Finally Friday

short+sassy

Such a stressful day!  I was hit with massive technical difficulties starting yesterday afternoon.

My cell phone just stopped working.  I could no longer connect to Wi-fi.  Sometimes I get an error message that I don't have a SIM card.  When I try to make a phone call, it says I am in "airplane mode", even though I am not.  I can't send text messages either because I'm not connected to Wi-fi.

But here's where it gets even more stupid.  In order for me to sign into my VPN/"remote computer" at work, I need to be able to access the Authenticator app that is in my cell phone.

Is it BULLSHIT that I need to use my PERSONAL phone...that neither my company nor the client I work for pay even one penny of the bill for...to access the network?  Yes.  Yes, it is total bullshit.  Yet, that's how it is and here we are.

To add on to that.  I had an extremely urgent, hottest of all hots item to get down asap.  I did everything I could yesterday, but then needed to wait until financial approval was given before the last step.  Which was sending out a completed file to the masses.  The approval didn't come in, until last night.  While all of this was going on yesterday, I had beau coup e-mails requesting all these other people be included on that final e-mail.

This morning I was using all my creativity for backdoor ways to access the network and other things I needed to get the file put together.  Then I'm painstakingly double and triple checking, from multiple e-mails, to make sure I was including EVERYONE.  But through hell and high water, I got it sent out.  Phew!  It's not even 9am and I already need a strong drink, lol!

I am hampered in the work I can do today until I get whatever problems are going on with my phone or service fixed.  Going to a Metro PCS store is Errand #1 when I get off work today.  Then Costco and Walmart or Winn Dixie for grocery shopping that's been put off since last weekend.

CharmedPam

Crazy weird @short+sassy.  Is this your personal phone or a work one? Or do you not have a work one? 

CharmedPam

Happy Friday! Yay.  Finally.  I have an oil change at noon and then a comedy show later tonight. It’s only 15-20 from me and I’m debating whether or not to get an uber and enjoy myself (and maybe he’ll be funnier if I drink?) or take it easy.

I have two gifts arriving for people today so I’m tracking those deliveries.  One is my former sister in law/still good friend who had her baby on Tuesday. I’m so excited for her because she’s wanted one for so long.  Her boyfriend said no, he had two from a previous relationship and that’s all he wanted. It wasn’t a dealbreaker for her so she thought she’d just never have any if she stayed with him.  He actually changed his mind and they’ve been trying for years. I got her a doordash gc (because I’m going to assume new moms don’t want to cook after a C section?), two books and a baby tuxedo onesie (my go-to baby gift).
Second delivery is a “just ‘cus” one to my parents.  Chocolate covered strawberries for St Patty’s day.  The card reads “happy at patricks day! Just to say I love you (and can I borrow $5,000?)
so they’ll probably call and ask if I really need the money? They’re no strings attached berries. I just wanted the card writer to be like “damn, this daughter is a jerk!”

short+sassy

CharmedPam said:

Crazy weird @short+sassy.  Is this your personal phone or a work one? Or do you not have a work one? 

I just updated my post to include more info.

NO, this is my personal phone (major eyeroll), but yet is necessary to access the network at my job.  I don't have a company cell phone.

short+sassy

@CharmedPam, big congrats to your friend (former SIL)!  I'm always extra excited for people who have had to overcome a lot to have a child they've longed for.  Even if I personally cannot relate to that, lol.

mrsconn23

I'm having a rough go this morning.  I slept like shit and my left Achilles started bothering me yesterday out of nowhere.  I'm limping around and if it doesn't feel better after this weekend, I guess I'm making an ortho appt. 

Also, my younger sister and BIL's foster case goes before the judge today and it either ends very good or very badly (basically they get to keep my foster nephew or they don't...he's been in their care 5+ years).  There's no in between.  It's weighing very heavy on my heart and I hate feeling helpless like this. 

We're supposed to go to the bday party of a family friend of DH's tomorrow.  BIL is coming to town for it, as their son was his college roommate and they're still close now. Though, if I can't walk even semi-normally, I will probably bow out. 

IDK about anything else.  I may be parked on the couch with ice packs.  *sigh*

The only thing I'm looking forward to is not having to set my alarm.  

CharmedPam

short+sassy said:

CharmedPam said:

Crazy weird @short+sassy.  Is this your personal phone or a work one? Or do you not have a work one? 

