Eightynine - To Blog or Not To Blog

Sure there were things today worth mentioning, and I sit and can think of many, but for some reason, I cannot type it. Maybe I have Dextral Aphasia or something. Not sure.

Eightyeight – Another Run

This was good, a few hills and some sore muscles. Now the ball is rolling I just have to keep it up and work past the soreness. Hopefully I can stay motivated to keep the workout momentum.

Eightyseven – Right is not Right

My wife and I got into some heavy conversations today about the state of the US. The depth of the trouble is far beyond the economic depression which most people would not go so far to say. The discussion mainly focused around the sale of our house, the work contractors have performed on it, including their lack of professionalism in completing the job, the lack of respect of other peoples property, not just with our house as a rental property but for rentals in general, the changes in political landscape which creates a further rift between the left and right primarily and currently driven and fueled by “tea parties” and the likes of Fox News, and the overall lack of compassion, lack of respect, and outright discrimination that takes place by bigoted right extremists. We were quite impassioned by the discussion to the point we were border-line arguing with each other whether or not to let go of some of the issues and what it means to “let it go.” She always knows the right medicine, because she told me (with kind persuasion) to go for a run. Perhaps my internal rage was fueled by the screams embedded in the slaughtered flesh of the bacon I had for breakfast. I ran, and kept running. I was saddened by the dead pig and for the dying society. I felt the burden of the degrading US society, anesthetized by the solitude of rationality in my mind as if I were the only person to figure this out. I cannot be the only one to see this. The depth of this mentality in the US is frightening; the land where “I’m right” and freedom is interpreted as “free to do whatever the hell I want” up to and including infringement of other peoples rights (perceived or constitutionalized). Hypocritical are those who seek congregations of the like minded and whose beliefs of wholesomeness catalyze the demise of others. There is no leeway in the flippant minds of the self-assured, who enslave others by their rigor of values which only serves to propagate tragic social divides further into disrepair. Acceptance, tolerance, respect, and genuine caring about other people, are the only possibilities to reverse this.

Eightysix – The Jack Wolfskin Watchtower Supreme

We borrowed a child backpack this weekend to carry our son in. We are considering buying one, but after trying out this rather nice backpack we were disenchanted by it. The lumbar support was almost none existent and the center of balance was so high, so it seemed that it caused to wobble as you walked (almost). The shoulder straps, quite considerably padded, caused you to rotate you thorax somewhat forward (pseudo hunched over) creating an unnatural curve in your spine. I really don’t think we will get one now, or we will have to try out quite a few more before we do.

Eightyfive - Integratitousness

Today I took the day off to go get my passport renewed. I swear the security was tighter than Fort Knox, though I've never been. Anyone with a hand bag, purse, or man pouch, was turned away, and only one person through the security screen was let through at a time. I planned to have all my coins and phone etc. contained in my jacket for a separate scan, but that was quickly overturned, and resulted in my pulling everything out of my pockets which would have been scanned separately anyway. So, once at the second check point, I had proceeded to do everything as instructed (in German) and then the guy told me to go "Links" (Left). But that was the line for all the people seeking visa's, so I went right to get me passport renewed. The guy called me back since I didn't obey, but I turned and showed him my passport. I guess, my little bit of German and understanding his commands made him assume I was someone else. Awesome, now if I could just be fluent.

Eightyfour - Lazy Ass, Part Two

I saw a lady through the reflection on the tram window, and had to laugh. The double pane window made her face looked all distorted like she had a really bad collagen lip job. I thought it was quite funny. Anyway, I got roped into several meetings, basically all day. I was planning on going for a run, since my plan to bike to work failed since I am out of the office Friday, Wednesday was the team event, etc. and I really didn't want to ride with my laptop on my back. Anyway, the meetings went right through lunch, so I couldn't run. =o( Not happy, and it continues to perpetuate my lazy assness.

Eightythree - Saving Face

Today we had a team event with this group whose manager was asked to step down. This person had planned the event, and then came to me to say that the duration of the event was not convenient. I suggested drinks after work, keep it low-key, which was "great" from both sides. Long story short, 5 minutes before we all left... "oh, sorry, I don't think I can make it, I just have a lot of work to do..." Sure, this is from someone who has never missed an opportunity to go for a drink ever.

