident and said he'd remember and I left it at that.

Anyway it was quite the fun experience and showing him and the other some of the basics of cooking which hopefully they'll take with them.

Current Mood: jovial

Singapore Dreams
I have been dreaming in Singapore sadly one of them was about work, I am now about half-way through my vacation and I have been having a good time. Tonight may be pangolins or may be something else, but here Cash is king and I need to get some.

The other dream was curious but sadly I didn't write about it in time. It had something to do with me and the Hostel, though now I am thinking I might want one of my own. With the housing market in shoddy shape and the fun I have it is certainly something I need to consider.

Current Mood: hot

A Dream of Forgetfullness
Well the vacation has been curious I finally settled into a Hostel Sequoya Lodge in the mountainous regions of Picton. I finally had my first memorable dream since I have arrived here.

I was showing my pictures of my vacation and talking about the adventure so far to friends or family and than suddenly I was unable to recall about my adventures to Singapore. I could of sworn I took pictures of all the pangolins that I saw but for the life of me I just couldn't remember anything.

This of course made me feel frustrated and made me ponder did I go to Singapore after all, or was there this giant blank spot in my vacation of where I lost all my memories. Maybe I decided not to, but I was sure I didn't return early, or did I...

I woke up flustered and than realized that I was still here in New Zealand and had yet to visit Singapore hence that's why my memories of Singapore were non-existent. Any way off to Christchurch tomorrow and Singapore the following day, lets hope for good memories of that time!

Current Mood: drained

A Return to Work
Well after vacation I went to work for a couple days, to save some hours. Next week gone again than, for my trip of a lifetime.

Work was work nothing new or exciting really while I was gone. We were busy so many little projects were put on hold by largest call queue that I have ever had. Yeah great way to come back and remind me of the things I don't care for. Such is life though. Beyond that really not much to talk about.

Current Mood: blah

The State of the Furdom
Well the convention was amusing and enjoyable, my roommates wonderful. The convention as expected was what I expected, well 'cept less efficient for something that's been around for so many years, I was amazed at a number of small failings but the surrounding folks and the general feel was great.

( The more disheartening under here. )

The convention otherwise was good, but one of these is probably enough, maybe I'll come again it all depends. People there were wonderful both civilians, and attendees, and staff. Sure the management can improve, but I fear many of them are like me old dogs, with few new tricks to show, but there are some clever ones that know how to save the best. It is the stories we have together that hopefully will endure, and creativity will hopefully continue.

I am probably a bit too melodramatic for folks tastes but I have to share it somewhere, rather than repeat the story over and over again.

Current Mood: melancholy

Convention Ahead!
I am off to AnthroCon the biggest fan based convention I have attended in my life probably with at around three thousand attendees. I have three panels that I am quite excited about with a number of co-panelists. Nonetheless I still could use some additional folks.

Ideally I'd like to add one female panelist to the Socializing 101 Panel I have Saturday morning. This allows us to mix it up some and help those with faux paws to try and help folks with the other side of the fandom.

The other two panels are Friday in the early evening, Alien Animals which I could use one more person with some knowledge on the exotic species and Furs in Space which I could always get diversity on.

You ask why not post it to the AC forum, honestly I am content with what I have I just could use more and only folks that might think of checking my journal should know the additional needs. Anyway for those of you just reading this and won't be at AC thanks for checking in, I am really looking excited wish me luck!

For those that want to help out comment or e-mail me!

Current Mood: excited

The Latest GREATEST Project
So almost as if a response to my LJ, I got a new project the day after it. This project actually has me doing training, in an interesting way. My manager made it clear that they really aren't changing the way things are, and while I disagree I have determined it is rarely worth fighting for, so I just go in listen mode. She explained that currently we sort of zap folks for not doing it right the team calls it 'ding'ing them which doesn't help with training.
As I listen I go oh my, this is something new. A gleam of pleasure starts to fill me, so she says we need to do training a different way, at this point I am in listen and encourage mode. There are four steps and I don't have the notes here first step is present, second instruct. third is correct and forth is review (but do these on the same day). Originally she was thinking of just correcting the ticket and I explained that doesn't work iuf you expect them to learn, so we came up with a strategy of how to do this.
On Thursday I got to present what was going on and what folks were to expect as the supervisor felt it would be easiest that way rather than trying to send an e-mail. Each group got about fifteen minutes of training, the first group the one that I had not done any work beforehand and barely got the form letters done, curiously enough it went quite organically though and question were quite natural for folks. The second and third meeting didn't quite go as well but everyone seemed content with the idea.
After this type of review I found some very typical mistakes folks are making and although I don't got the form letters down I find its about three different things with variations.

