Geek Pranks for April Fools

Lifehacker.com has some great/harmless pranks for April Fools (it's tomorrow people so get going on this!)

http://lifehacker.com/373817/top-10-harmless-geek-pranks

-S

Lucky 13!

I have 13 days to go until I'm full time in my new job. April 14th couldn't come any sooner, let me tell you. Just when I'm wondering why I'm leaving and why I shouldn't just stay and fix everything again like I always do, I'm presented with a bright and cheery (or rather dark and angry) reminder that moving on is the best thing for me.

Really, I think I almost jumped through the phone to strangle someone today. That's not healthy!! (Or maybe it is... we'll know soon enough) Some people say I can't work without this type of hostility. I say, I'd like to try it myself sometime before forming an opinion.

I've been trying to get my current management to actually announce that I'm leaving in an official, supportive way so that it doesn't look like we're at odds. I've gotten, "yes, send me a draft of the message and I'll send it out". Yea... that's a promise they haven't yet kept. With 13 days and about a half a nerve remaining, I'm not sure what will come of this group when I'm gone. I only hope that they don't try to pin it on me... on second thought, what am I thinking!?! Of course they're going to pin the failures on me... that's the only way to make my leaving a benefit for everyone else.

Well, on this lucky 13th day left in my current job, I really needed to vent. I'm glad that not many work friends read this blog. ;)

-s

Leaving Las Vegas

So it’s official, I’m leaving my current job after 7 years of exciting times. I don’t know how to position this but it’s a good thing for me… finally, I’ve made a decision for my career that doesn’t consider everyone else’s feelings and needs. I’m staying at this boring ol’ software company but moving to a new role. The new role is exciting… for one, it’s new! I’ll get to learn something and at least be able to network in a new group. I’m also going to have what my friend Rufvi calls “a mentor” not a “meant-well”.

This change has come as a surprise to many.
Some have told me it’s a bad idea and said I’ll be bored in 3 months.
Others have said “how could you leave us!”
Then there are my friends… the people who truly care about my well being. They’ve only encouraged me. They’ve told me that this is a great move, something I should have done long ago and they’re proud of me and will support me although they will miss me being part of the team. Thank you friends! I’ll still be around to help everyone along when there are questions. My official transfer date is April 7th and then on April 14th I’m full time in my new role.

So, yes, as Sheryl Crow would sing... I'm leaving Las Vegas and I won't be back, No I won't be back, Not this time...
-s

Happy Easter!

So, it's another holiday and now we have a baby so everyone wants to see her. On Thanksgiving we went 2 places and on Christmas we went 5 (yes that's five as in one, two, three, four, five). However, since Easter is not like Christmas, I decide it might be better if we just spend the holiday in one location. The idea of not having to pack and unpack the kid 12 times sounds very appealing and almost too good to be true! So, first comes the communication of our plans... of course, each mini-announcement is countered by a "since you're not coming over for Easter" message or a "oh! but you're gonna miss, blah, blah, blah". I don't think people mean to say these things or maybe I'm being over sensitive because somehow I've created my own guilt-trip for not doing 5 houses on a Sunday-before-work holiday. Well, we made it through the day pretty unscathed. It was actually nice! The in-laws came over in the morning for a bit, then we went for a nice walk just the 3 of us to the docks. After that we enjoyed a huge meal (as usual) at my parents house and we were home by 7pm, in time to prepare for the work week (which is more work than you can imagine). We packed lunches, bottles, diapers, baby food, clothes, linens for daycare and replenished the emergency kits in the car with the same... diapers, food, clothes, etc. All of that and then watched a movie. Very relaxing. The Little Piggy went to sleep on time. ~~~~ But of course, just as we were ready to nod off, she screamed out... and continued to do that way into the night and the morning. I guess it can't always be a scheduled day to relax!

Well, Happy Easter everyone!

-s

What's going on in the ladies room!?!

The company that I work for recently outsourced a few areas of the business, one of them being facilities. There are these nice websites where you can log a request and view it's status. This way you don't have to wait 24 hours for someone to clean out a smelly garbage pail or turn on the lights or something like that. A colleague of mine (we'll call him Jamie with a Spanish pronunciation so it sounds like highmey) was recently browsing the facilities site and found that you can view all the open facilities issues in your location. That's when he found this...

How funny is that! Jamie (remember, sounds like highmey) pointed out that the funniest part is that the issue is still opened in the system since 2/21 (it's now 3/20). Someone just throw them away please!!!!

-s

An oldie but goodie...

I was searching through old emails today to find a contact I have long lost touch with (good thing for Plaxo and LinkedIN nowadays... see social networking has it's function) when I came across a funny email, one of those annoying forwards that a colleague (thanks Jeff) had sent me back in '04. When I read it I thought that Intern Jon would love this. It's something everyone should have when they start a job in the real world (whatever that means). It's a list of things you'd love to say at work but of course you don't (because you're not the CEO or if you are, you won't last). Here's a challenge, say one of these things each week to someone in your office and see what happens! (BTW, I cut out the few that were boring.) (OH, and BTW, BTW means By the way Tota.)

1. I can see your point, but I still think you're full of shit .
2. I don't know what your problem is, but I'll bet it's hard to pronounce.
3. How about never? Is never good for you?
4. I see you've set aside this special time to humiliate yourself in public.
5. I'm really easy to get along with once you people learn to see it my way.
6. I'll try being nicer if you'll try being smarter.
7. I'm out of my mind, but feel free to leave a message.
8. I don't work here. I'm a consultant. WOW I've heard that one recently!!!
9. It sounds like English, but I can't understand a damn word you're saying.
10. Ahhh...I see the screw-up fairy has visited us again...
11. You are validating my inherent mistrust of strangers.
12. I have plenty of talent and vision; I just don't give a damn.
13. I'm already visualizing the duct tape over your mouth.
14. I will always cherish the initial misconceptions I had about you.
15. Thank you. We're all refreshed and challenged by your unique point of view.
16. The fact that no one understands you doesn't mean you're an artist.
17. Any connection between your reality and mine is purely coincidental.
18. What am I? Flypaper for freaks!
19. I'm not being rude. You're just insignificant.
20. And your crybaby whiny-assed opinion would be...?
21. I started out with nothing & still have most of it left.
22. Sarcasm is just one more service we offer.
23. If I throw a stick, will you leave?
24. Errors have been made. Others will be blamed.
25. Oh I get it... like humor... but different.

-s

Female in the workplace...

I told someone recently that it would be nice to not be the only female in the group anymore. Actually, I said it would be nice to learn from a successful woman how one should go about getting ahead in the business world. Unfortunately I haven't had the privilege to work for a professional woman in this grand ol' software company. Well, you never know, my hope may come to fruition someday soon! In the meantime, I'll settle for throwing a baby shower for my male colleague. He was a good sport...

-s