Alright...who's leaving the office early tomorrow?

[Andyzipp]

And what bar are you heading to?

[JGrave]

I'm going to Nick's.  I'm leaving at noon and going to the gym before I head to the bar.  Last year was particularly rough on me and I'll need to run and drink water before I get ready for the playoffs again.

[Alkie]

I'm trying to decide if I'll even go IN to work tomorrow.  I'm not sure what I'll be able to do productively.

It is not in anyone's best interest for me to be in public during Astros playoffs games.  I know you meant locals, but what the hell.

[Fredia]

same thing different track.. my daughter is almost to midterms and she is afraid her grades will plummet if the astros go all the way. cable has actually been out in the new hall she is in but not to worry she has scoured the campus and polled friends and has major backup for the game..

[lc_db]

Quote:
...It is not in anyone's best interest for me to be in public during Astros playoffs games.  I know you meant locals, but what the hell.

Is this to protect your right hand? or others FROM your right hand?

[HOB]

Quote:

Quote:
...It is not in anyone's best interest for me to be in public during Astros playoffs games.  I know you meant locals, but what the hell.

Is this to protect your right hand? or others FROM your right hand?

(Another non-local person's response) One of the beautiful things about corporate america is the recent shift to working from home.  Sure, it leads to insane work hours and can cut into family life if you let it.  However, in times like this, I have the benefit of getting to watch a game while "appearing" to work!!  Hell, I can even crack a couple beers, so long as I'm not slurring my words on any conference calls!

[JimR]

it also leads to cheating on your time.

[Tralfaz]

Work?  During an Astros play off game?.  That's just crazy talk.

[EasTexAstro]

Quote:
it also leads to cheating on your time.

If you are Taveras and take 11 seconds rounding the bases to score...

Or Lance, and take 53 seconds to round the bases to score...

As long as you score....right?

[cougar]

Don't go back until work until Friday so I'll be able to catch games 1 and 2.  After that it's hope I can sneak a radio into work or try to find a place with a view of a TV.

P.S. How do you get one of those "work from home" gigs?  That always sounded sweet to me.

[Bench]

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And what bar are you heading to?

Griffs. By far the best place to watch the 'Stros (other than my recliner with a cupholder which perfectly holds a koozied bottle of beer).

[pravata]

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it also leads to cheating on your time.

"Outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas estimates that the playoff schedule will cost employers about $225 million this year, as employees either talk about the games or try to follow their progress during working hours."

The Link

[Craig]

Quote:
Don't go back until work until Friday so I'll be able to catch games 1 and 2.  After that it's hope I can sneak a radio into work or try to find a place with a view of a TV.

P.S. How do you get one of those "work from home" gigs?  That always sounded sweet to me.

Get laid off, and then when your old employer get swamped with additional work, offer to do your old job from home without benefits.

That's what I've been doing for the last 2.5 years now. Which, btw, is the only reason I've had time to write series previews.

[HOB]

Quote:
P.S. How do you get one of those "work from home" gigs?  That always sounded sweet to me.

You aren't the first person to ask me and to be honest, I haven't a clue how I got here.  I've done a few different things where I work and the role I'm currently in did not start as a work from home situation.  So, in other words, you have to be lucky.  

Re: Jim,
You aren't kidding.  But one thing I left out above is that job performance is a factor in getting the role I'm currently in (it's not an entry level position).  However, there are those who abuse the privilege and it doesn't take long before it shows.  Typical signs: unreachable by phone, email, or instant messaging when there is no notice or indication of being "out of office" (even if it's a home office).  And the cardinal sin for work at home employees:  Missing Deadlines (not much different for most folks really).  That's the quickest way to work your way out or a raise, bonus, or future job advancement.  Basically, the rule for us work at home types is deliver and no one asks.  Don't deliver and watch your career go down the shitter because no one will reserve judgement.  You don't have the benefit of people seeing you at work everyday.  On the flip side, I'm actually far more productive since this move.  I had never realized how much time gets wasted around the proverbial water cooler, even when you aren't a typical visitor to said water cooler.