I just updated my post to include more info.

NO, this is my personal phone (major eyeroll), but yet is necessary to access the network at my job.  I don't have a company cell phone.

That is nuts.  Because at least with a company supplied phone with the vpn system, you could have the IT department look into it.  I wouldn’t have them look at a personal phone. Annoying. 

short+sassy

@mrsconn23, Wow!  All the luck to your sister and her family.  I'd be on pins and needles also.  I hope your heel feels better and you can make it to the party tomorrow.

CharmedPam

Yes @mrsconn23, I’d also be on the edge of my seat.  Good luck, I hope it goes their way today. 

banana468

@short+sassy that is BS.  Is there a compensation allotment as you're using your personal phone for business?   

@mrsconn23 good luck to your sister!

Trying to ease into the weekend.  I have corned beef to make and smell and not eat tonight but I need that block of hours to cook it.  Tomorrow morning I'm helping do GS cookie pick up so DH needs to take the middle seats out of my minivan so it can be cargo central.    We have a cookie booth tomorrow afternoon and then tomorrow night I need to do more St. Patrick's Day prep cooking.  

Sunday I'm cantoring at the 11 AM, getting St. Patrick's day last minute stuff done, soccer game w/ Chiquita and then stuffing corned beef and potatoes in my face at a medium pace.  I'll come up for air to eat some cupcakes.  We're having the ILs and my uncle over as well.  

mrsconn23

CharmedPam said:

short+sassy said:

CharmedPam said:

Crazy weird @short+sassy.  Is this your personal phone or a work one? Or do you not have a work one? 

I just updated my post to include more info.

NO, this is my personal phone (major eyeroll), but yet is necessary to access the network at my job.  I don't have a company cell phone.

That is nuts.  Because at least with a company supplied phone with the vpn system, you could have the IT department look into it.  I wouldn’t have them look at a personal phone. Annoying. 

I was issued a company cell when I was promoted, but before that, I had to use my personal cell to do the VPN authentication.  

I remember when they rolled out using your personal cell for VPN authentication at my company.  It was met with a very mixed response.   I think it rides a line of, if you want people to have this, give them a stipend...but OTOH, it's literally just opening an app and hitting a button and moving on with your day. 

I personally like having the two phones.  My work phone sits on my nightstand on the weekends.  I check it periodically.  If something were to implode, my boss could reach me on my personal cell. 

DH opted out of getting a company cell and just had them authorize him to download the apps he needs onto his personal cell to do his job.  

Casadena

@mrsconn23 good luck to your sister!!!!!

Casadena

I opted to not carry 2 phones. Our company gives the option for most employees to have a company provided phone, or they will take over your existing contract and authorize the download of company apps on your personal phone. I'm so cheap that it's truly about not having to pay a bill, lol. They'll give my number back to me if/when i leave the company. 

I need to grocery shop at lunch time and really want to squeeze in a short nap at some point this afternoon. Birthday party and Ninja class this weekend, otherwise not much going on!

CharmedPam

Ain’t nobody here watching porn on their phone? Anyone? No? Just me? 

I always joked I’d be fired on day 2 if I had to combine them.  Lol.  Our company gives us the option of what we want and they reimburse an amount if we choose to have one phone. I’m not sure of the amount. I’ve never had a problem with two phones. But I rarley look at it after work hours.  After 5, it goes away and it’s not out till the next morning 99% of the time.
Edit words

VarunaTT

Today is somewhat better.  A lot of friends reached out to me when I asked for help online and it did make me feel a lot lighter.  It's still not awesome up in the old noggin, and this has caused an OCD intrusive thought flare up, but I've got the tools and experience to at least sit with it now.  I'm also glad I can recognize it for what it is.

I'm hoping beyond all hope this project settles today and I can not only be done, but I can go back and "fix" my other cases, so that I don't get caught in this situation again.  Again, it was a matter of training.  I was told "we do this" and did that the way I thought they meant.  I wasn't wrong, but "this" had a LOT more details and no one ever explained those.  I won't get caught like this again.  I'm going to work on my atittude, b/c right now, it is "trust no one".  It's hard for me to live in that space; I've done it before, but I don't really want to.  So big vibes for me and @mrsconn23 that our folx get what they want and hopefully secondary relief for us.

short+sassy

CharmedPam said:

short+sassy said:

CharmedPam said:

Crazy weird @short+sassy.  Is this your personal phone or a work one? Or do you not have a work one? 

