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Virgil

Ash Wednesday and Work

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by
Virgil
, 02-16-2013 at 12:48 AM (3970 Views)
I was reminded of Ash Wednesday when I was commenting on Bluebird's blog on Pancake Day, which made me think of this little incident at work, which made me think of work, which reminded me of a blog here (http://www.online-literature.com/for...ration-at-Work) back in October where I mentioned a mechanical failure to one of the key parts of my project at work.

First on Ash Wednesday. Late Tuesday I got a request from one of the directors to attend a meeting early on Wednesday morning that was one of those must attend things. It really ticked me off. I had planned to go to an 8 AM mass to receive ashes. I was torn all night on what to do. My other options were to find a church that would have mass during lunch, and on short notice I wasn't going to be able to do that, or go to the evening mass after work. I didn't want to do that. I had my heart set on that morning mass. So I went to the mass and waltzed into the meeting at around 9:15 (lucky the mass took only 45 minutes) with my ashes glaring on my forehead for everyone to see why I was late. As I was getting into work my blackberry was buzzing with calls as to where I was. Haha, well, who told them to set up a meeting the night before? Anyway it was clear where my priorities were.

As to that mechanical failure, which had occurred a second time, I think we finally understand what happened. However redesign and fabrication will cause it to not be available until October coming at best. It will make one full year without progress, and if you calculate from the first failure it will be 17 months. And while the customer hasn't terminated us, I do know he's looking at other options, and everyone can see the writing on the wall. This week my budget was cut 10% and given to another project, and I was told to assess the impacts of a further 20% and 30% cuts. I've also heard the rumors of other projects vying for some of my funding. Well, that's understandable. All that is just creating more work. When a project is in trouble it's like two and three times the work, and everyone's morale is down, so it's not pleasurable work. There's a scene in Moby Dick where before the carcass of a dead whale is hauled up, dozens of sharks are gouging bites from it. I feel like that carcass, only I'm not dead yet and I feel each bite being taken.

Well, it is Lent, and what's Lent without suffering?
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  1. Bluebiird's Avatar
    I recently saw part of a program about a dead whale. It was a baleen whale that washed up on a beach in Ireland I think and it was cut open by experts to find out more about it (since opportunities to look into the guts of a fresh whale are rare). The point of me telling you this?
    Whales are pretty amazing. Even dead ones. Did you know they have stumpy vestigial hind legs under all that blubber?
    So. If you really feel like a whale carcass then you should know they're pretty amazing in any state. It's essentially a prehistoric hippo that ventured out into the sea and grew huge unencumbered by gravity. There's a lot of things a dead whale can still do. Not sure if this makes sense. It's supposed to be inspirational in an odd kind of way. Or mildly interesting if nothing else.
    Updated 02-16-2013 at 01:46 AM by Bluebiird
  2. Virgil's Avatar
    I agree, whales are definitely amazing. I wonder if dolphins are from the same family of species. They seem so different.
  3. Joreads's Avatar
    Virgil so glad that you made it to mass. It is always tough when work starts to overtake your life especially for those things we consider really important. I think you made the right choice because that is the choice I would have made.

    I am glad that you seemed to have figured out your failure problem at work, its to bad that it may end up costing you and your team , hopefully you will be on the up swing from now on.
  4. Virgil's Avatar
    Thank you Jo. That's very kind of you.
  5. qimissung's Avatar
    I'm glad you made it to Mass, too, Virgil. Work should not usurp so much of our life, especially the parts that feed our souls. And, again also, I am glad you and your team figured out the problem. I hope the client will see how persistent and dedicated you all have been on his behalf and appreciate that and stick around. But barring that little miracle () I do hope this will be a better year at work for all of you. Fingers crossed.
  6. kittypaws's Avatar
    follow your soul and spirit...it knows more about YOU then anyone else! and it can lead to you overcome what seems insurmountable.

    Kudos on the ashes....I wore mine with pride!

    kittypaws
  7. Virgil's Avatar
    Thank you Qimi and Kitty.

    Oh and it's been a brutal week and still another day to go. I wish I could move on to another project now, but that's not in the cards.
  8. LadyLuck's Avatar
    Lol! I made it to an evening mass. Our church holds a 7 am mass too, but it would have been way too tight to go. I would have had to have the kids ready early and then they would have had an hour in between before school. Evening mass it was. My youngest, she would have made you laugh. She told me that she was going to tell the priest "No" when asked if she would turn away from sin The reasoning... she didn't want ash on her head, but it was resolved when I pointed out she could wipe them off after. That's up there with the time she decided to tell people "Piece of pumpkin pie" instead of "Peace be with you". I do love my kids
  9. Virgil's Avatar
    LOL, glad you and your daughter made it.