Power Played

 I had a customer that was working my last nerve on one of my Severity 1 cases that wasn't really a Severity 1 case.     He was one of those that talked and talked and wouldn't allow me to get a word in edgewise.   Then everything I suggested he was not open to trying.   The customer's homebase was in London and I inherited the case when the customer insisted on wanting to work with an AMER engineer since the EMEA's shift was ending.

To make things worse he would not allow me to get access to review his issue deeper.   Not only that he was demanding I resolve the issue in 30 minutes and get a manager on the call as well.   This customer was definitely a piece of work.

That whole ordeal with the customer lasted nearly an hour.   I did some initial research with the limited information provided.   I spoke to the Sev1 Swarm lead and he agreed to join the next call.   So he joined the call and then he invited a friend of his to join as well.

That call ended up being for nearly two hours.   In the midst of the call, I heard a sound like a soft pop and then my work laptop shut off.   I quickly found my work android and let my swarm lead know the laptop went out and I was going to rejoin by phone.

In the meantime I struggled to get my work laptop working again.   Finally after a couple minutes I got it to come on again.   I discovered that my charger was not working at all.   I did switch back to the nightmare meeting from my phone back to my laptop.   The call finished and then knowing that I only had so much time before my battery would die, I raced to get my General Hand-Off notes together for the two Sev1's, including this nightmare on, going before it died.    This all happened on 07/02.

So when I got home, I discovered that my backup charger was not working on the one Type-C USB port but it worked on the second Type-C USB port.   Then I discovered my work charger also worked on it as well.   So I let the laptop charge for the rest of the day.

I decided I wanted to go in the office for a fourth day this week.   My original intention was that I wanted to work 4 days to get an extra banked day in case I decided I wanted to work two days in the office one week.   But with my charger issue, I decided it would be good to go in so I can work with tech support in case I had issues.   I also wanted to find out about the USB port.

So fast forward to 07/03.   I was in the middle of a team meeting (about 2 hours after I logged in for the workday) when I heard the soft pop and my laptop shut off again.   At that point I decided to meet with the tech support team.   After reviewing the issue, they concluded that the issue was with the charger.   To confirm this he tried it with a different charger and the battery charged fine.   

I was frustrated because I had bought a replacement charger in March 2024 so it only lasted about 15 months before conking out.   Tech support was suggesting I get a new charger (which tech support does not supply).   I also wanted to get a newer laptop.   Tech support mentioned that the laptop would not really be new but rather the same version of my existing laptop.   Plus they would need a valid reason for replacement.

My keyboard letters have faded into oblivion which made it difficult to see what I'm typing.   The guy working tech support was not sure if that would be a valid enough reason.   But after thinking about it, I told him that I wanted to try and get a replacement.   Even if it's not a newer laptop, my hope was that it would be a functioning laptop.

So they went through the process of putting the order replacement in.   I got a confirmation email that the replacement was in the process of being shipped.   I also decided I needed to go home since I only had so much time before the work laptop would die.

It did save me from getting any new Sev1's that day, including potentially getting that nightmarish customer again.   I looked at the case history and the customer was already demanding to speak with me since EMEA's shift was ending again and clearly was not open to the suggestions from EMEA.   I saw that another team member ended up with the customer with disastrous results.   The customer again was being overly demanding and not willing to listen to suggested workarounds.

Knowing that I didn't have much time before my laptop died again, I decided to head back home.  I stopped at a local restaurant a few blocks from our home and ordered lunch for Dom and I.   I got home just before my team meeting.

In the end I was pretty much dead in the water without my laptop.   My manager suggested I just take the rest of the day off.   I decided also to order a new charger for the work laptop even though the replacement should be coming as well.  I want to see if I can at least get a charger that will work again.

Then as if to add insult to injury, my charger on my personal laptop decides to act up as well.   So I basically have to order another replacement cord for that one as well.   Luckily my backup charger actually works for my personal one.   So that's what I'm using until my replacement charger comes in. 

Both chargers are out for delivery and are expected to arrive sometime today.   You got to love technology.

