Postal Empathy

[The names have been changed to protect Emil]

For the past ten years, I've shackled my leg to my desk, much the way a werewolf will shackle himself to the bedpost on the eve of a full moon. I've turned down customer requests to visit, never attended a go-live, and pretty much stayed in the basement of our building, devouring the occasional slab of raw meat tossed into my cage. This changed recently when I decided that I would attend the go-live of a project that had been festering for several years.

News of my decision rang out like a shot. Denizens of the cubicled forest were seen popping their heads above partitions in fright, flying from their perches, and generally squealing and squawking in that primitive form of communication only they understand.And they feared most for Milo's safety. Milo is the person I decided would accompany me. After all, I needed Milo to deal with.. those things... those things that can be found at customer sites... noisy, sometimes droning, superficial, clueless, irrational, parasitic things...oh yes - people!Soon, an e-mail was circulating with the link below:

http://www.videovat.com/videos/969/chappelle-brady.aspx

Afterwards, a small group had formed and the point was made:

"Hey, maybe Milo will surprise everyone."
"Yeah, maybe he's the one to watch out for."
"Yeah, Mike, I may go Philippino on your ass."
"What, you're gonna wash my dishes?"
I tend to abruptly end conversations that way.

As it turns out, the trip was uneventful. The most dangerous moment came when Milo and I grabbed lunch before heading to the hospital.We stopped at a Mexican fast-food joint and both wound up ordering dishes filled with beans and rice and peppers. We decided right then it would be best not to stay on-site too long.

The go-live took place on Thursday and Friday, and went relatively smoothly. I WAS interrupted several times with issues arising out of another integration project with a Fortune 100 vendor that was slated to go live Sunday in NC. That vendor must include my anxiety and irritation on their list of good things they bring to life.

Since all was well in VA, Milo and I decided to leave Friday afternoon, instead of our originally planned Saturday morning departure. I was quite annoyed that the drive back from Virginia took five hours until I learned that I would actually be PAID for this time. I'm traveling more often.
On other work-related fronts, I'm find it increasingly difficult to sever the umbilical that connects me to the office.On those days when I just need a break, I'll post an entry in our company-wide electronic calendar declaring, "Mike out".
I've found that this message doesn't have the desired effect, as I will continually get calls to my home and cell phones, which will then be sullied with voice-mails. Last Wednesday, I tried making this calendar entry a little more clear, "Mike out in afternoon. This means not working."

Still the calls came and again I found myself not "out", but working until 7 or 8 that night.

Yesterday I made a calendar entry that I hoped would leave no question, "Mike leave at noon. Do not call. I won't answer. The caller's identity will be noted and the appropriate action taken."

That afternoon I actually received a message on my home phone stating that a customer had called, but it was nothing important and could wait until Monday, but she thought she would let me know. (See earlier definition of "people")

The trip to Virginia clearly was good therapy for me, as someone noted on the company calendar, directly below my last "out" entry:It is clear that Mike has softened up since his Go-Live attendance

Yeah, but I'll chain myself to the bedpost, just in case someone calls.