tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77186169451041324382024-02-01T23:17:33.868-05:00The Bad LieutenantRantings and ravings from The Bad Lieutenant.The Bad LThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16561610610355975820noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718616945104132438.post-31682568310465421452024-01-29T02:55:00.003-05:002024-01-29T02:55:53.290-05:00Hello darkness, my old friend<p> ...I've come to talk with you again...</p><p>A few years ago, I posted <a href="https://thebadlt.blogspot.com/2019/11/wow-its-been-while.html">this</a>. I'm still in a dark place (TBH, I don't think I've ever left).</p><p>So, once again, the question is: WTF is wrong with me???</p>The Bad LThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16561610610355975820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718616945104132438.post-69033915029890951962023-09-09T23:40:00.000-04:002023-09-09T23:40:53.969-04:00What the...<p> WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH ME????</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>The Bad LThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16561610610355975820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718616945104132438.post-27009751888097718872023-08-17T13:30:00.000-04:002023-08-17T13:30:04.539-04:00Who am I? Why am I here?<p> As Admiral James Stockdale once <a href="https://youtu.be/8Um8ApsMh9A" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">said</a>, "who am I, why am I here?" Lately, I've been asking myself the same two questions.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Who am I?</h2><p>For most of my adult life, I was a member of a busy urban EMS system. Seven years ago, I retired from that system after 32 years. When I retired, I had a job waiting for me, doing similar work, but in a senior leadership role. Unfortunately, due to some...conflicts...that didn't work out as well as I would have liked, and I (voluntarily) left that position. Since then, I've worked in various other roles, none of which are/were in the EMS universe. As I ponder the path of my life, I'm just now realizing that I allowed myself to "identify" with EMS and let that become "who I am". </p><p>Unfortunately, since I don't want to return to that environment (it <i>does</i> take a physical and mental toll), I'm feeling increasingly "lost" every day. While the jobs I've had since then have been ok, they weren't (and aren't) fulfilling. The problem is that, at soon to be 60 years old, I still don't know what I want to be when I "grow up".</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Why am I here?</h2><p>I'm married and we have a 15-year old daughter. While I love both my wife and daughter, I can't help but feel as if I'm just a means to an end: my wife has the child she wanted, and a house to live in, but I can't remember the last time we've been intimate. It's been <i>years</i>.</p><p>My wife has a non-verbal learning disorder, which mostly means that she can't "read the room". More than that, however, she talks to herself (out loud) almost constantly, so I don't really pay attention to her, and when we have a disagreement, she can't let it go. She pokes at it (and me) for hours, and sometimes days.</p><p>Our daughter was recently diagnosed with ADHD, depression, and as being on the Autism spectrum (not "badly", more like "a touch of Aspergers"). Adding to that is the typical teenaged girl angst and the fact that she's gay, and she's not having an easy time of it. Additionally, my sister-in-law and her boyfriend, who are also both on the spectrum (to a more severe degree) live with us. Think 50-year olds acting like 15-year olds.</p><p>More often than not, I feel as if I'm the only "normal" person in my house, although I'm 100% positive that I have some sort of issue(s) as well.</p><p>We're all currently on vacation, and it's a freaking nightmare. A day hasn't gone by where I haven't lost my cool and snapped on someone. I want to just pay the airline change fee and take myself home, but I know if I do that, I'll never hear the end of it. So, mostly, I'm just keeping to myself, exploring on my own, and not going with anyone else anywhere.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">So, here it is:</h2><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I don't know who I am anymore</li><li>I don't know why I'm still (or even) here</li><li>And I don't know what to do</li></ul><p></p>The Bad LThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16561610610355975820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718616945104132438.post-5416674816423642522023-08-17T12:53:00.000-04:002023-08-17T12:53:14.330-04:00Standards (or lack thereof)<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So, where I work, we have a variety of different school buses. Newer, older. Air brakes, hydraulic brakes. One handrail, two handrails. You get my point. