It's A Small World, After All

After getting to talk more and know Gary and George from the hospital in Englewood, NJ; as well as Dan (my Lab partner) from Landers, Inc. (NJ, also) and Ryan from Virgin Records in L.A., I have been reminded that no matter from where we hail, or whom we serve, all IT guys share concerns and challeges that are more similar, perhaps, than we would like to admit. It is this honest networking amongst such a diverse group of passionate professionals that is perhaps the most valuable part of events such as this Microsoft Vista TAP-RD. I know that my experiences of the first day and a half have more than made this trip worthwhile...and there is another day and a half yet to come!...vertu svalur, ya'll

Geek Bowl

Microsoft hosted an all-you can eat, drink and play event at Acme Bowl at Southcenter this evening. What a great idea and an even better time! We got to play together, enjoy some good, old-fashioned conraderie and network on a level that wouuld never have ben possible otherwise. I even met a Microsoft rep and some partners from Pittsburgh and Philly who were able to steer me towards the best local eateries in the neighboroods of both towns...too cool! Great idea and kudos to you, Astrid...you are the BOMB!

Vista TAP Airlift at Microsoft

Here I am, with half a state seperating me from the one who holds my heart in her hands, in Redmond attending the kick-off event for the rapid deployment team for the new Windows operating system, Vista. The social last night was fun, though fairly low-key since it was attended by a bunch guys and gals;-) I did meet Gary and George, IT guys from the hospital in Englewood, NJ; and we spent most of the evening talking shop and drinking beer. Not too bad a way to start the event, but I suppose that we might actually have to produce some real work today. At least the weather is gloomy and cool, which really compliments my melancholy mood over missing being with her...Oh well, c'est amor;-)

IV Rocks!

Saturday night I dropped by The Pub and caught Bill Burke pounding away on the drums playing with his band IV. The three of them are actually pretty good and can really rock out. The crowd was lively and an interesting mix of young and old alike. I ended up staying for the whole night and enjoyed the music and the people. I might even start hanging out here a little more often.

Pennsylvannia Here I Come

It's official, I shall be travelling across the country to attend three days of training on meeting organization. Not that the training itself is all that astounding, but my having the opportunity to visit the East Coast is one that I am looking forward to. I plan on staying over the weekend and touring Philadelphia, the birthplace of our country's freedom, Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Betsy Ross' House, etc. The chance to see my good friend Forrest after all of these years is also too good to pass up and I have already called him to plan the weekend. April will be a busy month, but this trip will also be some fun!

Upward and Skyward

I am in Portland for the 2nd annual Washington State WESPaC User Group (WASWUG...gotta love THAT acronym, eh;-) I mainly go for the networking opportunities, but I must say that I have come to enjoy the positive energy of these conferences. I also attended the first one last year, when there was a lot of residual negativity about our student information system still floating around, and the unabashed enthusiasm and energy of the attendees was a much-needed shot in the arm for all of us that support this system. And, as was proved out, the optimisitic ones had the correct perspective, as we have completed the deployment of the student product with overwhelming success and yesterday began the protoype deployment of the fiscal product. The sessions this year have been well attended and the atmosphere familial and almost festive. You would have to look far and wide to find a better group of folks to spend time with, and I am having a blast!...vertu svalur, y'all

Perhaps There Is Some Hope For Me After All

The Art Director at the college paid us a huge compliment when she said that she had never seen the regional art show presented as well as it was this year. Since Suzie and I played the major part in the display and layout, I took that as a distinct compliment to our collaborative artistic efffort. What with me being a left-brain IT guy, my more creative right-brain self took that as incredible and welcome praise. Who knows, perhaps there is a new career in the making here...or perhaps it was just the product of my recent emotional pain and anguish that sparked a creative fire in me...who knows;-)

A Worthy Effort...and Fun at That

I volunteered to help Trish (my ex-assistant) with the setup for our annual regional art show at Columbia Basin College, where we showcase, judge and send on to the state competition, the best of our region's high school students' art. It was two days of hard work, but one that was just what the doctor ordered for me...a cause in which to expend all of my nervous energy, an opportunity to make new friends and a worthy effort on top of all of that. The quality of the product of our students' creativity never ceases to amaze me and, in sheer quantity, our show is always the largest in the state, therefore we have the privelege of sending more entrants on to the state competition. This year we are showing over 530 pieces of art, and that means that we had to check in, provide space for, hang and display all of that in two days! We did have a good team, most of the teachers pitched in, and we were fortunate to receive the assistance of an art student from the college. I had the pleasure of spending most of those two days working with Suzie, who was bright, creative and an effective compliment to my more analytical side. We made a good team, worked hard, had fun and collaborated on some very creative displays; accounting for well over 25% of the total pieces displayed. We worked well together and had fun getting it all done, even if it was a long couple of days. For me, it was the first time in over a week that I have been able to put other matters out of my mind and devote my energy into something truly productive.

They Just Don't Get It...

and probably never will. After many discussions with the boss about our leadership's level of "emotional intelligence" or empathy for their employees, I am afraid that I may be fighting a losing battle. The question goes back to all of the current philosophy on leadership and corporate culture...if leaders do not possess the quality of empathy then they can never "develop" it, as it is an inborn trait, not a learned skill, and before a good organization can achieve greatness, the leaders must possess a great degree of empathy for those that they lead. So it would appear that if my perceptions are accurate, we are destined to remain mired in mediocrity, lead by a group that does not possess the skills necessary to pull us up out of the muck of average-ness, nor are they able to be sufficiently introspective to see their failing, or honest enough to admit it. I have to confess though, that it may be unrealistic to expect them, or any human being with any sense of ego or pride, to be able to admit to such a foundational shortcoming in their leadership abilities. It does make one wonder though, if that was the case, why they would continue to promote our exploration of these philosophies which, if we whole-heartedly embrace and understand them, will lead us to recognize these shortcomings in the very leaders that are encouraging us to delve into them. Perhaps they are so lacking in empathy that they don't know that they don't have it, because they truly have no concept of what it feels like to have it! If so, then I am most likely fighting a battle that I can never win and the one question that I have to ask myself is whether or not I will ever achieve anything other than keeping things constantly stirred up in a vain attempt to fix something when I have no chance of first convincing them that anything is broken? So maybe, in the final analysis, I am the one that doesn't get it!!!

[Listening to: Smile Like You Mean It - The Killers - Hot Fuss (03:54)]

Truer Words Were Never Spoken

"Everyone in love is something of an idiot"...O, Já!
(Alan Shore from Boston Legal)

[Listening to: What Do I Get? - Buzzcocks - Singles Going Steady (02:54)]