We have a process where we can connect into people's computers to fix things. Only Level 2 people have this ability. I was just asked to take over one, which happens as people need to leave at the end of the day. The other tech, we'll call him X, gave me a confused description of a server, drives that didn't synch, and possible complications of upgrading a server to Win10. He was in the process of copying the contents of a shared drive to somewhere else, and when I connected in that copying had another hour to go. I asked what he was copying, and X said, "I thought it was a good idea, but you can stop it if you want." I talked to the senior tech who had told me to take over and asked if he knew what was going on. Long story short, the senior tech wasn't sure either and that I might have to just start over, even after I gave the synopsis of the databases X modified and the folders that had been moved around. Senior tech: "Well, I trust you more anyway, sorry, try to untangle it."

So I give X my phone number so he can transfer the customer over. X says, "Oh, he's already gone." Me, after a blink: "There's no one there? And you're connected in to their computer?" "Yeah, they had to close up shop, but Senior Tech Y said I could just stay in. Just email the customer with the resolution."

One of the first rules about connecting in to customer's computers that I had pounded into me was "You do not work on a customer's computer without the customer or his representative there." So I had utterly no compunction about going to my senior tech to report what was going on. Full disclosure: I do not like Senior Tech Y in the slightest, and I took great joy in reporting that he approved X staying connected to the computer.

My senior tech said, "You mean, there's no one on the call?" I confirmed, he said "OK, wait a minute." After a couple of minutes, he said to disconnect from the computer and to set the case up to be called back in the morning. Oh, and to leave it in my name so that X doesn't "mess with it in the morning."

Documentation is your friend.

Timelies all!

Tired, and still having issues with my gut. feh

107 is really fucking hot.

It is not quite that hot inside my house, for which I am grateful. My brief unavoidable period of being outside was quite enough.

I bought hard root beer the other day!

I had a bottle the other day. The closest I've come to drinking a whole beer. A total trip.

Satan's armpit humid out there. My hair got wetter on the way home.

Also, a juvie rat dying in my backyard. Ugh. But at least now I can note that when I return rat rubout's phone call from yesterday. I simply had no time at all today.

I've been smelling dead animals off and on all day, and a part of me is great duo that this hasn't been the case over the past couple of months like was the past couple of years. But, even on my patio this morning was a godawful stench and I couldn't figure out from where. Nothing this afternoon.

I couldn't muster up the courage to go out with the shovel and finish it off before it got too dark to turn it into a macabre tragicomedy with me screeching and something dying in terror. Which might be ugly in the morning. I've done the coup de grace many a times in my life. But ugh, I hate doing it. Is it bad of me to hope one of my neighbor's dogs finds it and he deals with it?

Cookie is INSANE about rats. She catches them ducking into burrows, on leash. By their tails.She just breaks their necks, not interested in eating them. Owner always disposes of them. I warned him that I was calling in Rat Rubout, he was like, eh, she rarely breaks skin, I have stuff for her when she gets poisoned rats.

Our sweet, docile poodle is a committed squirrel killer. Three so far. One quick shake and they are DAID. Once he gets them, he just sits ands looks at their little corpses with an air of mild confusion.

Cookie barks and barks and BARKS at the corpses. Patrick usually has to take her and JoJo (who just acts confused until he tries rolling in it) home before he goes back to deal with it. (And I love him for it. He disposes of most corpses in the hood before the city comes because otherwise Cookie BARKS AND BARKS.)

They are doing roadwork near my house and it seems to have literally stirred up a rat's nest. Saw one this weekend in my neighbour's yard that Oz chased, one on my way to work this AM, and my other neighbour saw one in his backyard. If they get in the house, I am torching it.