Current Mood: accomplished

Time for another da, da, da
Inconsistency at work post, woohoo!!!

So one of the folks that does logging corrections got scolded for not doing it properly. Another deviation of what the standard for a "Perfect Ticket" is. This is starting to really get to me now. I mean its one thing to go after folks that make mistakes, but it is another more deeply routed issue to go after the one you instructed to do it a certain way.

Once again verbal instruction was given without it being written and the fault was brought on to the listener. This made the co-worker have basically a terrible day. I swear sometimes I feel like the place is a snake eating itself alive.

I have been tracking the changes because this needs to come to an end. I fear too much time is being wasted on this ideal situation where everyone somehow amazingly writes the same thing as everyone else but somehow but still also writes exactly what the customer said.

It is just sad to see and I don't know what more to do, to try to cheer the company without me venting my own frustrations. With that said other things seem to be going well generally speaking now that Furloughs are over we have a very consistent crew and I am hoping I'll get off the phones to be able to work on my projects again.

Current Mood: annoyed

Work Update and Frustrate
It has been a tumultuous week. I could explain how I have been having more and more communications problems with my manager. Last week she sacrificed me to the phone gods due to continual complaints of from co-workers of how busy it has been with furloughs. Of course I have been manning these phones beforehand too, I just have been waiting until we start to have calls waiting,
The plus or minus side is all my other projects have gone to the wayside except for the training database, which although five people are assigned to doing this, all this week I have been the only one to do anything with it (one person took a week off, another had half the week, but the others, obviously too busy to do this week.Of course the lackluster amount of coding I have done makes me feel very sad. Perhaps this Staurday I'll actually be able to take a chunk out of it.
Scheduling has been a fiasco, with folks failing to put when others are off, and me having to take responsibility because I didn't double-check their work beforehand or e-mail the manager too. Well that'll be rectified shortly.
I am sort of looking forward to a lonely Saturday at the office, we single handedly man the area the trick is keeping focused on the different task.

On a more positive side I finally got to check out the new location Banner Knife and Garb and saw their new place on Tuesday and found out their hours are until 7:00 PM everyday except Monday. I don't know how pleased I was to find that out because honestly I was worried they didn't make it from swap mart. They did though and their palace is wonderful, just needs a little more organization. As always I was charmed by the lady who is so enjoyable to talk with and her son. She told me business has been doing well with her sort of late hours and this terrible financial time, curiously enough folks like more fantasy when the reality is not so hot. I was so happy to hear it and then by Thursday I got a bit inspired. So after work on Friday I headed over to her place to get a new outfit. This is sort of an imperial senate with druidic inspirations and a tail slot. She thinks she can get it done in a few weeks, which will make it in time for the con.

Anyway take care all hope your days are good or better!

Current Mood: cranky

I hate being reminded...
Of how much my mind dislikes my job or dreams. That's right folks another dream has occurred of an argument between my manager and I. It was pretty boring and routine of a dream, its like I got to spend like another extra hour at work while in my bed. Fortunately my allergies roused me from my sleep and I could have some fun in the AM like journaling this before having to go to work woohoo!

I so need to find something else, or my mind is going to drive me crazy.

Current Mood: blah

What Employers Should Know about WHI...
Well what do you know tonight I didn't have dreams I could remember. Of course the reason why is my allergies took me down or rather woke me up in the middle of my sleep. Here I am at 4:00 AM struggling to get back to sleep but I can't breathe very well.

