After getting up and the butt crack of way too early, I jumped my turbulence strewn flight to Tulsa. Folks, let me tell you somethign right now. If you've ever flown out of O'Hare, you know it's a nightmare. Tulsa Int Airport is the exact opposite. The people here are polite, friendly, helpful and actually are civil... completely unlike O'Hare.

When I get into the office, I check to see if the access to the programs I requested last week finally went through. Which it hadn't. After making a dozen phone calls, sending out a couple dozen e-mails and then finally reading someone the riot act, access was granted and we were able to get work done. I'm supposed to finish up tomorrow, and that may actually catch me up to only 2 days behind schedule!

That's good news.

However, they pretty much confirmed I'm going to be down here off and on through September. They are going to let me stay home for two weeks, and then send me back for another 3-4 weeks. So all of you Oklahomians (Oklahomites?), If we weren't able to get together you still have a chance.

Posted by: Contagion at 08:11 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Well, week one is about in the books. I'm heading in a little later today because we are traveling late into the evening and they don't need use until later this morning. We are about 3.5 days behind. Mostly due to system issues and conflicts with the training department. Training double booked people in classes.

So far this isn't going too well, but things did start shaping up yesterday. We were able to actually get some of the training of the new employees done and all the access seems to be available.

With Ktreva's grandfather dieing I was sure that I was going to have to end up leaving down here and miss more training time that would set me back even further. I'm not sure why, but they scheduled his memorial on August 2nd, so I'm not going to miss any time.

I'm still working to get this wrapped up in time for me to be able to come back for the Galesburg Heritage festival re-enactment I participate in. I at least want to get home for the weekend.

The good news is that I'm flying home tonight to spend the weekend with the family. I really miss Ktreva and the boys. It'll be good to see them again.

Posted by: Contagion at 07:33 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Okay, so my bright idea this morning worked. I was able to get the IT problem resolved and it looked like I was going to actually start making process. Then it happened, System Crash! That's right the program I needed to use crashed early this morning and we weren't able to get any further along on the project.

I am now 1.5 days behind schedule and Not only are they talking about extending my stay, but possibly letting me come home for a couple of weeks and then returning for the month of September when a lot of the system issues are resolved. I'm going to be here still for the next three weeks, it's just they may send me back the last week of August and keep me down here for a while.

BTW, to all of you that gave me advice on coming down here, both good and bad, you all forgot one important factor. YOU DIDN'T TELL ME IT'S LIKE THE GATES OF HELL HOT DOWN HERE! I'm wearing wool suits in a climate with a heat index of 103! I'm tired of my testicles sticking to my legs. Thankfully I can set the thermostat in my hotel room to a comfortable 61 degrees. Then I can strip nekked and cool off.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to take Employee-M and her counterpart from another office to the mall to go shopping. It has to be me, because the company won't authorize a second driver on the vehicle. It's part of the job is trying to accommodate them on this trip as well.

Yea... this is torture.

Posted by: Contagion at 04:43 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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1 Hmmm... coulda sworn I had previously mentioned that it got hotter than all Hell there in the summer

Posted by: Shadoglare at July 22, 2008 09:17 PM (q1yPG)

2 It's Okla-feckin'-homa, dude: you'll freeze yer arse off in winter & sweat yer bollocks off in summer. Ya didn't know? ;-)

Posted by: Wes at July 22, 2008 10:33 PM (1crE/)

3 Want me to send an emergency icepack and a ginormous bottle of Green Gold Bond?

Posted by: og at July 23, 2008 07:28 AM (HrGGq)

4 Two words: Baby Powder.

Posted by: Navy CPO at July 23, 2008 08:44 AM (sGtp+)

5 Hmmph. Tulsa is a place we go to cool off in July and August.

Posted by: Peter at July 23, 2008 01:18 PM (enP37)

6 To think I was uncomfortable with the temps here. Damm, it's feeling cooler here already!!

Posted by: red at July 24, 2008 08:42 AM (i9qka)

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Last night between tossing and turning, I had an epiphany! I think I may have figured out how to get the access problem corrected. When I get to the office this morning I need to make some phone calls.

