I like computers and I was one of the few office employees who didn't feel intimidated by them. So, when the bosses asked me to switch position from typist to IT Dept (Information Technology, oh-la-la! sounds so fancy), I was truly excited that I'd get the opportunity to see what this brand, new "Internet" hype was all about (please remember: this narrative takes place back in 1997, when the Greek Internet was still teething).
Once inside the "computer room" (why is it that these rooms are usually the smallest, dingiest spaces in an office building?) I put my nose to the grindstone. I actually read the instruction manuals (which has probably scarred me for life, since I avoid them ever since). Kept notes. Printed anything associated with F1. Borrowed those ridiculously heavy reference books from Chris (my-PC-guru and co-administrator). Called him for help at all hours of the day. Attended any seminars the bosses would pay for, where I was the only or second female in the audience (attending webbing & networking seminars was like trespassing a Greek boys' club back then).
Well, a couple of burnt servers (and several years) later, I had transformed from mild-mannered power user to bitch geek.
I have been looked upon as a hi-tech goddess for solving stubborn-printer issues. I've been spat on behind my back for limiting mailbox storage. I have been hugged with jubilant relief after explaining the "AutoText" function in Microsoft Word. I have been hexed for circulating a brochure of why we should NOT waste work bandwidth by downloading porn. I have been shown appreciation for sharing time-saving keyboard shortcuts. I have been asked if I take my medication for shouting: "It's called M-O-U-S-E! And THIS is called a PRINTER! You've been using them for over 8 years! PLEEEEEEEASE stop referring to them as my thingamajigs!" Many an evening have I sat staring at blue screens, reinstalling operating systems on PCs "because they didn't realize that cute program would cause problems".
Do I like my job? Heck, yeah!
Sure, there are days that I'd like to press a big SHIFT+DELETE to stop the madness, but I have my share of easy laid-back work days. No software conflicts, no e-mail grunts, no slow internet connection whining. Those are good days. Those are the days you should approach me with your home-PC enquiries and come away with all your limbs intact.
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Debriefing
- Flubberwinkle
- Athens, Greece
- Half of the day they call me "Athena" where I get paid to dabble with computers. The other half of the day I'm called "Mom", but I also have an online secret identity. I am bilingual, so what might look like Greek to you, probably is. I blog because it's cheaper than therapy and I like to make people laugh.