I just updated my post to include more info.

NO, this is my personal phone (major eyeroll), but yet is necessary to access the network at my job.  I don't have a company cell phone.

That is nuts.  Because at least with a company supplied phone with the vpn system, you could have the IT department look into it.  I wouldn’t have them look at a personal phone. Annoying. 

That was the other funny thing.  Our client is a giant, international company.  They have a couple local IT people, but you are supposed to route all help desk tickets through the main website or call the general help desk line.

And the one IT person who works out of my office wasn't in.

So my first thought this morning was I would call the Help Desk and see if they can get me access through other means.  That was when I discovered I can't make phone calls either.

Oh!  But I have a work landline number!  Except, wait.  I don't actually have a physical landline phone.  They took those away a few years ago.  My work number only works through Teams now.  But I can't access Teams if I'm not on the VPN, so I can't make phone calls to the Help Desk smh.  This is exactly why I thought it was the dumbest thing when they took away our physical phones. 

short+sassy

mrsconn23 said:

CharmedPam said:

short+sassy said:

CharmedPam said:

Crazy weird @short+sassy.  Is this your personal phone or a work one? Or do you not have a work one? 

I just updated my post to include more info.

NO, this is my personal phone (major eyeroll), but yet is necessary to access the network at my job.  I don't have a company cell phone.

That is nuts.  Because at least with a company supplied phone with the vpn system, you could have the IT department look into it.  I wouldn’t have them look at a personal phone. Annoying. 

I was issued a company cell when I was promoted, but before that, I had to use my personal cell to do the VPN authentication.  

I remember when they rolled out using your personal cell for VPN authentication at my company.  It was met with a very mixed response.   I think it rides a line of, if you want people to have this, give them a stipend...but OTOH, it's literally just opening an app and hitting a button and moving on with your day. 

I personally like having the two phones.  My work phone sits on my nightstand on the weekends.  I check it periodically.  If something were to implode, my boss could reach me on my personal cell. 

DH opted out of getting a company cell and just had them authorize him to download the apps he needs onto his personal cell to do his job.  

This is why neither myself nor anyone else I know of has made a big stink about it.  Though everyone was giving it a side-eye, when it first happened.

The problem is that every once in awhile, it's not just hitting a button.  It can become a big extra hassle because I'm forced to use my personal phone.  I haven't had it happen yet since we've gone to this system.  But now I'm always paranoid that I'll accidentally leave my phone at home.  Technically, I would have to take my personal time to go back and get it.  Even though it would only be for work reasons that I immediately have to have it during the work day. 

It's also just the principle of it.  I totally understand from a business standpoint that they don't want to get everyone a company phone or pay for someone's cell plan, when it generally is only for a few minutes a day these personal phones are being used for business purposes.

But at the same time, it's still not fair to take advantage of their employees' personal phone plans.  And the right thing to do is give some kind of monthly compensation for that.  Even if it's just 20 bucks.  Something to acknowledge they are using services that I pay for.   

charlotte989875

Ugh @VarunaTT- I’m sorry you’re going through it at work. Glad you have some tools and aren’t letting this spiral. Thinking of you! We’re all here for you, too!

charlotte989875

J slept until 3 last night! 

Physical therapy this morning, dropped off some cupcakes for M, and now coffee and baby snuggles! 

I’m seeing Les Mis tonight- it’s a 7:30 start, which is roughly the time I start getting ready for bed these days. Wish me luck that J sleeps well again tonight! 

short+sassy

VarunaTT said:

Today is somewhat better.  A lot of friends reached out to me when I asked for help online and it did make me feel a lot lighter.  It's still not awesome up in the old noggin, and this has caused an OCD intrusive thought flare up, but I've got the tools and experience to at least sit with it now.  I'm also glad I can recognize it for what it is.

I'm hoping beyond all hope this project settles today and I can not only be done, but I can go back and "fix" my other cases, so that I don't get caught in this situation again.  Again, it was a matter of training.  I was told "we do this" and did that the way I thought they meant.  I wasn't wrong, but "this" had a LOT more details and no one ever explained those.  I won't get caught like this again.  I'm going to work on my atittude, b/c right now, it is "trust no one".  It's hard for me to live in that space; I've done it before, but I don't really want to.  So big vibes for me and @mrsconn23 that our folx get what they want and hopefully secondary relief for us.