Lets see if I'm as good as they think I am.

Posted by: Contagion at 06:17 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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I woke up bright and early this morning. My plan was to hit the gym and exercise a little. Well that plan worked, what didn't was the muscle cramping because I'm a lazy SOB and rarely work out. I ended up cutting my workout short. After the gym time I came back upstairs and got ready for work.

When I get to the office I spent the first hour answering questions about this transition that I'm overseeing. That part went really well. I had all the answers they wanted and I was able to calm their nerves. EXCELLENT! There is nothing worse than having to do a transition like this with the new management being skittish about the changes.

After that I stared the roll out to the management and I hit a glitch. None of them have access to the programs that they need to handle the new business line. Their access is all screwed up. I spent most of the day walking to the IT department in Chicago trying to get them to understand the importance of them expediting this process. Of course IT was fighting me tooth and nail. They can't help because the people that are needing the access are in Okla-farooking-homa.

No matter how much I explained that they were working Illinois business and couldn't do this work with out the access and programs they just couldn't get it through their giant swollen noggins filled with all the tips and tricks for Halo 3 and daydreams of not just meeting a girl, but actually maybe smelling her one day. Yes, I'm a little bitter. At one point I told the mentally challenged, should have been a stain on the sheet, chuckle head that if I was in Rockford, I would drive to his office just to clearly explain what the issue is by drawing him crayon pictures. Yea, that was toward the end of the day after spending 6 hours working with them.

Needless to say on day one I'm already 2/3 day behind on what needs to be done and it looks like tomorrow may be a complete waste as well. The sad part is that I worked up until 7:00PM tonight trying to get everything in place. Right now I'm frustrated, annoyed and just plain tired. This does not bode well for me.

And to kick it off they director of the area was talking about promotional opportunities again. Once I got down here I saw that there are indeed some big promotional opportunities. I just really hope they don't try to "encourage" me to put in for one of them.

Now, if you'll excuse me, on my way back from dinner I stopped and picked up a six pack. I think I'm going to sit back, drink a couple and try to get some sleep tonight. The bed was too soft and I slept like crap last night.

Posted by: Contagion at 08:38 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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I just received word this morning that my trip to Oklahoma has been confirmed. Right now it's just temporary, nothing perminant. I'll be leaving on July 28th. For those of you that know my schedules... yes, yes that means exactly what you are thinking.

UPDATE: 10:45 AM I just found out that I'm actually going to be leaving on July 20th. It could last as long as until mid October depending on how things go. IE, the better of a job I do, the quicker this could be over with. There was talk again about this turning into a promotional opportunity. All of you know I want out of Rockford in the worst kind of way, but this is NOT what I wanted. I just wanted to move out of the city.

As for my re-enacting... That may be put on hold for a while. You all know how much that pains me. The worst part is that there could be a 3 week period I go with out getting to see the family at all.

Also, I don't own a lap top so blogging may become non-existant. However, if anyone knows were I can get a good/cheap lap top in the next 10 days, let me know.

Posted by: Contagion at 06:29 AM | Comments (9) | Add Comment
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1 Hey, don't to forget to pack your chaps.lolh You'll look great dressed out all 1880's. Just like Wild Bill. Well except shorter; and bigger; and slower. Ok you'll look like Wild Bills horse. The good side is; Think Buffalo Hunter, 45-70,AAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!

Posted by: wil at July 09, 2008 09:00 AM (lbJyz)

2 Tulsa's not a bad city at all! : )

Posted by: Richmond at July 09, 2008 12:54 PM (q30ys)

3 How much are you willing to spend on the laptop, and how do you expect to connect it to the internet? I can do some digging for you. Oh, and be sure to practice up on your Oklahomese - terms like "y'all," "fixin' tuh" (ie. "I'm fixin' tuh go down to the store") and "as a crow flies" ("How far to the store?" "About 5 miles as a crow flies.") will come in handy. And be prepared to have absolute strangers try to chat you up for no apparent reason all the time - happens a lot down there.