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">For those who don't know, school bus windows have a couple of stops they can be left open at: fully open, half open, and approximately 1" open. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We have a driver who, because of a reported injury, "can't" use buses with only one handrail on a certain side. Not quite sure how that driver is able to steer a 40', 15-ton vehicle, but whatever.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This morning, this driver asked for someone to close the windows on the bus, because said driver wasn't able to do it themselves. </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">These windows were at the 1" mark, but the seats were soaking wet because of the wind and rain. The way to close the windows from this location is to lower the window, then slide it all the way up. But apparently, this is beyond the capabilities of this driver.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">At what point do we determine that a driver is not physically capable of driving a bus? When they can't close the windows? When they can't get into the bus without needing both arms to drag themselves up the stairs? When they get into a collisions because they don't have the ability to use both arms to turn the steering wheel</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">What. The. Actual. Fuck?</span></p>The Bad LThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16561610610355975820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718616945104132438.post-16270755607780737062023-03-13T14:06:00.001-04:002023-03-13T14:08:33.526-04:00The wheels on the bus go round and round...<b>Ever feel like you're just spinning your wheels?</b><div><br></div><div>"Hey Steve, take this class and see if there's a way we can use system x better".</div><div><br></div><div><i>Ok</i></div><div><br></div><div>After 4 days of training:</div><div><br></div><div><i>Here are three pages of questions about why we have things set up the way we do, suggestions for things I think we should change soon, and thoughts about how we could do things moving forward.</i></div><div><br></div><div>"Let's leave things the way they are".</div><div><br></div><div><i>Sigh</i>.</div>The Bad LThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16561610610355975820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718616945104132438.post-65944578514502017352022-12-22T01:02:00.001-05:002022-12-22T01:03:43.615-05:00Dreams and DreamsI just had a dream which, unfortunately, is something that I can see happening to me in real life...<div><br></div><div>In this dream, two people I used to work with, were going through a divorce. (side note: these two folks are people I used to work with, but were never married to each other). The guy (let's call him "G"), was (even in real life) a nominal friend, while the woman (also in real life) had some...issues (for that matter, so did the guy, but of a different, less problematic, nature). Let's call her "M".</div><div><br></div><div>They had both moved out of their house (which was in the guy's name), and he had asked me to keep an eye on it for him. In the dream, as I was driving by said house, I noticed that M was at the front door, attempting to get in. I let G know, and went on my way.</div><div><br></div><div>Next scene: I'm now in court, responding to a statement from M that I wasn't mentally stable or some such, and then the judge decided that I needed to "prove" that I was fine (In real life, I have had some issues with depression in the past). </div><div><br></div><div>Next scene, I'm back in the courthouse trying to prove to the judge that I am/was fine, to the point where I had copies of documentation from appointments years past, and an appointment I had just set up, to get the "proof" she was demanding. Apparently, however, this wasn't sufficient, and she was now considering committing ME to a 72-hour hold.</div><div><br></div><div>Which is when I woke up.</div><div><br></div><div>There are people in my life who've been in the mental health system, and I've seen that once you're "in" it's nearly impossible to get "out". Which is absolutely terrifying to me. The fact that there were people in my life like "M", and that I could envision this scenario actually happening, makes things even worse.</div><div><br></div><div>No wonder I woke up. 🙄</div>The Bad LThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16561610610355975820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718616945104132438.post-85275768671171196682022-12-22T00:39:00.000-05:002022-12-22T00:39:15.969-05:00R. E. S. P. E. C. T. Had an...interesting...conversation at work today, about what makes a good manager.