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January 19, 2000 |
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Got something new in the mail yesterday. Did I ever
mention that I'm a gadget fanatic? It was something that I saw while on
vacation in Florida. It is a battery operated cocktail tray. You can even
see the battery compartment on the top surface. It has a series of lights
that rotate around its perimeter. As far as trays go, it is an incredibly
fun tray.
I was a waiter for years before my current job as a software engineer. I
have developed an appreciation for trays.
It sits near my desk at work. I'm sure that there are the number of you
out there that wonder, "what on earth does a software engineer need with a
cocktail tray?" I'm sure that logistics behind his eludes most of you.
Let's just say I'm versatile.
I've also been stressing over the last few days. Nancy has been calling me pretty frequently. I mean she has called everyday for a week. Now, I do like her company; I wouldn't be spending time with her if I didn't. I'm just not feeling any more than that, and there's part of me that feels guilty about it.
I know I may have been sending her some mixed signals. I'll own up to that. I'm also not entire sure what her expectations are. This means that we should talk about it. I don't feel comfortable with giving her the cold shoulder. I also feel that it is something that we should talk about face to face… not over the phone… not over e-mail. I suppose that I've been on the taking end of that too often and remember too well how crappy it can feel. I'm not that guy; I don't want to be that guy.
I hate to sound like the typical guy and say that I need room. For one, it wouldn't be entirely true. I just need room… from her. Similarly with being afraid of commitment. Not to say that there's anything wrong with her. There isn't. I suppose it is just that we're not a good fit.
Maybe I'm just imagining things, it could be that she simply had something to say to me… for seven consecutive days.
I also ordered a software gadget this week; it is a PhotoShop plug-in. I was all psyched up to get it in the mail and start playing around with it. So naturally, I was pretty irritated when it wasn't delivered on time. Not so much that I'm impatient, but I paid good money for delivery. It should arrive on time.
Sometime in the afternoon, I got a call from Aileen. She told me that she got the package that I sent her earlier this week, but then asked if I had sent her another package. Another package? [???] It seems as though it is some kind of graphics package. [Huge light bulb going off above Frank's head…]
It seems as though the package that I ordered was mailed to Aileen. I got online to check the status of my order… billing address - Washington… shipping address - Washington… Tracking delivery, shipped to Florida. [Brilliant!] Apparently, they had her address on file from one of my past orders and decided to send the package to her. Does anyone else find this a bit disturbing?
I got on the phone with their support people. They checked the status of my order. I pointed out the billing address. [Check.] I pointed out the shipping address. [Check.] I asked them where it was shipped to. Over the phone, "Uhmm... Well, that's strange." At this point, I thought it was pretty funny. To their credit, they sent me another copy overnight. [Thanks] Although, Aileen still has to mail the other copy back to them. [Sigh]
Oh, the plug-in does fancy borders, over 10,000 of them as a matter of fact. I did the tray image with one of those borders. Okay, humor me and tell me that you like it.
I finally broke down a got a different phone at work. My old phone is one where I had neither speakerphone nor caller ID. I had been getting around for over eight years now without them but could not endure it any longer. What's funny is that all the new folks get the fancier phones, it's just that I never bothered asking for one.
Well, the speakerphone certainly helps out… particularly when we have a grueling session of multi-player Quake 3 or the big brainstorming and/or debug session… As long as we have our priorities straight.
As for caller ID, I suppose it is the passive agressive part of me that is dying to know whether or not to pick up the phone. Naturally, I wouldn't do that if you were calling me, just someone else. Honest
January 19, 2000