Well, the verdict came in on Thursday. My attempt at joining the Clone Army was rebuffed firmly. They instead chose an individual from Odessa who, if he had been in Lubbock, would have been working for me. Now, I get to train this new guy in how to run a metropolitan District. It would be too easy to let him twist and turn, but it would be detrimental to what I am still trying to accomplish here. So, I will get glad in the same pants I got mad in, and continue to be the "best Director of Transportation Planning & Development in the State", to quote my former boss when he heard the news. If that were truly the case, would I not now be the District Engineer?
The most troubling aspect of all of this is, they had a second round of interviews for the job. Of the three they chose to interview, two were from Odessa and one was from Atlanta, TX, and none had any experience in running a District the size of Lubbock, nor experience as a TP&D. Add to that, the fact that I felt I nailed my interview, I am completely dumbfounded by the way things played out. So much so that I have requested a meeting with the guy who did the hiring in order to get some answers. He's got some 'splaining to do.
At any rate, I met the new boss yesterday. He is three or four years younger than me, much like the previous boss. At first glance, he seems like someone I will be able to work with. Time will tell.
Gotta go order some Hawaiian shirts now.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
The Waiting Is The Hardest Part
I sit by the phone, day in and day out, like a high school girl before the prom. Ring, damn you. I pick it up and call the Secretary. "Is this damn thing working?" "Forget it, and get back to work", she chides me.
I have grown weary of the wait, and simply want an answer. A trip to Men's Wearhouse, or hotshirts.com is on the line.
Oh well, maybe tomorrow.
I have grown weary of the wait, and simply want an answer. A trip to Men's Wearhouse, or hotshirts.com is on the line.
Oh well, maybe tomorrow.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
A Luddite Asks for Help
As I went to post my last diatribe, I was greeted with the following message:
Bad Request
Your client has issued a malformed or illegal request
I then hit the back button, and the post had disappeared. I then hit the forward button, and was informed that the post had posted successfully, and lo and behold, there it was. As one who knows very little about these confounded computin' machines...what the hell is going on?
Bad Request
Your client has issued a malformed or illegal request
I then hit the back button, and the post had disappeared. I then hit the forward button, and was informed that the post had posted successfully, and lo and behold, there it was. As one who knows very little about these confounded computin' machines...what the hell is going on?
And, We Try Again
I will try this again. If it gets lost this time, it will be the end of "Inside The Box", because I just don't have the patience.
As only I know I was saying, I have been listening to the right wing talk shows lately with a touch of deja vu. During the election, all I heard from Rush et. al. was their disgust at the way the left was running down the country. The left was rambling on about how George Bush was trampling on the Constitution, the war in Iraq was bankrupting the country, and Republicans were forcing Granny to choose between dog food and drugs.
This talk disgusted Rush, Sean and Glenn because, by God this country was a great place to live, and people should stop running it down.
But, with the election of Barak Obama, we were promised change. So far the only change I have seen is in the demeanor of the right wing talk shows. Now, it is they how are portending the end days of the country. Obama is trampling on the Constitution, the economic stimulus bill will bankrupt the country, and Democrat's will force us to choose between flying in our private jets and flying first class.
Bottom line...they are all full of crap. The country has survived much worse than this, and will stumble through this current crisis. I refuse to accept the premise that either party has the ability to bring this country to its knees, any more than Man has the ability to significantly affect the environment.
We, the people are the country, the government, and the economy. We adjust to the fleeting power mongers in Washington, and keep on plugging ahead. Bring it on, you elected dim bulbs...you may not be here in 2, 4 or 6 years, but we will.
As to the economy, I know it is relatively bad, but it has been much worse, and I believe it will get much better. And, if it doesn't, I will be here with my head firmly planted in the sand.
