2016-05-13:

Fri:

Before we get totally into it, I forgot a couple of pictures. Here's my 600 bug proof:

[[image file="2016-05/600-bugs.png" alt="600 bugs" ]]

And here's the team at our last get together before Xerox got rid of most of us.

[[image file="2016-05/ye_old_crew.jpg" alt="Crew" ]]

The first guy on the left is my hire buddy.

Copy 10/10. Would test again.

Anyway, did copy most of the day today. Found a few things, and reopened one critical blocker that was commented on in March ("yeah, it's broken in build XXX") but never reopened? Huh? Basically it only pulls from one tray, instead of both.

Told our manager about the days off plan, he was fine with it.

And that was basically that. Not much to do, really.

Uh, I mean, yeah, I'm super busy and shouldn't take any time off and there was this really serious bug I need to look into more and… yeah, I'm not fooling anyone right now am I?

Went to staples, got a new router in case I need one and looked at the copiers. They have three of the "new" machines. And one was down? I didn't see a fault listed so I wonder what was wrong with it?

Shopping as normal, and saw my parents. Got yummy snacks and watched large birds carry off week old doughnuts.

Back here I checked my websites, made a phone call, and worked on the second laptop owned by the lady who picked up her laptop today. How many laptops do you need? Plus you have an iMac, a Mac Mini, a PC, your husband has an iMac. Sheesh.

It was taken over by a bunch of crap, and it's struggling to get windows updates so it can get 8.1 so it can get 10. I hate you windows.

Oh yeah, made the appointment for sunday so I have one both days. That's not so bad, right?

Ah, it finally figured it out. 939 - 1,113 MB. So I can immediately download twice that to replace what it's going to do. Great plan, MS.

Well, seems to have made it through all 170!! updates. I turned it off mid reboot because it was after 10:00. We'll see tomorrow.

Got almost 2000 words into chapter 201. Swords for the win when they're working FOR you instead of against you, amiright?

Sat:
Got up at the normal time because recent evidence suggests changing your sleep schedule isn't good for you, and got to work finishing chapter 201. It's already paying off (for the bad guy) so that's good.

Also watched the laptop slowly update to 8.1. It's now stuck on signing in to the MS account, which isn't the password she gave me. So I'm stuck doing nothing there. Thanks MS.

Ordered that new lawn mower I've been wanting for the past two years. You might think to yourself, "it's because he has money now, from his job, right?" Well, sort of. I actually used some of the money I got for Christmas from my parents.

You feel that? Adult restronsitrilliton! Oh yea! Forget video games, get rid of that gas sucking, leaking, garbage picking lawn mower! So that should come in a few days. To further commemorate, I went out and bought actual grass seed for that nasty dead spot right in my front yard. Raked, seeded with the spreader, and watered. I'M AN ADULT.

Went to my 11:00, which was quite simple. He didn't know how to hit the share button, then print in iOS. Also hooked his android stuff up, which was a pain. On iOS you just go to print, and it finds the printer, and you're done. In android you have to go to print, hit something like "add print plug ins" then go to the store, download something, (it doesn't work) download something else (still doesn't work) read the directions (on the website, NOT on the store where you might think they would be) activate the plug in, then go back and add the printer, then go back and print whatever it is.

I mean, really? So did that three times. (not the stuff that didn't work, I figured it out and powered through the next two times)

But he wants a laptop so I'll order him a decent one (read, with an SSD) and a battery for his other laptop and go back.

Stopped at the book guy's place because calling him always results in "this customer doesn't have voice mail set up" without even ringing. He wasn't there. Sigh.

Ate lunch, worked on the next chapter, watched a bit of anime, went back to work on the next chapter.

Sun:
Had the one appointment but not until the afternoon. So I watched my one show that's still going on, checked my websites for Sunday.

Then decided to get rid of more of the games, so I put a few more on I had previously put on, then tested a stack of them. Again some didn't work, but most did. These are the ones with no manuals and messed up cases, so I did three lots of about 6 games for $5.00 apiece. Put up a controller lot too.

Went to the appointment, he had a bunch of questions so I was there for some time. But I got all his questions answered and problems solved so that was okay.

Back here I ate dinner, made some calls, talked to one person that kept calling and calling. Straightened up a bit, still don't have the password for this laptop so I can't do that. Somewhat cold today, and it rained a little so I didn't water the new grass.

Mon:
No work today! I mean I have a job at 3:30 but not my regular one.

Straightened up more, put the xbox stuff away as I've tested all the games I'm going to.

