SHEsaysWITHaSMILE.blogspot.com

"HERE!'S YOUR #$&^ PASSWORD" by (me!) sandra, tvgp

partially inspired by cbs sunday morning segment re: passwords.   -"great job!"   -cracked up!   here's my contribution..   a gift of validation...


the only time i've ever shared this story, was during a wine tasting lunch at concannon in livermore, when my brother, larry,  was visiting..   HE LAUGHED! everyone at the table laughed,  and that made everything suddenly okay..

but i'm not proud of myself.

what happened you see, is that i was working with a VERY FRUSTRATING computer program.  ultra outdated for one, and with an over-kill security system for two..

outdated means, the program was written in like..  1970 something  /although i'm told it's not that old..

over-kill security means, that..  well, i will exaggerate here to make my point, but ...


"..it feels like you are FORCED to enter a username and password every three seconds!   first name.  -username and password.   last name..  no wait!  first enter your username and password.  click to change page.. but wait!  first you must enter your username and password..    exit  -nope!  first you must enter your username and password.    -get back in...   NOT WITHOUT ENTERING YOUR USERNAME and PASSWORD...

made me absolutely crazy..  but you have no choice.

so, every three seconds, that's what i did...  username/password..

username/password

username/password.


then one day.  one very dreaded day, a message appeared that i would have to CHANGE my username and password

  'no, no, no,.... please no.'

but again, i knew i had no choice..   

so i came up with a new username and password that i would have to enter every three seconds

only.  -no surprise with this computer program,  -it didn't work.

i made sure, double checked i was meeting the criteria:  7 letters 1 number; yes.  verified.

"I DID!"  i was yelling at the computer...   7 letters! 1 number!   "I'M DOING WHAT YOU TELL ME!"

damn thing wouldn't listen.   i call over a co-worker..   ask for help..

"are you sure you are putting in 7 letters and 1 number?"    -is there anything more irritating...

"YES!"   and i politely refrained from attempted homicide

"well, try a different one"  he tells me

"I'VE ALREADY TRIED 10 DIFFERENT TIMES!  I'M OUT OF IDEAS!  I HAVE NO MORE 7 LETTERS 1 NUMBER COMBINATIONS IN MY BRAIN...  "

my co-worker was very polite... turned his back so he couldn't actually see what i was entering as my username and password..  

i mean, i didn't care if he knew or not, but this is the etiquette...   don't watch when someone enters their personal, top secret, password..

so i tried again...    "  -THIS IS THE LAST TIME!  I'VE HAD IT!"

and so, with less than no patience left, and a full plan to surrender, quit my job, and walk 10 miles home

i tried this one last time.     -seven letters.  one number.    CLICK!

and what choice did i have but to believe in miracles again because  IT WORKED!

and so i told my co-worker he could turn around, and i didn't hug him and lift him and twirl him in the air like i wanted to, but i did smile real big and thank him for his patience.

k-

'but that's not where the story ends.

because fast forward a couple weeks, and a new co-worker is by my side.   awesome annie, i call her..

and awesome annie..  she only works every now and then to cover shifts for others.. she has a different full time job

and so,  -she didn't have her own username and password.  she had to

   "i'm sorry?"  i said, with my face turning a variety shades of red..  "you need MY username and password?"

well, ... 

well,..

"okay, but.. i kinda need to explain something first..   have you ever tried to enter a new username and password in this thing?!"

and i sang, and i danced behind the curtain, but at some point i had to, you know.. 

well,   -if i don't write..  if i just.. say it; whisper it

v     e      r     y            s    l   o   w    l   y

she won't catch on..

so, i walked past her with the first letter..


F


and then grabbed some water, took a sip,

U


and then,  

C


and then i answered the phone,

and then said,
"k"


and then,  

"and then you type the word  YOU


and then the number 2"



and she didn't laugh like i hoped she would...  but she did type it in

and "IT WORKED!"


so there.

posted by SHE @ 11:28 AM