Steph, I think it is important that your boss knows what happened. Either Back-Up Person is not a team player and so is a poor choice to provide back-up for your boss, or he is vastly too busy and was unable to provide back-up. Either way, if Boss doesn't know lines of communication were not functioning, then she can't choose a better back-up next time. There has to be a way to frame it that makes it more informative and less whiny excuse-making.

ETA: Brenda FTW.

Something like "Of course. I wasn't able to get direction on these last week so I'll fix them now. "

That works, because she knows Back-Up Person was my only point of contact. Thanks!

(A leftover problem is that any articles I edited last week fall under Back-Up Person's purview until publication, so I'm STILL chasing an answer that he is Just. Not. Providing., and I am getting pissed as hell. I'm going to end up doing the thing that I think is correct, but if I get shit for it, I'm going to shank someone.)

If I think there's any chance that I'll get dinged for something that I did under the direction--or lack thereof after looking for direction--I will document that in the case notes. "As instructed by X, I did Y to the customer's computer" or "I tried to reach X but was unable to, so I did Y." The X's are supposed to be available to the techs, and I have no problem noting when I am unable to reach them.

You could also go with, "Is this the correct contact information for X because I was not able to reach him with questions while you were away."

Nice, sj.

So, I'm pretty sure my car is boned. Because it basically exploded. At least I had good walking shoes on.

Sigh. FML.

Because it basically exploded

?????

I'm going to take a stand and declare that cars that basically explode are a bad thing.

I'm sorry, Strix.

Yikes.

Not to make light of your predicament, Strix, but I am picturing you walking away in slow motion from your car as it explodes.