Buzz Words

I was fairly new to my first job as a Systems Administrator. Not only was I new but the Systems Administrator position was new as well. Therefore, there was much confusion from the staff as to what all my powers entailed. I had one staff member who continually called me because the lights above her workstation were making a buzzing noise. I explained, time and time again, that she needed to contact the custodian because there was nothing I could really do about it.

One day this person calls me to let me know her computer was buzzing. She thought it sounded electrical. What was up with this woman and buzzing noises? She must have had the hearing of a bat! I ventured over to see what the problem might be. To my surprise, when I got there I too heard the buzzing noise and it did sound electrical. Buzzzzz... silence. Buzzzzz... silence. The computer was located under the desk so I got down on my hands and knees and put my ear up against the computer to see if I could get a better idea of where the sound was coming from. Buzzzzz... silence. The sound was definitely coming from under the desk although I still couldn't quite tell from where. I checked the power strip under the desk and made sure everything was securely plugged in. Buzzzz... silence. It didn't sound like it was coming from the power strip. The noise was closer to the computer. I moved the trash can out of the way to get a better look at the computer. Buzzzzz... silence. Wait. The sound was further away now. Buzzzzz... silence. I looked at the trash can. Buzzzzz... silence. I removed the liner from the trash can and out flew a fly.

Resolution on help desk ticket: Saved trapped fly from trash can liner.

Days later...

Phone: "Ring Ring."
Me: "Hello?"
Lady plagued by buzzing noises: "Christine, the lights over my desk are buzzing again."
Me: "Did you reboot your computer?"