Stress-less

[susandennis]

We had a meeting today on the project from hell and it was decided that after tomorrow end of day, there will be no more changes, no more content, no more nothing accepted from the client without jeopardizing their go live date of 8/22.  This marks the End of the Crazies.  Whew.   There is still a lot of work but at least by the end of tomorrow, I'll know exactly how much a lot of really is.  Whew.

mixter11nm asked me this morning what I actually do. I thought it was such a great question that my answer should be promoted from comment to entry!

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I am the tail of the web dog. The programmer provides code, the designer provides graphics, the user interface person sends me page layout and desired function, the editor sends me words (the proofer fixes those words) and then I make put it all together and publish it out live to the world.

I'm what they call a producer.

Here's a couple of my recent productions:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/ccs/
http://www.microsoft.com/sql/technologies/manageability/default.mspx

Most of the time, I'm just making small changes to this page or that page but sometimes there are whole (let's make a new site) projects like this one that just eat you alive.

I work for a guy who contracts with Microsoft to do web stuff. It is really a great job. Even when I am stressed to the gills.

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I missed my baby brother's birthday.  He turned 54 yesterday.  Here's the note I sent:

Subject:  Better Late Than Never?

I just realized that yesterday was your birthday!!   I cannot believe how old you are. 
 
I do remember vividly trying to sell you to Ted Hefner's mother.  She told me that she didn't have enough money.  I thought was sad that they were poor but I was bummed that yet another plan to get rid of you was foiled.  (I knew no one would want Nancy but you were 2 and cute as a button and so I thought fairly marketable.)
 
I'm glad now that Mrs. Hefner couldn't see the good value on that deal.
 
Happy Birthday!!!
 
Love, your late sister.

Ted Hefner lived two doors down from us.  I actually tried to sell my brother many times.  He had a red wagon and I'd tell Mom that I'd 'babysit' and I'd plop him in that wagon and go up and down the street looking for takers.  When I was 6 we moved to North Carolina (from Missouri) and I had a whole new batch of potential customers.   Lord knows I tried.  I honestly figured my mother would kill my sister, Nancy.  She was such a pain in the ass.  So it was up to me to get rid of my brother.

Alas, sister lives on - I guess.  I haven't heard from her since her last Show Me The Money email. 

Ok, now it's back to work for me.