there is hope

I met with the pres today to discuss my (possible) future with the company. It was a very positive meeting for me. He must have looked at his calendar because he was prepared for our meeting. I was there to speak with him about my time contract slowly come to an end. He had spoken with the pres at the detroit office where I used to work if they had interest in having me back. They do, but detroit is the last place I want to move back to, except maybe to be around my friends again. I had applied last week at a competitor online while I was playing hookie from work. I had to leave work for an hour or so to try to get my head back together after a technical discussion degraded into a shouting match. In the end I ultimately won because I kept my design intact. ha! I have been overwhelmed with impossible deadlines and cost targets.

Hopefully they one day see once the machine is finally built how easily and quickly it goes together why I put up such a fight. I am proud of what I have accomplished, and once it exists in steel the real reward comes. I don't care if anyone else likes it or not. I had also spoken with the team manager from the powertrain group last week if he had interest in having me work with him. He told me he did and recommended that I speak with the department manager. Apparently there was already talk about me and another modularising project, but this time without all the needless other people mixed in, and in powertrain group. Powertrain machines are much more of a technical challenge, because if it isn't designed right it will eat itself or fly apart into chunks of schrapnel. The operator views the machine through bulletproof glass if that is any indication of the potential for catastrophic failure. I spoke with the department manager on friday afternoon and he explained what they wanted me to do for them. He asked that I think about it and let the team leader know by wednesday if I wanted it.

I tried to find the team leader yesterday, but I never caught up with him. I saw him today and told him that I wanted to join his group. He responded by telling me he was glad, but they had already made their "suggestion" to the pres that I join their group. Just as well. It is nice to feel needed and appreciated for my technical expertise and experience (and my charming personality). A real plus is getting away from the depressing environment I have been in for over a year. The project managers have totally gone off the deep end. Their attitudes are de-motivational which makes it quite a challenge to simply remain self motivated enough to get the work out. I need out or I will do something I will probably live to regret.

The hope is still there. More on this later.