Role Call

 I've been a mentor to several newer co-workers during our company's last hiring wave in the summer of 23.    It's been cool seeing each of my mentees grow into the support role and it's nice to commiserate about the crazy cases and customers we have to deal with on the daily.

 In the last couple years our company has also done a lot of layoffs.   Also with the push of utilizing more AI in our work lives, there's the concern that AI will slowly take more jobs away.   Management has been encouraging the teams to cross-train in many different areas.   In other words make ourselves more versatile and potentially more valuable to the company.

But if there's anything I've learned, no matter what you do, if a company decides to let you go, it makes no difference whether you're a star performer or a dud.   They will let you go if it helps their bottom line.

One of my mentees recently interviewed for a different role within my company.   This role seems to be focusing more on honing more business analytic type skills with of course still having that technical acumen.   

So Alan, my mentee who interviewed for the role, let me know that he was offered the role and he accepted.   I was definitely happy to receive the news.   The team he will be joining is a newer team that is being formed.    He mentioned that the customers in the new role will be internal.    Since the team is new, he mentioned that the team was looking for another team member and he wondered if he could throw my name in the ring.

I admit when he mentioned that I was taken aback.   I have thought about looking around for other roles but the thought of interviewing has left little to be desired.   I mean, I've done "so well" when interviewing in the past...LOL.   

But at the same time I do realize I've been in the same role now for 3 1/2 years.   It may be time for me to branch out.   With the departure of Roni last March, I'm the only original team member in my manager's team.   Everyone else either left the company or moved to other roles.   

Am I ready to meet my Achille's Heel, the interview?   I even hated having to give interviews when we were on the hiring blitz and I was on the preferred side.   Also with it being a new team, would I find myself first on the chopping block should another round of layoffs occur?   Even Amazon is letting go of people in their warehouses due to AI so it may not be as easy to even fall back to that (if I had to).   Not that I want that.

I'm not ready but I told Alan yes to give them my name.   At some point I'll need to review my resume and make some tweaks.   I'm nervous about telling my manager about it but I know if they decide they want to interview me, I would need to let her know.   Hopefully she won't be too peeved.   At the end of the day she did say our team needed to be flexible and if new opportunities presented itself to go for it.   If anything comes out of it, I'll keep you posted.    

The Heat, The Heat

 Toni Braxton - The Heat

Intro
Yeah
La-da-da-da-da, la, la
Yeah, yeah, yeah

Verse 1
Where's the sand, I'm set
My body? Thumping, going pitty pat
Getting tan and wet
And when I feel the beat, I lose control of it
Oh baby, I'm feeling you, I must admit
Looking tight and fit
And I imagine you and I in...

Chorus
Summer bodies shaking to the...
Music's going through ya
Can you feel the heat, the heat?
The heat is moving through your body
Temperature is rising
Can you feel the heat, the heat?

Verse 2
Sleeping in till noon
Been naughty, put bubbles in the swimming pool
Skinny dip for two
And as you feel the rhythm taking hold of you
Ooh Papi, I love it when you ooh-eeh-ooh
And I'm hooked, it's true
I imagine you and I'm in...

Repeat Chorus

This song used to be the bomb when Toni Braxton's album titled by the same name came out in 2000.   The song was supposed to depict the hot chemistry between two people that causes things to get hot.   But as I reviewed the lyrics, I couldn't help but laugh at the one line "Been naughty, put bubbles in the swimming pool".    Did the bubbles derive from some farting that was taking place in the pool?  That's definitely not sexy.   I guess as long as you're not pooping in the pool, all is good.   Maybe that's why the chlorine is needed.

Hemingway the song popped in my head due to the unseasonably hot and humid weather that's descended on Chicagoland this past week.    It's days like these that make me long for the central air I used to have in my first home.    When it reaches 100+ degrees outside, the house feels every bit of it.   I completely hate it.

Dom insisted on visiting his Mom this past weekend and wanted me to go.   I really wasn't keen on going but he kept pushing it.    At least he decided to drive this time which was almost a plus.   But his Mom's place was as miserable as ours and I couldn't get 100% comfortable, especially when I saw ants crawling freely in the home. 