You are definitely in my thoughts today!  I hope the project gets settled and a lot of the stress you have been under goes away.  But I hear you.  I've been in situations before where my work is being side-eyed, even though I was never given the full instructions.  Or the instructions I was given were different than how they should be done.

I even had it happen recently!  Though fortunately nowhere near the kerfuffle you've been going through.

However my mind is still blown from it! There's a particular formula I use to determine if we want to order a big plate of steel or a smaller flat bar of steel that has specific dimensions.

I did not create this formula.  It was taught to me by the person who previously held this position, like over 8 years ago.  Back then, it was also a different engineer in charge of steel management.

I've been working with the current steel management engineer for going on 6-7 years now.  I'm not sure if I've ever explained this formula to him.  But it came up last week that he was annoyed the warehouse requisition I prepared was using steel plate for some items instead of flat bars.

I explained the formula to show the package didn't call for flat bars.  He said he wasn't understanding the logic and explained why it didn't make sense to him.  It wasn't a mean response, he was just trying to understand.

I kind of jokingly told him it wasn't my logic.  That was just what I was taught all those years ago.  But if he wanted to create different parameters, that was fine.  Just let me know what they are and I will use that for future steel packages.

But y'all seriously?  This is exactly how I've done the 150+ steel packages with him for 6+ years.  I was really surprised it hasn't come up before!

levioosa

*hugs* @VarunaTT

Les Mis sounds great tonight! @charlotte989875

I personally feel that if a company expects you to use your personal device in any capacity, they should be providing a stipend to that end or providing their own device. It feels like another one of those "you should just feel lucky to have a job, now shut up an use your own resources to keep it." That being said, there are so many other things to get up in arms about that I don't usually fight back on it. It's funny this has come up though, because I was just thinking about asking for a stipend on my bill for this.  I use my phone constantly for work. I have to call patients from home at times, I use it for charting and lab responses, all sorts of things beyond that stupid authenticator app too. So really they should be giving me a stipend for it. 

Otherwise SSDD. After today it's two more work days until vacation. I feel a little better today but I still have some of the funk. I keep going back and forth with sending the letter I wrote. I just feel like even if I send it, nothing will really change either way. It will just be received as passive aggressive attacking, instead of really looking at it and seeing what I'm trying to say. Sending it would be to make myself feel better, which, at this point I'm not sure I need to do either. Just writing it out was helpful. I haven't ended a ton of relationships, but I have ended enough to sense the shift in my emotions from distressed, to just done. I'm still distressed and sad, but internally I know that the friendship as we knew it is over. We'll see each other again (obviously), and we'll even hang out again, but this is it unless maybe they go to therapy and work on some shit. I'm just hoping the deepest of the funk is on it's way out so H and I can really enjoy our trip next week. We still have to figure out what the hell we're doing in April, but oh well. 

Otherwise I hope everyone has a good St. Patrick's Day! Planning on picking up some soda bread this weekend. Unfortunately I'm not a huge corned beef and cabbage kind of person although it does sound fun. H told me he wanted green beer and then immediately retracted his statement lol. 

banana468

@levioosa I started to make corned beef the way my aunt did which is now how I love it.  If you have the time get one from your grocery store

Cook it according to package directions with the seasoning until it's fork tender.

Once it's done, take it out of the pot and pat it dry.  It doesn't need to be bone dry but just not dripping so it doesn't make a big puddle in the next step.

Put it on a big sheet of aluminum foil.  Sprinkle brown sugar all over the top and sides.  I don't measure - I just use enough to get a nice crust.  Wrap up the aluminum foil and put it on a sheet pan to catch any drips.  Bake it in a preheated oven that's set to somewhere around 275 or 300 for about an hour to an hour and a half.   The result is a moist corned beef that's sweetened with teh browned sugar and it's so tasty.  I use leftovers to make corned beef sandwiches with carmelized onions and swiss or with Dubliner cheddar.

I'll also make a baked colcannon so there will be mashed potatoes vs. all in one pot.  

VarunaTT

@levioosa Green beer gives you green poop!!