1 Down -- 1 To Go

So as you can gather by the title my first trip is history.  I had some bumps along the way, as no trip is 100% smooth but managed them okay.  The hard part is being sent to do a project and then having to tend to your regular job as well.  When people come knocking on my door it’s not just to have a chat, it’s because there is a problem and it’s never good news.

Monday was pretty much a wash with all of the travel, having to tend to other people and trying to fit time in to get something to eat, then finally making it to the facility around 4.  So we did a walk through.  I explained in specific detail what needed to happen.  When I left we were all on the same page.

Tuesday I came back and the guy I talked with forgot everything we talked about on Monday.  Plus he brought in a helper who was older, slow and couldn’t hear shit.  That guy kept adding to the already existing confusion.  We got the first wire ran and that took 3 hours, no kidding.  Because they did it the complicated way.  We were making plans to start on the next wire, when I got pulled away for a crisis back at the office.  These two guys (Dumb & Dumber) decided they would screw things up by accidentally on purpose running out of cable.  When I told them I had another box 3 1/2 hours away and that I would be back, there eye balls about popped out.  I made arrangements to get the cable to my end of the state w/o me having to drive for it.  Which was really nice!  It was late so we called it a day.  I looked at what they had done and they did it wrong.  They put the cable high in the celling when it needed to be on the ground. 

Wednesday we got the cable ran to the ground, which took about an hour.  Something so simple but yet made so complicated.  Then we got wire ran for the 1st access point.  The other 2 cables we ran were for wired connections.  After the 1st access point, we were done.  I made it as simple as possible and it worked.  I could have bailed around 3 in the afternoon.  Instead I stayed to relax a bit and then to work on the server.  They had no antivirus protection so I got them some.  Their old antivirus had expired and I can’t remove it w/o a password.  So I will have to look into that.  Then I thought I would fiddle with the backups and get them going.  Ran into trouble there too.  Then I found out their UPS was shot, as in not working at all.

Wednesday night I ordered a replacement UPS and a couple other things they needed for overnight delivery.  The freight on this order cost more than the UPS but I had to have it on Friday or else it would sit until God knows when I would come back.

Thursday I ventured on to the other facility which is 3 1/2 hours away.  I had two helpers there and I arrived around 9:30.  We were done by lunch with running the cable.  I still had to put ends on the cable and we had to mount the access points but the biggest part of the job was done.  Turns out we could have gotten by with 2 access points.  Every time we hooked up the 3rd one, you couldn’t go anywhere it was saturating the network.  Unplug it and everything was fine.  So I left it mounted and unplugged. 

I sent a note to my boss that we were done and both facilities had WIFI.  I got a good job & thank you response.  Not bad for a man of few words. 

I had some good breakfasts at the Holiday Inn that I stayed at.  This time I had problems getting into my room but it was a one time thing.  Everything there had cinnamon in it, except the soap.  The shampoo, conditioner and lotion.  Plus they also served amazing cinnamon rolls each morning - - I actually miss those now. 

I tried Cheese Curds.  Sounds awful but damn they were so good.  They should serve them with a Lipitor.  It’s deep fried cheese.  Yeah, good stuff.  I had the pleasure of finally eating with one of the administrators.  We went for Mexican food but they didn’t take AMEX.  No sweat I covered it and will get a check on Monday (so I hope). 

Monday was the most time I had to myself.  From them on it was rush, rush.  Bed time and morning seemed to come awful fast.  By Tuesday I was over the trip and ready to fly back home, especially when the two dummies kept telling me there is no way we are going to finish by the time you leave.  They didn’t care if it mean my job or my head, they just didn’t want to do the work.  So I had to be careful but get them motivated to do what I wanted.  I engaged their boss who kindly told them to get their ass in gear. 

I did make many accomplishments.  However, I didn’t get everything that I wanted done.  I wanted their server backups done but that didn’t happen.  I bought some incorrect software, so I have to fight next week to get my money back it’s only $50 but still it’s the principal. 

Coming home was great!  I had problems getting the car returned because of the funky setup at MSP but figured that out.  Then I couldn’t figure out where the security check point started so I had to ask for help with that.  Then I got in line and saw so many guys that I wanted to mount.  I am ready to go through the screening process and damn forgot my handkerchief in my pocket.  I kept my mouth shut and passed with flying colors.  Then it was a rush to make it to my gate.  I was an hour and 30 minutes early but the line was so long I burned up most of that waiting.  I used several walkways, which were kind of neat and my first time on them.  I was at the other side of the airport.  I grabbed a slice of pizza and a soda, carted it and my luggage to a table with a couple of close calls and woofed it down.  It was okay and I managed to burn the top of my mouth.  However, I made my plane my luggage fit in the overhead compartment with a little man handling and then I got to fly home. 

I didn’t mention that I had to go to the bathroom from the time I boarded the plane until the time I got home.  That is over 3 hours of holding it but I managed w/o any problems.  Everyone was happy to see daddy is back, but no overwhelming welcome.  They just looked at me as if to say, oh he’s back now.  Yeah, so the house gets whipped back into shape.  Thankfully it didn’t smell like the inside of a tuna can this time.

I have had plenty of relaxation time here at home.  I am so not ready to go back to work but at least it’s only 3 days and I will get a 4 day weekend, which will be really nice.  I’ve got plenty of crap waiting for me when I get back, plus tons of assets to log.

So while most people can relax about this time of year things seem to be picking up for me.  Not sure that I will have any time to blog from work but I will post when I can.

Before I go back to tackle the Laundry Monster.  I was talking in a prior post about a movie I watched on Netflix.  It was called Longhorns.  There are also a few other movies I liked, you may consider watching.  In no particular order they are Is It Just Me?, Eating Out (1, 2, 3, etc.), Mulligans, Love In Action (saw this one last night, very good), Kate Clinton (lesbian comedian), Camp, Get Your Stuff, Issues 101, Save Me, and Chris & Don.  These movies spark a flood of emotion from happy to sad and don’t forget horny in the middle. They are all listed under Gay & Lesbian on Netflix.

Now it’s off to tackle the laundry monster and finish up my Sunday which feels like a Saturday.  Shame I have to leave again in 2 weeks but at least it’s only 1 facility.  Maybe I will finish up early and can come home sooner.  Time will tell.