<div><br></div><div>Apparently, my belief, that a good manager sets and explains expectations, provides his team with the knowledge, skills, and tools to meet those expectations, and then holds his team to those expectations, is wrong. </div><div><br></div><div>APPARENTLY, an excellent manager lets his staff break the rules and disregard standard operating procedures, doesn't maintain discipline, and doesn't follow the rules himself. </div><div><br></div><div>So, by demonstrating personal responsibility and accountability, I'm not s team player.</div>The Bad LThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16561610610355975820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718616945104132438.post-86584356778448139622022-10-05T07:28:00.005-04:002022-10-05T07:28:41.886-04:00What is WRONG with me?<p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2RGQmMdjR-kytuWD7M4ix7PsulCQcELhYSnJflCR-hc9cSGX0M8WabiVp8zzsZFk9h6QrcScOpkkCjDpmN-CYweOeri90aYUQ9sD3TR4G-3VMcvJ4b75IfIGUko3-Mxg3CQCHMmJV3xs7cELagk6VD1Tmz8uk9bBbJtPNkYL1OMhWyrsaSJi6tJ0N" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="612" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2RGQmMdjR-kytuWD7M4ix7PsulCQcELhYSnJflCR-hc9cSGX0M8WabiVp8zzsZFk9h6QrcScOpkkCjDpmN-CYweOeri90aYUQ9sD3TR4G-3VMcvJ4b75IfIGUko3-Mxg3CQCHMmJV3xs7cELagk6VD1Tmz8uk9bBbJtPNkYL1OMhWyrsaSJi6tJ0N" width="240" /></a></div><br /> It's been an...interesting...week so far.<p></p><p>Although I'm happy to have started the Trainer Certification Program at work, I've also been disturbingly angry the past two days. I think it's due to a combination of:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Lack of timely internal communications, and/or communications in general</li><li>Lack of organization (both intra- and inter-office)</li><li>Accepting/seeking out more work that we can realistically support</li><li>Misunderstanding that a peer-to-peer relationship is not a superior-subordinate relationship (read: <strike>"I'm not your bitch, so stop treating me like I am" </strike> "I work <i>with </i>you, not <i>for </i>you")</li><li>Being tasked to "cover" other staff, and being given incorrect/missing information, and no support from the client organization</li><li>Lackadaisical management that 1) doesn't address safety/performance issues, and 2) doesn't even <i>attempt </i>to set a good example for staff to follow</li></ul><div>It's not even a "this is how we've always done it" thing. I think what bothers me the most is that no one seems to even care. Things just lumber along, and although people will complain about how things are, and that things could be done "better", no one even makes the attempt.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>For those of us who do care, and try to make things "better", after a while the realization dawns that we're just expending effort and energy for nothing.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm not built to not care. Which is why I get angry.</div><p></p>The Bad LThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16561610610355975820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718616945104132438.post-13908863294412085942022-09-30T07:07:00.003-04:002022-10-05T07:38:11.704-04:00Training<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkNFphkQ026xNoqlk9FlNzy4-9LEkAkiLk_Pfja3nKZ2bq0GhIMdABNEvqG9MlPNsqJYrHiIoP2J6Wbkb6CjAOhNc2Sv6W6WLuYJdR3zZlpeq9DI1W_vOLKSS3TC-Ok1V6VVZqxIUaRntfy3QfhE8wMKfovtvr-Q0kozrFVmTRYJWLl1mobdCHn-eN/s4654/Row%20of%20School%20Buses.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3083" data-original-width="4654" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkNFphkQ026xNoqlk9FlNzy4-9LEkAkiLk_Pfja3nKZ2bq0GhIMdABNEvqG9MlPNsqJYrHiIoP2J6Wbkb6CjAOhNc2Sv6W6WLuYJdR3zZlpeq9DI1W_vOLKSS3TC-Ok1V6VVZqxIUaRntfy3QfhE8wMKfovtvr-Q0kozrFVmTRYJWLl1mobdCHn-eN/w582-h386/Row%20of%20School%20Buses.jpg" width="582" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>For those of you who don't know, I've been working for one of the nation's largest student transportation companies for a few years now. I started as a driver, and moved into dispatch/operations last year. In May of 2022, I decided to pursue my state School Bus Instructor certification (which I did get).</p><p>I was informed earlier this week that I've been accepted into the company's Trainer Certification Program (TCP), so that I can train for the company. I start that program on Monday. The TCP is pretty involved, and includes a fair amount of "shadowing" time, followed by being observed by a Master Trainer while I provide training, then getting company certification.