My quarterly journal update
I hate politics the way I hate sports; I loathe the irrational emotional investment people feel for those who have little to no direct connection to them. Whether it was hard-ons for Obama or unwavering sympathy for Hillary, I was prepared to roll my eyes and vote based on rational contemplation of all the options presented to me.
But given Clinton and her supporter's actions and statements over the last several weeks of this absurdly divisive nomination process, I am at the point where her Ahab-like quest has left me projecting. While scanning the day's headlines, I read:
Clinton to End Histrionic White House Bid
I think my subconscious got it right.
During the great floods last night, I had wandered downstairs to update my DVR when I heard a scratch, scratch, scratching from within my basement wall. I always assumed that, given the combination of anal-retentiveness, cleanliness and the fact that I still have a largely empty house some eight months after moving in, I would never have to worry about vermin beyond those I invite to my semi-weekly poker game. I did a brief web search on "scratching inside walls" (which surprisingly resulted in little to no Lovecraft-related hits) and was subsequently tormented by thoughts of mice (or worse, rats) leaving droppings, tracking disease and spreading other vermin throughout my home.
The whole mouse versus rat question was answered when I retrieved my recycling crate from the backyard shed this morning and found a gray mouse drowned in the bottom.
Unfortunately, where you see one, there are supposedly a dozen.
I am still learning my way around this whole management thing, with enough reticence and regret that I openly discussed with my manager the idea of going back to software engineering. In the wake of my longtime nemesis O.'s retirement, there is suddenly an even greater need for engineers with my particular skill set and user interface sensibilities. But in the end, I cannot seriously entertain the idea of ever going backwards, as it would feel like a personal defeat. I am not certain how I would handle suddenly becoming peers with those who once reported to me.
Regardless, I learned a valuable lesson about tact when stealing employees from other teams, as my initial approach once the deal was done in my mind seems to have rubbed the ex-manager the wrong way. Now, she's likely going to drag her feet on making the transfer official, and a horrid, ugly break-up will ensue.
On the other hand, my boss is going to make V.P., which means I parasitically latched onto the right horse.
As always.
But given Clinton and her supporter's actions and statements over the last several weeks of this absurdly divisive nomination process, I am at the point where her Ahab-like quest has left me projecting. While scanning the day's headlines, I read:
Clinton to End Histrionic White House Bid
I think my subconscious got it right.
During the great floods last night, I had wandered downstairs to update my DVR when I heard a scratch, scratch, scratching from within my basement wall. I always assumed that, given the combination of anal-retentiveness, cleanliness and the fact that I still have a largely empty house some eight months after moving in, I would never have to worry about vermin beyond those I invite to my semi-weekly poker game. I did a brief web search on "scratching inside walls" (which surprisingly resulted in little to no Lovecraft-related hits) and was subsequently tormented by thoughts of mice (or worse, rats) leaving droppings, tracking disease and spreading other vermin throughout my home.
The whole mouse versus rat question was answered when I retrieved my recycling crate from the backyard shed this morning and found a gray mouse drowned in the bottom.
Unfortunately, where you see one, there are supposedly a dozen.
I am still learning my way around this whole management thing, with enough reticence and regret that I openly discussed with my manager the idea of going back to software engineering. In the wake of my longtime nemesis O.'s retirement, there is suddenly an even greater need for engineers with my particular skill set and user interface sensibilities. But in the end, I cannot seriously entertain the idea of ever going backwards, as it would feel like a personal defeat. I am not certain how I would handle suddenly becoming peers with those who once reported to me.
Regardless, I learned a valuable lesson about tact when stealing employees from other teams, as my initial approach once the deal was done in my mind seems to have rubbed the ex-manager the wrong way. Now, she's likely going to drag her feet on making the transfer official, and a horrid, ugly break-up will ensue.
On the other hand, my boss is going to make V.P., which means I parasitically latched onto the right horse.
As always.