The Bureau

Your future seems likely to contain a great amount of fluorescent lighting, a lot of spreadsheets, and a great many people trying to avoid meaningful contact with you; basically, everything you went to college for.

Johnny - what ARE you on about?

I often quote myself; it adds spice to my conversation.

Sorry B - I guess cabin fever is setting in from not seeing anyone over the holiday season. Of course, I blame you.

I guess I should also be grateful that our New Year's Day was lovely and we had a nice walk by a lake with tons of friends. So that wasn't so bad. Despite the cringing horror of my stress level at the moment.

Well that's the dilemma really - people are stressful, especially in large groups, but also there's the sensory-deprivation effect of not having them there to interact with. I prefer to be alone (excepting for being with B, of course) however that makes it hard work for me when I do have to interact with people.

I shall have to use my most deadpan face today when I'm on the Helpdesk and stick to my three favourite phrases:

* Have you tried switching it off and then on again?

* I think you will find it will work better if you plug it in.

* I think you will find it will work better if you switch it on.

Those three phrases will fix nearly all computer problems. The rest is just being sympathetic and (if they're persistent) saying, `That happens all the time. It's obviously Microsoft's fault. You need an upgrade/re-install I'm afraid.'