We’ve all been there.  The dreaded call to tech support.  Heck, at one time in the not so distant past I might have been the person on the other end of the line.  The big difference to me is that every time I find myself having to place a call for support the tech takes me through the same old boring set of things under “let’s try a few things first” column of time wasting activities.  I hate asking for assistance only to learn the solution was on page 20 of the manual.  I scour the internet (thank you Google) for answers long before I try the 800 number.

Today as an exception because I already knew what I needed.   Seems the family PC in the kitchen didn’t survive the short power outage last Monday and needs a new power supply.  I always give the OEM the first try but their site was completely useless when it came to parts replacement.  Sure they offered tons in the way of upgrades and peripherals but a simple 350 Watt power supply was nowhere to be found.  So I bite the bullet and gave their online chat a try.  I knew whoever was on the other end would start off with a battery of questions on our journey through their Flowchart of Doom.  I was very disappointed that after giving them the same info I used to search for the part they asked me info which should have been readily accessible to them as tech support.  I mean, why ask me what power supply came with the computer?  Your company makes the computer for goodness sake.

The best was soon to come for as my tech excused herself from our chat while she looked up the power supply info for my computer she asked me one of her pre-canned questions used to pretend the tech is truly engaging with you, the caller and wants to form a “connection”.  Unfortunately it didn’t go over as planned.  Take a look and have a good laugh.  I know I did.

Perhaps on the next call or chat it’ll be best to stick with questions about the weather.  That or go with, “How about them National’s, right!!”

Pretty sure I know what this tulip is thinking. Trust me, bro, it ain’t gonna happen. Not under my roof. :-)

This morning while I was trying my hand at making pancakes for breakfast my little girl walked in the kitchen and was bursting at the seams to share with me the best thing that happened at school on Friday.

She stays in school for their daycare program which includes an extra snack, activity and recess period. They finish the day with a movie. Apparently Friday’s feature was a Scooby Doo cartoon.

Here’s how she started telling me about it. Mind you, she’s all of five years old. –

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“And daddy, guess what we saw!! A Scooby Doo movie!!”

“Oh? Was it good?”

“Yeah!! It was great!! It was his virgin story too!!”

As you can imagine she now had my full attention.

“What?” I managed to downplay my shocked surprise. I think I did. Anyway, I tried, ok? “What was it about?”

“It was their virgin story. You know — when they were all kids and just getting started.”

“Oooohhh. Their origin story.”

“Yeah.”

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She went on talking and telling more about the movie and her day. Honestly, I didn’t hear a single word of it. All I kept thinking was situation avoided. Plus I didn’t burn any of the pancakes.

One other thing. When I say “trying my hand at making pancakes” understand that I can make them just fine. Learned how ages ago in sixth grade Home Ec class. She, however, likes hers shaped like Mickey Mouse. I’ve failed miserably on very attempt thus far to the point she’s made it known that only mommy can do it. That changed after this morning. I figured it out.

So the morning was a victory on multiple fronts.

Well, it’s only the second day of the month but it’s still the middle of the work week.  So enjoy this Wednesday post from the archives of my personal email joke folder (don’t we all have one?).  This one came to me on June 23, 2006.  Again, its from my dad and since it arrived right around my third anniversary, I guess he was trying to prepare me for what’s likely to become my future.  My three kids, God bless them all, are quickly sucking most of my brain power even now so read on and enjoy.  I’ve already had days like what you’ll read below.  Am I the only one?