July 17, 2002
Dear Everyone:
Now that the conversion from our old records management software system to the “new” one that came from Another Company is completed, things are starting to get interesting. To wit: Customers who used to use our “old” system are beginning to learn that, although the “new” system is much easier to use, they have far less functionality than they’ve been used to getting.
Example: There’s
only one report format. Use
that or forget about it.
Also, the owners are discovering that they can’t edit their own boxes
once the box enters a
So now the discussions at the regular Thursday morning teleconferences are starting to get lively. I find it particularly amusing that one individual, who was never shy about pointing out the “deficiencies” of the “old” system, is now the loudest adherent for “improving” the “new” system to approximate the functionality that they would still have if we’d stayed with the “old” system in the first place.
Not that I’m one to say, “I told you so.”
Not out loud.
Apart from enjoying this predicament, my
involvement with that project is pretty much finished.
Which may account for why I appear to have volunteered to go to
“Hobby” to help one of the International groups get their files
organized. However, that
won’t happen until after our Family Reunion in
As for the Move/Add/Change application, the parent company apparently had a mini-Enron episode and appears to be in some difficulty. Those executives who aren’t busily downsizing the workforce have resigned and run for the hills. In the meantime, we’re working on getting the application and database “in house” where we can have better control over it.
So every time the person “integrating” the application thinks it’s ready, I go over to the lab and test running it. And, so far, every time there’s a problem with running and printing reports. However, each time the error message is different, so I guess we can consider that progress.
In other news…
“Jeannie” and I went to see Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood last Saturday. This is one that will probably show up somewhere in next year’s Academy Awards ceremony. There are so many fine actors in the cast, and the costuming and set decoration are spot on for each time period. It’s the story of a young woman and her mother (and her mother’s friends) that spans from 1937 to the present. When you see a hotel room with a turquoise telephone, you know it’s the 1950’s.
The young woman and her mother have had (yet another) falling out and the friends decide to “kidnap” the younger woman and engineer some kind of reconciliation based on recollections of the past. Put Ellen Burstyn, Shirley Knight and Fionnula Flanagan together as a group of poker-playing, booze-swilling old biddies and you’ve got something. Add consummate scene-stealer Maggie Smith to the mix and you know you’re in for a good time.
Sandra Bullock plays the daughter and Ashley Judd does the honors as Burstyn as a younger woman in the many flashbacks. Ashley is out for one of those little gold statues, while Sandra gets to at least do something besides be perky. And Maggie may get that Best Supporting Actress award that she so richly deserved (but didn’t get) for last year’s Gosford Park.
Note: Two hanky minimum.
Love, as always,
Pete
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