Posted by: Shadoglare at July 09, 2008 01:07 PM (Volhe)

4 Oh, and don't speed on the highways. At all. Especially around Wagonner. $#!@!@$ podunk cops slapped me with two tickets in the same weekend for going like 5 over.

Posted by: Shadoglare at July 09, 2008 01:10 PM (Volhe)

5 Best of luck with the temporary assignment. Since my husband and I did this for a year - I can say I know it's tough. I hope all works out well in the end.

Posted by: Teresa at July 09, 2008 03:18 PM (mMa3+)

6 cheap laptop, WalMart, thats where i got mine for the truck

Posted by: Jim at July 09, 2008 04:46 PM (qCoTj)

7 No way!! You're going to take away my girlfriend?!? See how you are!

Posted by: Wench at July 10, 2008 02:56 PM (nFEns)

8 Man... it's too bad you won't be on this side of the Rockies. One thing... you'll only be a couple of hours away from Bloodspite. Whether that's a good thing or not remains to be seen.

Posted by: That 1 Guy at July 11, 2008 06:09 AM (rt2p+)

9 货架 货架

Posted by: at February 27, 2009 06:25 AM (MuEBu)

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I returned from vacation to find out that my company maybe (75% chance or better) relocating me to Oklahoma. We have a large portion of our business that is being transfered to one of our offices there and they may be shipping me with it.

Ummmm, I'm not sure I'm completely liking this idea.

Why me? Because I have the most flexibility out of everyone in the office. Ktreva works for the same company and her position lets her work out of any office the company owns, thus it's no big deal. Add the fact that I am the most knowledgeable member of the management staff on this book of business. I've also turned around three areas I've worked in and handled four major projects in the last year successfully. My track record speaks for itself, I get results.

Now this is starting off as a temporary position. It could be just a couple of weeks or months. However, today they tell me that if all goes well I have the opportunity for advancement and relocation. Do I have a choice for the temporary period... no. The permanent part? Yea, I could always show a complete lack of motivation and drive.

Maybe I just need a new job all together.

Either way, any of my readers around the Tulsa Oklahoma area... You may have a visitor coming your way.

Posted by: Contagion at 06:51 PM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
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1 Ugh.... fucking Tulsa? Actually a nice town... if it wasn't in Oklahoma. I hope you like tornadoes and ice storms

Posted by: Shadoglare at July 08, 2008 08:23 PM (2BZGX)

2 Big Tulsa is only a five hour drive from here. If you get here I'll take you to a Cowboy Action Match. Do not close your mind to a move to Far North Texas. Taxes are lower and we have "shall issue" CC permits.

Posted by: Peter at July 08, 2008 09:05 PM (FCztE)

3 Just another example of businesses being run out of the state. And it would suck if you left. And, could you really stand to live in a musical? You know Oklahoma is exactly like the musical. Spontaneous singing, goofy cowboy outfits, etc.

Posted by: Petey at July 08, 2008 09:17 PM (JhiOW)

4 WOW!!!! I knew you wanted out of Rockford, but thats a bit far south; and west; and mid 19th century planesmen out.

Posted by: wil at July 08, 2008 09:36 PM (i9qka)

5 It's their way of getting you out of their hair. At least you would be in an area that wasn't afraid of guns.

Posted by: Quality Weenie at July 09, 2008 06:50 AM (0HP8V)

6 Shadoglare: I thought of you when I first heard this. I knew you would have warnings for me Petey: That's okay, I was in the musical Oklahoma... if it's like that than all I need a surry with a fringe on the top. Wil: This is not what I had in mind QW: I don't think so, they have easier less expensive ways to get me out of their hair.

Posted by: Contagion at July 09, 2008 07:00 AM (Jfxjt)

7 货架 货架

Posted by: at February 27, 2009 06:14 AM (MuEBu)

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