Yeah, so I was THE developer to convert our current system to a new database structure. Took me a couple of months of going to ask someone a question every 10 minutes.

Now, the product ships (to 12 clients, all with unique data situations), on Monday. We’re running them through QA tests now (no auto scripts btw) and finding lots of nice problems. We’re on system 2…the last bug fix which was just cause we had to account for data not available for certain regions, took me half the day to fix.

I feel like I’m reverting to being a self-centered, “woe is me”, pretentious high school brat. I’m depressed and concerned about things in my own life while people are being blown up across the world, and ya know what…that just makes me more depressed.

Okay…enough about me…tell me about you?

This weekend was actually good. Although I didn’t get everything I wanted to done, I got the main things. I finished painting a console table, which allowed us to regain control of the office and actually unpack books!!! Yes, we’re one step closer to being COMPLETELY unpacked!

My cohort and I also finished writing our most recent play, “The Curse of Milhaven” based on the Nick Cave song of the same name. It will be produced by The Jobsite Theater between August 1- 17, 2003 in the Shimberg Playhouse at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. It’s only a one-act, but as it gets closer to that I plan on pinging every Tampa area blog I can find to get people out. (Which I thought of that for last years full length production we wrote).

Gianna’s family came over for dinner last night, and that was good. It’s always nice to see them and it forced us to get the house clean (which it needed).

All in all, this weekend was actually pretty swell.

I’m happy to report that after pointing out the high traffic that passed through the hallway I was in, I was allowed to move back to my most recent location. I no longer have the production manager over my shoulder and I can get back to reporting my opinions, or lack of…

So, this morning started out with most of the people I work with being told that they’ll need to work two Saturdays. For my boss, this is just so he can set a precedent. We are always in what is referred to here as “crisis mode.’ If he says that in an emergency we will require all developers to work on Saturday, then it’s only a matter of time before I’m required to work a 6 day work week. They’ll have all sorts of numbers and project plans to back up why, but the truth is that they mismanage and change priorities on an hourly basis.

In addition the production manager lied to us in front of everyone. See, the president told me and some other developers that our projects are to be delivered March 31. Well, now we’re being told that’s not the case by this guy and that in the “task” system there are the correct dates….funny…our projects aren’t in the “task” system!

Oh… and I’m supposed to finally move into the hallway outside the production managers office. The best part is I get to carry my 19in CRT across the street to the other building so I can swap it for the 17in LCD being used by someone else right now. That’s the fix. Rather than just letting me stay where I am…nice and comfy…

HELP!

So, I hate my job. Everyday reminds me exactly how much I hate my job. I do stupid stuff. I have no idea what I’m working on so every 10 minutes I go ask someone else how to do it. Essentially, there are all these differtn code types and depending on which one is passed in it does different things. Well, that makes it sound simple, but it’s not really. Cause you have to try to run the queries with one code, then roll it up by geogragpy, than the other code, then roll it up , then try a different level of the code…blah blah blah…bullshit, poor design…why we don’t code for what actually exists in the data is beyond me.

To top it off…my boss has a “special assignment” waiting for me….
Cause the 3 systems that are around the corner aren’t enough.

GET ME OUT OF HERE!

Ho hum. Yeah, I’ve been pretty quiet recently. Not much to say…okay, that’s a lie. I could ramble and rant for ages. I’ve just been…pensive. I really want a new job. I need to get out of here. Aside from the fact that my back can’t heal because I can’t get the chair in a good position, aside from the fact that I don’t think the company has more than 2 years left in it.. I’m just bored. This company no longer has anything to offer me. I’m not learning anything and no one will ever advance in this company. The organizational chart is the president of the company surrounded in a quantum cloud by everyone else. Until he needs them, they aren’t really there.
The fact is, I wouldn’t mind changing careers. I’m getting burnt out on the web development. Well, at least on being a code monkey and not working on anything interesting. Anyone have any suggestions? I’m serious by the way, and would appreciate it if you are too.

This weekend was spent painting bookcases. We got 1 painted (although not too well), and another still needs a 3rd coat. There’s still one to go. Then we can get back to unpacking.

Who put the bop in the bop she bop de bop? Who put the Ram, in the Ram-A-Lamma Ding Dong?

Mr. Shawn the MoveableType/CSS god helped me fix some of the display issues I was having. Some were the result of an additional “.” before the class in the css, others were due to text formatting. All fixed now, and things look crisp and clean once again.

This is fine reporting. Only in Tampa will you see reporting of this quality. Heck, I don’t know why this didn’t make the front page! And this reporter…Give them a pulitzer now! I mean, first there’s the breakthrough article about the phenom called a “drum circle”, and now this! Farkers should watch her, she’ll lead them to the really unique stuff.

Went to MegaCon this weekend. It was a lot of fun, although a little too close quarters for my taste. I was able to pick up a Gonzo action figure, Scorpius from Farscape, and Gianna (the wife) was able to get the Tick figure from the live action TV show and a Harley Quinn t-shirt. All in all, a pretty good haul. The last time we went to FX (a couple of years ago) we didn’t do nearly as well. Some of the costumes people were wearing were pretty cool too. The Ring Wraith and Orcs were some of the best. I have to say though, some geeks need to know that they do not have the bodies of the anime characters and that rolls of fat hanging out of their costume really detracts from its appearance.