As I said before I’m really busy at work. So this once a week schedule is the best I can do for the time being or until some other projects free up some people so I can pass off the easy but time consuming task that I have to do on this project to some of the newer less experienced guys that need the work.

So I had my review a few weeks ago with the department manager. Everything is just hunky dory, they appreciate my willingness to work overtime (and I appreciate getting paid time and a half for it), All of the engineers, and project managers that I worked with on the past years projects had all good thing say. But that I could improve in one or 2 areas. Mainly, asking questions about some of the systems and how they work. Guess they don’t realize that I don’t have time to sit around talk about that stuff, my job is to produce drawings. Overall I scored mostly 4’s out of a top score of 5’s in every category.

I laugh at those idiots that walk around telling people that they received all 5’s. Really you scored all 5’s? So you scored the highest that you could? So I guess there’s no room for you to improve? You’re at the top of your game now? Which would mean you shouldn’t get a raise or a bonus because you’re already at the top? Really? WOW? Idiot.

I never want to get a top score on my review because that would mean there would be no room for improvement. I’m already doing the best job possible. Even under the category of appearance , a 5 just says that I’m looking the best I will ever look. which would mean I’m fucked. It would also mean that there is no way to go but down hill.

So on Friday I had a meeting with the department manager, Division VP, and Division President. They go over how the company is doing financially, ESOP and 401K and all that kind of stuff. Then they get to the end of year bonus and raise part. I had forgotten that on the self appraisal I said that “I would rather have a turkey than a huge one lump bonus check. I’d rather have a larger raise.” So the DVP brought that up and I thought “Oh shit, I was just joshing, dude”. But they all thought it was pretty funny. But not REALLY funny. They talked about now my current project was going and how I was impressing the HMFIC’s on the project with my willingness to learn new programs. (Srsly some people flat out refuse to learn new drafting programs). We talked about me moving into more of a leadership role in the department with my experience and age. Developing lunch time classes for some of the other designers, and the younger engineers. They were also impressed with my knowledge of Fire Sprinkler Systems. I guess no one looked at my resume when I first started. I did design them for 6 years for cryin’ out loud.

Anyway I got the raise and an lump bonus check any way, and they didn’t kick me out the door. I was looking over the past raises that I had received and these are the largest I’ve gotten.

And the really effed up part of the whole thing? The whole time I was there, about 15 min, I was mostly thinking about what I had to do next on the current project.

So yea The D just keeps on winning!