Monday - grind, grind, grind

Rise at 6:30 and go through the usual morning routine. In to work by 8:15 and immediately thrust into project issues from last week. Spend the morning chasing down people and processes in order to clear a security hurdle for a project implementation. We have a system that has been in place for 6 years that no longer meets certain security requirements. Naturally, we find out about this just before going to production, so now we must scramble to get a temporary allowance for the system. An interesting lesson in maintaining focus when things are not going to plan. Found my feet on the floor and stayed there.

Lunch up in the cafeteria with the few of us remaining. They will be moving the lunch room to another building at the end of the month, so we're enjoying the current location while we can. Some light conversation that naturally drifts into some self-pity about the situation. Two of us are in a good place at the moment: we know what our end date is, and so have a clear place to work from. A couple people know they will be getting an end date, but aren't sure when. This leaves them with a sense of unease. Another made a decision earlier this year to move to New Jersey, but is now having doubts; there is also some question of what would happen if he were to change his mind and decide not to move.

Two meetings in the afternoon, one with the customer whose now-security-challenged system we are implementing. A productive and positive meeting - it is amazing when a client wants to work with you to find solutions.

Stop at the Corn Crib on the way home for some fresh corn, then to the grocery store for grillables for dinner. Back home to the wife and play a little before lighting the grill. Tasty dinner on the deck (marinated steak, fresh corn and fresh tomatoes). Back in for some on-line poker. Did pretty well in a freeroll (221 of 10,000); I probably could have gone further, but it was 12:30 AM and I have to be in at a reasonable time for a kickoff meeting in the morning, so I dumped my stack. I probably could have sat out, but there were only 27 seats for the freeroll being given out, and I hate sitters.