As only I know I was saying, I have been listening to the right wing talk shows lately with a touch of deja vu. During the election, all I heard from Rush et. al. was their disgust at the way the left was running down the country. The left was rambling on about how George Bush was trampling on the Constitution, the war in Iraq was bankrupting the country, and Republicans were forcing Granny to choose between dog food and drugs.
This talk disgusted Rush, Sean and Glenn because, by God this country was a great place to live, and people should stop running it down.
But, with the election of Barak Obama, we were promised change. So far the only change I have seen is in the demeanor of the right wing talk shows. Now, it is they how are portending the end days of the country. Obama is trampling on the Constitution, the economic stimulus bill will bankrupt the country, and Democrat's will force us to choose between flying in our private jets and flying first class.
Bottom line...they are all full of crap. The country has survived much worse than this, and will stumble through this current crisis. I refuse to accept the premise that either party has the ability to bring this country to its knees, any more than Man has the ability to significantly affect the environment.
We, the people are the country, the government, and the economy. We adjust to the fleeting power mongers in Washington, and keep on plugging ahead. Bring it on, you elected dim bulbs...you may not be here in 2, 4 or 6 years, but we will.
As to the economy, I know it is relatively bad, but it has been much worse, and I believe it will get much better. And, if it doesn't, I will be here with my head firmly planted in the sand.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
One of These Things Is Just Like The Other
Well, shit. I just spent 30 minutes writing a post about the current economic situation, and when I went to post, it disappeared. If I can remember what the fuck I said, I will try it again tomorrow.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
You Will Be Assimilated
Greetings from the Clone Army. Tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. in Dallas I will interview for the job I have worked for 28 years to attain. I am hopeful, and feel the only thing I can do now, is shoot myself in the foot. I have been trying to walk the tight rope of being proactive in running the District in the absence of a District Engineer and keeping my head down to avoid any last minute pitfalls.
Sometimes fate just doesn't cooperate.
With President Obama's economic stimulus bill looming, I have been working to position Lubbock to make the most of this one time shot in the arm. Unfortunately, this comes with media coverage. This week (two days old), I have been interviewed twice by the newspaper and once by Fox 34. Getting in the way of the unveiling of my brilliant plan for Lubbock is the unfortunate revelation that the Department no longer has the funding available to honor a commitment to the City to move a project forward.
This would be much easier to explain if I was not having to measure every word I say while assuming my future boss may be privy to each interview. I am not accustomed to having to spin something bad into something positive, and then sell it to the City and other leaders as a fantastically forward thinking opportunity. Luckily, my previous boss was a pretty good teacher in the ways of the clone Army.
Honestly, the plan I have put together IS a good plan. Ironically, it's success rests with the same President Obama I have been somewhat critical of. No economic stimulus plan, no Billyfish plan.
At any rate, it will all be over soon. I head to Big D tomorrow for what will most likely be the final interview of my career. Whatever the result may be, I am ready for an answer.
I miss my Hawaiian shirts.
Sometimes fate just doesn't cooperate.
With President Obama's economic stimulus bill looming, I have been working to position Lubbock to make the most of this one time shot in the arm. Unfortunately, this comes with media coverage. This week (two days old), I have been interviewed twice by the newspaper and once by Fox 34. Getting in the way of the unveiling of my brilliant plan for Lubbock is the unfortunate revelation that the Department no longer has the funding available to honor a commitment to the City to move a project forward.
This would be much easier to explain if I was not having to measure every word I say while assuming my future boss may be privy to each interview. I am not accustomed to having to spin something bad into something positive, and then sell it to the City and other leaders as a fantastically forward thinking opportunity. Luckily, my previous boss was a pretty good teacher in the ways of the clone Army.
Honestly, the plan I have put together IS a good plan. Ironically, it's success rests with the same President Obama I have been somewhat critical of. No economic stimulus plan, no Billyfish plan.
At any rate, it will all be over soon. I head to Big D tomorrow for what will most likely be the final interview of my career. Whatever the result may be, I am ready for an answer.
I miss my Hawaiian shirts.
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