Arghh, arghh, arghh. I'm in the middle of a 5-meeting day. Luckily my boss
cancelled the middle one so I'm down to four. The last one is a major client
meeting, though. The only good thing is that it's a telecon so I didn't have to
dress up.
Funny: in the last few years since I've been in hits sort
of situation, even the aerospace industry seems to have lightened up. Not only do
people wear jeans way more than is sanctioned by the official dress code, but I've
even seen several people in shorts. I'm starting to wonder how they'll dress once
we're into full-on summer heat (which would be in about another
month).
Similarly, the all-day presentations I remember making for
things like Critical Design Review are now scaled back into much more laid-back
incremental reviews like the one I have today. And, I hope, the people working on
things like software process are seen as usual team members instead of pallid and
useless anal retentives who get in the way of getting anything done. There's one
in particular I like to remember whenever I'm in danger of thinking too well of
myself. He didn't ever add anything useful to the project (except the rubber-stamp
approval our government clients demanded), he never made things easier, and he
often wore an unfortunate sorts jacket with large blue and brown squares that he
had "bought from the preacher down the street". Yes, that really is an exact
quote; I am not making this up. Apparently the preacher had outgrown his jacket
and instead of letting it die a merciful death, or donating it to someone who
might need an extra layer of warmth more than a fashion statement, had sold it to
a neighbor.
In the interests of truth in reporting, I should also
report that I did have one sneaking bit of respect for that old QA guy, because he
was the only born-again, conservative, anti-choice type I have known who lived his
beliefs to the extent of adopting a child -- not an easily adoptable Caucasian
baby either, but a Hispanic girl who was old enough to already be speaking
Spanish. Even the worst geek at work can have redeeming values, I
suppose.
Anyway, lunch break is over and it's time to go see what I
can get done before the next two meetings. Fortunately, once I survive those,
there are cold beer and hot Cajun food waiting for me.