Viewed by Monday websites, the started on Chapter 203. I did want to play skyrim at some point, but maybe tonight or tomorrow.

Got the password for the laptop finally so I got that going away. It's currently updating to 10.

Wrote a bunch of chapter 203 before lunch, and almost got it finished before I had to leave. His problem seems to be his power supply, as I changed it and he said the issue went away. Let's hope. I had to drive a half hour to get there and then another to get back, which was not fun.

One call, just the guy from yesterday saying he couldn't see the wireless from one laptop. Probably looking for the 802.11a on equipment that can't see that one. Left him a message.

Finished 203 and started 204. Beating Doomsday a third time! Yay!

Tues:
Total writing binge today. Three and a half chapters, and into the next world.

Got the cord and cable holder for the lawn mower, which should be coming next Monday.

And that's about it. I only need 1000 or so more words for chapter 207, but now it's time for bed. Back to work tomorrow for my three day week. Weird.

Did have one call, but didn't answer so I have nothing after work tomorrow at the moment.

Wed:
Back to testing, kinda. Apparently there's going to be a new version, 5.1, that fixes some critical bugs. But that's tomorrow.

Today I cleaned the other part of the lab, because apparently we lost our only developer along with most of the staples test team. So that section was empty, and messy. Now it is empty and not messy.

Otherwise just poking at it. Had a quick meeting and there are now only four of us. I guess the one lady that was in our lab is now gone, to finish up her "extended" contract (of three weeks) doing scan to PC testing someplace. She must be close, she came to do something on our machines.

Lab is pretty quiet, with the microsoft people coming in occasionally, but only us two on the staples front. It'll be quieter tomorrow and Friday when I lose my hire buddy.

But I'll have plenty to test, so there's that.

Got the mower in. The estimated delivery was the 16th, so great job there, guys. Also the laptop, which I updated to 10 and got my stuff onto. So that can go over, probably this weekend.

Cut the front lawn, it needed it. The mower is very nice. Much more quiet and light than the other. Even as the gas mower was self propelled, it was still not as nice to maneuver as this one. The cord was a bit of a pain, but as it saved me half the cost I'll put up with it. I won't say this mower will make me look forward to cutting the grass, but at least it won't make me hate the task any more than I do.

Made a few calls, but talked people through stuff.

Wrote up a bunch of new things from an idea I had at like 2:00 AM after I woke up last night. Always have the best ideas at the oddest times. That finished chapter 206 with almost 4,000 words and I shifted what had been after that into 207 so that's done with 4,400 words. Nice.

Oh, got the kindle battery too, tomorrow I'll get the story put together for my mother so I can get it back to her.

Thurs:
Pretty much alone for most of the day today. In fact the parking lot was a bit emptier than usual, for the simple fact that most people would rather take off Thurs-Fri than Mon-Tues or Tues-Wed or Tues-Thurs even though it's more psychological than anything. Because time is an illusion, and lunchtime doubly so.

Got the 5.1 in, started banging on it. The two bugs I specifically tested for are indeed fixed, so that's a start. Wrote up a new one though, a minor thing where touching a control doesn't modify the state, you have to slide the control. Didn't used to be that way, odd. And only for 2/3 services, google was fine. Huh?

Going to be truly alone tomorrow, as three of the four members of our group are gone. Neat.

Warm today, but don't worry, that won't last. Going to be rainy and in the fifties for the forceable future. Hope my grass spouts, but at least it'll be wet enough.

No calls, and no news from Sean about this weekend so it's looking pretty bare. Tomorrow the usual plans. There's enough checks so I'll go to the bank and then do the shopping. See my parents, and get back here.

Proofread 206 and 207, they work, so onward to 208.

Got the chapters put in to the kindle for my mother, so she can have that back tomorrow.

Oh, didn't mention, my off days got shifted around a bit. With the release of the new version of the EFI controller she wanted everyone there to test before it goes out, so nothing two weeks from now, but then an extra day I wasn't going to take later, making it two more four day weekends instead of three day weekends. Whatever.

Got the last things on the laptop done, but can't go over there yet. I still need to get the HP battery in. Whoops. Says next week some time, sigh.

Actually, with all the rain we're supposed to be getting soon, I think I'll go cut my back lawn. Be right back.

I'm back, did you miss me? Oh wait, silly question. I got that done pretty well, though the first half was annoying because of cord management. Have to see about that. Second half was much easier.

And when I came in I had a text from Sean about Saturday, so I think that'll be a thing.

Got a start on 208 and that's all the time we have for this week so I'll sign off now.

See you all next week, stay warm.