Eightytwo - Same but different

It was the same today as Monday, but it was a bit different. Several of the managers are scrambling to finish this re-prioritization list, and none of our staff knows about it, and the manager which was ask to step down wants some involvement, but none of the work, so I am stuck making all the preparations to get it done. Total craziness.

Eightyone - Not Busy but no time

It always seems that when some time appears on the schedule, there is inevitably somethings which come out of the wood work which is not expected. I spent all day on the scramble. I hate this.

Eighty - To Bike, or Not to Bike

I really feel like a lazy ass. The weather just turned marginally better, and I still find excuses to not go for a ride. Even when there is some time or whatever, it just seems that there is a sudden time shift, or excuse or de-motivating factor which prevents me from riding. I need to fix this.

Seventynine - Saturday Massages

After a long week it was well worth the time to have a little massage. Great to relax a bit an detox from the week.

Seventyeight - Exodus

With all that happened this week, there was a lot going on with many emotions, expectations and let downs. The office was in complete fucking turmoil. Add to that the secret re-prioritization project list with cut projects, re-allocated resources (people) and it made for a cluster-fuck of demotivation and anxiety. Almost as soon as it happened, the person the asked to step down had written off their group and was paranoid of who would take it over, and rescinded offerings to help out when she stiffed the team and left at 3pm. She might as well have told the team to go F-off when she left because, everyone came to me in a scramble to help out and promote documents and projects at the 11th hour. Total Chaos.

Seventyseven - Keep to the message

It is always amazing to me, even when they want to get rid of someone, or move them or what ever, they have to make it look like there was a need for the change, some unmet need which required someone who could not manage their own group to be demoted into some other position with an ambiguous title which doesn't really explain anything. I think this it management's way of thinking everyone is on the same page and speaking the same anti-negative comments.

Seventysix - A rolling stone gathers no moss

So the shit went down and upper mgt. took out my counter part in another group. A lot of people were really happy about it. There was much rejoicing, and celebratory mixed emotions. For me, it means I need to cover for them so I'm not psyched that I'll be called on to do more, I just hope I'm compensated a bit more for helping out.

Seventyfive - Big Meeting Day

I think all went well. I think it is alwazs good to come out of these kind of meetings with less homework than what you came in with. Also, I found out there would be some changes coming soon which directly effects me, but I'm not too worried about this at the momment.

Seventyfour - Monday, not Funday

With all the work on the weekend, here is yet more to do. I spent 4 hours just reviewing presentations for Tuesday. The day seemed to cruise on and on but I still had no time. And then at five I was done and just had to leave.

Seventythree - Werk, Again

It's Sunday. And all the work I have to prepare for this week is forcing me to use my spare time to get done. So not relaxing! I put in at least 5-6 hours today. Ridiculous. Oh well, we'll see if it was worth it after all the meetings are over.

Seventytwo - Little Kids

Sometimes I wish things were a simple as when you were a kid. I see my son and he has what appears to be all the emotion as I, but it is about such simpler things, like eating, and playing with toys, and saying hi to everyone around, and splashing in the bath. It's awesome. Life it too complex sometimes, we should all try to decomplexify our lives from time to time. I think we would all be much happier.

Seventyone - Full Circle

This week had a way of coming full circle. It started tough and ended tough with a late Friday at five o'clock reshuffling of priorities for the coming week with the only posiblity to get things done involves work on the weekend. Yeah!

Seventy - One Question, Many Answers

I spent the whole day trying to answer one question. I came really close several times, finding the right numbers, checking percentages, realistic values, getting it all to make sense. But one value, which is key to the whole deal could not be confirmed. I even checked other departments, and people (13 or 14 in all) to get one value, and no one could give me the info I was looking for. I even uncovered an issue in production requiring extensive follow up, and still no correct info. Some days it is hit or miss, I tell you, but in the process I did learn quite a bit more.

Sixtynine - Cold

It started snowing again after so many weeks off. The little flowers were already popping up through the grass and Boom! the snow came again. The wind I think was even worse, I didn't want to go outside for anything. I think I am really looking forward to Spring and Summer. A late cold snap has a way of turning you positively towards a new season.