I am hoping it was just some mistake, this last year I am paying through the (uhmmm) nose for my PPO and they have the audacity to say oh we aren't paying for your Allegra D 24 hour. Per Walgreens they want me to use an OTC and of course they tell me this at the store.

Well Dr. Automation let me tell you this Actifed and all its compatriots do not work for me as Faxofenadine. I have been taking Allegra and its generics for uhm seven years now with little side affects. As opposed to Actifed which gives me dizzying spells among other fine side affects.

Additionally I can usually get by with one or two months worth (since I have had my allergy shots) for the entire allergy season, but NO we don't want to pay (unless we're making the money hand over fist).

So part of today I get to spend calling around to get my dang prescription filled, so I can have a good nights sleep rather than a partial nights sleep and be edgy at work in the AM, bleah.

But sure if these asses want to have to pay for a dang oxygen machine and other things perhaps I should say go ahead make my day, rather than save them some money. Bloody bastards...

Current Mood: frustrated

Hi ho, hi ho, its off to furlough I go...
For those of you that haven't already heard in the news from a friend or myself already my agency did furlough cuts of eight hours to ALL employees. What this means for me, is I will be now going into work two hours later one of my weeks rather than the other, still same days off though.

This will also mean I will be making about 15-20% less than I made last year, yep tightening the belt I guess. I suppose it is better than lay-off and looking for a job in this market, still it is a shame. What a sad shape the economy is in.

I think it is partially to blame on greed and the other part the United States not having long term goals of its expectation of individuals and businesses for it keep on flourishing but as reasonable rates rather than radical ones, sometimes freedom is a harsh mistress.

I chose stability in my life by taking a government job, but when even government fails to meet the marks in this case, with a crashed economy. The next question is should I consider another job or underemployment, the additional time allows me to stay up later in the night but at a cost of a lifestyle I have come to enjoy.

Questions, just more questions to consider...

Current Mood: melancholy
Current Music: Stars and Stripes - KMFDM

Review and taken down by the common cold...
So I had my review today (and was really the only reason I came to work). I also showed off my leather jacket, I purchased Friday to the comments of you really need some wheels to go with that jacket, even a Vespa... Overall I think the jacket looks good... but I digress.

( Review and more )

The review went a good forty minutes longer than desired fortunately I got a ride home to fall asleep and rest my weary body for another four hours followed by a meal some sun and some light talk and than another three hours of sleep. I really hate being sick, the only good thing about it is being able to rest and being singled minded in thought (since doing more than one tasks is insanely painful).

Current Mood: sorely enthusiastic

Year End Review
Well as the year comes to an end some good and bad things happened. I think the best thing that happened this year was I got to partake in become a facilitator. This was the biggest eye-opening experience i have had in a long time. The sad thing about it in other circles this skill was seen as a detriment to the group. Nonetheless the intent is keep practicing getting better and improve myself and help others when I cam.

Overall on the work front my failing was the MBO's that my manager and I assigned. Overall the process seem straightforward but the mistake that was made was not having a true and reasonable baseline from which to compare improvement. This last part of the year I am trying to evaluate how well I succeeded in training the groups on certain concepts. But two measurements, teaching and being able to teach I found are very different skills. The mistakes I made was folks that seem more interested in feigning ability so they don't need to be relied upon. I'll still give them a chance in January to inform me they feel comfortable with stuff, but overall this one has to go to the wayside.

The biggest complication I had this year was communication and management issues. One of the reason MBO's were not attained is I got put on so many little projects that needed to be done *now* or *very soon* that I didn't properly allocate time foe the other things. The correction to his though was to create myself a priority list of what needed to be done, after a co-worker did a very entertaining stunt that was construed as being quite constructive. What happens is folks kept on asking him where theforms were so using an 11x17 he posted it to his cubicle face out for those to see where this can be located. Now the ledger was my idea as he originally tried legal and it never was read.

My manager was so impressed with this person they came to me and said, "Why don't you have one of these." I commented back coyly, "Oh I do have one but it reminds me, what I have to do." The name placard from my Facilitator class faces outward while of course my objectives, faced in.

Of course the subtlety of the comment was plainly missed but like I said such is the way.

