On Monday, I had to make a presentation to the CSO regarding my chief project. In the past, my group's relations with his department have been cold to adversarial since my former boss was a power monger and refused to partner with Security when it came to IT Security issues. The meeting was very congenial and I walked out of it with more than what I had expected to (basically, I got what I wanted without ever having to ask for it ... nothing better in the world).
This morning, my acting boss (former boss of my former boss) stopped by to give me some serious stroking. Apparently the CSO was very impressed with me and wanted to know more about me. (He REALLY disliked my former boss, BTW.)
So, I was very Jonesed about the entire thing. I am building bridges with another group, that used to dislike us. I've given them access to data on a number of incidents, where they previously have not had any access. And, I feed them info that would further both of our agendas. So, my acting lead is VERY happy with me right now.
We've been having a hard time finding the right candidate to fill our team lead position. Several times in the last year, management has asked me if I was interested in the role (prior to our team lead actually leaving ...). I said 'no'. One of my team mates has applied for the role, but I know that they do not totally respect her abilities. I keep wondering if they're going to ask me again. I also wonder, if they do, what I will say...
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Movie review: Charlie Bartlett
Spoiler alert!
Most of us remember high school as that horrible time in our lives when we were unsure of ourselves and our place in the world. We all wanted to be liked by our peers, mostly because we weren't sure if we liked ourselves. Enter Charlie Bartlett. The movie opens with Charlie being expelled from the latest in a string of private schools. Typically, his expulsions have been related to schemes he undertook to increase his popularity. When his mother points out to Charlie that there are more important aspects to high school than being popular, Charlie asks for examples. After a moment's hesitation, she admits that she cannot think of any. Charlie's mother then suggests that he attend the public school.
Charlie is a very bright young man from a wealthy family. His mother is a bit maladjusted herself, and so she keeps a psychiatrist on retainer to minister to her and Charlie's needs. After being beaten up for his preppie ways, Charlie leverages his psychiatric experience into a new scheme. He will offer advice and psychoactive prescription drugs to his fellow students, in partnership with his erstwhile abuser (cum drug dealer). The scheme is hugely successful. Charlie is a very good listener and offers pretty good advice.
After one of his clients tries to kill himself with his 'prescription', Charlie needs to stop dispensing drugs. When he informs the students that he won't be prescribing drugs any more, he says he will still offer free counseling. His business partner is angry with him, and guesses that their run is over. Amazingly, the next day, Charlie has as many clients as he did when he was prescribing and selling drugs.
By the end of the movie, Charlie admits to everyone that he is no more together than they are. However, it does seem that he has a knack for hearing what people are really saying and offering sound advice. He finds that he enjoys the role so well, that he eventually seeks a summer internship at a psychiatric hospital. Though the interviewer wonders about his checkered past, he is willing to interview a very enthusiastic Charlie, but comments that they need to get to it because the interviewer has a tough day ahead. Charlie smiles and asks if he would like to talk about that.
It would have been great if Charlie Bartlett had gone to my high school!
Most of us remember high school as that horrible time in our lives when we were unsure of ourselves and our place in the world. We all wanted to be liked by our peers, mostly because we weren't sure if we liked ourselves. Enter Charlie Bartlett. The movie opens with Charlie being expelled from the latest in a string of private schools. Typically, his expulsions have been related to schemes he undertook to increase his popularity. When his mother points out to Charlie that there are more important aspects to high school than being popular, Charlie asks for examples. After a moment's hesitation, she admits that she cannot think of any. Charlie's mother then suggests that he attend the public school.
Charlie is a very bright young man from a wealthy family. His mother is a bit maladjusted herself, and so she keeps a psychiatrist on retainer to minister to her and Charlie's needs. After being beaten up for his preppie ways, Charlie leverages his psychiatric experience into a new scheme. He will offer advice and psychoactive prescription drugs to his fellow students, in partnership with his erstwhile abuser (cum drug dealer). The scheme is hugely successful. Charlie is a very good listener and offers pretty good advice.
After one of his clients tries to kill himself with his 'prescription', Charlie needs to stop dispensing drugs. When he informs the students that he won't be prescribing drugs any more, he says he will still offer free counseling. His business partner is angry with him, and guesses that their run is over. Amazingly, the next day, Charlie has as many clients as he did when he was prescribing and selling drugs.
By the end of the movie, Charlie admits to everyone that he is no more together than they are. However, it does seem that he has a knack for hearing what people are really saying and offering sound advice. He finds that he enjoys the role so well, that he eventually seeks a summer internship at a psychiatric hospital. Though the interviewer wonders about his checkered past, he is willing to interview a very enthusiastic Charlie, but comments that they need to get to it because the interviewer has a tough day ahead. Charlie smiles and asks if he would like to talk about that.