While there Ava told me about a product for ants that can be placed outside to eliminate them around the home.   Something called Spectracide Ant Shield Outdoor Killing Stakes.   I honestly was not sure why she was mentioning those to me.   Maybe she's heard Dom talking to his Mom about my aversion to bugs.

I definitely do want to look into it since our area is plagued by ants and they have come inside the house as well.   I see that Terra has their own liquid bait stakes that they sell for outside.   I actually have bought the indoor ones before and they work so well that you stop seeing ants within 48 hours.   So I may purchase that one as well and start planting them along with some granules around the perimeter of the house.   Anything to keep those buggers at bay.

But anyway the heat has been so unbearable.  I feel stinky and sticky all the time.   Going into the office has been the worst as I wind up being sweaty by the time I arrive.    At least I can wash my face up a bit once I'm in the office.   Only bad thing I notice, the water reeks of the Chicago River smell.   But it makes sense since the water is coming from the Chicago River and our office is near there.

I've been noticing I've been pooping a lot more as well since it's gotten extra hot.   Dom told me that is normal when the temperature gets hot.    But I hope it stops.

Summer is definitely in full effect.   Unlike Toni's song, there's nothing sexy about this heat.   It's going to remain in effect for at least another week.   We did get a bit of relief Tuesday but the temps start rising again.

Speaking of the heat, my stock Blackberry has been heating up in the positive again.   They had an excellent Q1 2026 and their main product QNX is proving to be a short-term and long-term money winner.   Total revenue from QNX was 57.5 million which was up 8% year over year.  The price has been rising again from the ashes again as a result.   I try not to get too excited though because it seems BB just can't keep their price momentum going long.    But the company has also been buying back stock (so far they've purchased 10 million shares) which helps increase shareholder value.   I'm very hopeful that I'm in the right horse and it'll pay off in dividends by the time I near retirement.

This post is officially a milestone post.   It's my 200th post since I've started my second blog.   It's not an overly impressive number considering I started this blog in October 2011, so almost 14 years ago.  I did have a six year hiatus where I didn't blog.    However I've made a lot of positive strides since starting up again in 2021 to try and post more about my life.   It's been nice keeping track once more on my highs and lows.     Here's to another 200 posts ahead.  With the pace I'm going, I hope to get there in another 3 - 4 years (God willing).    I'm grateful to continue to have a place to share my thoughts.   Till next time.

I Love Some Molly

When referencing Molly I do not mean the synthetic drug.    I'm referring to the actress by the name of Molly Culver.   I first was introduced to the actress on the late 90's guilty pleasure show V.I.P. that I used to religiously watch on syndication when it aired on the weekends.   The show featured Pamela Anderson as Val Irons who finds herself being thrusted in the world of bodyguarding after a random star meets her at a hot dog stand she worked at and invites her to a Hollywood premiere.   The star gets threatened at the premiere and uses Val as his personal shield.   To save face he tells reporters that Val is his bodyguard.   Meanwhile a struggling bodyguard agency which Molly as Tasha Dexter is part of somehow runs into Val at the same hotdog stand after they see the story on the Hollywood premiere.   They have the idea to hire Val as a figurehead in the hopes of reviving their dying agency which it hilariously does. 

Tasha Dexter is the no nonsense former KGB agent whose hobbies include gun shooting and sharpening her many knives.   Tasha and Val were often at odds with each other throughout the series.   Tasha would get pissed whenever the police would credit Val for solving cases.   Val is the happy go lucky character that dumbed her way out of many situations and the show often played into their frenemy relationship.

I grew to love Molly's character as the series progressed and Tasha quickly became my favorite character.    I even picked up one of her character twerks.   Whenever someone would refer to Tasha's background in the KGB and ask if it's something she picked up at the KGB, she would famously reply with the word "maybe" trying to be mysterious.   I would use that line a lot when Dom would ask me about stuff and I even got him using it to mimic me.

I've had a chance to reacquaint myself with the series since Roku TV has all the episodes available.   I remember being so bummed when the show was cancelled after it's fourth season.   But I imagine it got expensive to produce after a while.   They had a lot of celebrity clients guest star as themselves over the years including Jay Leno, Morgan Fairchild, Marie Osmond, and Erik Estrada (used to have a mad crush on him).

