The entire encounter started out as one of the worst months I've ever had in my professional career. Let me set the tone for you. I work in Research & development for Ames Research on several Government contracts. The story always seems to be the same. Lowest bidder gets the work. We get to pick up the pieces when they can't seem to get it done. My Boss (Mr. Scarpotchi) is one of those rare guys who manages to somehow balance the "I need it yesterday" with our trials & tribulations of the team. I'm one of twelve that the big man directs and recently I've been running into walls of stress. "Great job Doug! I didn't think you'd get through that workload that quickly. I've got something bigger that I think you’re the man to tackle it!" Oh yay!... My shit luck lands me in the spotlight? And now Mr. Scarpotchi thinks I'm some miracle worker. Ugh...
It was almost overnight I went from the prodigal son, to the POS making the team look bad because Mr. S said I could easily rip right through it. Day after day I've had those one sided conversations that end up with me limping out of his office in front of the rest of the team.
Thank God next week is the Fourth of July. I could use a weekend off. Mr. Scarpotchi always throws his annual company pool party but I'm really not up to going this time around. It's always the talk of the town, but somehow I don't think the attitude will be so welcoming this time around.
I was out with a couple of my buddies shooting a little pool when one of them asked me if I was going to the party this year. I knew why they were asking. Two years ago there were all kinds of talk after one of the secretaries in the office hooked up with one of the Reps out in the Gazebo just as the fireworks started. The stories I told them had them all worked up for yet another tale to be told. Last year, Amanda tried to talk me into taking her to the party. She & I have been playing around with each other from time to time, but she was a bit too eager for me. I mean where's the hunt? I don't want a woman who's that easy. Give me something that's worth chasing.
I had told myself on my way home from the pool hall that I wasn't going to the party this year. I didn't want to embarrass Mr. S at his own home to say nothing for my own ego so when he confronted me at our very next one-sided conversation in his office about the party I almost fell out of the chair. "I sure do think you’re going to be missing out on making several contacts that would be good for your work." Holy hell... Guilt? I'm still taken back that he wants me there but perhaps that's just my own worry. Maybe he's not such a hard ass. "Now get that damn sensor fixed before the end of the week so we can send it out!" oh... there it was. Yeah, he's still the hard ass I thought he was. As I was walking out of his office thinking the day couldn't get any worse, "And I don't want to see you walking around the party looking like a kicked dog either!"
It was almost overnight I went from the prodigal son, to the POS making the team look bad because Mr. S said I could easily rip right through it. Day after day I've had those one sided conversations that end up with me limping out of his office in front of the rest of the team.
Thank God next week is the Fourth of July. I could use a weekend off. Mr. Scarpotchi always throws his annual company pool party but I'm really not up to going this time around. It's always the talk of the town, but somehow I don't think the attitude will be so welcoming this time around.
I was out with a couple of my buddies shooting a little pool when one of them asked me if I was going to the party this year. I knew why they were asking. Two years ago there were all kinds of talk after one of the secretaries in the office hooked up with one of the Reps out in the Gazebo just as the fireworks started. The stories I told them had them all worked up for yet another tale to be told. Last year, Amanda tried to talk me into taking her to the party. She & I have been playing around with each other from time to time, but she was a bit too eager for me. I mean where's the hunt? I don't want a woman who's that easy. Give me something that's worth chasing.
I had told myself on my way home from the pool hall that I wasn't going to the party this year. I didn't want to embarrass Mr. S at his own home to say nothing for my own ego so when he confronted me at our very next one-sided conversation in his office about the party I almost fell out of the chair. "I sure do think you’re going to be missing out on making several contacts that would be good for your work." Holy hell... Guilt? I'm still taken back that he wants me there but perhaps that's just my own worry. Maybe he's not such a hard ass. "Now get that damn sensor fixed before the end of the week so we can send it out!" oh... there it was. Yeah, he's still the hard ass I thought he was. As I was walking out of his office thinking the day couldn't get any worse, "And I don't want to see you walking around the party looking like a kicked dog either!"