Dumb User

Did you know that Honduran mahogany weighs 35 lb/sqf and costs $6.25/ft (or at least it did in 1995)? This is one of the random facts that can be looked up in my US Navy Reserve Pocket Reference. I “won” this little book at the Society of Women Engineers luncheon last week. It is much cooler than anything else that came in the basket with it. Everything from material properties to geometry equations to airport codes is listed in this thing. It is something that any engineer will fully appreciate. :)

I’m not doing much work today because I can’t log into the computer system that I need to work on my code. So far I have read all the blogs in the world, found Sarah an airplane ticket to Atlanta, looked up Chihauahua adoptions at local shelters (also for Sarah), and written work instructions on creating e-mail templates in Outlook. I think I would actually be pretty productive today, if I could only get onto the system! I think I have finally convinced the fix-it people that there is actually something wrong with the system. They were playing “it’s just you, dumb user” all morning. Last week I had a similar problem with a different system, and the help desk guy was giving me some SERIOUS attitude. It was 8am, and I understand being grumpy in the morning. But, I really try not to take that out on co-workers, let alone customers.

Once again, a crew has returned safely to Earth from the ISS. Hopefully, the next changeout will be accomplished with the Shuttle. T-26 days…