I believe what drew me to Tasha Dexter was her no nonsense approach to handling conflict.  She could hold her own in a bar fight.   Her dominant personality is what drew me to her as a gay man.   It's that whole complex I joked about in the past in my infamous Star Jones roasts.   Basically my attraction to Molly is due to her character's no nonsense personality.   Tasha was strong enough to take no flack from anyone but there was a shortage of eligible straight men that wanted to deal with the drama.

Molly Culver's career however didn't really take off after the show ended.   She's had very few roles after that and no breakout role which is a shame.   But she had her greatest role from what I read being a mother to her only child, a son Sonny.   

When randomly searching on Molly Culver, I came across a random site that hosted an interview that her son did on his Mom.    It's a voice recorded one that sounds like something that may have been done for a school project.

https://archive.storycorps.org/interviews/molly-culver-interview/

It was such a short and sweet interview where Molly reiterated that the most important event in her life was the birth of her son.   Towards the end she teases that she hopes Sonny has lots of grandbabies which reminded me of my favorite show Half & Half where Phyllis would tease Mona about wanting grandbabies.    Speaking of Phyllis and Mona, both actresses I believe had a reunion on a Netflix comedy Family Reunion that Telma Hopkins occasionally guest-starred on.   I still haven't seen the episode yet but I'm almost at the end of that series and I believe that episode is near the end of it.   It's a cute show though it's not one of my faves.

But I'm happy to see that Molly Culver seemingly is in a happy marriage and raised a family.  Her son was born in 2006 and is actually a young adult himself now.   Time does march on.

I'm so glad I'm able to watch V.I.P. again since they only released Season 1 on DVD years back.   I've been watching an episode on Saturdays and I get to share it with Dom...LOL.   Watching the show definitely takes me back to my late 20's when I was living single in my first home in the Northwest burbs of Illinois.   The whole cast had great chemistry but I'll always have love for Tasha Dexter.

Sunday Follies

 Dom as of late has not had any energy to do anything outside of staying at home.  His neuropathy has been pretty bad and it takes all his energy just to get upstairs and shower and get dressed.   He usually needs my assistance to put his socks and shoes on.   But Dom had a rare moment this past Sunday where he actually wanted to get out of the house.   He even suggested us going to the casino together where I can play some slots while he walks around the casino.

There was one catch though.   Dom does not believe in me losing money and is of the school that if I'm even up $10 I should leave.   I keep telling him that there is no guarantees of winning.   I would say 95% of my casino trips are ones where I've donated (nicer way of saying I lost money...LOL) to keep the casino's electric bills paid.   If I'm honest, it's closer to 99%.   Leaving with a decent sum of money is a rare thing and days like I had last Thanksgiving is extra rare.

It's rare that Dom accompanies me to the casino.   When he does, we're usually out of the casino in less than 30 minutes since he's bored once he makes his lap around the casino.   But I noticed an interesting thing when Dom goes with me.   It seems that my odds of leaving a winner increases.  Yesterday was no exception.   We went to the Four Winds Casino in New Buffalo, MI.   Pretty much these days it's the only casino I go to (mostly because the Indiana casinos are smoke filled and the Illinois casinos are money pits).   Plus Dom likes the layout of Four Winds better.

The first machine I went to called Brazil I was playing on $40 free play on.  I managed to get two bonus games on the machine and scored a quick $180 win on.   I moved around to a Wings Over Olympus game.   I have not had any luck triggering the bonus on that game at all in the last couple years.   I'm not sure why this time would be any different but I decided to give it a try.

Dom found me while I was playing machine #2.   At the time I was up $160.   I knew the minute he found out I was up he'd want to leave.   He didn't disappoint.   I was able to play it down to $150 without scoring a significant hit.   It was then time to go.   Dom is like my conscious sitting on top of my shoulder telling me it's time to go.

I will say I do not enjoy my hobby as much when he's with me but I looked at the bigger picture being grateful that he wanted to go out.    He wanted to check out the beach and possibly get a walk in.  We weren't able to find free parking so we kept on going.

