What exactly is a "Tape Monkey" anyway?

The official title for my position is: “Data Restoration Processor”

Basically, my job is to restore data from DLT Backup tapes, and get it ready to be processed. (How’s that for a redundant description?)

Being one of the new hires, I get the Fri/Sat/Sun/Mon from 05:00 to 16:00 shift. Which is going to wreack havoc on my circadian rhythm, not to mention the fact that I won’t be able to spend as much time with Jenny.

This situation should only last for a month or so, at which point I can (hopefully) get put on a different shift.

I went to work Tuesday to get set up with building and network access, and to start learning the processes I’ll be using. I’ve also been trying to adjust to a new sleeping schedule. We’ll see how that goes for real tomorrow morning when my alarm goes off at 4:00am.

Wheee!

(Looks like it’s about time to get dinner ready for Jenny, and then off to bed.)

can’t remember the last time he had a 20:00 bedtime

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Robert

Robert Belknap has been writing online sporadically since 2001. See the colophon for more details.

11 thoughts on “What exactly is a "Tape Monkey" anyway?”

  1. Dood, so now you’re working my schedule! So what city you workin’ in? Might be able to squeeze a lunch in some time.

    ….though it takes some time to get used to eating lunch when everyone else is talking ‘late breakfast’.

  2. [Quote] ….though it takes some time to get used to eating lunch when everyone else is talking ‘late breakfast’. [Quote]

    Hey, your lunch is typically about the same time as my first lunch.

  3. Hmmm… now that I don’t get up at 5am, I stopped having second breakfast. No, it’s more that I have to work to get enough food in me. This usually requires five to six meals a day. Especially, if I go swimming. So an average set of meals:

    7am: breakfast (usually cereal)
    10-11am: first lunch (left-overs, pb&j sandwich, burritos)
    2-3pm: second lunch (left-overs, pb&j sandwich, burritos)
    5-7pm: dinner or snack (usually home-cooked if dinner; otherwise maybe fruit or yogurt for snack)
    8-10pm: first or second dinner
    If I’m up late, I’ll want a snack.

  4. Carrot is a character in Pratchett’s Diskworld. A human raised by dwarves, he’s about 6 feet tall, and almost as wide in the shoulders.

  5. [Quote] So what city you workin’ in? Might be able to squeeze a lunch in some time. [Quote]

    I’m working in Pleasanton, (nice reverse commute, BTW.) IIRC, you’re up in Emeryville, which might make meeting for lunch difficult.

  6. Terson: Fanboy got it. He lists his race as “Drawf” and observes all their holidays, goes to their museums, hangs out in their bars…

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