darrelhuish.net

One time my dad called, with a proposal that I buy $100 phone cards from him, sell them to people in my network, and he got the commissions, and added MY name to the list of people that get money. (Ponzi scheme? yes.) He said “it’s all about people helping people.” If you know my dad, you know he really meant it.

Well, sometimes, it really is about people helping people. There are some people that helped me get my football tickets, and in plenty of time so I could buy a NEW maroon and gold shirt and go to tonight’s Northwestern game. If you are reading, thanks a bunch for helping a fellow sundevil. I also have a pretty good feeling that NO technology was involved in this improved situation, by the way. Just good people.

Sparky will reward you, I betcha.

While pruning a front yard tree this morning, I had the ironic thought that one good thing about tree trimming is that you almost always get to work in the shade. Of course, in Tempe on Labor Day weekend, it is 100 degrees in that very same shade. And it is similar to the plight of someone that works with information technology. “How so?” you say? “A bit of a leap.” you say? Read on.

I’ve had occasion to feel like a hard working tree trimmer since I left the employ of ASU in October 2004. In some data systems I am an early retiree, in others I am an alum, in others I am parent of a student or alum, in others I am a holder of an e-mail account, and (sometimes) get bulletins about why my ASU issued Blackberry isn’t working, or about a traffic jam caused by the ever present construction on Tempe campus. As an information technology person, I fully understand that different parts of ASU don’t really know what to make of me right now. It is complicated, as life often is. It is mainly complicated because I want to interact with ASU, and ASU wants to interact with me, but the rules of interaction depend on what kind of person I am in ASU’s eyes, and they look at me with different eyes depending on their information technology systems.

A case in point: I have had season tickets to ASU football and basketball for 20 years, as an employee. This year, so far, I have been bounced around and have been unable to obtain my football tickets, despite paying for them. My first interaction came when a fund-raising person called to ask what kind of tickets I held, and did I know about the opportunities to donate to the school (I assume had made the Alumni list for phone contact.) I tersely turned down his request, believing that an adequate information system would let him know that I had been a long time employee, and if I did get a phone call in the middle of dinner, I’d like to talk to someone explaining whether I can retain my season tickets. So, my second call was (seemingly) much better, where I talked to an understanding person, and he said he would make a notation in my file, and all would be fine. (I could here the keyboard clicking, so I felt grand). Then I got a letter from the ASU Foundation/Sun Angels saying that I had not paid a ticket premium for either football or basketball tickets, but they didn’t know which sport, so I should pay what I should know that I need to pay, or they wouldn’t mail my tickets. (I thought, “I must be back on the alumni list, not on the retiree list… just one little flag in the system, no doubt..”) So, I called the ticket office, and another understanding helpful person told me “don’t worry about what the foundation says, I am looking at your record now, and we will mail your tickets.” I procrastinated until this week, and then tried in vain to get through to the ticket office (I am sure they are gonzo swamped with the Temple game, and the awful circumstances surrounding the LSU game this upcoming Saturday.) I could not reach a human being (i did get to listen to a 45 second version of the fight song, which depending on my mood could be a dubious use of technology). I do not have my tickets, but the Devils do have their first victory of the new season. I might be gonzo frustrated if I didn’t realize that the underlying problem is that there are lots of different systems, with my name, rank, and (some kind of) serial number — and they don’t have a category that sums me up. I have a relationship with ASU, it is changing but we both want it to continue, and I am willing to pay whatever is fair for any of the services that ASU is willing to provide.

So, I am pruning in the garden of ASU. Enjoying the shade of my friends, diplomas, colleagues, career, sports memories, and e-mail. Thank you, ASU, for all that you do for me. But won’t it be nice when it isn’t so hot under this tree?