We were hungry and wound up stopping at Shoreline Brewery & Restaurant in Michigan City, IN for a late lunch.   I had an interesting moment when getting seated where I saw a gay couple sitting at a high table.   I caught one of the guys checking me out and then having the other guy check me out.   That guy didn't seem thrilled that his guy was looking at other guys and gave me a nasty look.   The two left soon after Dom and I were both seated.   Sadly Dom was oblivious to what was happening when I tried explaining.   Nonetheless it's nice to know that I still can occasionally turn heads.   I also had an encounter with another guy when I accidentally opened the door while he was coming out.   He was sadly straight...LOL.

We had a good dinner though the winner for both of us were their onion rings.   The batter they use on them is very good and crunchy.   It's quite thick and doesn't easily fall apart which is a plus.   Dom wanted an extra order which we took to go.   

Overall it was a good day.  I was glad that Dom wanted to venture out.    He wound up being tuckered out once we got home and napped the rest of the day away.    I may have drifted in and out as well.    It's so much fun getting old.

1st Of The Month

 

I remember when 1st Of Tha Month first came out in 1995, the radio stations would religiously play this song on the 1st of every month.   Of course they played it every day after that as well.    I will admit Bone Thugs N Harmony made some great jams but I struggled to understand every spoken word they said since depending on the artist, the enunciation wasn't clear.

Nonetheless the "first" 1st Of Tha Month since it's release was September 1st, 1995.   It was actually my first 1st living in the Washington D.C. area.   I was newly living on my own in my first apartment.   Sally was there along with Blanche, whom I talked about in a previous blog entry, and was our 2nd Mama while out there.   

I remember waking up to 1st Of Tha Month playing and it hit me especially when the day actually was the 1st.   Each month does give us a new "starting point" to begin anew with new and existing goals for the given month and year.   At that time I was struggling with my new role and learning about the expectations the client "Bell Atlantic" had for us.

With each subsequent 1st of the month, things got better and I was able to navigate through different obstacles that were thrown at me, mostly from the first company I worked at.   I still remember when my initial contract with Bell Atlantic ended, I used that time to travel back to Detroit and purchase my first car (a 96 black Chevrolet Cavalier).

When projects ended we were in a phase called being "on the bench".   Consulting companies in the 90's used to still keep their consultants between projects and paid them.   You would use the bench time to train and interview for other roles.   These days consulting companies place you and pay for you while on projects (if you get the job after interviewing) but once the project ends, you no longer were considered an employee of the consulting company and would have to start over again.   It's almost like you're a free agent with no support.   I experienced that first hand during my brief 6 month role in 2018 after being laid off.   I was disappointed that the consulting company didn't reach out to me at all during my time to possibly present other roles.   I didn't realize how good we had it in the 90's even in the midst of all the bullshit.   

But anyway while I was in Detroit, the project manager called me and wanted me to interview for a project in some other state that I don't remember.    I had to tell the project manager that I was Detroit which I remember she was peeved about.   She asked me if I had a suit with me if they were to pay for a flight to go to the interview and I told her no.   She was so mad but she said okay as she quickly hung up.    I did end getting my car and then I drove it back to D.C.

That period in my life was crazy.   I was worried after that incident that they would fire me (they didn't).   I was so glad I had Blanche, Sally, and the other ladies that were in the same boat as well to talk to and get advice from about our various experiences.   It was a coming of age moment for me.   And no doubt 1st Of Tha Month was one of many different songs that came out during that time period that brought my levity.

Here's to a new month and at the end of it, half of 2025 will be behind us.    I'm hoping we're all one step closer to reaching or accomplishing our goals.

Moore Than Alright

 

Dom and I had a great time attending Chante Moore's concert in Joliet's Rialto Square Theatre.   The inside of the theatre itself was very beautiful with interior architecture that reminds you of what you'd see in Italy or Spain.   We had good seats near the front of the stage which allowed me to take some great pictures.   Dom hadn't heard much about Chante before even though I have played some of her stuff here and there over the years.   But he was thoroughly impressed and enjoyed the performance.   

Chante puts on a great show and her band also did their thing as at various points in the show as she gave her bandmates a chance to shine.   Chante sang a lot of her hits from her first two CDs and others from her other CDs (8 in total).   She also sang a couple songs from her forthcoming album which will be her 9th.   She also has two additional albums that she did with her ex Kenny Lattimore.

