We were on the brink of a new chapter.

Our development team, QA, Support, Deployment etc… that is only 35 strong here in Colorado was about to become “Project Managers”. Unfortunately we answer to a higher power in Baltimore and was on the brink of moving our main “grunt” development “over-there”. That was the story anyway, we’ll keep the creativity here and communicate the daily drudge to an out-source off-shore.

Well, that was two weeks ago and last friday those powers made a reversal announcement. Our VP who’s originally from “India” fought hard to keep the work here and well, won. At least we have a years repreive. Deep down I know there’s intellegence and competence over-seas, but feel that our 10 years of effort would suffer in the end and eventually would be dissolved had we continued with the plan.

However, while our engineers may be over-paid, some-times appear lazy, keep odd hours and generally dispise process and planning are still THE MOST CREATIVE at solving problems and when the chips are down and deadlines are looming, they step-up and solve problems. The process working with development engineers can be grueling, nerve racking and some times down-right frustrating, but they get it done.

I was concerned the original plan was doomed for so many of the reasons I’ve read about in every tech rag. Everyone wants process documented and standardized to predictability, but truth is, it’s not part of the fabric of the US spirit. We’re mavericks and seat-of-pants folks regardless of how much “process” we try to put in place. I’ve been doing consulting and deployments for years and while I attempt to put in predictability, I prefer the “make-it-up-as-I-go-along” process. I’m also a bit of an entreprenuer caught in a corporate life. I’ve been thinking alot about both the private business process and how I can harness that ideal while staying where I am. I recently read several blogs related to this ideal of Intraprenuer and think that it’s often over-looked.

I’m all for the success of other countries and frankly with a more global economy, I wish them well, but I agree on creativity, design and spirit. Americans solve problems through these maverick efforts and to dissolve such efforts is a travesty.

I think so many in management have lost site of some of the most important traits in American and have concentrated so much on the bottom-line, while important, get caught up in the latest “trend” and think it’s going to be a saving solution.

Posted: August 28th, 2006 under Personal, Rants, Technology.
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Last week was, well, grueling. Not so much from stress, as there was that, but from the schedule. There are weeks we all wish we just didn’t have to deal with. Last week was one of those.

Tuesday evening, flight to Phoenix for all day meetings on Wednesday. Wednesday night, back to Denver, but not home. Got in late and had an early Thursday flight. So rather than sleeping in my own bed, I had to settle for Marriott at Tower road. Late dinner and eyes shut by 10:30pm.

Thursday started with the alarm buzzing at 3:30am to catch that 6am flight to Minneapolis. Afternoon meetings with an upset customer after a 2 hour drive to Eua Claire WI. That evening we were greeted by mid-west thunderstorms & blowing wind that evening in the middle of Wisconsin. While recaping the day in the hotel lobby, wind was blowing the trees at a 45 degree angle, rain pelted the windows and sirens were going off signaling the onslaught of weather. Even though the brain was fried, dinner had become a chore and no one who would deliver took Amex. So off to Red Lobster we trudged as it was the only sign we could see less than a mile from the hotel. RED LOBSTER. Sheesh. I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve been to Red Lobster in my 42 years. Truth is, I was so hungry, anything was good at that point.

Finished up the week with morning meetings and caught an afternoon stand-by getting in early enough to take Jodi out for a nice dinner out. Even with an hour wait, it was nice to catch up and talk over a cocktail. Boulder evening weather was gorgeous and all-in-all, the week, while grueling, ended on a high-note.

So much for Grueling weeks.

Shane aka Scoop

Posted: August 27th, 2006 under Personal.
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Well, we decided to finish the summer with a camping trip. We hadn’t been to Southwest Colorado since before we moved to Colorado over 10 years ago. So, we packed the Jeep full of our camping gear and headed for Durango. Destination, unknown.

Before we got out of town, we took in a rock concert down at Fiddlers Green in South Denver. The headliner was Nickelback, a Canadian rock band, and a few warm ups. It was a great venue, especially for people watching. Watching the sun go down to the west and great rock music was a bang of a start for our last hurrah.

Thursday morning, we started out through Pueblo, passing such exciting places as Alamosa, Del Norte and Pagosa Springs. Pagosa Springs was actually a very nice place and looked like it was on a boom. Once we hit Durango, we ventured out for a nice dinner a local place, Ken & Sues, which turned out to be fantastic. Well, Jodi’s New York Strip was to die for anyway. Then, that evening, last showers until Sunday.

First stop, Silverton and onto Cinnamon pass. However, prior to getting up into the high-country & the jeep trails, we stopped off at an old abandon mine just out of Silverton. Here we scavenged for quartz and pyrite for our up coming Hallows Eve plans. From there, it was one awesome vista after another on our way through the old ghost town of Animas Forks and then finally into Lake City. After an ice-cream and chocolate stop in Lake City, it was out to Engineer Pass where we pitched a camp in preparation for the next days adventures.

Waking up to another gorgeous day in the Rockies was/is a great way to get your day going. Our camp site was all our own and we discovered that we were just a short distance from an old Lime smelting plant, one of many abandoned business from the 1800’s. Heading out the pass was one abandon mine after another. Just before the pass, we went by the most remote modern cabin that has to only be reachable in the summer or by a very long snow-mobile ride. It sat on a cliff and the only access was across a suspension bridge. Very remote.

After the pass, we were once again dazzled by numerous vistas. Just before the decent on our way to Ouray, there was a little mountain just off the road that had a narrow jeep crossing and afforded a panoramic view of the San Juan’s. There’s a shot of my jeep on the mound up around 12,000 feet with spectacular mountain ranges in the back ground. Awesome is the only word that describes it.

Once we hit Ouray, we were pretty much done with Jeeping and Jodi said her butt just couldn’t take another long trail. So, we grabbed a camp ground at the Amphitheater camp grounds just above the city. I think we took the last tent spot. Just as we setup camp, a gentle rain began and set in for the better part of the afternoon. After a warm latte’ and a little shopping down in Ouray, we decided to hike despite the rain and see the Chief Ouray mine and falls about 3,000 feet above the town. We weren’t disappointed, well, except for the 2,000 foot elevation change in less than 2 miles in which I proceeded to nearly die, we weren’t disappointed by the views anyway.

The next day was pretty much, hoof it home to our own beds and an over-due shower.

Just another weekend in Colorado!!

Shane

Posted: August 19th, 2006 under Personal.
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