Thursday, July 27, 2006

I Want to Be a Clone

Well, not really. But I just had to use that song title. I love Steve Taylor! I grew up listening to his stuff - my sister was a big fan. I recently downloaded a whole bunch of his stuff off i-Tunes, and it's funny how you remember song lyrics long (at least a decade) after you last heard them. Or maybe I'm just a music geek. :-)

I may not want to be a clone (at least, not of anyone else), but I would like to have a clone or two. I'd let them work on this nasty, complicated report. I thought I was done with it yesterday. But then my boss complained that he didn't like the way the pictures turned out. He was nice about it, but I still wanted to wring his neck. He doesn't understand that in a report as large as this, you must decrease the file size of pictures, or else it will make my computer keep crashing (oh, how I long for a Mac!). So, since my boss insists the pictures in the report must be 3.5" x 5.25", I had to decrease the pixels-per-inch to around 125, otherwise the pictures were going to be about 2 MG each. When you have 10 pictures at 2 MG each, then you have another larger picture that is about 3 MG due to the intricate detail and photo-illustration, plus five pictures that are 1 MG each, plus several imported documents, then you wind up with a report that is so big that, even when it's PDF'd, it's more than 10 MG, and most e-mail programs won't accept a file that large. So I was trying to reduce the file size. So, I've spent all morning working on these photos - trying to keep the file size down, but still highlight flaws on certain areas (we're talking infinitessimal cracking). I've been "unsharp mask"ing, deepening shadows, oblique lighting and increasing contrast all morning. I wish I had a clone to do this for me, I'm getting a headache! Whew!

Speaking of headaches, the engineer with whom I don't get along is still being a butt-munch. However, I've been covering my tookus on-the-job. Every time he leaves a sample on my desk for me to ship, I take a picture of it with my camera phone. Then, when I get done packaging it, I take another picture. That way, he can't claim I didn't do it right or that he put it on my desk in one condition when I know darn good and well that he didn't! I'm a little bitter about this still - guess I need to keep praying for God to help me get rid of this anger and resentment. One thing that puts it in perspective for me. One of the techs told me to just ignore the engineer when he's being ridiculous, as he isn't the one who signs my paychecks! That's some pretty good advice.

So, now it's lunch time. I'm going to go home and eat left-over meat loaf from supper last night. If I have time later today, I'll post the recipe for it on R.O.U.S.

6 comments:

Tooz said...

Sounds to me like God gave you a good idea about using your camera phone to document stuff. Also sounds like it's time to hit the boss up for a new, more powerful computer, if he wants reports like that done. Make him think it's his idea, though. Men like that. Love you.

Jenn-Jenn, the Mother Hen said...

This computer isn't very old at all. The problem isn't so much the computer, it's what program they want me use to make the reports (as well as the platform upon which the computer operates). Microsoft Word isn't really designed for reports this large and detailed. Adobe makes a really good program for technical reports with illustrations, but the boss-man doesn't want to spend the kind of dough it takes to get it. Unfortunately, he doesn't understand much about computers, so doesn't realize that he's creating a BIG headache - not only for me, but ultimately for the company when I can't produce the kind of reports he's promised our clients!

But, I have to say that I am blessed to even have this job in the first place - especially when you consider how many people there are out there who don't have jobs! Also, I have good medical benefits (which the company pays 100% - I only pay the co-pay for a doctor's visit), annual raises, moderately flexible schedule, so I shouldn't complain. I need to pray to God to help me be more grateful for what I have. Jamethan's psychologist said something to me at our last visit. He said that people who lose loved ones early in life have a tendency to concentrate more on what they DON'T have, instead of focusing on all the blessings they DO have. That woke me up! I need to work on being more grateful for all the many, many blessings God has placed in my life!

Love you, too!

Becca said...

I avoid Microsoft Word like the plague, and use it only for note taking and some templates I have to use. I prefer using PowerPoint for illustrated reports, but that's just me. Text wrapping in Word gives me a headache, too.

I have had no network access today, and apparently the help desk is fighting over who should fix it, rather than just, you know, fixing it. So after 2 weeks out, and trying to catch up, I'm likely losing two days this week with a bunch of catchup next week. Not looking forward to it.

Jenn-Jenn, the Mother Hen said...

Powerpoint is a bit too "bulky" for the type of report I'm doing. We have it, but it's not really good for this, either. We'd still run into the crashing issues because it's in a Windows environment. (Note to the sarcastic people out there: No, it would not do better in a Doors environment.)

Anonymous said...

Hey Jenn
You're right about most E-mail severs won't except over 5 meg folder.....but you can zipp the folder and away it goes.....just a thought

Jenn-Jenn, the Mother Hen said...

Who art thou, stranger?
Art thou stranger than I? LOL!