? Fired

On my 1st trip out part of my original job was to ensure that wireless was installed at all three facilities that I visited.  After doing some checking, I quickly learned that this wasn’t a one person job.  Plus it wasn’t something that I would be able to accomplish in a week.  So I quickly pushed back and explained that this would take more time.  Then I was told that I was going to take inventory, okay so I took inventory as well as did a couple other things that were needed. 

I got an e-mail from my boss on Wednesday morning saying that he has heard I told people that wireless wouldn’t be available any time soon.  Well, it wasn’t until I got on site that I was given an anticipated go live date of July 1.  I mean it’s okay to have priorities but if you keep everyone in the dark, especially the IT guy you can’t exactly expect me to make a silk purse from a sows ear.  Well this guy expects that and more.

So I wrote him back and explained that 1 facility already has wireless and they just need another access point.  They are already live with the system that is using wireless in fact they started it all.  One of the other sites has a residential product in place and I tested it with the administrator so we both knew and were comfortable it was working fine.  They can get by with this, until we put in a commercial product.  The last facility well it’s the largest and the oldest, they are going to take time and lots of money. 

You would think that providing details would help explain the situation and calm the old fart down, nope it had the opposite effect.  When you start looking at commercial wireless it’s best to have what is called a site survey done.  This means that someone comes out with a spectrometer to see what signals are in the air, what will penetrate best through the walls and then to determine how many access points you need.  As I explained this to him, he turned it around and said that I was expected to do the site survey.  Really?  I don’t own a spectrometer nor could I afford one, they have the money for one but I don’t know how to use one.  He has no clue as to what a site survey is, much less the fact that this is not a one man job.  Either it gets contracted out or it won’t be done right.

He is a huge bully and control freak.  He really flipped when he found out I was talking to vendors to get pricing.  According to him I don’t need to involve anyone else and should be doing all of this myself.  Really?  Tell me old wise fucker where exactly what store you can go to and pick up off the shelf a commercial grade wireless access point?  You fucking can’t, you have to order them it’s that way by design because they are so expensive the average person can’t afford them!

So after he was done spouting off in e-mail, he said we would talk next week.  Yeah, I’ve heard that one before.  He says things like that and then never gets around to talking.  Well, guess what unless he brings it up, I am done with wireless.  I am not making another move on the project.  I called one of the vendors today from home and explained the situation to him.  Man he was really taken back.  From the way the angry e-mail I got read it sounds like he is ready to fire me. 

All I know is that I am 40 years old, I have been pushed around, knocked down and ridden over all my life.  That shit stops now.  He nor no one else is going to push me around.  Either you trust me or you don’t.  If you have to micromanage my every move then we are not going to get along very well.  I will play by the rules, as they are set regardless if I like it or not.  However, if you micromanage everything then you are contributing to the delay of this project as well as future projects.  Most places hire people they trust, give them freedom to do what they need and the job gets done.  Not here, you get thrown a task then you have to ask how they want you to approach it and who you can work with.  WTF!

Call me crazy but I think the words FUCK YOU will be coming out of my mouth if I can’t get him to understand that he is asking for the impossible.  Right now I am not exactly happy.  I want this to be over with and not have to go through the weekend thinking about it lingering.  It kind of kills the mood for the weekend.  Plus just the though of possible unemployment turns my stomach.  I honestly don’t want to go through that again, I mean I really need a job.  Maybe not this one, but a job that will cover the bills.  Just when I get happy there always seems to be something to bring me down.

I tried talking to my bosses assistant but she wouldn’t return my call.  I hope that she is in tomorrow and we can sort of prepare to get this resolved.  My boss and I are still getting to know each other but thus far I really don’t like what I am seeing and I sensed on day one that we would be oil and water – they just don’t mix.  If she isn’t in the office tomorrow, I will think that something bad is going to happen and she can’t bare to face me.

I know one thing for sure, I won’t be going the extra mile because it’s not appreciated.  You are not rewarded for your efforts but rather given more shit to deal with and it gets more complicated as things go on.  I talked to our HR person and she told me plenty.  Plus she travels damn near every week of the year and she doesn’t even have a laptop. WTF!  I mean that is so messed up.  Just because I am the IT Guy doesn’t mean I should have a laptop but in someone's mind it does, that’s why I have one.  Otherwise I would be like the HR lady, carrying around a briefcase full of printed e-mails, instructions and tasks.  The more I talked with her the more I heard regret in her voice.  She never out right said she was unhappy but just listen a person conveys a lot when they tell a story or explain something to you.

I really like this company and most of the people I work with and have to interact with on a daily basis.  Most of them are a bunch of back stabbers, but that is only what I have heard and not experienced for myself.  I guard against that and stick to business only – that way you can’t get hurt.  Plus I am careful about what I say and how it is said. 

Bottom line is I feel in my gut that me and my boss are going to have some unpleasant words explained.  I will tell him that I can’t work if I have to constantly walk on egg shells around him, either you trust me or you don’t.  If you don’t then you need to hire someone else.  If you do then give me the freedom to do my job.  I won’t spend all of your money, I won’t fuck you or your company.  I will always do the right thing.  But if your going to want to coddle me then we should probably part ways now and save each other from future frustration.  I mean he hired me because he doesn’t know his asshole from his elbow when it comes to technology.  I don’t know everything but he liked my resume so he thinks I am smart and know every thing about IT.  Well guess what my resume doesn’t say that.  It says I am a desktop technician with some management experience, nothing more nothing less. 

Okay so now that I have babbled about work.  I will tell you that I am safe and sound back at home.  I was up at 4am to catch my flight that left at 6 and then boarded a connecting flight back home at 9 and finally arrived home by 11.  I was zapped, dead tired like I have never ever been before in my life.  I needed some sleep.  Plus the house was a disaster.  It smelled like rotten fish.  The litter boxes weren’t emptied in a couple days.  My partner fell while I was away.  He isn’t doing the best and then to tack on worrying about my job that doesn’t help either one of us.  The kids were all happy to see daddy is back home.  I just hope that I get to stay here a while and that I don’t have to leave on another plane for at least two to four weeks.  Traveling is nice but it’s good to be home.  I have to go back to the office tomorrow and that will be odd.  My feet are still bothering me and I so need rest and downtime.  I am headed to the bedroom as soon as I finish posting this. 

No major events on the flights home.  I actually had my first connecting flight with no delays, no problems what so ever.  Wow I was wondering if that would happen.  I flew American this time both ways.  Every flight crew seems stale compared to Southwest.  Those people make you feel like you matter, it’s good to be alive and you just want to fly Southwest all the time.  Shame they don’t fly everywhere.  However, I hope there are more Southwest flights in my future.  I really enjoy flying now.  The landing, turning and turbulence still get to me but not like on my first flight.  No nausea at all. 

Tomorrow is another day and it is FRIDAY so hopefully it will be a good day!  I will talk with you peeps later!  Signing off now a very tired Jeremy!