Good one, Frank. I sort of feel like I melted down some in the thread today. But it used to be worse, although I've never been a slammer.

When I worked for the Florida Dental Association sometimes we'd get calls for the Food and Drug Administration which often led to some confusing and interesting conversations.

Okay, they seriously want us to update our voicemail outgoing message with the date EVERY DAY?

OMG I hate that so much. I dread the day they require us to to that. As it is, I don't even update my VM for my regular day off (every other Friday). But then very little I do is time-sensitive.

Because the technical editors keep getting laid off due to budget cuts?

True! But in this case, I know the tech editor, and I would have heard if he got laid off. He's still there, but I'm damned if I know why they're not having him review this stuff.

ION, I talked to HR again. Apparently all three veterans on the list above me have to get knocked off the list as unqualified before they can reach me. Because if there's even one vet on the qualified list, they're supposed to pick them.

I think I need to start keeping a bottle of whiskey in my office for this.

Philip Marlowe did it. Of course, one way or another he ended up unconscious once a week, so there are reasons it's not "What would Marlowe do?"

I don't even understand the purpose of updating your vm every day.

I think I need to start keeping a bottle of whiskey in my office for this.

Jesus, yes. A bit of on the job self-medication would not be overdoing it in this situation.

The guy whose document I'm rewriting has been updating his OGM every day for months now. This is part and parcel of why he'd been making me feel inadequate.

I don't even understand the purpose of updating your vm every day.

So they know we're alive? No, I think if you're not outward facing it's not a wise use of time.

So someone knows the messages are going somewhere? In theory if you're updating the VM you're also (a) there or not and (b) listening to your messages? But I'm terrible about updating VM...but everyone has my cell too, and can call that.

I don't even understand the purpose of updating your vm every day.

We used to have to do that at my old job. "This is Brenda, it is Thursday whatever whatever and I am/am not in the office today...."

That would be super annoying. But I pretty much answer the phone.

So, I discovered why it was so much hotter with my student in the office. She turned the fan away from me and toward her.

Am I wrong in thinking that is rude. I mean, wouldn't you say something like "So you mind if I move this so that we are both benefiting from the fan?"