Poof. My Outlook Inbox was empty. So was the “Sent” folder.
Just. Like. That.
Given that i’d changed jobs over a year ago, it was time to turn in my old laptop back at the prior shop. Well, that laptop and the two ancient, fossilized laptops that i’d checked out over the previous decade.
On the bright side? i had kept close track of the business equipment that had been loaned to me – and had no trouble locating all three bricks. The downside? Needed to crank them up and clear off my “Stuff”. From photos to documents to all the e-mail that had been downloaded onto the desktops.
Always a good plan to purge* prior to returning your equipment.
The first mistake i made on Thursday night was letting the laptop connect to my home wireless network. That assured that my current outlook inbox was happily downloaded to the laptop. The other fatal mistake? Forgetting to re-set the ‘over-rides’. This assured that any changes i made on the laptop would trump whatever was on the desktop system back at the office.
Oops.
When i arrived at work Friday morning, and realized my boo-boo, it was a blip. Nothing. Instead of rage and frustration at my own stupidity, it was “Well, huh. How about that?”
Granted, anything of size or substance had been downloaded to my desktop. i can find it if i have to. There are archives, too. But the last time I’d archived was around April, i think. So the ‘current events’ message traffic was all vaporized.
Now, here’s the funny thing. Ten years ago? i’d have been a salivating, ranting, hot, screaming mess. It would have been debilitating, and i’d have been down at the IT help desk, asking them to pull the most recent weekly ‘back up’ files to restore what i’d dumped. “Veins popping on my forehead” rage.
Now? i can hardly muster the energy to give a shit. It’s sheer magic, i tell you…
This is a milestone of note. i have achieved irrelevance!
* i’ve been a supervisor. i know first-hand that the IT folks LOVE to root around on the returned equipment and see what folks have been up to. i didn’t have anything on my equipment that would get me fired. Not by a long shot. But there were some personal e-mails buried in the mix – scheduling a booty call, post-game analysis of a booty call, making fun of other people i work with, horrific foul language – that had to go.
Trailer Park Refugee 
an empty inbox eh….one day…maybe…
i can help! just give me all of your passwords, and i can empty it in a flash!
This is the advantage of age, the not giving a shit attitude adjustment. But I sure hate for those IT folks to be deprived of their good time scraping through the booty calls and post-booty reviews. What other fun in life could they possibly have than by living vicariously through one hot mama? 😉
agreed… this is age/maturity specific. i simply don’t give a shit about much of anything… it’s liberating! as for the info lost? mostly worried about all the trash talking i did about a former boss… but i suspect anyone reading those would probably have a few good laughs!
Huh. A computer that you use for work. What a concept — foreign to me. When I worked in an office back in the dark ages, most offices didn’t have computers yet. And email was not that common because most people didn’t have a PC at home either. My computer was for playing pong and word processing.
Yes, I’m old.
e-mail is a mixed blessing. it means i can do MUCH of my work without human interaction. which sometimes? a COMPLETE gift… othertimes? i catch myself e-mailing someone in the next hallway…. i miss pong, by the way!
The general manager of the last place I worked turned in a laptop full of Pr0n. At least it was normal, wholesome Pr0n. Another guy I worked with two jobs ago got canned for looking at granny Pr0n. Repeatedly. At work. During the day.
Ha ha. Granny Pr0n.
rob – you and RecBlasph have the same initials… he’s a real life friend, an engineer, with a very dark and twisted sense of humor. perhaps it’s in the initials?
The fact that granny pr0n exists gives me hope. there will at least be a few dudes who think i’m hot when i’m 70…. so… was the guy who got fired kinda hot?
I’m thinking about making some granny pr0n except that my son has not seen fit to make me a granny. Darn it.
Twisted. Hmmm. No, sorry, he was pretty normal looking, for a perp.
Hate to tell ya……but unless you employed a wipe, all your files are still there. And very easily recoverable, should anyone be so inclined.
Whenever we cycle the notebooks at work, they get us to download a wipe program and run it prior to turning the hardware back. However, it’s not to ensure any personal remnants are removed so much as to ensure that trade secrets are not lost.
Your recent response is indicative of your approaching a near total zen state. Congratulations, grasshopper.
keyword is “so inclined”. the two old bricks were wiped. magnetics are your friend. since the newer one was still servicable, i left it. i just didn’t want to make it easy for the kids who in the IT shop making just over minimum wage… they typically sneak a peek before turning it into the security checkers, who look for trade secrets, etc. no worries…
Tell us more about those booty calls…..
you’ve already heard a few stories, dear! i’ll send photos next time…
Love “I have achieved irrelevance” – for once I feel superior and ahead of the game – thanks Daisy.
you, DP, are an inspiration to us all… i am a mere fledgling in your presence….
Imagine being the poor soul who isn’t technologically savvy enough to purge the equipment upon return. We all have skeletons to hide and many people use their laptop as the closet.
you can always do a “Flight Test” off the roof. usually takes care of it…
oooo, I have to turn in my old work lap top to get a new one and it will take me a while to purge. good thing the boss already has a new one ordered, because I douched it today with almost a full glass of water. I said fuck and shit a few times while I ran to get a towel, but I wasn’t a lunatic about it…that was the oddest sensation, and rather freeing.
“douched” it? oh, crap… that’s funny. i gave my keyboard a “coffee enema” i guess…
Congratulations! You may only be months away from strolling around with a coffee cup all day, asking, “Mmm, yeah. So, what’s going on?”
i did that once. i can feel it coming… i’m going to become “That old guy”! Wheee!
Don’t knock the importance of “that old guy” (The one who walks around with an oily rag in his hand) His experience and unwritten knowledge, in an industrial setting, can save a company millions. The same thing applies in a technical setting. Not all HR should be done by young people who haven’t a clue! (So I’m late – hey, I’m irrelevant too)
archie – i agree… one of the biggest mistakes we routinely make is assuming that we’ve never run into THIS problem before (whatever it is). forgetting the past in the technical world wastes a lot of time and money…
When I grow up, I want to be irrelevant too!
you’re far too clever, young man… it’ll be decades… unless you kick up the use of hallucinogenics a tad.
It’s amazing how you mellow out as you get older. I was thinking about that today. Someone at work was telling me that a staff member disliked me. That would have driven me insane when I was younger. I was sooo easy to please. Now, I really couldn’t give a crap. Plus, I told the good samaritan not to tell me that sort of shit again. It’s obnoxious. Chock up another person to hate me.
exactly. i used to want to be liked. when i became a boss? i sort of liked being feared. have been hated on occasion. now? i’m just that goofy old broad who wears the funny slippers to meetings when it’s raining outside. life is good when you stop caring about dumb things…
“I have achieved irrelevance”! I want this on a T-shirt.
if i weren’t so damn lazy, i’d have one made up and shipped to you… but that would be, like, work… so don’t be looking for it anytime soon!
I’m aspiring to irrelevance now. Can’t wait to tell my boss.
Study hard, Grasshopper. You, too, can learn the joy of watching your bank account augmented every other week through direct deposit!