Plaidophile

After I filled out my timecard for John to approve, he decided to have a chat with me so we could share our thoughts on each other for the past week.

He said that Monday and Tuesday he had his reservations and didn't think I'd make it through the week, but on Wednesday I was showing real progress and by Friday I was impressing the hell out of him. His potential customers are just totally amazed with what I've churned out in such a short time, and he's impressed by how readable and well-architected my code is. So I think his reservations about me trying to make my code architecturally-sound have been lifted.

He also asked what I thought. I said the pay could be better (he agreed), and that I could still really use a keyboard tray for under my slightly-too-high desk and a better keyboard. He said he'd get me one of each. And he'd also see what he could do about raising my pay (but since I go through a staffing agency, he already pays WAY more than what I'm actually getting paid).

We both agreed that we're not ready to make a long-term (i.e. direct-hire) commitment, and he can tell that I'd be better-off in a more research-oriented setting.

He also said that what I've been putting out is WAY UP HERE when everyone involved would have been totally impressed by something WAY DOWN THERE — and that his customers are totally amazed by the prospect of a telecom company offering something which has never, ever been offered before.

So, this has definitely been a great experience.

Now I'm going to go soak my wrists for the next 48 hours, 'coz DAMN they're hurting.