The Dynamic Duo

Email from Jackson:
Please do not forget about the Computer timeline issue Inbox

Thank you and have a great weekend. Jackson
Kathy McDonald
to Jackson:

You (and all of Calvin’s inmates) are welcome. This may be a little punchy, as I had a 12-hr day and came home to find laundry and dishes waiting. Not as much sales as we had hoped, but I don’t think NDF has cleared yet. Jackie’s clerks (and Jackie via telephone) were a great lot of help, and mine were awesome helping get the store passed out to the whole camp when I got back to Calvin.
Kathy
And now: Calvin Kathy’s Computer Chronicles

August 15: Began having major computer issues at my store. Response time about 1 minute per keystroke. Computer repeatedly kicked off network, and must call Ernie who does some magic thing to reconnect me.
August 16-17: Computer is no better, and Jackson suggests I come in earlier to better avail myself of MIS help during working hours.
August 18: Computer connects to network 3 times as 30 seconds per connect. Ernie is no longer able to “get me back on.”
August 21: Jackson gives me the okay to, with Jackie’s permission, to travel to Windy and run Calvin’s store from there. This will be the last store until August 30, when, I am promised, a new computer will be installed in the store. After this I will have online access. Installation time is approx 1 1/2 hours. Sounds like heaven.
August 22: I go to work to pass out the store run on the 21st.
August 24: Ordering and restocking.
August 25-29: Take some time off until computer D-day.
August 30: MIS Eric, shows up, not to install new computer, but to fix my old one. It seems there is currently a problem with the Satellite, and Carlin-On-Satellite and Store-New-Computer date is pushed back to the end of September. I am at work 9 1/2 hours that day, and Eric is finally able to pinpoint the problem. I have a bad controller. A new one will be sent and will arrive next Tuesday. He walks me through installation.
August 31: I go to Windy and run my store
Sept 1: Go to work and pass out my store
Sept 5: Go to work. There is no computer controller awaiting installation. Instead I am told there has been a change of plan. Tomorrow, (Sept 6) I will get a new computer. The whole camp will be put on the Satellite system. I work on stocking and ordering.
Sept 6: Am told MIS folks are there. They will be in the store no later than 12 noon, and will take 1 1/2 hours to install my new computer. They show up in the store at 2:30. They have forgotten to bring my new computer. They install another PC, and are having trouble with the mouse. I go home and bring back an extra one I have. They are unable to set me up with a password to Novell. I have an appointment and need to leave at 4:30. I am told they do not need to get back into the store, but will have my password all configured and set up and will leave it with a camp officer. Once I have it, I can call Matt, who will set me up with a password to the AS400, or whatever they call it now.
Sept 7: I arrive early at work, and find out there is no password. My surge protector is emitting an emergency-broadcast system-like noise. I take that one off and connect an extra one I have, but unlike the other one, my extra one does not have a battery backup. It seems there was a problem syncing Carlin on the Satellite, and all computer are down statewide. I go home and come back at noon. Matt thinks he can get me on, however I am unable to sign on to Novell. Patient MIS help desk Sheila is on the phone with me for about 2 1/2 to 3 hours trying to figure out what is wrong. I am to try to log-on to another computer. Officer Lare logs off for me, but I am unable to log on to his computer either. Then HE is unable to log back onto it; very bad news. The LT lets me sit at his computer for 1/2 hour while Sheila tries some things. Nothing works. Definitely NOT heaven.
Sept 8: I go to work and try again to log on to the computer, unsuccessfully. Noone answers at the MIS help desk. I go to Windy and run my store.
Kathy

Arrive back at Calvin at 6:45. We finish up about 10 PM. I am repeatedly thanked for going, and find occasional disappointments at a ticket not run, money not there, or a wanted item out of stock. On the whole, it is fun being, once again, Hero for a Day.”

UltraMom, Storekeeper Extrordinaire