Kid and Caboodle

There are certain unpleasant but necessary tasks I must regularly perform like cleaning toilets, doing taxes and going to the dentist. Now it seems I have another: figuring out what is wrong with my laptop. For at least a week now it has refused to acknowledge it has a battery, which defeats the purpose of having a laptop (portability) as opposed to a desktop. Whenever the cord is unplugged — accidentally or deliberately — the machine goes completely black. When replugged, it goes through all kinds of alarming checks. One time it claimed it didn’t have a hard drive (fortunately it found it again after I rebooted the machine).

I really hope I don’t have to buy a new laptop. It was such a headache the last time. Maybe the local geek squad can help?

I don’t know if I’m fighting a cold, or I’m just mentally drained from last week’s nonsense with my work ID (I got my original badge back on Friday — yay!) and other office drama, but I have not wanted to do anything resembling work this weekend. This weekend has been very abnormal anyway; A.J. did not attend his Saturday classes due to a prior commitment, and we had house guests.

I did manage to do a few loads of dirty dishes and bake a pan of vegan blueberry muffins that passed my carnivorous family’s taste test, though. I also filled two bags full of clothes A.J. has outgrown and did a little work advertising an upcoming happy hour for AAJA-D.C. So, I haven’t been entirely idle. But I definitely don’t feel as energetic as I usually am. Hopefully things will look up tomorrow, after a little extra sleep tonight.

I am working from home this morning due to a paperwork error.

Yesterday morning, after a brief break, I discovered that my badge was no longer allowing me into my office. Upon inquiring at the guard desk, I was told that my building access had been revoked because I was no longer an employee (?!?), whereupon the guards confiscated my work ID.

A few frantic calls later, my supervisor learned that a certain administrator had filed an undated “separation notice” with my name on it. Security then deactivated my badge.

By the time we managed to convince security there had been a mistake and that I really should be allowed into the building — in all likelihood the notice was meant for an intern with the same name — they had sent in my badge for destruction. Now I need to get a piece of paper from the administration person who filed the separation notice saying that, no, I AM a valid employee so I can get a new ID. Oh, joy.

Since we have no idea when this certain administrator will be available — she has been out all week — my supervisor has told me to work from home until we can reach her. Hey, life isn’t all bad ….