The Things That Weren't There

An odd day. Even measured by what I consider constitutes oddness.

My boss started the day by firing off E-Mails to my colleague (who he knows is on holiday until next week) and cc'ing me in on all of them. He wanted to know how to get into various applications on the Mainframe but he doesn't speak ISPF* or TSO**. I thought I'd be helpful and really should know a lot better.

For one of them you had to know that the option that isn't there, is the one you need. Seriously. We have a menu that offers you:-

30 Deadly Dull Sounding Thing
31 Equally Dull Sounding Thing With Odd Acronym
33 Thing That You've Never Used
34 Thing You Saw Someone Use Once But Have No Interest In

Yes, it does start at 30 for reasons better known to others than to me.

Naturally for what my boss needed, he should go for Option 32 here even though it isn't listed in the options.

Really.

And it went on like that. All day.

And then at the end of the day I got a call from a poor, confused Programmer.

He's a trainee and is learning all about the computery goodness of mainframes. He is what is called here an Azubi. Short for Auszubildender or trainee in English.

However, every time I hear the word Azubi, I think of this song.

Anyway I sorted out his problems and walked home in lovely sunshine. Which is where I saw this bit of blossom. Cheered me up no end.

*Interactive System Productivity Facility
** Time Sharing Option

Told you they sound dull.