There was one song I prayed that she wouldn't sing called Bitter off of what I call her "attempt at being more urban" project Exposed.   I winced everytime she sang the N-word in her recording of the song.    But Chante knows most of her audience and did sing it.   But instead of saying the offending word, she had the audience sing it.   I couldn't bring myself to sing that but I was singing along to everything else she performed.   She also did snippets of other artists songs like Tevin Campbell's Can We Talk, Quincy Jones In The Garden, and El Debarge's All This Love among other songs.   Overall we really did enjoy the show.

The journey getting there was interesting as well.   Since the show was in Joliet, which was about an hour and some change from us, we decided that we would eat something beforehand.    Dom of course had a hankering for Chinese so to appease him I tried to find some places along the way that served Chinese.   I looked primarily in Matteson, IL since our route was mostly along Lincoln Highway.   

I found a place but surprisingly Dom turned it down after not liking how the food looked in pics.   So we decided just to do a random stop (which I knew would mean a fast food place but it was alright).   Dom spied a Subway and we decided to stop there.

We ordered our subs, I did a 6-inch and the bread looked like it was smaller than that.   Dom opted for the foot-long.   We decided to eat inside the restaurant.   Fifteen minutes into eating this "homeless" guy came in begging for change.   Dom immediately went into attack mode but I foolishly thought I would give him a dollar.    I didn't have anything but a $5 but of course the guy was like I have change.   So he puts change on the table and after I give him the $5 he proceeds to take the change back and saying that he's homeless.  

All I could do was laugh and say 'ok, you got me' as he proceeded to walk away.   I resigned myself to being conned but treating it as my "good deed" for the day.   Dom did try to stop it but I had to be foolish.  I saw the Indian folks in the restaurant looking in at us from the back area.    They clearly had that character come in before.   We also couldn't help but notice they had a bunch of chairs strategically placed to block direct access to the restroom.  I'm sure they've had issues before with non-paying customers wanting to use the restroom.   Needless to say that is the experience of doing and patronizing business in the hood.  

It also reminded me of how blessed I am.  I don't know if I would survive out here in these streets hustling to try to make a buck.   I am blessed that I managed to hold a job and was able to save and find an affordable place to live.  Aside from my blood pressure, my health is fine.   My old car is still running fine.  I don't take any of that for granted.

As we drove on, I was annoyed as I saw other places that we could've stopped at to eat that would've been better.   But the Subway did provide sustenance so it was alright.

Parking itself was another issue.   It was mostly street parking with a few garages sprinkled in.   After circling the streets a couple times, I decided to park at the local casino Harrah's garage.   I did freak out when walking out of the garage as I saw a sign mentioning towing cars away that weren't patronizing the casino.   But Dom told me it'll be alright.   I did feel bad because Dom and I had to walk a few blocks to get to the theatre and Dom isn't able to walk as quickly.   I did wind up walking back to get my car (which thankfully was still safely parked in the garage) and resisted the temptation to go to the casino.   I then picked him up from outside the theatre.

We decided to visit the IKEA in Bolingbrook the next morning so we stayed at a local hotel in Bolingbrook for the night.    I got us a handicap room so we had a higher toilet seat and wider hallways to make it easier for him to navigate around.

The next morning I went to pick us up some continental breakfast to enjoy in the room.   I got us some Belgian waffles and a banana which tided us over till we left for IKEA which was 15 minutes away.

Dom saw a Michael's craft shop in the same area as IKEA so of course we had to stop there first.   Well Dom did and I was along for the ride...LOL.   We then made it to the IKEA just after 10am.   There weren't too many folks thankfully as we went through the aisles and ultimately spending just a little over $200 on various knick knacks and snacks.   We even stopped for some Swedish meatballs and mixed veggies for lunch in their cafeteria.

We then made our way back home but not before I made a quick stop at a Sunrise Health store in Lansing, IL to get Ice Cream For Bears, a natural brand of ice cream that is only sold in a few select stores.    Then we made it home.   

Thankfully I have a day off from work for the Memorial holiday so that gives me one more day to relax before getting back to the work grind.