It would have been great if Charlie Bartlett had gone to my high school!
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Things I am happy about
Considering the week I had (didn't get the hospital job, bad back issues, another crappy snow day, my weight creeping up on me, and the continuing fun of parenting a teenager), I decided to take a page from ToDoList and blog about things that I am happy about.
- I have a patient and loving husband
- I live with two great cats
- Just seventeen more months until I'm vested in my organization's retirement plan
- Just fifteen months left until I'm plastic-debt-free
- I have a job that I find challenging where I am usually appreciated for my contributions, and where the benefits are pretty darn good
- I have an awesome collection of music
- I have an great collection of books
- I have a great memory for trivia
- I love movies
- My friendship with BriWei
- My other blog-friends (Barbie2Be & Summer, especially)
- Keeping in touch with friends from the mid-Atlantic (ChangeJunkie, Cobwebs, and D & S)
- Pleasant memories of people who I've parted ways with
- No gray hair yet (in my 46th year on Earth)
- Listening to audio books
- That I enjoy going to the gym every day during the work week. It's not just about burning calories. I also crave the mental change of pace (plus, I listen to audio programs while I'm working out).
- My relationship with my half-brother
- My relationship with my step-brother and step-father
- My relationship with my sister-in-law, K.
- I finished my taxes quickly, and I am getting a well-deserved significant refund.
- We just started an eight day break from our son (and he from us), by putting him on a plane to TX to visit his grandparents
Friday, February 22, 2008
I respect him, but make him back off
Ralph Nader is again thinking about taking an independent run at the Presidency this year.
When I was in college, I totally admired what Nader stood for and espoused. However, I am one of 'those Democrats' who think his run for the Presidency in 2000 gave George W. Bush the win.
While neither Clinton or Obama is perfect, a Nader candidacy will take votes from which ever one of them garners the Democratic nomination. That, and the fact that McCain has often attracted centrist Democrats, could hand the election to McCain.
And, let's be real here. Does he really think he has a chance of actually winning? What would be the point, other than stealing votes from the Democratic nominee? Does he really hate the Democrats that much that he'd rather see a Republican win?
Even if the guy doesn't like the two main parties, he should admit that his politics are in line with many leftist Democrats. If he actually wanted a shot at the Presidency he should have run as a Democrat in the primaries. Heck, he and Kucinich have a lot in common.
So, Ralph, are you listening? STEP OFF!
When I was in college, I totally admired what Nader stood for and espoused. However, I am one of 'those Democrats' who think his run for the Presidency in 2000 gave George W. Bush the win.
While neither Clinton or Obama is perfect, a Nader candidacy will take votes from which ever one of them garners the Democratic nomination. That, and the fact that McCain has often attracted centrist Democrats, could hand the election to McCain.
And, let's be real here. Does he really think he has a chance of actually winning? What would be the point, other than stealing votes from the Democratic nominee? Does he really hate the Democrats that much that he'd rather see a Republican win?
Even if the guy doesn't like the two main parties, he should admit that his politics are in line with many leftist Democrats. If he actually wanted a shot at the Presidency he should have run as a Democrat in the primaries. Heck, he and Kucinich have a lot in common.
So, Ralph, are you listening? STEP OFF!
A better implementation of my consolation prize
Taking Briwei's comments to heart, I started shopping for alternative ways to copy my vinyl music and cassette programs to CDs. After a bit of research, I decided to look into straight up CD recording audio components that you add to your existing stereo system. After all, I already have a turntable; I just rarely make the effort to utilize it.
My research lead me to the TEAC CD-RW880. For the most part, the reviewers liked it with only two minor (in my mind) quibbles. First, if you want track breaks on the CD, don't trust the automatic track break feature of the recorder. Silence within a track can be interpreted as a track break. Second, the set up instructions may be a bit daunting. Since that sentiment has applied to virtually every electronic component we have ever purchased, I'm not overly put off by that consensus.
The added bonus in going with the Teac component, is that it costs about $140 less than the Crossley. Hooray!
Now, I just have to wait for my tax refund to come in.
My research lead me to the TEAC CD-RW880. For the most part, the reviewers liked it with only two minor (in my mind) quibbles. First, if you want track breaks on the CD, don't trust the automatic track break feature of the recorder. Silence within a track can be interpreted as a track break. Second, the set up instructions may be a bit daunting. Since that sentiment has applied to virtually every electronic component we have ever purchased, I'm not overly put off by that consensus.
The added bonus in going with the Teac component, is that it costs about $140 less than the Crossley. Hooray!
Now, I just have to wait for my tax refund to come in.
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