</p><p>This isn't a bad place to work (mostly). My career progression has allowed me to help clean up and organize our little corner of the company. Hopefully, I'll be able to continue my advancement and do the same thing for increasingly larger corners.</p>The Bad LThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16561610610355975820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718616945104132438.post-84474703400488552462021-12-02T22:25:00.002-05:002022-10-05T08:00:25.797-04:00Amateur Radio Extra Class License (or Ham Radio for Geeks)<p><b>Update</b>: Woo! I passed the test, and on 12/6/2021 (my brother's birthday) I received the modification to my license for Extra Class!!!</p><p>I first received my Amateur Radio license from the FCC back in 1988, when I successfully completed the exam (written and Morse code) for the Novice Class license. Shortly thereafter, I received my Technician Plus license. A few years later, and wanting to get more HF privileges than the Tech+ license allowed (and the fact that the FCC dropped the 13 word per minute Morse code requirement), I completed the General Class license exam.</p><p>And there I sat. Until now.</p><p>I recently decided that I wanted to at least attempt to get my<a href="http://www.arrl.org/upgrading-to-an-extra-license" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Extra Class </a>license. I began studying (mostly haphazardly) for the exam, but because of the COVID-19 pandemic, in-person testing stopped, and it took some time before the FCC would allow online testing. During that interval, I mostly stopped studying. Also during that time span, the questions for the exam changed.</p><p>Recently, it was announced that the Nashua Area Radio Society was holding a 3-day online "boot camp" <a href="https://www.n1fd.org/amateur-radio-license-class/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">class</a>, which would include the exam at the end. This class uses a popular study guide, and has a pre-study homework component. Because of my work schedule (1300-0200 six nights per week), it's been hard to do that studying; what I did manage to get through was mostly gibberish to me. I'm not feeling very good about my chances; to quote a friend of mine, "confidence is low".</p><p>The class starts in about 10 hours, and runs for 10 hours on each of the three days.</p><p>My brain is already hurting. </p>The Bad LThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16561610610355975820noreply@blogger.com0Nashua, NH, USA42.7653662 -71.46756599999999114.455132363821157 -106.62381599999999 71.075600036178855 -36.311315999999991tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718616945104132438.post-77726082248922249402021-08-31T05:09:00.001-04:002021-08-31T05:09:33.072-04:00I can't winNo matter what I do, I can't fucking win.<div><br></div><div>At work, everything I produce, someone has comments or "suggestions". My boss wants to "help" me write process documentation (and wants to do it in Excel!).</div><div><br></div><div>At home, I'm the only one who cleans up after himself (there are three other adults and a 14-year old). Yet, when I complain about the house looking like a disaster zone, I'm told that I need to help clean. Maybe if everybody else could clean as they go, it wouldn't be a problem.</div><div><br></div><div>Apparently, nothing I do is good enough.</div><div><br></div><div>I'm not sure why I bother anymore.</div>The Bad LThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16561610610355975820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718616945104132438.post-24886537175500142322020-05-15T19:25:00.001-04:002020-05-15T19:25:02.767-04:00F*ckFuck, <u>fuck</u>, <i>fuckity</i> <b>FUCK</b>!<div><br></div><div>That is all.</div>The Bad LThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16561610610355975820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718616945104132438.post-71075723129601133792020-01-15T19:31:00.001-05:002020-01-15T19:31:14.927-05:00Introducing Oktavism.com! An In-Depth Resource on the Oktavist Voice<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/l4NUhBDWAqs" width="480"></iframe>The Bad LThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16561610610355975820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718616945104132438.post-58888484344182316362020-01-11T08:10:00.001-05:002020-01-11T08:10:22.028-05:00WorkSo, while I'm still trying to find regular employment, Mrs. The Bad Lieutenant was laid off yesterday. Again.<div><br></div><div>At least we had refinanced our house about 6 months ago.</div><div><br></div><div>But still...</div>The Bad LThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16561610610355975820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718616945104132438.post-19736194803809313362019-12-18T17:29:00.001-05:002019-12-18T17:29:41.881-05:00Joyful, joyful...I am <b><i>not</i></b>.<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I've been back home for three and a half weeks, and it's snowed each of those weeks. It's below freezing, icy, and generally, wintery in the typical New England fashion.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Because the company I worked for doesn't have anything in my area, I had to give up a six-figure salary. And, there's almost nothing similar in my home area. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
