Any way you want it, that's the way you need it…

My new job at work has been proving to be interesting. I'm starting to get over the worst of the "I don't know what the heck I'm doing" jitters and learning how to do what I need to do. I'm now taking phone calls to support a major retailer's store brands of Internet-capable TVs, Blu-Ray players, Internet routers, A/V cables, and the GPS devices the company sells.

I was nervous at first—what do I know from Blu-Ray players?—but it turned out that, just as with the computer support job, a lot of the questions are the same ones over and over again: either they're having trouble getting their TV or Blu-Ray player to talk to the Internet so they can stream Netflix, or—God help me, I'm not kidding here—they're upset and confused by the black bars to either side of the picture on their TV screen. There's also a hefty helping of "Why won't my Blu-Ray player play [very recent Blu-Ray release]?"

( Hollywood Blu-Ray cynicism )

Anyway, so far the job isn't as tricky or stressful as Geek Squad was, and I'm no longer required to try to make sales. So on the whole, I think this is going to be pretty cool.

Right now, my iPod and iPad just finished syncing, so I'm off to Carthage for a long-delayed chiropractic visit, then back to Springfield for a three-day weekend at VisionCon.

Any way you want it, that's the way you need it…

My new job at work has been proving to be interesting. I'm starting to get over the worst of the "I don't know what the heck I'm doing" jitters and learning how to do what I need to do. I'm now taking phone calls to support a major retailer's store brands of Internet-capable TVs, Blu-Ray players, Internet routers, A/V cables, and the GPS devices the company sells.

I was nervous at first—what do I know from Blu-Ray players?—but it turned out that, just as with the computer support job, a lot of the questions are the same ones over and over again: either they're having trouble getting their TV or Blu-Ray player to talk to the Internet so they can stream Netflix, or—God help me, I'm not kidding here—they're upset and confused by the black bars to either side of the picture on their TV screen. There's also a hefty helping of "Why won't my Blu-Ray player play [very recent Blu-Ray release]?"

( Hollywood Blu-Ray cynicism )

Anyway, so far the job isn't as tricky or stressful as Geek Squad was, and I'm no longer required to try to make sales. So on the whole, I think this is going to be pretty cool.

Right now, my iPod and iPad just finished syncing, so I'm off to Carthage for a long-delayed chiropractic visit, then back to Springfield for a three-day weekend at VisionCon.

Fit to be Towed, or Assault on Battery

Well, nothing is ever simple.

I pulled into Carthage around 8 a.m., stopped at the Hardee's to get a cup of coffee and use their free wireless until it came time to leave for my appointment. Had to get the Hardee's people to reset the wifi, but after that it worked fine. Listened to Pandora, checked my email, and waited.

Then when I went out to my car, I discovered I'd left the lights on (it was dark when I started) and the battery was dead as a doornail. A friendly stranger offered to give me a jump start, but the process led to a sound like a gunshot and a gaping hole in the top of my battery.

Luckily, I'm right across the street from a Wal-Mart with an automotive department, they sell batteries, and they put them in for free. I feel a little silly calling a towing service to haul me across the street, but that's what roadside assistance is for. So now I'm sitting in Hardees again, waiting for the tow truck to show up. My chiropractic appointment is going to be a tad delayed, but fortunately the chiropractor and his wife are very understanding people.

Fit to be Towed, or Assault on Battery

Well, nothing is ever simple.

I pulled into Carthage around 8 a.m., stopped at the Hardee's to get a cup of coffee and use their free wireless until it came time to leave for my appointment. Had to get the Hardee's people to reset the wifi, but after that it worked fine. Listened to Pandora, checked my email, and waited.

Then when I went out to my car, I discovered I'd left the lights on (it was dark when I started) and the battery was dead as a doornail. A friendly stranger offered to give me a jump start, but the process led to a sound like a gunshot and a gaping hole in the top of my battery.

Luckily, I'm right across the street from a Wal-Mart with an automotive department, they sell batteries, and they put them in for free. I feel a little silly calling a towing service to haul me across the street, but that's what roadside assistance is for. So now I'm sitting in Hardees again, waiting for the tow truck to show up. My chiropractic appointment is going to be a tad delayed, but fortunately the chiropractor and his wife are very understanding people.