It was early evening. Everyone was gone. I was staring into my monitors clicking at the keyboard. The janitor came around the corner pushing his cart, emptying the garbage cans and dusting off our desks. I turned to look at him. “Hi Carlos,” I said. He mumbled which was unlike him. Usually he comes by […]
Tag Archives: work
Morning and Night
Fri, 17 Jan 2014, 06:06 PM (-06:00)
On the way to work in the morning. There was the moon sinking in the west as the sun rose in the east. On the way home that night. There was the moon rising in the east just after the sun went down. Long day.
So Many Books
Tue, 17 Dec 2013, 11:45 AM (-06:00)
Most of the US team was dialed in from conference rooms on the second floor. A few of us and most of the India team were dialed in remotely. The meeting video showed me sitting in my blue shirt at my desk. Behind me was the wall of books that lines our study. “Wow,” said […]
Afternoon Break
Wed, 13 Nov 2013, 09:23 PM (-06:00)
1. No Sign Up It was afternoon. The room was dark. I was starting at the computer screen. I’d been working on this query all day, and it wasn’t coming together. In the hall, some people were talking. Something about coming up from downstairs. Something about not signing in. Something about a chair massage. “What?” I […]
After the Fifth
Sun, 3 Nov 2013, 08:10 PM (-06:00)
We went for lunch a few blocks down the street from the main office. I was happy to have friends to eat with while I was visiting. We sat in a sunny spot in a glassy corner of the restaurant. After the meal, one of them started telling a story. “I went to a Giants […]
WFH Friday
Sat, 2 Feb 2013, 01:39 AM (-06:00)
Working from home on Friday… Backyard chores. Compost to take out. Green house to open. Listen to the Wren singing in the sun. And joyful noise of kids from the schoolyard a block away. A wiry-haired Terrier lying in my lap, oblivious to the clicking keyboard or the sounds of Skype. A happy black-haired dog […]
Your Pictures
Sat, 2 Feb 2013, 12:08 AM (-06:00)
“Sure,” he said after I explained what I planned to do. It was a quiet, noncommittal way of acknowledging that I had spoken—something less than I expected, less feedback than I needed. So I elaborated… “I’ll update the wiki with a new diagram for version 2 and of course some new words to go along […]
Cookies Next to the Printer
Thu, 11 Oct 2012, 05:54 PM (-06:00)
There are cookies, they say. Cookies next to the printer. The printer just over my shoulder. They email the announcement. And people say, “Awesome!” and wander by. Wander by and grab a cookie. Peanut butter. Chocolate chip. M&M. Cookies, I tell you, sitting on that plate next to the printer right over there. Oh, if I […]
Their Kids
Sun, 7 Oct 2012, 08:13 PM (-06:00)
He leads a team. She’s a contractor on it. They were talking in an office behind a closed glass door. But their meeting was over, and they slide back the door as they walked out into the big room with the rest of us. “How old are your kids,” he asked her. She smiled at the […]
Flip Flops
Wed, 5 Sep 2012, 08:14 PM (-06:00)
When I unzipped my duffle bag and started to unpack, it was immediately evident I had a problem. A lonely pair of shoes staring back at me—shoes and no socks. Well, whatcha gonna do? I put my stuff in the locker and went upstairs to run. I had my flip flops, after all. I’d just wear […]