I created two maybe three different activities this year with "game-like" mechanics which were appreciated and folks enjoyed learning, so I felt good about that. I also started to learn how to use Powerpoint, though I am number of steps away from being intermediate in those skills, nonetheless it wa still pretty good and I got to work on graphics and the like.

Anyway I'd have to say these are the highlights and lowlights with an additional year at my job. I still don't care as much for it as I once did but it has kept me busy and content at the very least.

Current Mood: accomplished

Yay training, training...
So I got a whole slew more of topic of potentially training for my group, but now there is concern that we may have TOO much training going on. What this means for me, I am not absolutely sure at this time. Of course the trick is here is my MBOs of earlier this year are supposedly what I am going to be measured on, however since they are so training oriented I am not sure if I will be able to achieve them or training will be pushed back and therefore I have only so much chance to get them done.

This can make my job rather frustrating, I am guessing things will still work out but still if you are going to choose the measurement don't you think it should be kept for the year and not changed around.

Beyond that working late sort of, done really with the work portion but waiting on a ride. Anyway for now take care folks.

Current Mood: blah

Work, what of it?
Work continues as usual for me, I am finding it harder to handle everything on my palette so I am working to consolidate in order to meet some requirements for my End of Year, will it work I don't know. Currently the projects I have are.

DEF Training (lot of topics) and what I was supposed to be evaluated on. Since I have got more complicated training this one has been slow to improve since the complexity has increased immensely on the subjects I need to train.

Listening Training - An interactive team approach to improving listening and comprehension. I will add this to the DEF so I get credit for it as it fits with the criteria. I will be doing each item we have as well as a DEF which should help to increase my number slightly.

Folder Structure & Training, This was slated for the end of last month but because of having to devote technical time on a migration issue I wasn't able to complete it as expected. Additionally now the training has been postponed, or rather prioritized in a rather low priority.

Figuring out QuickCOM/Dashboard migration issues. This has been going around for some time since we had to shift the machine to another network (which was rather ad-hoc), now that data isn't as real-time as it should be. No real way to help my DEF though.

Reconfigure Autotasks for new "Perfect Ticket" - Another project that has been sent my way to try to improve quality control in call logging at our desk. No DEF here either.

Plan for Fridays off - These have been delayed until the beginning of the year now, such is life I was really hoping by December I'd get the time but its fine for now.

Current Mood: tired

The Work is on in Saigon!
Well work has been work got a fun project I got to work on another example of making a fun sort of training which was well liked. Basically I used some of the skills I learned at facilitator class to create a new way to try and listen.

However with the upgrade of Symposium Call Center 6, my planned vacation has got catastrophized.What they failed to tell the people in charge of the software is that they moved it to a new subnet, so now sh*t has hit the fan. Our real time displays are now useless and the only solution at the soonest will occur next Thursday.

Of course downtime is never liked, and I had planned a week long vacation, but because of my knowledge I am going to work part of that vacation. I am not terribly happy at that factor, but what can I do.

With that said other events in my life have been well I got to do my 5th year of Boo at the Zoo and coordinating the Mascot Parade which was a hoot! I was worried about some of the drama that had occurred elsewhere on LJ but it seem to have come to pass. Overall though I am now looking for someone to be able to take my place in the future, but we'll see how that turns out!

Current Mood: irritated

Work, inconsistency and who knows what.
Being I am rather exhausted I can't recall much to say last week Facilitator training was quite good and I am looking forward to the class that actually deals in the skills of facilitator.

Today I finally was able help the Supervisor firm up the new possible schedule for folks. She did quite the good job with following the instructions though she added a curious complexity to it, which of course wasn't accounted for. Nonethelss by the time I looked through it I could only see a couple minor errors and some clean-i[ that needed correction and forwarded it back to her.

If it works out I may be moving to Friday's off which will be nice, guaranteed long weekends plus I have other friends with Friday's off so that is good.

Beyond that life has been okay not much really to say, I was happy to share what I learned with others and look forward to the next upcoming weeks as some neat stuff is happening.

Current Mood: recumbent

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