[Master Of Stuff]

I've recently haven't been around much. Popping into the forums at most putting one or two posts here and there, but now I have enough time to explain myself, and yeah it deals with work.

This is the Season of Valentines, number 2 of the 3 Big Seasons, the other two being Mother's Day(3rd) and Christmas(1st). We had been having some major trouble with our system. It was slowing down to horrible rates. It took forever just to log onto the terminals... average time .5 seconds, slowdown time 15 seconds... and that's just signing on. It took 10 seconds for Each Item to be scanned and Found in our database. Calculating the total took 5 seconds. If they're paying credit, it took 20-30 seconds just for the system to say "Input Manual Authorization", computerese for "do it yourself".

I guess after adding everything together, you could only imagine the customer reactions... some customers were rather patient with the whole ordeal. Others were getting huffy and expected us to deal with it which we really couldn't. Now comes my favorite customers, those who are rushed. They wait until the last minute to shop for cards/gifts/etc. and get mad at the workers if they're too slow in ringing them up. In our case, we have no other choice. Oh yes, being barked at because of our system gives me a warm fuzzy feeling inside... wonder if it was indigestion... That aside, with everybody-super-happy, I was so selfish I didn't want to share the happiness I felt, therefore I strayed away from the forums/chat/contacts.

*coughs from sarcasm overload*

This went on for about 4 days. I couldn't check on the system because it's owned under Hallmark and if anyone other than Hallmark or IBM checks on the computer, they can opt out of helping us because of some sort of breach of contract or liability or something or other. So my hands were tied. I saw the server logs and I know what's wrong, but I couldn't see why it was wrong.

We recently found out why our system was acting this way: Blaster Virus. We were infected with 2 Blaster Viruses(Virii?) and one virus i've never heard of. Because of this, our LAN wasn't working very well and communication took too long. The credit system wouldn't work because it would take too long and time out. We had to do a system restore in order to get the system back running again. We did, and it did work... to a point. Yeah, the system is quick again, but at a cost.

Everything I did in inventory for those 4 days, which was about 90 boxes strong, was deleted and couldn't be recovered. So that meant I had to look around the store for items that would not scan anymore and reinsert into the inventory so that it would register. Yup, got called in a lot. Love scavanger hunts... *clears throat*

Now that ordeal is semi-over. It isn't completely over because the season is still here and will hit full force in about 4-5 days. Still, i'll be around more than I was before and i'll feel better than I was before.

Hope to see y'all later

[Killerconvic]

At least you are getting paid.

Keep your head up, and make sure you still have emergency vacation days.

[Master Of Stuff]

[Star Jedi]

Meh, Didn't see this post earlier.

Arrgh, more evening shifts. They really need to give you a break, I wonder if it's even against the law to make you work this hard. If you're not getting any days off, and you have school, that's way too much; You barely have enough time for sleep.. Well, I do hope at least you get some free candy. Valentine's Day has got to be the hardest time of a Hallmarkist's Career

I thought that Blaster Virus was from a long time ago Err, it just HAD to come back and haunt people's workday

Well, use a dollar or two and get a Cherry Slushy from one of the food stores of that mall. It always makes me feel a bit better. Oh, yes, and more Blue Jolly Ranchers ^^

[Goto]

I didn't see this post either.

Talk about bad timing to get infected with a virus...

Just don't work too hard, you don't want to near-kill yourself again.