Is it Friday COB Yet?
This week has been madness.
Monday
Pretty slow. For the first time in months, I had no meetings on my calendar. It was a miracle! Got a start on a BI prototype I was readying for a Thursday meeting.
Tuesday
Went in an hour early to do a “Walk with the Director” as part of a fitness challenge my client is doing. I haven’t really spoken to her outside of the hallways (she’s a female version of my Dad…really tough) so I thought it would be a good opportunity to see what she’s like. She seems friendly enough. I think in order to lead this place, you really HAVE to be tough because of the personalities around here…
That was followed by the weekly Leads meeting. Mostly odds and ends…and I got a shout out for my work on the new project I was put on. People wanted to see. I didn’t think it was anything special, but apparently there’s a lot of visibility with Federal leadership, even outside of my client. Clients and potential clients know my name…pretty high up the chain too! That’s kinda cool…
I’m also an unofficial Data Analyst now. Learned how to build reports in SQL Server Report Builder.
Talked with my lead about that salary proposal I submitted about a month ago. Office HR person was out of town for about two weeks, but seems like things are in my favor according to him. He also mentioned me taking up Project Management work on the contract…
As if I don’t have enough to do.
I need to learn how to say no.
(My comment about wife/mom/career women needing to balance their own lives from the other day was something I know I need to do better myself…)
Left work at 7:30.
Went home.
Showered and went straight to bed.
Wednesday
Got put on the calendar to present UX to the developers at my client. That’s usually a tricky relationship so I worded it that we’re their allies…and if we’re fully empowered to do our jobs, it’ll help cut down on the amount of rework they have to do. Had to send the presentation to my client chief for her review. Went fine.
Got dinged due to ego issues on a team. They were salty about it for the whole day. They seem to be okay today though.
With all the other stuff going on, didn’t have much time to work on the BI Portal prototypes I was building (going against all my rules btw as I haven’t been allowed to talk to the people who would use it…so I’m like…uh….how do I build something when I don’t even know how it’s supposed to be used?!). I’d gotten a start on one from Monday, but want to have at least one more option just in case.
Left the office at 9:30. Said to myself “I want to just finish this before I leave so I won’t think about it anymore.”
My brain had other plans.
Not only did I dream about it, my dream was like wearing those virtual reality glasses…except instead of seeing some fantastical world, I saw a wide vision computer screen of my mockup software…and the entire dream was making more mockups and scratching myself when something didn’t render properly.
Woke up with scratches all over.
Thursday
It’s 12:18. Meeting to present the prototypes at 1.
Presentation to 25 developers at 2.
All Hands meeting at 4:30. I nominated my entire project team for awards 7 weeks ago …but only 2 of 8 were approved so far because the approvers haven’t gotten around to them despite multiple emails from me….so that’s going to be super awkward…especially given the ones that went through…
Still haven’t heard back about the loan approval. My closing agent said she got an update from my lender and things are on track for next Friday 8 DAYS, but I won’t get excited until I get the “loan approved” email…
And even then the excitement will be brief. My plan to pack 5 boxes a day got nixed after my post-work stumbling into the shower then stumbling to bed ritual…
But yeah, if all goes well. 11 AM July 26, 2013, I will be a homeowner.
And a UX Analyst, a Data Analyst, a Business Analyst, a Usability analyst, a Project Manager, a graphic designer, a front-end developer, a energyless zombie, and a pint sized punching bag for people’s egos…
Someone save me from myself!