No job. Shitty weather. And my leg injury is getting to be an issue.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Yup, good times. </div>
The Bad LThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16561610610355975820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718616945104132438.post-20678598767074080642019-12-04T00:54:00.001-05:002019-12-04T00:54:24.144-05:00Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...<i>[*sigh*]</i><div><i><br></i></div><div>Have I ever mentioned how <u>tired</u> I am of New England winters?</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCDDa04StG-sCoZ9iga_50omW22LdME1FXJJNw3eIGlGe5VPAO3t2qOM8HRnnqhx4EMc1ZpJ8V31-LdJC_lr1N1m1BIUDByNhoeuE1gaOp50xRRFCXhbjsPzLXrhyphenhyphen6xJp67V5OnA893jc/s1600/1575438857662063-0.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
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</a>
</div><br></div><div><br></div><div>One week after moving back home from the DFW area, we get two days of snow. I'm ready to move back south. </div>The Bad LThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16561610610355975820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718616945104132438.post-12785788907352693262019-11-25T23:38:00.001-05:002019-11-25T23:38:24.979-05:00Welcome Home?At the end of February, I had moved to Dallas for my job, but despite my exhortations, my wife and daughter didn't, choosing to remain in Massachusetts. I knew that the separation would be difficult, but I was able to visit once every six weeks or so. Last month, my daughter suffered a gymnastics accident, which caused me to seriously rethink the situation. That incident, along with increasing pressure from my daughter to move back home, was the impetus to do just that.<div><br></div><div>So, I had a nice chat with my boss, who agreed that family comes first, and three weeks later, I was spending my last day in that job. I spent the next few days packing up what I was going to bring with me, and giving away everything else. Oh, and spending quite a bit of money getting my truck ready for the trip.</div><div><br></div><div>After three days and 1800 miles, I arrived home yesterday, surprising my daughter (my wife knew this was happening). Everyone was glad that I was back; I hadn't realized how much I missed my family.</div><div><br></div><div><i>Except</i>...</div><div><br></div><div>Just a few hours ago, I was informed (separately by both my daughter and wife) that my daughter was having a hard time adjusting to my being back. WTF?<br></div><div><br></div><div>So, on top of: 1) giving my wife half the money she needed to replace her car (timing belt on the previous car broke, resulting in a destroyed engine), 2) dropping a few thousand dollars into my truck, and 3) not having a job lined up yet, I now add 4) my daughters adjustment issues.</div><div><br></div><div>Welcome home?</div>The Bad LThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16561610610355975820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718616945104132438.post-92190929423757389232019-11-19T17:49:00.001-05:002019-11-19T17:49:08.954-05:00Wow, it's been a whileI recently returned to this blog, and reading my posts, realized how DARK a place I was in.<div><br></div><div>While I am, once again, facing a life change, my head is in a much better place.</div><div><br></div><div>Chances are, I'll restart posting here, once I figure out which direction I want this blog to go in.</div>The Bad LThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16561610610355975820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718616945104132438.post-73715419120067861072015-11-05T12:29:00.003-05:002015-11-05T12:29:53.284-05:00People SuckReally, they <i>do</i>. The Bad LThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16561610610355975820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718616945104132438.post-48224792374065049622015-07-09T13:45:00.000-04:002015-07-09T13:45:03.348-04:00Who am I and why am I here?Today, three different people asked me why I do the work that I do, when
I'm clearly not being appropriately compensated for it, and receive
grief from others for doing it. These people keep telling me to just
