Virgil

Well, I haven't blogged in a while. So let’s update on a couple of things.

First on Bob, yes the Bob on my project that I talked about a couple of blog entries back. As a refresher we that problem where he went against the team decision and we had a confrontation and I essentially let him off the hook because he was repentant and his actions turned out ok. Well, he has continued to be a problem team member. He continues to not complete actions assigned and he over ran his salary budget. And not just by a little, by 30% with the year not even over. When I brought it up, he said he would replace it and when a month passed and he didn't I put a stop to his ability to charge to it. When I asked when he was going to replace it he said he couldn't, and he said that he was now "providing significant effort" (his words exactly! ) without charging my program. I didn't think it funny and I blew my top. First I replied in my usual snotty way “oh I ought to be impressed with your significant effort,” and then I called his supervisor. I have never called a supervisor to complain about an employee before. Bad team members I usually phase off the team somehow but here was the straw that broke the camel’s back. The nerve he’s got on top of his poor performance. My voice was kind of nervous when I called, but I held firm, delineated the problems and he was very understanding. He said that if true I had a right to be upset, and that he would get back to me after he talked to Bob directly and then we could have a three way face to face to review everything. This was last week and all week I kept preparing in my head (actually people were noticing me talking to myself ) what to say when we would have the face to face. I didn’t think such a face to face would be easy. And then the week went by and nothing. I kept waiting. I was going to send Bob’s supervisor an email yesterday and just before I did he sent me one. He said he had spoke to Bob and that Bob would go through the year’s charges and account for them and that from now on Bob would have to report to him on a weekly basis his work and progress, and that I should feel free to talk to him about Bob’s work regularly. VICTORY!! Ha, apparently Bob didn’t dispute anything and so there was no need for a face to face. I replied back and included Bob in the reply that this should work out and that Bob is currently delinquent on providing this and that and then I delineated the next year’s scope of work and what I expected from Bob. I wish I could see Bob’s face when he opened that email. Oh well, some things are just too glorious to experience the pleasure, but my imagination filled in the gap.

My mom is doing well. A few weeks ago she had her last orthopedist visit on her hip and he declared it has come out perfect. She’s moving pretty well too, though not as fast as she used to. But she has been gardening and cleaning her house like a demon. I can’t get her to slow down. She actually pulled out the grass in her front (saying it was full of weeds -big deal, I can't believe she did all that because of some weeds) and reseeded. This week she has been cleaning all the windows and climbing on chairs to get to the top. I try to tell her to stop but she won’t listen. Oh something else has come up in the last couple of months. Since the winter I had notice a dark spot on her nose but because of the hip I couldn’t get it looked at. Doctors at Rehab facility kind of said it was nothing, but recently I brought it up with her regular doctor and he sent her to a dermatologist. The dermatologist said it could be a pre-cancer and he froze the skin to kill it. We went back this week and it did return and he refroze it again, as well as another spot on her forearm. He says it’s nothing to be concerned with yet, and now if it returns again he’ll do a biopsy. Sigh, always something to worry about. So add a dermatologist to the long list of doctors she sees: her general doctor for thyroid and general things, her psychologist, her eye doctor for a eye muscle problem, and an occasional ear doctor for a problem ear; at least the orthopedist will only be an annual review. Isn’t old age wonderful. Half my life revolves on shuffling her to doctors and taking her shopping. But she’s actually in very good shape for her age and the psychologist remarked today that I have had a lot to do with it, making sure she gets the proper care and regular meds. It’s nice to get a pat on the back once in a while.

One more thing. From Sunday through the middle of next week, we will be on vacation and away. My wife has forbid me to take the lap top. So unless the hotel has a computer station I will not be on. I probably won’t be on. Our ultimate destination will be Chicago with stops at my sister in Ohio and our nephew in Michigan. It will be a lot of driving but it should be fun. I’ll take my new camera and see if I can get any special photos.