[BudGirl]

I am taking part of the day off.  We will be at BW3's in Midtown.

[UpTooLate]

Quote:

"Outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas estimates that the playoff schedule will cost employers about $225 million this year, as employees either talk about the games or try to follow their progress during working hours."
 

"Together, these cities manage economic output of more than $1.6 trillion in products and services every year. It would take a major business shutdown lasting several days or weeks to put these economies at risk."

Translated:  Atlanta's economy is completely safe.

[Craig]

Quote:

Quote:
P.S. How do you get one of those "work from home" gigs?  That always sounded sweet to me.

You aren't the first person to ask me and to be honest, I haven't a clue how I got here.  I've done a few different things where I work and the role I'm currently in did not start as a work from home situation.  So, in other words, you have to be lucky.  

Re: Jim,
You aren't kidding.  But one thing I left out above is that job performance is a factor in getting the role I'm currently in (it's not an entry level position).  However, there are those who abuse the privilege and it doesn't take long before it shows.  Typical signs: unreachable by phone, email, or instant messaging when there is no notice or indication of being "out of office" (even if it's a home office).  And the cardinal sin for work at home employees:  Missing Deadlines (not much different for most folks really).  That's the quickest way to work your way out or a raise, bonus, or future job advancement.  Basically, the rule for us work at home types is deliver and no one asks.  Don't deliver and watch your career go down the shitter because no one will reserve judgement.  You don't have the benefit of people seeing you at work everyday.  On the flip side, I'm actually far more productive since this move.  I had never realized how much time gets wasted around the proverbial water cooler, even when you aren't a typical visitor to said water cooler.

Amen to that. I'm way more productive at home than I ever was at an office. It's amazing how much time gets wasted in offices. You have to be disciplined to work at home, but as long as you produce, no one seems to mind.

One drawback I've found is that I tend to be out of the loop on everyday office matters, and sometimes it's hard to know how to react. You don't always know what the office politics are. I've also found that I have to constantly remind them to give me work. They tend to forget that telecommuters are out there.

I used to talk with one boss more on AIM than we ever talked in the office. But then I've had another who would say "Here's some work. I'll call in a month and see how it's going."

FWIW, I think the best way to get a telecommuting job is to first be trustworthy and reliable in an office setting. You'll never get an at-home job if your boss doesn't trust you.

[Cnote]

I'm thinking about streaming it from home on my windows Media center...testing it right now. it's not that bad...but I cannot cuss and carry on here in the office so I'll probably head home by 2:45 to be in front of the tube by the 1st pitch.

[EasTexAstro]

Quote:
I had never realized how much time gets wasted around the proverbial water cooler, even when you aren't a typical visitor to said water cooler.

I actually think I would do better in that situation. I'm, sadly, a nice person. I do become a Lidging Pujols when the need arises, but I think that makes things even worse because people remember more when the soft spoken ETA goes on a Milton Bradley.

I'm a fix-and-maintain IT guy, though. I come into a situation and get as many kinks worked out as I can, put as much as possible in batch jobs, and schedule the most anal retentive maintenance jobs I can imagine so that things don't get broke. After a few months, I generally have it to where I am only seen when things go wrong. I HATE when things go wrong.

So, my schedule is down to a few hours of real work a week, but if I don't do that few things, it will take work to fix them.

I love documentation, too.
 
I could be fired tomorrow and, if I give them documentation, a monkey could replace me.

Heck, I am probably pretty close to a monkey....

I could do my job at home. People around here still think this meeting and office thing is important.

They pay me for that...

Anyone need an anal retentive IT guy to work from home?

[No? in Austin]

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And what bar are you heading to?

Going in at six in the morning, taking a half hour lunch, leaving at 2:30 pm.

At 2:45 pm I will be locked in a hotel suite with ESPN, myself and oreo cookies.

Do. Not. Distrub.

[tophfar]

DVR.  

turning off all radio, tv and internet until everyone makes it to my house at about 5:00.  as far as im concerned i'll be seeing it live.