Craziness…that is all I can say about the last two weeks here in the S8 Shop.  To start, there is an individual who works in this office who was appointed the S8 Team Lead by default, mainly because he has been here the longest and refuses to go home because if he does, he is out of a job…well, through his time here, he has done just enough to slide by from DCO/COL to DCO/COL.  Not to mention all the personal little drug deals he has worked with other individuals here.  I have been here for just short of a year and contest to this first hand.  I have always believed if you were honest and played by the rules you would have nothing to worry about, probably why I would not be able to make it in politics, I do not like to lie.  If I am passionate about something, I don’t hold back, and make sure it is done right with out breaking any of the rules.  Anyways, back to the topic, well…my boss does a great deal of shady, rule bending things.  Not to mention he is very vindictive.  So one of my co-workers and I were tasked by the DCO to present some information regarding my area of expertise here.  (Alex is new and I am teaching him how a lot of this stuff works…) We put together this information and presented it to the DCO, well it just so happens this information exposed some of the deals that my so called, lack luster, rules don’t apply to him boss had made and he did not like that.  We ended up getting into multiple yelling matches in the office because of his unprofessional, selfish ways.  The last one was huge and in front of other team members out side this office, he ended up walking away because I made it very clear he got caught.  I was pissed and tired of his BS, so I went to our over arching boss (DCO) who was on his way out, so the new DCO was there as well, and I told them everything.  I told them I can not work with someone like him, and need to get out of that office.  The DCO really liked what I did for the last year and asked me to not leave but move my skills over to another office.  I agreed.  Currently it is being worked  where I will be moving to another office, I have had a couple offices express interest, but I do now know what the final outcome will be.  I am hoping to move into a GS12 position.  I am currently an 11 and back home I would not ask to be in a higher grade unless I knew what I was doing and truly believed I had the ability to fill that roll.  I do believe I have figured how it works over here and would like to take a leadership roll, so we will see what happens.

To add to the craziness, we have had a total of 5 new people in the office and a loss of one.  Alex is really cool and we hit it off right away.  I will most likely be going to D.C. to visit him and his girlfriend in the future.  One of his good friends went to Ambrose with me, so I am thinking we would have a blast on that party scene and I might be working there for a couple years when I return, who knows though…

The others are just lost…and one in particular is nothing but drama.  She has managed to get under everyone’s skin and I have already had many verbal arguments/disagreements with her inconsiderate ways.  She is acting like she runs the joint when she is a 9 and doesn’t even now how any of this works over here, so until she learns that, I am going to continue to tell her to stand down. 

The individual who is suppose to be taking over my job is older and, unfortunately not computer savvy, we have only been in a couple little spats, but I have a feeling this whole operation regarding NTVs is going to fall when I leave.  Oh well, the so called leadership in this office thinks he can do it all, even though I believe that he was the original problem, meaning he was here two years prior to me arriving, and he said my job was a mess before I got here, I think it was because he just kept pawning it off onto people and then blaming them when they left.  Well, the BDE has seen where I have taken this NTV issue, and now will just have to sit back and watch it hopefully not fall apart again…

On the running scene, I have only been putting in 5-6 miles a day at lunch.  The weather has been really nice.  We have one more 5k coming up around Christmas, so that will close out the running for 2008.  I am hoping to close with a big win.  I plan on upping the mileage after my class is over (see below). 

MBA news…I will finish my last class for my MBA next Thursday!!!!  So that is pretty exciting!!!  I am looking at going home for R & R in May now so I can walk in the graduation ceremony.  Graduation for Saint Ambrose is always on Mothers Day, so it will be extra special to back home with the family and friends. 

Ultimate Blood Sport…cough, Choir, cough…

I joined the church choir two months ago because there were barely anymembers up there singing and the priest asked for volunteers.  I am by no means a great singer, but I like to think I can at least hit the right notes.  It is a small group, but we manage.  I joke around with another buddy who is in the choir about telling people here we are going to choir practice; instead we say we are going to Ultimate Blood Sport Training, what ever that might mean…

Well, that is the craziness that has been going on here.  It will be a lonely Christmas and the first New Years with out a kiss at mid-night.  Oh well, "Life is Beautiful"  -Ryan Adams

Hope all is well with everyone.

Run Happy J

Sherrod out.