Baba's Blog » Job

Busy Meetings, Job Growth, and Fonder Hearts

Baba — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 11:07:56 +0000

Yesterday we had a meeting at work from 9am to around 7:30pm. That in and of itself is not that noteworthy, but it did make me think of two things specific to my life.

First, when I started my job almost a year ago I had absolutely zero experience in the corporate environment. I remember the first time that the CEO called me and asked me to come up because he had a computer problem. I was scared out of my mind that I would mess things up. Then I get to his office and he’s not there. I asked my boss what to do when someone isn’t there and he said just walk in. JUST WALK IN?! This is the president of the company! I can’t just walk into his office like I own the place. He’ll walk in and say, “What are you doing in here?” Then my next stop is asking for my previous job back. That’s just one example of the myriad of ways that I didn’t have a clue what was going on in relation to the business world.

Contrast that with yesterday and I see where I have really grown. In a room filled with executives I didn’t really have a problem speaking up when I had a thought. It was on my way home yesterday that I thought about how much I’ve changed while working at this job. Things that a year ago terrified me just seem common place today. Challenges that overwhelmed only mildly irritate. However, don’t stop feeling too sorry for me. I still get the overwhelming ones too :).

The second thought that came to mind is the saying “Absence makes the heart grow fonder. I got home after 8 last night. Lying in the floor playing with Reagan, with Elly and Dessa beside us, I was consumed with thankfulness for those three great individuals. Even when Reagan climbed into the dirty clothes basket and wouldn’t get out to go potty. :) This family of mine is wonderful, and I’m glad I have this blog to tell the whole world (or at least the 300 or 400 visitors I get a month) this truth!

P.S. Reagan traded his stairs for an elevator yesterday (see last post). Also, my sister, niece, and nephew may be coming up this weekend. I’m excited about that.

Up, Up, and Away (I Hope Not)

Baba — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 02:44:42 +0000

Monday and Tuesday of this week I spent a lot of time on a ladder working on some data lines in our CT area. The problem was that the ends of the lines were not readily viewable around the data switch like they should be after we outsourced a company to run the wire. Well, I don’t like ladders, and that aspect of this job has been the most stressful for me up to now. I can handle learning all of the software and systems, troubleshooting the various computers and printers in the company, terminating lines, etc. But when you throw me up on a ladder or other high object, a little thing called vertigo steps in and makes me about as balanced as hippo on buttered glass.

Sharepoint and Reflection

Baba — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 02:32:09 +0000

Microsoft’s Sharepoint really intrigues me. I had never been introduced to it until my current job, but I can’t wait to learn it. Naturally, I want to get into the Sharepoint Designer aspect of it the most (even if it is just a hyped up Frontpage, Ugh! I can feel the bad code already). However, learning the Server aspects, as well as the VB.Net and other languages that go with it, is something that I’m looking forward to. Of course, it’ll be a while before I get to that. There is so much to learn. Before I took this job I thought that I knew a lot about computers. I would say that I was sorely mistaken. I’ve learned so much already in the month that I’ve been there, and I’ve only scratched the surface of all there is to learn.

With all honesty, I love it. I called Dessa today and she asked what I was doing. I told her, “I’m trying to find out how to get Sharepoint to Map to an External Drive.” I could feel the eye rolling over the phone (just kidding), but it felt good to say that. I’m so happy to be in a job that challenges me over and over in a field that I enjoy. I’m also happy to be out of a Customer Service job. I still have customers, but they are people that I know and that I’m becoming friends with. I don’t have a bunch of strangers that I”m trying to appease everyday.

1st Day at ReMedPar

Baba — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 00:46:59 +0000

After today, I’m both totally excited and overwhelmed by my Help Desk Support job. The exciting part is that I believe I’m going to like it just as much as I thought I would. The first good sign was that the break room is stocked with 3 kinds of hot chocolate, 3 kinds of cappuccino, 10 kinds of hot tea, a machine that gives purified cold and hot water, coffee, and a popcorn maker like they have at the movies. This by itself made me smile

Add on to that the fact that I’ll be working on computers all day and it is going to be a fun time at ReMedPar. Of course, the computer part is what overwhelmed me as well, because I realized how much I’ve got to learn. I know the challenge will be fun, but it is also daunting.

My desk was pretty nice, and is twice the size as my cubicle was at AO Smith. Also, my computer is a top of the line unit that runs really fast. On top of that, my next cubicle neighbor had just switch chairs and I got her old one, which is the most comfortable office chair I’ve ever sat in. She only switched because the armrests were too high. (see the pics below).

By the time I was done learning about the company and setting up my computer at my desk, I really didn’t get to do too much I.T. stuff. However, I did learn how to terminate the end of an Ethernet cable, to install Office 2007 according to some specific guidelines, and how to install some of the network printers. Now, I get a day off for the 4th and I’m back at it on Thursday.