not do it. Although my mindset is that SOMEONE needs to do it, I'm
beginning to think they're right. I need to start forcing myself to
just not care, I guess.<br />
<br />
I've been working "outside my job description" for a number of years, mostly because there's work that needs to get done. I usually don't care about receiving credit for the work, but every once in a while, it would be nice to be recognized (officially) for the value that I bring to the organization.<br />
<br />
Instead, I'm just handed more work, while others in my pay grade won't even do their own jobs, and get away with it. In addition, there are other people who get promoted, and immediately think they understand what I do, and can tell me how to do (ha!). Meanwhile, if something "doesn't work", they all come running to me to fix it. At one point, I was on a temporary duty assignment (TDY) making twice what I make now. The person at the top of my current org chart even commented to me that it was nice that I was getting paid what I'm worth. Which was sort of an odd statement for that person to make, since there's no reason that I couldn't be promoted and get paid what I'm worth <i>here</i>. The Bad LThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16561610610355975820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718616945104132438.post-52018163940755978822014-09-29T03:52:00.001-04:002014-09-29T03:52:36.425-04:00Things I miss<div align="left"><p dir="ltr">Sunday dinners at a friend's house, and the games we played</p></div><p dir="ltr">Quietly snuggling on the couch<br></p><p dir="ltr">Feeling wanted instead of judged<br></p><p dir="ltr">Emanating love instead of irritation<br></p><p dir="ltr">Feeling like what I do matters</p><p dir="ltr">
<b>Not </b>feeling trapped by my job</p>The Bad LThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16561610610355975820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718616945104132438.post-52666507863736822952014-08-11T05:31:00.001-04:002014-08-11T05:31:23.234-04:00I have a good life<p dir="ltr">If I repeat that often enough, maybe I'll stop thinking otherwise.</p>
<p dir="ltr">WTF is <i>wrong</i> with me?!?<br>
</p>
The Bad LThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16561610610355975820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718616945104132438.post-36634764068583599772014-07-29T22:51:00.001-04:002014-07-29T22:51:55.429-04:00It's hard to say goodbye<p dir="ltr">Our cat, Patches, will be 17 years old this November. Or would be, except we don't think she's going to make it through the week.  </p>
<p dir="ltr">She hasn't taken food or water for about 6 days, can't walk more than a few steps before laying down to rest, is noticeably thinner, and is hiding in a box of blankets in our basement. She can barely manage a "meow".</p>
<p dir="ltr">She's been with me since she was a month old (long before I met my wife)<i>, </i>and is the <i>stereotypical</i> lap cat. </p>
<p dir="ltr">We're planning on letting our 6 year old daughter spend some extra time with her tomorrow morning, after which I'll be taking Patches to the vet. I don't think she'll be coming home with me though. </p>
<p dir="ltr">I'm surprisingly upset about all this. </p>
The Bad LThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16561610610355975820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718616945104132438.post-38500334177902765802014-07-28T03:46:00.001-04:002014-07-28T03:46:54.214-04:00Sometimes...<p dir="ltr">...it feels like my life has been nothing more than a series of mistakes.</p>
<p dir="ltr">[*<i>sigh</i>*]</p>
The Bad LThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16561610610355975820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718616945104132438.post-14065845799819583412013-08-14T01:09:00.001-04:002013-08-14T01:09:23.685-04:00How Dare You?!?So today I was at a meeting with the stakeholders of a project I'm involved in. The short version is that 2/3 of the sponsors had apparently had a separate meeting and decided that they wanted to take over the project.<br />
<br />
Never mind that neither of them has met any of the project deadlines.<br />
<br />
Never mind that neither of them could make a decision to save their lives (actually, they keep changing their minds, after the project team has implemented what they asked for).<br />
<br />
Never mind that neither of them has any project management experience.<br />
<br />
Never mind that they assaulted my integrity and reliability, but when I boiled their comments down and called them out, neither would take a stand.<br />
<br />
Pompous.<br />
Egotistical.<br />
Arrogant.<br />
Presumptuous.<br />
COWARDS.The Bad LThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16561610610355975820noreply@blogger.com0