Sixtyeight - Every Last Minute

We have a few big meetings coming up at work and needless to say there is always a scramble to get info, clarify points, double check numbers, and ensure clear messages. Somewhere in this chaos people forget to communicate what needs to be done, but clearly communicate when. So your left with 30 minutes to get information which you were never asked for to consolidate and put up numbers and discussion points which in the end all change because your boss's boss saw something he liked or didn't and now has to be reworked at the last minute, again.

Sixtyseven - Audit This

Today was a big audit day at work. There were several places the auditor could have looked, and somehow, they had picked a project I had worked on. Overall we passed, but the questions he posed, and the way in which he built up to the main questions gave me a different perspective on what I do. I think now, after going through this, I am better quipped.

Sixtysix - TGV2

Sunday we returned home, again via train. Before we did we stopped into the Louvre to see some amazing art works. We only just scratched the surface of what was there, visiting 4 or 5 rooms on one floor in one wing of the huge structure. There were so many people and everyone running around, I almost felt disrespectful to the people who painted all of this that I wasn't admiring their work even for a second or two. There was just so much art, it was impossible to really appreciate it in one a few hours we had before we needed to catch our train.

Sixtyfive - On Foot In Paris

Saturday was our day to tour Paris, but we did so on foot. I think it is a little better to do it this way, because you tend to discover things along the way which you may not see using other forms of transport. We still used a map, and it was cold and windy, but it was still amazing to see the city this way.

Sixtyfour - Train à Grande Vitesse

This Friday I took the day off to have a long weekend in Paris. This was our fist trip to Paris, and we decided to go by train. It really didn't seem fast until we between Strasbourg and Paris, and even between Nancy and Paris is where it really started to kick ass. But despite the "High-Speed" attraction, I really felt that the overall speed was somewhat average. I have been to Japan several times, where they have dedicated Shinkasnen lines with no rail crossings. I believe the construct in Japan gives an overall point-to-point high-speed, and gives you the feel that you are really covering a lot of ground for the price you are paying. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't disappointed with the train, it was a quick way to travel to Paris, but I still think the high-speed was a little over sold.

Sixtythree - Outsource Yourself

I find that people are becoming better and better at asking enough questions and info and help from others that other people wind up doing the work for them. There was this guy who kept calling one of my workers and kept asking for info and to confirm info, and when it comes down to it, if there is a discrepancy or questions in the data, they can always defer and say, "well, I got that info from so-and-so" which makes it look like someone else did a bad job. All the glory, but none of the blame. I mean if you are responsible for numbers and estimations, have the balls to stand by them, don't defer your ignorance to someone else.

Sixtytwo - der Hinterwäldler

On Wednesday, it was quite funny for me to discover that despite differences between countries, we are really quite similar. Der Hinterwäldler in German means a person living in the back woods, or Hillbilly. In Germany there is a mentality about the southern speaking Germans because of their accent, which in lies the similarity to the US. I thought this similarity was funny, and not the wording or mentalities which were explained to me.

Sixtyone - A Team, not The "A" Team

I had a discussion with one of my employees today who was concerned about the state of his project team. We were quite honest about team dynamics and what makes a team, a team. It was apparent that he wanted the team to be better, but it is not easy to work with some people, and let's face it, their not going to change unless they want to change. It is a shame really, because the project is quite interesting, but the work ethic of some, the spotty planning from others, and the time demands of the rest make the interest dissipate which is then replace by frustration and un-enthusiasm. Some things need to change.

Sixty - ?WTF?

I was going to Diablog about stupid people at work who try every excuse to not do work when they have been caught or proven to not have done what they were responsible for. Needless to say I just Diabloged about it. Anyway, what a waste of a post...

Fiftynine - Learning to Walk

There is much celebration in the little things and the big milestones in watching the learning and development of your own child. It is really awesome, because this weekend our son walked... 11 steps. Totally awesome. Now it seems like he needs to out do himself still by trying to pronounce everything we say, and he's still less than 15 months old! Total Rockstar this kid!

Fiftyeight - State of the Union

My wife and I began a discussion on the US today, and it became apparent that the mood was quite depressive. So we decided to change the topic, but the feeling and thoughts of the conversation stuck with me for a while.